How I Use Medical Cannabis For My IBS

Disclaimer: Please note that I am not influencing anyone to consume any form of medical marijuana or cannabis overall. I am just simply sharing what works best for me.

Cannabis provides medicinal value via a natural biological system in our bodies. In other words, the chemical compounds in cannabis organically interact with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) and produce pharmacological effects such as gastroprotection, anti-inflammation, muscle relaxation, and more. This is great news for someone like me suffering from a chronic intestinal disorder.

My experience with cannabis and IBS

articles about the medical benefits of cannabis for my IBS, and how the chemical properties in cannabis interact with the human body. Therefore, I feel I shouldn’t have to talk much about the medicinal value that it has in this article. Instead, I plan to discuss the few different ways I consume medical cannabis to gain relief from my IBS symptoms and depression. Although there are many different ways to consume medical cannabis, I mainly prefer both smoking natural bud and edibles, and I’ll tell you why.

Medical marijuana laws

The recent passing of marijuana laws has finally allowed many states in the U.S. to legalize cannabis use for both medical and recreational purposes. My home state, Massachusetts, was one of them. Needless to say, I took advantage of getting a medical marijuana license early on so that I could purchase cannabis products legally and try something other than prescribed and OTC medication for my condition. When I went to a medical dispensary for the first time, I was in shock and kind of like a kid in a candy store. There were so many products to choose from like pre-rolled joints, wax, tinctures, skin applicators, edibles, etc., and I just had to try them all.

Types of medical cannabis I prefer

Edibles, in my opinion, are the second-best way to get the pharmacological effects I’m looking for when it comes to consuming cannabis. However, finding out the proper dosage can sometimes be tricky at first, and they tend to make you feel drowsy. Whenever I decide to take edibles, I make sure I don’t have much to do the rest of the day because they tend to take effect unexpectedly. They also give me more of a body-high, which leaves me very relaxed for a much longer period of time, and also relieves my anxiety. With that being said, I hardly take edibles as much as I used to because I much rather prefer to be alert and productive throughout my day. Also, not all edibles are IBS-friendly due to the ingredients, so I have to be very cautious about which ones I consume. Hence, the reason why I consider it the second-best way of consuming cannabis for my condition.

Other cannabis types

Other cannabis-consumption methods I’ve tried are tinctures and skin applicators. I’ll be frank, tinctures are very effective, but horrible-tasting. Cannabis-infused skin applicators, like lotion or lip balm, has a bit of a numbing effect, but it’s not strong enough for me to get the relief I want throughout my body. Therefore, I hardly use tinctures or skin applicators anymore. The best way for me to get the relief I need from medical cannabis is via smoking. The effects are instant, and I only need to inhale a little bit in order to get the relief I need. In my opinion, the only downside to smoking is that the smell may linger on me for a while, but, frankly, I don’t mind it. However, I understand that everyone else might.

Relief with cannabis isn't for everyone

Nonetheless, medical marijuana, no matter how consumed, brings me the relief I’m looking for and need. Edibles are good because they last longer and help with my anxiety, but they tend to cause drowsiness and there may be an ingredient that will trigger my symptoms. However, smoking medical cannabis takes effect instantly, and I don’t have to worry about this method triggering any symptoms. Again, I am only sharing what works best for me. I am not trying to convince anyone to do what I’m doing. However, if you have tried medical cannabis before and can relate to my article, then please feel free to share in the comment section your thoughts about medical cannabis and your best method of consumption. Thanks for reading and stay positive!