Cannabis? — Scope | Disability forum
If we become concerned about you or anyone else while using one of our services, we will act in line with our safeguarding policy and procedures. This may involve sharing this information with relevant authorities to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations.

Find out how to let us know if you're concerned about another member's safety.
Please read our updated community house rules and community guidelines.

Cannabis?

Paddie
Paddie Community member Posts: 75 Courageous
hiya. I just wondered if any one had tried cannabis ( weed) for pain control... & if so, did it work?
im struggling desperately with pain & conventional medication is not helping at all... really appreciate advice.
thank you
paddie

Comments

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi Paddie - I've been using cannabidiol (CBD) for just over 18 months, & find it helps. It works especially well for pain (& anxiety) & some studies suggest it's equally as good as cannabis for the pain side of things. If you'd like to know more (where to buy from a reputable company at reasonable prices; how to start taking, etc. just say. :)
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    edited March 2020
    Hello @Paddie   Please may I suggest speak to your GP.

    Also talk to this organisation has a lot to say and discuss on cannabis and related products.

    In my opinion I would never take anything with out consulting medical professionals or speaking to some one who can give you some reassurance about the risks.

    With anything element of risk.

    https://www.talktofrank.com

    Please have a look at their website.

    Other NHS website please read the information carefully.

    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/medical-cannabis

    Cannabis Oil a lot on line and please be aware with any products like this are you getting the dosage required.

    https://www.which.co.uk.

    Please have a look at this organisation, lots on Consumer advice.. Reviews proven not worth the money.

    As a former alcoholic and drug problems occurred because of taking Cannabis as a tea, helped me become worse anxiety and got a problem trying to come off.

    There are lots of claims of success but what are the outcomes in the long run. Health risks.

    Pain is a problem I know and it finding an equal balance to deal with it.

    Please consider speaking to your GP.

    Please if you have any questions happy to talk to you. Have an addiction history vast knowledge and expertise.

    Experience and can offer if I can relevant information on anything you wished to know.

    You could look on line lots of information, guidance.

    Must add my opinion is never would take any thing like this for pain.

    Please keep safe and warm, best wishes.

    @thespiceman
    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
    Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
    Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
    Recipes
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,519 Disability Gamechanger
    @Paddie hi and good evening, does your local hospital have a pain clinic and have you been referred to them by your GP/consultant? My better half otherwise known as senior management got some really good help when she went to our local pain clinic.
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

  • Rifi7
    Rifi7 Community member Posts: 198 Pioneering
    Hi Paddie,
    I have Spina Bifita and have been on a lot different medication for my pain most of my adult life. I take CBD oil and have been taking this for several months and I also take some pain medication but these are not taken together and are spaced throughout the day. I also got lots of advice from my GP and my consultant and made sure I purchased my oil from a reputable company. Personally I have found CBD oil has helped me.  CBD works for some and doesn’t work for others but when your in pain it’s worth giving it go.

    If your on pain medication and are considering taking CBD oil then you should seek medical advice from professionals before you do so.

    Good luck with it.
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @Rifi7   Please can I suggest you look at the links I provided to @Paddie .

    I have a lot of relevant information, please consider looking.

    https://www.which.co.uk.

    Understand this as an former alcoholic having addiction to a number of drugs as well.

    I am always have the up to-date information any to do with addiction, including new ones.

    Social ones and ones that you probably do not ever think are but can be.

    I keep in touch via Email most of the addiction community websites.  

    Speak to those who are in the Community addiction by Email now again including several from the  States.

    Where this is a contentious subject so much so . State by State you can be prosecuted by travelling with any THC  or CBD product.

    Including to EU countries and others that be may not accept the CBD.

    Check all the time.

    One other may be interested certain States have banned the drugs which they are. Because deaths from vaping and interactions with medicines prescription drugs.

    The evidence I have is that small numbers have some success with health conditions . Mainly pain but others have serious adverse side effects.

    I used to take this when it first came out as with drawing form addiction had it as teas in small dosages but caused me serious mental health.

    Anxiety and paranoid thoughts, much of the time not have a craving bit by bit we simply do not know the long term effects of any medications we do not understand.

    These increased and by the end of a year a wreck trying to remove myself from taking this.

    Tried THC and Cannabis Oil.  When it first cam eout because muscle pain and bones literally weakened destroyed by raging pain as I speak have this now.

    Even though clean.

    I have one other valid point to say . Taking long term medications for since being born. For my genetic disorder various operations, am now convince in the present.

    Effected my well being, health.  Take around five medications a day average up to last ten years ago on one so far.

    Reducing the lot because of extreme fatigue, stomach, bowel problems and associated effects.

    Normal painkillers over the counter got hooked on those consulted GP had to stop am OK but was  taking too many.

    I know if you think something works the placebo effect will. In your mental mind.

    Proved with studies out there.

    I would implore you to consider looking at the other links.

    https://www.talktofrank.com

    As recently this year 13th February 2020 Food Standards Agency has asked all products to be considered for consultation and plans as need to say the evidence is sketchy.

    Asking by 31 March all manufacturers to consider implementations of proposals to show evidence and standards duty of care taking the products.

    Health safety limits and restrictions the Department of Health Food Standard Agency.

    This is Women who breast feed, pregnant .

    People taking medication what ever it is. 

    Should not consume CBD.

    Mentioned taking no medication with CBD.

    All medication is residual if you take a drug in the morning all the residues are still there.

    Hence my concern taking a life time of medication.

    Reason done a lot of research and qualifications, knowledge gained through my life.

    This is the reason I also say to any one any advertised drug which is a marketing ploy.

    So I create a diet claims to be amazing wonderful helps pain and suffering.

    Shown evidence and the statements would you like to subscribe only .

    Think about that as I do say to any one this is going to be a serious problem.

    I spoke to those who know and the evidence is samples too small for proof but even me with my pain, know the truth.

    I am hoping you please read any thing I said links and any thing else.

    There has been in the past a plethora of posts on this subject and many an argument.

    If it is safe why FSA , Department of Health as lots on it websites all the addiction websites and my friends in the States have had warnings.

    Disagreements will continue my concern is the after effects the problems I had.

    Please take care.

    @thespiceman



    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
    Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
    Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
    Recipes
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    About cannabidiol (CBD) as available as a food supplement here in the UK. Legally it must contain less than 3% THC (which is the psychoactive ingredient of cannabis). A reputable company supplying this should provide laboratory certification confirming the amount of CBD in a bottle & also the THC levels. For example, here's the one I take: https://www.simply-cbd.co.uk/product/simplycbd-green-10ml-30ml/ which gives the amount of CBD per drop, & scroll down to see the Certificate of analysis which shows the THC level is 0.069%.
    CBD is safe if bought from such a reputable company.

    However, any medications (& even over the counter ones you might buy) must be taken into consideration as to the timing of CBD doses. This is because CBD is broken down by a complex of enzymes in the liver where over 90% of medications are also broken down. Therefore time gaps are needed (4 hours is recommended) between taking CBD & most medications, etc. to ensure you get the benefit of prescribed medications (& not an accidental overdose). Anyone considering taking CBD should therefore discuss this with their prescribing Dr, or a pharmacist.

    Medical studies about CBD are emerging. This is the largest study I've found to date: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32019776 This seems to concur with what I've found searching the medical literature that CBD may be helpful with chronic pain, & anxiety, as well as having a neuroprotective element, etc.

    Vaping CBD can potentially cause serious lung problems; whilst there are no reported deaths in the medical literature about vaping CBD e-liquids, there are those due to vaping e-cigarettes.

    I appreciate my dear friend @thespiceman that you are trying to keep everyone safe, but CBD has no known serious side -effects.

    I welcome any guidance from the FSA, which states, ' Food businesses should apply for authorisation of their CBD extracts and isolates.' There is no warning. See: https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/cannabidiol-cbd?navref=main#

    Both myself, & @Rifi7 have been taking CBD responsibly initially consulting our Drs/ pharmacist. We have both found CBD effective for chronic pain. The CBD we take contains negligible amounts of THC.













  • Rifi7
    Rifi7 Community member Posts: 198 Pioneering
    Hi Spiceman,
    Thank you for your advice and information. 

    I did not take the CBD oil without carefully considering the pros and cons. I also spoke to my GP as well as my consultant. My consultant actually told me that many of patients are now taking CBD oil to combat pain and he absolutely had no problem with it. To be honest I was more worried about the concoction of pain medication that I was on that had opioids and many side effects than I do about taking CBD oil. I will hands down take my chances with the CBD oil, than take many more pain medication that was causing me to have so many more health problems. I did thoroughly research the purest CBD oil that I could find and I use a make called Blessed who are a very reputable company and the one of the leading suppliers of CBD oil in the UK.

    As I have said in previous post that whoever is considering taking it for them to consult their GP or consultant prior to taking it.


  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,638 Scope online community team
    I have taken CBD oil but didn't really feel any difference. That said, it was only 5% CBD from a health food shop.
    Scope
    Specialist Information Officer and Cerebral Palsy Programme Lead

    'Concerned about another member's safety or wellbeing? Flag your concerns with us.

    Want to tell us about your experience in the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know. 
  • Rifi7
    Rifi7 Community member Posts: 198 Pioneering
    Hi Richard,
    I also started on a low dose and didn’t really feel different but I gradually increased the dose and kept at it. It does take time to get in your blood stream. I think it works for some people and others it doesn’t. 
  • ukheather
    ukheather Community member Posts: 9 Connected
    As someone with severe chronic pain who has tried pretty much every painkiller, I can say that cannabis did help my pain, proper cannabis, not CBD which is a cannaboid, but is not true cannabis as CBD does not have the THC.

    CBD = cannaboid not cannabis and is legal 
    THC & CBD = cannabis is illegal unless prescribed by a doctor & only private doctors will prescribe it (which is ridiculous tbh)

    CBD doesn't help me at all, but THC does help. Private doctors can prescribe but it is very costly so I am unable to get a painkiller that helps me sadly.
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    edited March 2022
    From my personal experience, & medical papers I have read, I would say that cannabidiol (CBD) 'may' help with pain, & also anxiety, but, as we're all different, there's no guarantee, & it's very much a case of 'trial & error.'
    However, as I mentioned above 2 years ago, one should always discuss taking CBD with your pharmacist or GP if taking prescribed meds as over 90% of them are broken down at the same site in the liver as CBD. In such cases, from my understanding, a 4 hour gap between taking these meds & CBD is definitely advisable. Always consult with your pharmacist or GP beforehand.
  • chris_brown78
    chris_brown78 Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    Paddie said:
    hiya. I just wondered if any one had tried cannabis ( weed) for pain control... & if so, did it work?
    im struggling desperately with pain & conventional medication is not helping at all... really appreciate advice.
    thank you
    paddie

  • chris_brown78
    chris_brown78 Community member Posts: 4 Listener

    Hi I smoked cannabis for two years at the time I was feeling very depressed and in a lot of pain my citalopram no longer worked for me. It was great to start with until I got addicted costing me around £400 a month with added to my anxiety.I started to get into dept which added to my depression and I also went through every emotion I was so drained. In some ways it made my cerebral palsy worse as it made me shake and have tremors. It was a long road to recovery I would recommend just CBD with out thc 
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    Welcome to the community @QuwonSoo :) Thanks for posting about your experience. I'm glad to hear that you've found something that works for you.

    Just to let you know, I've removed the link from your post as it appeared to be advertising cannabis products. We don't tend to allow links to paid products to be posted here on the community. You can find our house rules here. Additionally, I'd remind you and other readers of the thread that cannabis is still largely illegal in the UK. 
    National Campaigns Officer, she/her

    Join our call for an equal future.
  • henryettapar
    henryettapar Community member Posts: 1 Listener
    edited June 2022
    I did use it as well. I used it both for pain control and for a sleeping disorder. I remember when I was first offered the solution being hesitant as I didn't know much about it and wasn't sure how it may affect other aspects of my life. After doing some research myself and discussing it with my doctor from [Removed by moderator - advertising], I decided to give it a try. This was definetly one of the best decisions I've ever taken. It's been 2 years since I have been sleeping better than ever, and the pain is much more sufferable now.

Brightness

Complete our feedback form and tell us how we can make the community better.