MMJ - Please help my sister.

[mrpuffins]

My sister has dealt with TERRIBLE depression her entire life. She's tried everything from pills, to shock therapy and even long term hospitalization. Nothing has worked. Her life is literally ruined because of this shit.

I am a Colorado MMJ patient and have found my own success and have found others who report the same reasons and others
I am working to find as many scholarly articles about MMJ and depression or MMJ as an alternative to anti depressants as possible to share with her. But I am hoping to source for more. If you know of some solid 3rd party research (nothing from a pro-mmj organization, dont want it to appear influenced) please share them. I am working to make a case to her that this could be a legit option, if done right.

I don't want my sister pumped full of prescription drugs and shocked with electricity any more, please help.

[low_rdr]

I've been working on a strain for bi polar treatment for several generations, and I finally have the pheno I want.

Bi Polar is basically chronic depression with severe mood swings. Now, what I have doesn't treat the symptoms after an episode kicks in, but daily use does SEVERELY reduce the amount of episodes. The strain I've developed is a VERY potent amount of THC, I used 3 high THC strains, and I've reduced the amount of plant matter created, so basically, I'm producing crystals on a stick, or damn close. Very low yields, but very high potency. Anyway - A little goes a long way, but there is a problem.

Much like many of the prescription drugs for depression, when your out, the symptoms return very quickly, and often increase in degree until medicated again. And when you have strains this potent, its hard as hell to find anything to replace it with without being stoned out of your gourd......

Treatment, yes...

Cure... No.

Side effects: Hunger, happy high, dizziness (sometimes), lack of motivation (if over medicated)

Remember... When going after medicinal qualities, you can't just buy bags and hope it works out. There is actually research done. High CBD's are typically the effect MOST med patients are looking for, but depression requires high concentrates of THC.

I'm in colorado, and i won't have a batch of this ready for several months - Feel free to contact me.

[mrpuffins]

Thats awesome. Thanks.

Im really looking for some info I can show her too so she is more willing to try to supplement popping pills and have an alternative

I personally use it for RA and have major swelling in my fingers, wrists and knees. So if you have some high CBD for that I would love to hear from you!

[low_rdr]

Google is your friend on the info. There are not TONS of research papers published, but they are out there.

As for as just high CBD, there is plenty here in CO, look for the strain "Charlotte's web"

[cannabis-seeds]

low_rdr - what type of bipolar?

i'm just asking because high amounts of THC can do very bad things for people with psychotic issues & bipolar I involved psychosis

my son has major depression with psychotic issues and i've seen smoking kick him into psychosis (paranoia & delusions for him) - or make it worse when he was already there - and i'm not talking chronic smoking, more like 1/2 a joint
maybe he gets it from me - i don't have depression and am not paranoid by nature, but the wrong strain of marijuana can make me feel like everyone's out to get me

if we lived in a place where MMJ was legal, i'd love for him to try a high-CBD strain (he's all for it) to see if it helps

i agree that if it works, MMJ is a great option and i applaud your efforts (and i'd love to see your THC crystals on a stick), just wanted to mention his experiences

[low_rdr]

BiPolar is chronic depression. CBD's more or less work on your body. THC works to increase serotonin, but not on a level like meth or cocaine. CBD's would be like treating bi polar with tylenol - It may take away some of the body aches, but its not going to do a damn thing for treatment of depression.

As I said before, the danger isn't using it for treatment - The danger is discontinuing use.

Here are some worldwide studies, please pay close attention to 2007 in montreal:

Marijuana for depression & bipolar disorder | Patients for Medical Cannabis (http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/medical-use-of-cannabis-video/marijuana-for-depression-bipolar/)

[cannabis-seeds]

I'm not interested in getting in a debate, but bipolar is not chronic depression by a long shot. Bipolar used to be called manic depression, so maybe you mis-typed.

People with bipolar have to very careful with any form of antidepressant medication because it can shoot them straight into a manic state - whether or not that includes psychosis.

The trick is to give the bipolar patient enough medication to keep them out of their low spot without sending them off the deep end into mania - it can be a very delicate balancing act.

I'm no expert on THC & it's effects on depression. I just wanted to share my first-hand experience with THC with someone in a somewhat manic/psychotic state that many doctors would classify as bipolar just so people would be aware. It's well-established (I think NORML even has something on their site) that anyone with a psychotic disorder including Bipolar I must be very careful about using any form of marijuana.

Don't get me wrong - I'm extremely pro-MMJ & advocate for it at every turn, but, like all medicines, THC isn't for everyone.

That's not to say it won't help the OP's sister - if she only suffers from depression, it very well could. And if it does, it would be so much better than everything else she's tried.

[Esteban1]

Israel is doing wonderful research on various diseases. There are quite a few folks on this site including yours truly who have/had devastating diseases & have/are cured using cannabis. Low Rider is correct where he states there are so many variables & difficult to isolate. You will get some feedback on a strain concerning your sister illness, hang in there chief!


:thumbsup:

[low_rdr]

Well.. I had written an entire article about my fight with cancer, chemo, and how MMJ saved my life... Unfortunately I lost it all - So I'll sum it up. WW treated my chemo, Green Dragon made out of a 50/50 mixture of pineapple express and cinderella 99 CURED my cancer.

I don't run around preaching on here about it, because there is still a lot of research to be done, but that is one of the things I'm working on. Not a cure for cancer, but as much research as I can do as a grower/breeder.

I've been treating a bi polar patient for 5 years, and I've finally got the strain down. It's a mixture of all three above mentioned strains, plus a little extra. My patient hasn't had an episode in over 6 months, before with 2/3 daily doses, he was having an episode per week, then when we boosted the THC, it was every two weeks or so, then we got the first batch of cindy express and it was a month...

We're now on Cindy Express 2.0 and no episodes in 6 months with twice daily use. I'd call that a successful treatment so far.

However, 1-2 days without use, and he quickly goes into a depressed state (not manic). His 'highs' aren't manic, but they are quite silly.

Anyway - On this next harvest I need to have it tested for THC to CBD ratios, I'm going to do a early harvest, full harvest and late harvest just to test the effects on my patient. I will keep you updated (on this thread) but it will be a few months.

Take care OP - There is always help and hope.


Edited for horrible grammar

[Esteban1]

Low, sounds like you have the cannabis strains itemized like a frigg'n librarian! If only I had the dedication/determination! Still trying to get a handle on basic THC/CBD effects. So many factors/sub factors of a strain that dictate what it can do to help a patient. It's mind boggling. We should talk sometime. Peace


:thumbsup:

[cannabis-seeds]

if you've had that much success with even one person, that's wonderful. i have no doubt you've changed their life.

i'm always open to new options - really wish we had a pm function here so i could ask more questions that i don't want to ask on a public forum

i'd love a natural option ...

[Esteban1]

C-Seeds, Low_Rdr does show his Yahoo Messenger logo so think ya can chat in a non forum setting, yes? Peace


:thumbsup:

[cannabis-seeds]

Thanks for pointing it out - I'll give that a try when I have a little bit of time & he's available.

[giggletwig]

I don't know about any studies, but I'd like to add my ten cents worth, if I may. I have also suffered from depression all my life, it's a genetic thing in my family. Which means my brain chemistry is simply out of whack and some kind of medication is needed to put it straight or to mitigate the effects. I have tried almost every type of antidepressant, none of which really completely fixed it (I still get depressed sometimes, and frighteningly so - I've occasionally called hubby up and asked him to come home from work 'cause I'm scared to be alone when it's bad). I was recommended for electroshock but refused it. I'm currently on three antidepressants (Cymbalta, Trazodone, & Wellbutrin) which keep me mostly functional unless an unpleasant event or mood triggers depression. And it can be a small event.

I have only recently started trying cannabis (about three weeks). I use it for serious back pain and neuralgic headaches. I have also noted that it helps with depression. I only use a light amount, a couple of puffs from my pipe, generally in the late afternoon, and it seems to keep me emotionally even and mellow. It makes it hard to 'go to that bad place' so I stay above it and live in the moment, usually relaxing and watching tv, playing video games, or reading. It keeps me from dwelling on bad thoughts which bring me down.

I've been smoking daily in the evening and asked hubby if he saw a difference and he said definitely yes. I asked my daughter if she noticed I was high in the evenings and she said she didn't even notice, except that I've been in a better mood.

I don't recommend your sister quit her medication, but you might ask her to try a mostly sativa mmj when she doesn't have to work or drive anywhere (I've been using Pineapple Express). Try it for a week and see how she feels. I don't know what meds she takes, but she may eventually be able to take less or change to something with less side effects. I don't believe for a serious case that she can completely replace prescription meds with mmj. I know I cannot. Lighter cases, yes.

On a side note, since I grow my own in a spare bedroom, and it's filled with bright lights, I've noticed when I spend time in there under the lights I feel less depressed. So sometimes I go in there and read and relax with my buds. :)