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Medical Cannabis And StigmaPregnancy, Pediatric & Wellness

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At a recent meeting of the New Hampshire Thera-peutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board, an invi-tation was extended for medical cannabis patients, health care providers, and other interested public to share their experiences, insights, and input about the state’s medical cannabis program.

One of the points of conversation was the misun-derstanding and stigma surrounding cannabis use. Many patients are reluctant to tell even their own family and friends about their use of cannabis. Some are uncomfortable telling their doctors that they are interested in or already using cannabis to help with symptoms of their illness. Cannabis users are still very often characterized as irresponsible, stoned, pot-heads.

Many patients wish that there was more under-

standing and acceptance of cannabis as medicine, and less judgement and stereotyping. Why should someone feel ashamed or fearful about using a plant medicine with an excellent safety profile and medici-nal qualities? Why does this stigma persist? There was agreement all around that there is a great need for more public conversation and education about medical cannabis.

To understand the role of cannabis in modern medicine, and where much of the stigma and mis-understanding arise from, it is very helpful to know something about cannabis in history. The story of prohibition of cannabis is a fascinating, surprising, and unsettling one. Learning about it can help to bring wider respect and support for the use of this remarkably therapeutic plant.

Add to this education an understanding of how the compounds in cannabis interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system – the physiological system of cell messengers and receptors essential to maintain-ing health. Top it off with a recognition that many of the symptoms that patients find cannabis especially helpful for – chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, and dementia – can be challenging to treat safely and effectively with our current medicines. Good education about medical cannabis is enlightening and reassuring, and stigma and judgement are hard to justify.

Many people believe that cannabis must be dan-gerous because the federal government has placed such severe restrictions on growing and making use of the plant. Many people’s opinions were influenced by the “Reefer Madness” propaganda of the 1960s and the inclusion of cannabis as an enemy target in the “War on Drugs” that began in the 1970s. These beliefs have become so entrenched in societal attitudes, they persist despite the fact that there is little scientific evidence to back them up. There never was.

Cannabis has been used historically in vari-ous forms – as teas, tinctures, oils, and burned for inhalation – to treat many conditions. From very specific targeted effects – such as reducing seizures, decreasing nausea, improving appetite, supporting sleep, easing chronic pain, and alleviating debilitating mental health effects of trauma – to general effects of uplifting mood and perspective for those with chronic stress and illness, cannabis can be good medicine.

So where does this stigma and misunderstanding come from?

Cannabis is one of the oldest plants used by hu-mans, farmed and used medically, recreationally, and spiritually for thousands of years. Throughout histo-ry, attempts at cannabis prohibition have been aimed at social control. Racist, religious, and nationalistic attitudes have been perpetuated and falsely justified by targeting the use of cannabis and criminalizing it.

Rooted in traditional medicinal uses, cannabis was brought to colonized areas of the world often by those the dominating class feared and wanted to maintain control over. These people may have come from places where cannabis was an accepted, wel-comed, and empowering plant medicine for physical, mental, and spiritual health. Prohibiting cannabis use and persecuting those who used it was a strategy for disempowerment.

Unfounded beliefs and stigma surrounding can-nabis are slow to change. Fortunately, there are excel-lent sources of information and guidance. Scientific and medical research around the world is robust

HealingPerspectives

with Nadine Hottat

and supports the benefits, while illuminating and clarifying precautions and wise, careful use. Medical cannabis patients have many reasons to feel empowered and sup-ported in their use of this medicine.

N a d i n e H o t t a t , M S N , A P R N , C N M i s a n a d v a n c e d p r a c t i c e r e g i s t e r e d nurse specializing in integrative medicine and in medical cannabis. She can be reached at Enlighten Health Care: www.nadinehottat.com.

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