Cannabis, CBD and how I shook the stigma

From a very young age all the way into my 20’s government's, elders and many public figures preached about the harm of using marajuana and cannabis related products. There were constant TV ads and built in curriculum in schools trying to tell me the harm this plant can do to me and to my life. To be honest. It worked. I grew up thinking that people who use this plant in all of its forms were drug addicts, lazy and would not be successful.

Over the last 5-7 years that attitude has shifted. Legalization in Canada as well as much more advanced and dedicated research has come out to show the stigma attached to the use of cannabis through most of my childhood was in fact manufactured and mostly false. In this blog I will outline what changed my attitude towards cannabis products, what and how I use and lastly the benefits I have seen and enjoyed from it.

While I still have reservations about some of the culture associated with cannabis over the last 5 years I have not only become open and accepting to cannabis product but also a user of cannabis products myself. But what changed? I grew up seeing friends as well as many others close to me “Smoking weed”. I viewed them as lazy and unsuccessful. Drug addicts. This is what I was taught in school and through media. But I was so wrong and I apologize to anyone I’ve ever viewed this way. It was not until I began listening to podcasts my opinion began to shift. Mainly Joe Rogan. For those who don’t know Joe rogan has one of the top podcasts in the world. He is an actor, comedian and colour commentator as well as successful podcaster and investor. He constantly would have guests on. Smoking and regularly talking about cannabis and the multiple benefits and uses. At first I shrugged it off.

I was still skeptical. It was not until I had suffered a severe back injury and all options had failed I began to seek alternative medicine. I was desperate. So I began to educate myself. And after much searching I found cannabis and more specifically CBD. I explored the multiple uses. Both psychedelic and medicinal. I learned about the various uses of the plant and how it is so strong its used to make different types of steel and many other products. I began to see what a wonderful plant and product this could be. So I dug very deep into the literature. For those who are skeptical about anything. Research and education is your best friend not judgement. I began to put the Joe rogan podcasts on repeat. Listening to the guests and experts he had on. When I began to loose the judgment and moved towards acceptance it was only then I began to discover how many people around me who are super successful enjoy cannabis in some form. I was sold. I looked up clinics and went to talk to a cannabis doctor about potentially using CBD. He assessed and agreed I would be a good candidate and thus my journey began. It was not until I turned off the eternal noise. The media and messaging. I looked at the evidence. I did the work myself to find my own truth about cannabis. And I discovered something I would now use forever.

How I use cannabis is very simple. I have never smoked a cigarette or cannabis in my life. I just never had the urge and never will. This would not change so I had to find alternative methods. What I found was CBD oil. CBD comes in many forms but the one I use is a kind that contains pure CBD and no THC. A few years ago a friend who’s a pro fighter gave me a 1:1 CBD pill to take after I suffered a severe concussion. Well I took it and was pretty much high for 3 days. I did not enjoy the effect THC put on my brain. Over the last 2 years I have suffered 2 significant injuries. In 2018 I tore my pectoral muscle and in 2020 I tore my Achilles tendon. Prior to this I had knee and shoulder surgery as well. I was prescribed oxycontin for one and perquisites for the other.

Back in university I had been prescribed oxycontin for a shoulder surgery. The surgery itself was simple and the recovery was straight forward. Where I actually got lucky was not getting addicted to oxycontin. After the initial recovery from the surgery I had used a few oxycotins. Probably 3 -5 for the first 2 painful weeks post operation. About 2 months later I had finished my exams prior to the Christmas break early and had to wait a few days for my roommate to finish up his semester as he was my ride back to Toronto. This period of time could have changed my life forever and I’m so glad that it did not. While waiting for my roommate I had time so I did as any college student did. I played video games and had some drinks to go along. Well I also began to take a oxycontin and try to “beat the pill” by not sleeping and playing Call of Duty all day and night. This behaviour continued all holiday break until finally the pills ran out. I was very lucky. For me I don’t have an addictive personality so I basically said “oh we'll party over”. But now in hindsight I very narrowly escaped a potential opioid addiction.

That experience shaped how I chose to live my life. And I promised myself I would not use any psychedelic or pain killer ever again. This was very naive. I ended up going through 3 major surgeries since. For the next 2 surgeries ACL and pectoral I stuck to Tylenol and ibuprofen. What I noticed was I recovered fine yes but so many other qualities of life were sacrificed enduring pain during the recovery. I could have been in less pain, more relaxed, in a better mood and enhanced my recovery had I not try to “tough it out”.

Fast forward to this past year in 2020. I had mistakenly ordered a CBD oil with a high THC content. So basically it got you high. So I accidentally took a normal dose with this new batch and well you can guess the rest. I got hight lol. Here’s the thing though. This time I woke up the next day. Felt fine. I was relaxed and felt amazing. What I had now figured out is the benefit of the other part of cannabis. The THC. With CBD oils I’m able to control the effect it has on my body. I don’t have to get high. But with control I can take enough to get a therapeutic effect. Thus in 2020 I suffer a freak accident when running and tore my Achilles tendon. So instead of using the prescribed opioids or toughening it out I used the the CBD with a high THC content. I was able to effectively control the pain without sacrificing my quality of life. I worked everyday after the surgery even during the difficult part, 6 weeks in the cast. I was able to wake up each day pain free and run and build a business during a pandemic.

So I began to experiment. How much was too much and how much was enough so that I could relax from my hard sport as a MMA fighter and trainer as well as my duties as a husband and father. I found that healthy balance and it has been life changing. I can now safely say I use CBD oil with THC every night and it helps me relax. It helps me stretch my muscles and joints. It helps me formulate my thoughts, focus on tasks and most importantly sleep through the night.

I now receive the benefits from the anti inflammatory effects of the pure non psychedelic CBD during my day and between training sessions and work. And now I am able to tap into a controlled version of the psychedelic THC CBD in the evenings which has not only enhanced my health but in turn my life. Because of the better sleep quality Ive had the energy to grown my business. Secure revenue and a living for my family during a pandemic in one of the most hard hit industries ( the fitness and health industry). If I didn’t have the use of CBD to aide me through injures and the turmoil being a combat sport athlete as well as a fitness and health service provider I’m not sure I would have been in the position I am today. I would have surely had to quit professional athletics and possibly had to pursue another career as I would not have been able to keep myself in shape to be a legitimate fitness trainer.

Im very glad I ran into this product and shrugged the stigma around it. Im proof that you can enjoy some from of cannabis product and live life to its fullest and be successful. I hope my experiences have shed some more openness and can fuel more discussion about the benefits of cannabis and other organic medicines like it.