Maximum Yield Cannabis USA December 2017 / January 2018 | Page 44

Luck
heal
“
Another important aspect of his legal
medicinal cannabis use is the fact that
he doesn’t have to try and find it on the
streets or the black market.”
When I asked him what he feels is the
main benefit of switching to cannabis
therapy as a treatment, his response
was one I’ve heard many times from
others throughout the country. “The
best part is breaking free of the
dependency to prescription opioid
medication. Cannabis helps provide
relief and reduces the pain and stress
on my back muscles. It does so without
any side effects, besides hunger,” he
says. Some of the cannabis strains
he utilizes contain higher levels of
THC, while others are almost solely
CBD and allow him to medicate on a
daily basis. “I use flowers often, but oil
and wax concentrates are also mixed
into my personal daily use of the
medication,” he adds.
Another important aspect of his legal
medicinal cannabis use is the fact
that he doesn’t have to try and find
it on the streets or the black market,
which essentially would make him
a criminal in the eyes of the justice
system. Getting his medication from a
dispensary makes him feel better about
his choice and he feels the workers
there truly help him pick the varieties
that are best suited for his needs. “They
(the budtenders) are very educated in
adjusting and fine-tuning things to fit
my personal medical needs.”
I asked Lucky if he felt there should
be any changes made to Illinois’s MMJ
program and he feels that there should
be more information available on
how to pursue approval for a patient
card. “I had a difficult time receiving
mine because my doctors were not
supportive of cannabis therapy. It
took some time before I was actually
recommended to the right doctor, one
that believed in the value of cannabis
as a viable medical treatment,” he
says. Even though patients no longer
technically need a written physician’s
approval, Lucky is quick to point
out that having one will make the
approval process go much smoother.
44
grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
And, not surprisingly, larger, more
populated areas and cities tend to be
more liberal and have doctors that
“seem to realize that this is not about
getting drugs; it’s about understanding
that this is a medication that can
actually work and improve the quality
of a person’s life in a more natural
way.” As cannabis continues to
prove itself as a viable alternative
to traditional pharmaceutical drug
treatments, hopefully the plant’s
stigma will be lifted and more health
care professionals will recommend it
for their patients. For more information
on the medicinal cannabis program
in Illinois, visit norml.org/legal/item/
Illinois-medical-marijuana.
Kyle L. Ladenburger is a freelance
garden writer who has worked in the
gardening/hydroponics industry for over
a decade. As an avid indoor and outdoor
gardener, he is well-versed in nearly all
types of growing methods with an overall
focus on sustainability and maintaining
healthy soils. He holds a strong conviction
that growing one’s own food is a
powerful way to change lives and the
world for the better.
myhydrolife.com