Cannabis Wellness
The Forgotten Patient,
Why Caregivers Deserve Cannabis Healing Too
by Sammie Pyle, RN, Cannabis Nurse Educator
When people think about medical cannabis, the focus is usually on the patient— the one living with cancer, chronic pain, seizures, or another tough diagnosis. And don’ t get me wrong, the patient absolutely deserves that attention. But what I’ ve found in my work as a cannabis nurse is that there’ s another group quietly carrying just as much weight— the caregivers. The ones who get up at 2 a. m. to check if their loved one is breathing. The ones who drive back and forth to every appointment. The ones who answer every“ Can you help me?” no matter how exhausted they are. Caregivers don’ t usually get asked,“ How are you doing?” They’ re expected just to keep going, keep showing up, keep sacrificing. Let me tell you— I see you! And I believe with my whole heart that you can benefit from cannabis too.
Caregiving is a love story, but it’ s also heavy. I’ ve sat with wives who haven’ t had a full night’ s sleep in months. Daughters who are terrified of what the future looks like. Parents who have put their entire lives on hold for their child’ s care. It takes a toll. Most caregivers I talk to admit they’ re running on fumes. Stress, worry, insomnia, and that bone-deep fatigue that no nap could ever fix— it all piles up. Some even develop their own health problems: migraines, digestive issues, back pain, or high blood pressure, all triggered by the unrelenting stress of caregiving. And yet, caregivers will often feel guilty even thinking about their own needs. But here’ s what I remind them of: you are a patient, too. Your body, mind, and spirit are also in the thick of this. You deserve care just as much as the person you’ re caring for.
Cannabis isn’ t just for pain, seizures, or nausea. It can also be a lifeline for the anxiety, sleepless nights, and stress that caregivers battle every day.
● For sleep: a little THC, CBN, or CBD-heavy tincture before bed can finally let you rest without the groggy hangover of other sleep meds. A full night of sleep can make the difference between starting the day already drained or waking up with enough energy to face what lies ahead.
● For anxiety: CBD and calming terpenes like linalool( think those lavender vibes) can help take the edge off racing thoughts. Even just a microdose can help calm that“ fight or flight” feeling caregivers live with day after day.
● For energy: microdosing uplifting strains with limonene or pinene can give you a gentle boost to get through those long days, especially when it feels like your loved one needs something from you every five minutes.
● For stress and tension: an inhaler, a gummy, or a tincture can relax muscles, ease headaches, and remind your body how to exhale again. That moment of release can carry you through another shift, another night, another hard conversation. This isn’ t about“ escaping.” It’ s about finding balance so you can keep showing up for your loved one without losing yourself in the process.
And then there is“ caregiver’ s guilt.” Let’ s talk about it. It’ s real, and I hear it all the time:“ I don’ t have time to use cannabis” or“ I don’ t want to take away from my loved one’ s medicine.” But let me flip that for you. If you’ re running on empty, how much can you really give? Taking care of yourself doesn’ t take away from them; it strengthens you so you can keep going. Cannabis can be that five minutes of peace in the chaos. A small dose before bed. A couple of drops of oil under your tongue. A gummy after you finally get your loved one settled. That’ s not selfish; it’ s survival.
If you’ re a caregiver reading this, I want you to know something— you matter. You’ re not invisible, even if it feels that way. I see your tired eyes. I see your worry. I see the love that keeps you going even when you’ re worn down to the bone. I want you to know that you deserve relief, too. You deserve sleep. You deserve calm. You deserve the same compassion and care that you so freely give every single day.
24 October 2025