Marijuana and CBD

The Young Adults Zoom group hosted a session last night (March 18) with guests Claire Szabo-Casella and Lou Casella. They shared their experiences using cannabis-based products to address a variety of FSHD-related issues. Others shared their experiences as well, for a highly informative and interesting evening.

Take-away lessons include:

• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are both derived from cannabis but have different pharmacological properties.
  • THC is psychoactive and causes the marijuana high
  • CBD is not psychoactive. It has anti-inflammatory effects.
• Know the difference between product types.
  • Sativa gives an energy boost and makes you high
  • Indica is for relaxation, anti-depressant
  • Hybrid combines the effects of sativa and indica
  • CBD (cannabidiol) is anti-inflammatory, used to treat pain
• Start with small doses, go slow. Each person responds differently, so don’t use other people’s dosing information as a guide.
  • A gummy contains about 10 mg of THC (check package). Start with a quarter gummy (2.5 mg). Effects may not be felt for several hours, so if you don’t feel anything, wait at three hours or longer. Increase dose a tiny bit at a time. Modern THC is very potent.
• CBD often comes in an oil. It is applied under the tongue, where it is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream. If you accidentally take too much THC, CBD can counteract it.
• Claire finds that taking sativa before exercises gives her an energy boost. As a result, she has been able to exercise enough to rebuild lost strength. She uses indica in the evening to help her sleep. She describes her experiences in her blog post.
• Z. offered that hybrid THC has been effective for treating ADHD.
• In states that have not approved medical marijuana, one can obtain “Delta-8”, which is a chemically altered form of THC that is not illegal. However, it can be very (and unpleasantly) potent, so people need to approach with the same caution and common sense as when they use THC.
• Obtaining a medical marijuana card can be time-consuming. Recreational gummies are now widely available, and quality control has improved dramatically. Prices are going down was well, due to market competition.
  • Lou and Claire’s preferred brands include Wana and Wyld. They warn that the gummies are tasty and one can accidentally consume too much.
  • Keep gummies securely stored where children cannot get to them!
• Resource: Lou and Claire highly recommend The Patient Education Guide, distributed for free by Curaleaf at many dispensaries.

Disclaimer: Information provided by the FSHD Society does not imply an endorsement of any of the drugs, procedures, treatments, or products discussed. Please consult your own healthcare provider about any medical interventions.