Cannabis & Grief
Over the span of the last 15 years, I’ve consumed cannabis for many reasons. Oftentimes it was to alleviate my anxiety, slow down with my son, or have a little more fun on a Saturday night. But more recently, I’ve been faced with another significant reason: grief.
As this post goes out on the blog, I will be at my father’s funeral.
He passed away a few months ago but due to the number of losses my family recently experienced along with the travel it takes for my (large Irish) family to gather, we are just now able to hold a service.
I share this not because my story is unique but rather because it’s not. Most people seek something after experiencing a loss and many come to cannabis.
Here, I want to share what I learned about cannabis and grief in these past few months.
The 3 C’s: Conscious Cannabis Consumption
Conscious use is key. The desire to numb out, escape painful emotions, and forget reality is strong. Been there.
Elevate in order to tap into and manage emotions; even set aside time to be in your feelings about it, during or after cannabis use. Cry, scream, whatever you need but try to avoid self-judgment. Having many feelings, and mixed feelings, is normal.
Some helpful activities for this include:
Journaling
Meditation
Prayer
Personally, spending time with cannabis and calming music during the quiet of the morning is when I am able to feel, and process, my emotions. I often cry during this time. Sometimes I laugh. But I never regret it.
Track Consumption
Tracking not only helps dial in what’s actually giving you the benefits you want but it’s also helpful in determining your intentions.
As we know, conscious use is key so tracking how often and why you’re consuming keeps you from slipping into that escape mentality.
To be completely honest, tracking ain’t easy. Not when you’re dealing with so many other things.
So don’t be hard on yourself and just try your best. Keep up with it until you find your sweet spot and feel confident.
To help you track, check out journals by GoldLeaf or track it in your own journal.
Meds Aren’t the Answer
Generally speaking, antidepressants aren’t prescribed for grief since depression and grief are not one and the same. Same goes for anxiety meds. (These things can co-exist, of course, but that’s not the topic for today).
Cannabis can be a helpful & healthy alternative. Even though everyone responds to cannabis differently (thanks to the endocannabinoid system), here are a few general recommendations that may help:
To manage grief + depressive feelings- look for cannabis products with limonene, or smells citrusy. “Sativa” labeled strains can also be helpful for an uplifting effect.
To help with grief + anxious feelings- check for myrcene or linalool (smells earthy or like lavender). “Indica” labeled strains can be helpful for sleeplessness and promote relaxation.
Cannabis is one tool in the toolbox
Cannabis is an amazing tool but it is just that, one tool in your grief management toolbox (sounds a little corny but stick with me here…)
Along with plant medicine, a strong support system, working with a grief therapist, and practicing regular self-care can help you process, manage, and move forward.
Also, consider working with a cannabis coach to help manage emotions, adapt to changes, and dial in your cannabis consumption to get the most benefits.
Lastly, continue to plan for the future and find happy moments. I often remind myself that I’m grateful for the time I had with my dad and the memories I keep. I hope you can do the same.
