Oh--sorry for the above dissertation.

I forgot to add why we metabolize pot differently as individuals---it lies in the P450 enzyme system of the liver--there are common genetic differences there that will account for some of being ultra sensitive and others of us feeling nothing. Some people are ultra rapid metabolizer and some have a ultra slow metabolism. Most however fall in the middle "normal" range.

Different alleles of the P450 such as CYP2D6 and CYP2C19--are responsible for the metabolism of many psych meds, including marijuana. There are some substances/other medications that speed up metabolism and others that will shut down metabolism (and thus interfere with proper dosage)

There is actually a genetic test for P450 metabolism that came out a couple of months ago. It is very expensive--but if you are having a horrible time finding a med or med combo that works, that just might help you.

niteowl, just an fyi, I was referring to my Primary Care Physician, not my pdoc - guess I didn't make that clear. He has nursed me through mono and migraines and PTSD and a million other things, and as I said, he tries his very best to help me deal with my bipolar through lifestyle changes instead of just pushing pills. He's a solid guy.

I have tried to cut back on my meds, and the results were NOT GOOD. I just think everybody needs to find their own treatment regimen, and I don't believe that cannabis belongs in mine. That is MY opinion for myself. My doctor may give me advice, but he knows that I make the decisions. :)

snipelfritz, where I live i could get a legitimate prescription for medical marijuana, my doctor would write it for me for something other than bipolar to get it approved if he thought it would be beneficial. So all of my paranoia would in fact be internal/caused by the drug, as my possession and use of it would be entirely legal.

Also, Valerian was never helpful for me - I did give it a fair trial, and I can't take St. John's Wort because it renders hormonal contraceptives considerably less effective, and I REALLY don't need to get pregnant right now!

"organizes your thoughts" - Yes, I can relate to this very well.

This is what I think they mean by it "improves neurocognitive function" for some bipolar patients.

http://www.rxmarijuana.com/mood_stablizer.htm

http://www.letfreedomgrow.com/cmu/depression_and_cannabis.htm

have access to endless amounts, but in the end it added to my depression and panic attaks. It works for several people I know...everyone is different.

Everyone is different - gee um think we know that :P I use it (with neuro's blessing) for the BP and also for pain management - it doesnt crank my mania up like the morphine does. I have been told tho thru the years had I been BP2 instead of 1 that at least the pdocs would not have been so on board with me smoking it


If it works for you and you are smoking for a medical reason and use caution then my hats off to you

I used to use it all the time when I was in high school, but it just burned me out. I don't like it. It just made me tired and sleepy, and I actually enjoy when I'm manic because I get up and do stuff and if I smoke pot it just slows me down. When I did it everyday in high school I went into a deep depression, so if i do ever smoke it, its just once in a great while.

i try it every now and again, when the mood strikes. used to be a regular blazer, but not so much these days. whenever i try it, it makes me uber anxious and paranoid, but i like the come down a lot... helps me sleep when i really need it.

I hear a lot of people talking about getting blazed/stoned and then getting burned out. That is because those people were using cannabis as an intoxicant. They were using it in a very "American' fashion, by over indulging.

Most Americans don't understand the concept of a "small dose" when it comes to recreational drugs.

Take alcohol ... Americans (on average) overindulge with alcohol compared to Europeans. Even though small amounts of alcohol have been proven to be beneficial. Most Americans prefer to get wasted rather than just have a glass or two with the evening meal

This ideology applies doubly to cannabis because you can't 'pass out' from overindulging on it. You can fall asleep, but you will never have a 'black out' episode with cannabis nor will you ever get cannabis poisoning from it.

Using cannabis as a medicine means only using enough to get the desired effects. Usually this means only taking one or two hits rather than smoking until you can't talk.

I don't get 'stoned' when I use cannabis. I have a vaporizer and only take a couple of hits as needed throughout the day. I end up smoking the equivalent of about 2-3 smallish joints throughout the day, 2-3 hits every 30-60 minutes. More if I'm going to be in a social environment where my anxiety is more likely to manifest.

I could easily smoke it all at once and get stoned/blazed/high but then I wouldn't get much done during the day.

I think this is a distinction that many former 'stoners' can't comprehend .... using just a little weed rather than smoking as much as you can in one sitting