the benefits are less usage of prescription pain medication regaining an appetite far fewer effects from stress and anxiety depression and it helps with apathy greater empathy for others with like problems and i could probably quit taking some of the 15+ other medications i am now taking. another benefit is the time your mind is occupied with while growing learning and having someone to talk to who never talks back but show their appreciation by growing up big and strong. the down side of mj use is. uhh is. is. oh yeah some short term memory loss. there are some things i'd rather forget than be troubled with every day. another down side is the cost unless you are allowed to grow this medicine for yourself. and of course you do not drive under the influence of marijuana. the first problem with mj's use is the amount of time the chemicals remain in your body. even though you are no longer "high" from mj it will still be found in a ua or blood test and even when the effects have left your brain you may still be found "guilty of being under the influence unless you have an enlightened judge. one other problem is doctors. i treat with a pain clinic and if i turn in a "dirty" ua i am assured will receive no further pain prescription pain medication. i'm not sure if this would be legal; to allow a person to have to go through withdrawals from oxycontin and hydrocodone. i've done it once when i lost my bottle of pain pills and it was not enjoyable. when i use pot i use far fewer of them and i doubt now that i would suffer nearly as much as i would when going without. there are no withdrawal from marijuana for me anyway. and i cannot believe anyone could actually be called and consider themselves "addicted" to mj. it is the loss of being allowed it's use that brings on added stress and more depression. after having used mj for the prior 28 years for a low back injury and before having to switch doctors i was just fine. close to the same has now occurred in the mobile home park where i reside; facing eviction if i were to be found "guilty" of doing what the state tells me i can do. i have now taken a don't ask-don't tell attitude. i will use again and i will grow again; with or without anyone's permission even and i hate this if i have to lie to health care workers. i have this problem because i've been honest with my physicians. never again will i mention marijuana. this sucks!
what are advantages/disadvatages in taking med marijuana. i have chronic daily headaches (chronic headache syndrome) ptsd anxiety/frequent anxiety attacks which lead to twitching and convulsions depression migraines convulsions and more. i have been taking zoloft for my depression and i have 4 different therapists/psychologists/psychotherapists which i all frequently see. i don't like taking mainstream medications because i don't like putting harmful chemicals in my body and i don't like the way they make me feel sometimes.