Early on in the pandemic I started vaping cannabis. It had a massive impact on my mental health and made me feel like a normal human being for the first time in my life, which was bizarre.
Fast forward to August of this year and I get diagnosed with ADHD. All the missing pieces of the puzzle fall into place and everything makes total sense. I’m settled on Elvanse now and it’s working wonders for me.
The only issue is that once my medication wears off in the evening my hyperactive mind kicks back in and I have real trouble switching off and going to sleep. That’s something I’ve always struggled with. So, every night before bed I vape a little weed and that helps send me off. I also don’t like having plans in the evening because I don’t want the ‘old me’ hanging out with people. I’m sick of that guy.
I found this sub a little while ago and decided to look into getting a MC prescription. I contacted Jorja Emerson to enquire about getting an assessment. This is from their response to me today:
“In order to satisfy the guidelines on medical cannabis treatment, an adequate trial on two licensed treatments for the condition they are seeking help for is required - if you have tried only one treatment you may not be eligible unfortunately.”
What a stupid fucking rule that is. What am I supposed to do here?
I’ve tried so many things for insomnia in the past that haven’t worked for me - melatonin, meditation, mindfulness, all sorts of drink concoctions, lavender pillows etc. Anything the NHS prescribes for insomnia is a temporary fix and is therefore completely pointless.
What other treatments am I expected to get for ADHD? The waiting list for counselling services is insane. I take a bunch of supplements and I put time into ensuring I have a decent diet and exercise regime.
I don’t want to have to keep breaking the law just so I can feel like a functional human being, and I don’t much like the idea of supporting the illegal drug trade given how negatively it affects so many people’s lives. However, it’s looking like I don’t have much choice.
Any advice on this would be very much appreciated. I’m so tired of having to jump through all of these fucking hoops just to feel normal.
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7 comments
foztrott
- 6d
Rep: 6494 Lvl: Gold
I guess you could complain to your gp that you can't sleep, get something for that and try applying for MC again next month or something! My GP records had no record of my anxiety/depression, or sleeping issues (that I've had since childhood), but a list of meds I'd previously been prescribed and JEC were more than happy with that because it showed that I'd tried previous conventional treatment methods to no success.
I hate to say this but if they gave MC to anyone and everyone who had tried homeopathic remedies for their complaints, the whole system and it's legitimacy would be called into question.
I had to go through half a dozen different meds to help with sleep before the GP would even consider letting me try the ONE prescription sleeping med that actually worked for me, and I was only allowed 2 weeks worth of that before I was told I couldn't have any more! 🙄
It is, after all, supposed to be a "last resort". 😁🌿
3
foztrott
- 6d
Rep: 6494 Lvl: Gold
Have you shown them proof of the treatments you mention? I'd try giving them a call, going through your past treatments and seeing which they can accept. Unfortunately, 2 treatments before trying med cannabis is a fairly standard requirement.
3
GruzT
- 6d
Rep: 3926 Lvl: Gold
Isn't insomnia one of the things you can get a prescription for? I probably shouldn't say this, but you might need to play the system a bit. I am registered as an anxiety patient, which I have tried many NHS medicines for, but I also use cannabis for insomnia and pain so I make sure I have something that helps those as well as the anxiety.
Try a different clinic and ask to be treated for insomnia. If you are mainly using in the evening it sounds like you probably like more indica leaning strains anyway, which should help you.
Best of luck.
2
Stort
- 6d
Rep: 4229 Lvl: Gold
I didn’t qualify for MC to treat insomnia, it was for pain. But when we did the consultation I described that I wanted something that would help me sleep. They prescribed me a high THC oil specifically to help with sleep.
1
Dudley86
- 6d
Rep: 5933 Lvl: Gold
It's like everything -there needs to be a rule (S) or some (the minority albeit) will abuse this. MC is deemed to be a last resort or used as a medicine 'off-license' in medical conditions where nothing else has helped.
If there is something else on the NHS you can get it free (free prescriptions in Scotland) or at least a lot cheaper than a private prescription will cost.
But, if like many of us you have a condition that nothing the GP has offered has helped, then you just need to prove that to the clinic - get a copy of your summary of care (SOC) or copy of records (showing past medication list) from your GP or NHS app (if in England). I appreciate this feels like jumping through hoops - but if there's something the NHS can offer that helps then that's what they want the chance to do. Whilst weed is good for many things, and I salute this amazing herb, it's not for everyone. So, there needs to be some safeguarding or else it would just be like a shop and not a private health care clinic.
Sorry for your frustration - keep going, there will be a way to be eligible if it is the only thing that helps...you just need to prove that to the clinic.
1
FreshRoll
- 6d
Rep: 4398 Lvl: Gold
Have you had any kind of relative treatment CBT/Talking therapy, therapy, or other,
Also other clinic will accept you, I have not taken any meds and have been on 2 clinics with ADHD/Tied in chronic pain from Hyper Mobility I have literally only had CBT and Chiropractor as treatment and I have as I say been accepted by 2 different clinics
1
ZebraGurl
- 6d
Rep: 3791 Lvl: Gold
This is why I gave up. Damaging your body with pharmaceuticals is the bar for entry. What if I don't want to take tablets every day?
1