As someone with chronic illness, I have turned to cannabis out of pure desperation after years of struggling to manage my pain. So I’m going to do a little on why I turned to cannabis and what it has done for me. #CannabisReformIreland
(brain fog is thick today so bear w/me)

The first time I tried it, I had been vomiting for a fortnight straight, unable to keep water down, severely dehydrated I felt like death. My pain was out of control bc I couldn’t keep tablets down. I was sent to hosp and left in A&E for 4 hours waiting for hydration. 2/

I was in agony, I was exhausted, I was totally drained, I had no strength. I left - I couldn’t sit there waiting any longer and I collapsed outside the hospital. I got a drive home, my bf shocked nothing was done decided it was time to try cannabis - we had no other option. 3/

An hour later he came back with weed. I hadn’t smoked before (bar twice in my teens) so he put the tiniest bit into a rollie for me and gave me two small drags. I instantly felt a soothing/calming sensation in my joints & bones that were in agony previously. My nausea settled. 4/

I started sipping water and an ice lolly and for the first time in weeks I didn’t get sick. I took small drags over a few hours and tried to eat some crackers and berries after each drag. Within a few hours (one mini joint later) I was getting my strength back and felt relief 5/

All over my body. Before bed that night I wanted mash potatoes and gravy. I slept sound & woke the next day refreshed, my body was calm, my pains not as bad as they usually are in the morning. And I was hungry (I’m never hungry).
It’s hard to overstate the effect cannabis had 6/

In 24 hours I went from thinking I was dying, to feeling good and my pain went from a 8 to a 3. I could move around and shower, change the bedding, and eat!! I couldn’t believe it- I couldn’t believe I hadn’t tried it sooner (even when people told me to.)
7/

But the problem I soon found was I was asking people to put themselves at risk to get it for me. If I’m home sick I can’t go out to buy cannabis. This led to one of my friends getting chargedfor possession, for drugs that were for me. I paid the fine but it was still a strike 8/

Overall I know I would have a completely different quality of life if I was able to use cannabis daily as a complementary med. It gives me mental clarity (reduces brain fog), soothes my body, gives me an appetite, improves my sleep - all which = reduced anxiety and stress. 9/

I have been cocooning for over a year so access has been extremely limited to rare occasions. But when I have smoked for a week and gone off it for a week the contrast is stark! There is no comparison to the relief I get from cannabis. 10/

It was what pushed me to start a degree bc for the first time in 6 years I felt I could manage my pain to a level that would enable me to start living again. It finally got me exercising for the first time in years without being crippled and in agony. I couldn’t believe it. 11/

Prohibition hurts. It hurts seeing the quality of life people with the same conditions as me living full lives bc they have legal access to cannabis. It hurts that the Irish gov don’t take the experiences of patients more seriously. 12/

It hurts they’d rather criminalise me instead of help me live a full life.
It hurts that the anti cannabis lobby have full control over the minister for drug “reform” (still waiting on the reform btw) It hurts I have to turn to dealers for what I consider medicine. 13/

All this while alcohol is encouraged despite all the negative and dangerous consequences it has on families, communities and our health. But a that has a positive effect on so many lives, who’s benefits to me can not be overstated is prohibited. #CannabisReformIreland 14/14