3 ms·

Part of the problem is that, currently, marijuana seems to be the only socially acceptable "treatment" for your mental health. None of the people in this story

by bsder 2y ago

Part of the problem is that, currently, marijuana seems to be the only socially acceptable "treatment" for your mental health. None of the people in this story were using marijuana for pleasure. They were using it heavily as a medical treatment. This is just like lots of people who used alcohol and nicotine for exactly these same reasons for many, many years until those drugs became regarded as socially unacceptable. A better solution is for us all to have genuine medical mental health treatment rather than a bunch of people all relying on ad hoc personal chemical experiments.

drdaeman 2y ago
It also must be widely accessible so there is minimal effort necessary to get help if you suspect you need it. When mental health is not accessible (reasons vary from country to country - in some it's merely a stigma, but in some it can have legal consequences[1], and in some it's simply financially prohibitive) there no surprise folks tend hit a joint, or swig from a bottle, rather than visit a doctor's office. [1] Like a difficulty to obtain or renew a driver license with a medical history of having a diagnosed mental disorder (even if it formally shouldn't be an issue). Which is why I'd even argue for ability to seek help anonymously (if desired so) as a potential requirement. Should help with any stigmas just as well.
readthenotes1 2y ago
You're saying that the kids are using marijuana on a daily basis and a scary amount are taking it as medical treatment? For what? Growing up? It is traumatic and definitely causes anxiety but the people I know that resorted to regular marijuana used to handle the anxiety never learned to handle anxiety...
- SauciestGNU 2y ago
  Cannabis plus SSRIs have allowed me to manage depression/anxiety symptoms as well as ADHD tendencies. It's been genuinely life-changing for me. I suspect that's more along the lines people are talking about.

by bsder 2y ago

drdaeman 2y ago

It also must be widely accessible so there is minimal effort necessary to get help if you suspect you need it. When mental health is not accessible (reasons vary from country to country - in some it's merely a stigma, but in some it can have legal consequences[1], and in some it's simply financially prohibitive) there no surprise folks tend hit a joint, or swig from a bottle, rather than visit a doctor's office. [1] Like a difficulty to obtain or renew a driver license with a medical history of having a diagnosed mental disorder (even if it formally shouldn't be an issue). Which is why I'd even argue for ability to seek help anonymously (if desired so) as a potential requirement. Should help with any stigmas just as well.

readthenotes1 2y ago

You're saying that the kids are using marijuana on a daily basis and a scary amount are taking it as medical treatment? For what? Growing up? It is traumatic and definitely causes anxiety but the people I know that resorted to regular marijuana used to handle the anxiety never learned to handle anxiety...

SauciestGNU 2y ago
Cannabis plus SSRIs have allowed me to manage depression/anxiety symptoms as well as ADHD tendencies. It's been genuinely life-changing for me. I suspect that's more along the lines people are talking about.