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Most people in the recovery community believe that complete abstinence is the only way to achieve success. While this is true in some cases, it might not be right for everyone. For example, harm reduction is incredibly important, and some people are simply not ready to give up every substance.
That said, there are some limits to harm reduction. You shouldn’t continue to abuse drugs that could cause significant impairments, damage to your health, or life-threatening overdoses. The best forms of harm reduction for addiction recovery are medication-assisted treatment or medical marijuana use.
There is a whole community of people who engage in medical marijuana use during recovery. This lifestyle is referred to as being “California Sober,” or “Cali-Clean.” If you are using medical marijuana to manage chronic pain, a health condition like glaucoma, or a mental health condition like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), your recovery is still valid.
That said, there are some risks to smoking weed in recovery. For example, it is possible to become addicted to marijuana. Additionally, if you engage in chronic weed use, you could be at risk of relapsing on other substances as well.
In this article, you will learn:
- Can you smoke marijuana in recovery?
- What conditions does medical marijuana treat?
- What are some of the health risks marijuana might cause?
- Is medical marijuana a form of harm reduction?
Can You Smoke Weed in Recovery?
If you are recovering from drug abuse, you are probably familiar with the term total abstinence. Most people in the recovery community believe that the only way to stay sober is to refrain from all drugs and alcohol. While there are risks to smoking marijuana in recovery, there are alternative treatment methods to consider.
For example, some people need to use medical cannabis to manage physical health conditions. Medicinal cannabis can treat chronic pain, conditions like glaucoma, and even PTSD. If you are using marijuana to treat a condition, you should not be made to feel like your recovery isn’t valid.
Even further, cannabis can be used as a form of harm reduction, allowing you to continue using a substance without facing considerable health consequences. To explain, other illicit drugs like heroin or meth can lead to life-threatening overdoses, while cannabis does not cause severe adverse effects.
With that being said, some people believe medical marijuana use is too great a risk. It is possible to become addicted to weed, which means you could lose the progress you made during addiction treatment.
The Medical Use of Marijuana: What Conditions Does it Manage?
Medical marijuana is legal in a variety of states, including California, Florida, Oregon, Illinois, and many others. If you live in one of these states and suffer from a qualifying health condition, you can get a license to engage in the medical use of marijuana.
Medical cannabis can treat the following conditions:
Medical Conditions
Medical weed can be used to manage a variety of physical health conditions, including:
- Chronic pain- Commonly used for nerve-related pain
- Nausea and vomiting- Often used to manage nausea and vomiting that stems from cancer treatment
- Appetite loss- Medical weed can be used to manage appetite loss caused by the treatment of cancer or HIV/AIDS
- Muscle spasms and spasticity- Commonly used to manage multiple sclerosis
- Seizure disorders- Cannabis is used to manage seizure disorders like epilepsy
- Glaucoma- Cannabis can be used to relieve eye pressure caused by glaucoma
Mental Health Conditions
Depending on the laws in your state, medical weed can be used to manage the following mental health conditions:
- Anxiety- In some cases, medical weed can lessen anxiety and tension
- Post-traumatic stress disorder- Medical weed can lessen symptoms of PTSD, like insomnia, and reduce the frequency of flashbacks
- Depression- Weed can improve moods by causing euphoria
- Insomnia- Weed causes relaxation and fatigue, which can help people with insomnia sleep
- Eating Disorders- Cannabis can increase appetite, which is helpful among people with eating disorders
- Tourette’s syndrome- Marijuana might reduce tics in certain patients with Tourette’s
It’s important to note that if your family has a history of mental illnesses like schizophrenia or psychosis, using marijuana could increase your risk of developing these conditions.
Are There Health Risks to Smoking Marijuana?
If you’ve recently completed an addiction treatment program, you might be wondering if it is okay to use marijuana. You should avoid using marijuana if you are simply trying to get high, as this would count as a relapse. Additionally, there are some health risks to be aware of.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have cannabis use disorder.”[1]
In addition to the risk of developing a substance dependence on weed, the health risks include:[2]
- Cognitive impairment
- Potential damage to the lungs from smoking
- Memory issues
- Trouble retaining new information
- Attention problems
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Higher risk of mental health concerns like psychosis
While there are health risks associated with marijuana, it is less risky to use than other drugs. Substance dependence and mental health decline are the greatest dangers of using weed, especially when you are in recovery from drug addiction. That said, medical use of marijuana might outweigh the dangers when you consider the risks of leaving certain conditions unmanaged.
Is Medical Marijuana a Form of Harm Reduction?
Yes, medical use of marijuana is considered a form of harm reduction. While it is an addictive substance, it can manage a wide range of conditions that could damage your health without treatment. If you engage in medical use of marijuana to treat glaucoma or PTSD, it might actually increase your chances of long-term sobriety from other drugs.
In addition to managing health conditions, the medical use of marijuana could lessen cravings for other addictive substances like heroin, meth, crack, cocaine, and more. In other words, weed could make you more likely to refrain from using the drugs you are recovering from.
If you are going to engage in medical use of weed, you must remain open about your consumption to a therapist. Mental health professionals and treatment providers who specialize in addiction care can help you balance your cannabis consumption with your recovery. They’ll teach you how to use medical weed responsibly, without abusing it in the process.
The Bottom Line: Should You Use Weed in Addiction Recovery?
Deciding whether to use weed in recovery is a complicated choice. You will have an increased risk of becoming addicted to marijuana and developing a psychological dependence. However, if you are using it for purely medical reasons, it might be more beneficial than harmful.
When trying to make this decision, you need to loop in your therapist. They can help you decide whether the increased risks outweigh the benefits of marijuana use. Additionally, if you decide to engage in cannabis use, your therapist can help you avoid addictive behavior during the process.
The use of marijuana in recovery is a very personal choice. While people can give you advice, you are the only one who knows whether it is truly helping you or harming you.
Get Connected to an Addiction Treatment Center
If you are suffering from addiction, you are going down a dangerous path. For example, certain drugs put you at risk of life-threatening overdoses, which are extremely dangerous and could lead to death. Thankfully, addiction treatment centers can help you achieve long-term recovery.
Contact THC Recovery today to learn more about how we can help you recover from addiction and help you decide whether medical use of marijuana is right for you.
References:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Understanding Your Risk for Cannabis Use Disorder
- The Cannabis Control Commission: Health Effects
- National Institute of Health (NIH): Medical marijuana users in substance abuse treatment
