Submitted by Victoria L. from Scotland

I am 44 years old, from Scotland. For most of my life, my mind has been busy and easily distracted.

An easily distracted mind has always been a challenge

Not being able to focus or concentrate on one thing for periods of time easily swayed me from my yoga practice to do something else, and I was lacking discipline and focus. This isn’t something new at school; I struggled to finish projects and studying for exams was always very challenging. I started art college after secondary school and was introduced to Cannabis and started consuming it regularly and very quickly noticed a quieting of my mind. I felt focused, calm and also very creative. As an art student at the time, this was very exciting and inspiring for me.

Finding a way out of the feelings and symptoms

It’s not an easy place to be when your mind is constantly noisy, darting around through thoughts and daydreams and never really being able to stop and focus on one thing at a time. It is a distraction. And when I was a teenager, no one really spoke about mental health, or how we are all wired differently. I used to consume a lot of alcohol to try and find peace and block it all out.

Learning about the ECS, terpenes and chemovars

I accidentally came across medicinal Cannabis through a job, and the whole Cannabis community began to open up to me. Although I have used Cannabis all my life, I was using the wrong kind of Cannabis and pairing it with alcohol. I learned about the endocannabinoid system (ECS), terpenes, chemovars, etc and also how powerful the plant is as a medical and therapeutic tool. I had a lot of mentors, people I was learning a lot from just by working in the UK Cannabis space. I met lots of inspiring and strong women who were using Cannabis openly to assist with their mental health and their medical requirements and who had a huge understanding of the plant and how to consume it. I soon realized that the ‘stoner’ image and stigma were very out of date, and there were lots of people within the Cannabis community trying to change that narrative and promote all of the benefits instead. It was a very inspiring time for me.

Passing on my knowledge

I’m now a yoga teacher, and I use Cannabis on a daily basis to assist with my practice, which includes yoga postures, meditation, and breathwork. The connection between my yoga practice and Cannabis consumption is very closely related. It has a spiritual significance. The two have harmoniously existed for thousands of years, and I feel more connected to my mind, body, and breath when I consume.

I openly talk with clients about my use of Cannabis, and I run yoga and CBD workshops where attendees learn about the benefits of cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system. I’m trying to pass on this knowledge to lots of new people in their very different demographics. Not only medical patients can benefit from this plant, but also communities of people who can use it for therapeutic benefits: calming their nervous system, alleviating pain and stiffness in their bodies, assisting with sleep, and, of course, ways to use the plant to deepen their yoga practices.

My consumption methods and amounts change from day to day

As I use my Cannabis medicinally, my consumption methods and amounts change from day to day.

I normally use a dry herb vaporizer with a relaxing variety of low THC and high CBD flower in the morning with my meditation and yoga practice. This helps me sit in meditation a little longer as I sometimes have lower back pain and sciatica numbness. In the afternoon, I’ll use CBD gummies as I prefer not to vape during the day and there are a few good brands out there who make gummies. In the evening, I’ll be back to my vaporizer, typically using a more sedative variety, higher THC and lower CBD. This helps my body prepare for sleep, and as I mentioned, I sometimes suffer from sciatica pain and numbness, and consuming in the evening helps my body relax. I also sometimes use THC oils to help me sleep.

Grounded and pain free!

I used to have a very erratic, noisy mind, which now is much calmer. I used to drink too much alcohol, but that now is no longer an issue. I used to be in a lot of pain, especially my lower back and sciatic nerves - this hasn't gone completely. Still, I now know how to manage and use Cannabis for pain relief and help my body recover. My life has completely changed since using Cannabis as a therapeutic tool.

I feel focused and grounded most days, and I have a clear plan to build my yoga business and open a yoga studio in Edinburgh. My mind feels quiet now. I feel in tune with my body and have an awareness that was never there before. I’m almost pain free and I no longer have a chaotic and confusing mindset.

This is Victoria’s personal story and not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes.

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