Submitted by Nicole B. from Georgia

I am 43, I live in Georgia; I have been using medicinal Cannabis since 2017 after being diagnosed with HIV.

Living with a dual diagnosis brought unique challenges

Challenges I was facing were inflammation from HIV & Kidney disease that caused brain fog and pain throughout the body.

Things that I tried before I came to Cannabis

Cannabis and an alkaline food regimen helped me the most. My alkaline diet followed Dr. Sebi's food list. Only alkaline fruits, vegetables, grains, spices, and a blend of alkaline herbs from Honduras. In his teachings, Dr. Sebi explains that Cannabis is an alkaline herb, but smoking it does not allow the therapeutic properties to be absorbed. In order for Cannabis to be used for optimal health, no heat can be applied. It should be utilized in its raw form to make tea or a tincture in order to receive the most potent therapeutic properties. I was not as successful utilizing Cannabis and keeping my numbers regulated unless I was on a plant-based alkaline diet.

Taking the HIV Medication for the last 7 years slowly weakened my kidneys

Now I am faced with end-stage renal failure, because the HIV attacks my kidneys and the medication for the HIV weakens the kidneys. I took Triumeq when I first got diagnosed with HIV, which is a mixture of 3 anti-retroviral medications in one pill.

Over the last 3 years, I have been prescribed Dovato, a 2-medication combo in one pill. The only allopathic medication that I have taken over the years was the ARV treatment. I refused from the beginning to take steroids or pain medicine. I rely on my diet and lifestyle to minimize the side effects of the virus and the medication.

I was guided to try Cannabis by my ancestors

My father was a Rasta man and my Caribbean heritage allowed me to see the plant for what it is, medicine. The Rastafari community has long utilized the plant for its therapeutic and spiritual benefits, which has isolated them from society. When I discovered the non-profit Minorities for Medical Marijuana, I learned so much more about medical Cannabis. I am grateful to the organization's founder, Roz McCarthy, for mentoring me to become an effective patient advocate. I also discovered the teachings of the Knox Doctors during this time and would like to recognize them for creating an education platform that helped me to learn more about the ECS. Everything else I learned from my own research and patient stories from around the world.

Because I come from Caribbean heritage, the stigma in my family was not there

My father was the first adult I smoked Cannabis with. In the Caribbean, “ganja” is a healing herb. There is a stigma even amongst Caribbean people that the Rasta is a troublemaker, they buck against Babylon, and part of this rebellious nature is smoking the ganja, which, according to colonial law, is illegal. Not because it is harmful, but because it encourages the user to connect to God, to a higher calling, and to speak truth to power. This kind of thinking and behavior was seen as a threat to the colonial construct. So in order to not allow this enlightened group of people to grow their following the colonial powers criminalized the plant and criminalized being a rasta.

For periods throughout history, on different islands, being a Rasta was illegal. They could be shot and killed, arrested without question. Wearing your hair long in locs, adorning the Rasta colors and symbols were all banned. Many of them were forced into exile in their own countries or forced to leave.

My family always knew I consumed Cannabis

By deciding to be an advocate and speak publicly about my usage worried them. The doctors were all ignorant to how the plant could be used therapeutically by smoking it. In their minds that was the only way to consume the plant. I had to educate my doctors about the many different modalities of consuming cannabis and provide research papers to support my preferred treatment. Since the (CSA) Controlled Substance Act was passed in 1969 by a racist agenda on behalf of Richard Nixon to silence his opposition at the time. This society has labeled Cannabis users as junkies and drug addicts. Over 50 years of fighting a stigma about a plant that could not be further from the truth. At the time that Nixon passed the Act he was presented with research that supported keeping Cannabis off of the Schedule list because of its medicinal properties and lack of addictive properties. But he refused to acknowledge the research and placed Cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, allowing for the criminal justice system to control the narrative about Cannabis and its users.

I had to leave Georgia two years after being diagnosed

To move to a legal Medical Cannabis state and have access to safe medicine. The stigma was everywhere, and shame was more prevalent living in an illegal state than a legal state.

I chose to move to Nevada. I looked at California, Arizona & Oregon. California was so expensive to live in and the industry was already 20 years old. Arizona was on the verge of legalizing adult use, so was a bit more challenging as far as regulations and restrictions, and it was a red ( republican) state, so that was a no. Then, Oregon was just too cold. I am used to warm weather and not a lot of snow, so moving there would have required a big investment in my wardrobe. Nevada won because of the growing adult use industry in the state. And I saw the potential for what my advocacy skills could bring to a state like Nevada as it created the regulations around its adult use regulations. And the cost of living was much more reasonable and they have mild winters.

I chose not to get vaccinated after the vaccinations came out in 2021

The deep detox was to clean the blood and to remove any effects from vaccine shedding that occurred after the population was vaccinated in 2021. I knew that my body was being affected when my period was so heavy after my first public appearance in 2022 that I knew a deep detox was in order. This included an alkaline diet and blood cleansing herbs: red raspberry, nettle, dandelion, hibiscus, St. John’s bush and hemp in a daily tea.

After receiving the diagnosis of End Stage Renal Failure in August of 2024

I moved back to Georgia in December 2024. The virus attacks my kidneys, and the ARV treatment weakens my kidneys. It took 8 years to deplete my kidney function. When doctors were discussing a kidney transplant, I knew it was time to come home. Only a stress free environment would heal me. I walked away from reality, my work in advocacy, social media, and all distractions the last year and have been very intentional about protecting my energy.

My current routine evolved after COVID

I got COVID in January this year (2025), so I decided to stop smoking flower. But this is my favorite form of consumption.

I had started a deep detox in July 2025, so instead of smoking, I have been vaporizing dry flower and vaporizing ice water hash rosin to manage pain. There is research that proves that CBD passes the blood-brain barrier and reduces the HIV virus in the brain, more effectively than HIV medications. So I have been utilizing CBD flower infused in my daily herbal teas. And I use a full-spectrum infused topical for aches and pains. And I use a full-spectrum CBD-dominant tincture daily, sublingually. I also utilize a CBD, Beta-Caryophyllene, THC, and Limonene vaporized concentrate daily.

I always used Cannabis for my condition

While still in the hospital after being diagnosed, Someone was sneaking in Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) to manage pain. Allowing me to stop utilizing their pain medicine. My current regimen includes vaporizing ice water hash rosin once a day to manage pain. A daily tea that includes hemp flower. And FECO hemp taken sublingually. I also take a plant-based stem cell supplement twice a day. And a product named iHeRQles three times a day, four sprays under my tongue. I have not used synthetic pain medicine after being diagnosed, only Cannabis. Twelve months of healing spiritually, physically, and mentally has made me feel like I have control over my health. I know everyone can not check out from reality to heal, so I do not take for granted what this time has afforded me. A divine intervention is what I call it.

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

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