Good evening @jlo70. It looks like you joined Connect right after Christmas. That is a good way to begin a new year. And today is 2/22/2022. I wanted to respond to your request for information about medical cannabis. You indicate that you have not found pain relief from arthritis when using a cream or tincture without THC.

What you miss without THC is the "entourage effect". You can read about that phenomenon on Leafly.....a good cannabis website for valuable and reliable information.

I have been managing my small fiber neuropathy pain for several years with just two medial cannabis products......Tinctures and Topicals. I use two different dosages. At bedtime, I use a measured amount on the dropper, e.g. 25ml depending on how adapted my body is to the amount of 2:1 CBD/THC. At this point I actually use the entire dropper.....but please don't start there. In the morning to get my day started I use a 1:1 CBD/THC but only 50 ml.

For pain and tingle tangles in my hands or feet, I use one of two topicals. One is a 3:1 CBD/THC that I rub into my hands thoroughly. This dosage is for chronic pain. When I have a flare, I will use a 1:3 CBD/THC for acute pain.

I don't know where you live. Can you tell me what the marijuana laws are in your state? Do you need a prescription so that you can get a medical marijuana card? Also, when you visit the dispensary in a legal state there are special pharmacists that can help you get started on the right product with the right dosage.

It takes a little experimenting. For a good explanation in addition to Leafly, you can visit Papa and Barkley......a company in CA that I have been using for about five years. They have all CBD products that can be shipped to you on one section of their site and the CBD/THC products that can be found in legal dispensaries.

Please don't be leery about asking questions of me or anyone in the field of medical cannabis. Good luck......I hope you find relief for your arthritis. Please don't use these products with opioids or alcohol. I have only had 2 overdoses in all the years I have been using cannabis and it wasn't fun. Takes about three hours to wear off......and you will be more careful from then on.

Does this help clear the air a bit? And do me a favor.....do not buy street products. The reason that legality helps us all is that it assures regulation so that we can trust the origin and quality of the products.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

I had CBD/ with and without - from Switzerland and Holland -i have back pain after a wrong dosage of radio ( in Switzerland!)and it didnt help at all … a friend mentioned CANOVA…. She said it helped her also to sleep deeper .
Keep on trying and have faith… one day you‘ll find something that at least smoothes it a wee bit! xx

Hi. So I use cbd/thc oil. A balanced blend between the 2. I found when using cbd only, it didn't help. I use a blend of cbd/thc, codine, pregabalin and duloxetine. I am not an MD, pain specialist or an advocate for medical marijuana or anything else. Up until now I had only tried marijuana when I was in college but I did not inhale, haha. I had been taking hydromorphone and a number of other meds including codine and pregabalin. Some of the meds where to combat the serious side-effects of the hydromorphone. I was very sick, addicted to opioids and STILL IN A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN!! I weaned myself off the opiods onto the marijuana. A very tough time. Here in Canada marijuana is legal. I experimented with various blends and strengths to find what works for me. Now, I am still in pain but don't seem to care as much? I am able to eat at least one meal a day and function well enough to get my cows fed. I have ACNES which is severe nerve pain all of the time, 24/7 365. Hope this helps

Plain CBD gummies and oil had no effect. I bought gummies with the lowest THC they had in medical marijuana at a 2 to 1 ratio with CBD. The first time I thought it was magic so I only take a half. Helps me sleep so I love it. My problem is living in a state you need an rx and license. Besides the additional costs I think the government shouldn't be able to control it especially since your doctor can prescribe meds which make you crazy and are stronger and worse side effects.