28 replies to this topic

[Elzeen]

Does anyone know if there is a correlation between SCI and adverse effects of smoking marijuana? Recent experience caused me to pass out. I found some info on the internet about this and it is a known effect for some people. Does SCI have anything to do with this?

[Apparelyzed]

I would imagine that the higher your injury, then the more likely it would be that you're at risk of passing out.

The chances are, those with high level injuries will be more at risk of postural hypotension, that's low blood pressure when sitting, so when you smoke a joint, your muscles become even more relaxed, lowering your blood pressure even further, causing a blackout.

Of course, some people just black out after a joint anyway!

Simon

[dave420atya]

Some times some really good stuff will put you to sleep if you smoke to much and you'll sleep great.
Are you an experienced smoker? I have smoked steady almost every day for about 25 years. I have put several "lightweight" friends to sleep with some " kindbud" , a bong ,and just a few hits and they were ready to nap. None of them had a SCI . There is some really good stuff available . Learning to tell good quality pot by smell and looking at it is important if your gonna smoke it .That way you will know how much to smoke. I smoke way to much and always have and probably always will. There isn't any out there that can put me out but it will sure make me goofy but happy . I Think it is very medicinal For a lot of different ailments and conditions . When you experiment with any thing you shoul use caution. It is good for beginers to be with some more experenced smokers their first few times. Which gets back to you Elzeen , how much experience do you have?
Prohabition of marijuana!!
grow your own!!!

[In The Wind]

I think that apparelyzed is on the mark. Your blood pressure is probably already low as a result of your injury. Smoking pot also reduced the O2 level in your blood and out you go.

Not a bad thing, but something you need to be aware of. I think that persons with a SCI can derive tons of benefits from using marijuana and I recommend it. But do yourself a favor and learn something about it. Stoner friends are great but don't depend on them for accurate info. Look around the web, there are really good places to find info on MMJ. Try
www.treatingyourself.com

[Tim13]

Your story and the one below is exactly why cannabis should be legal for medical purposes.
If it were legal, a doctor would be able to evaluate the patient and prescribe one of the hundreds if not thousands of strains of the plant that could best treat their individual condition instead of everyone having to sneak around and take whatever they can find or grow.

You have to remember too that, just like peanuts, milk, shellfish and pretty much everything else, some peoples bodies weren't intelligently designed to handle it.

Many years ago, i was taking a smoke break at work with a couple guys when this new guy wandered up and asked for a hit, someone handed him the j, he took one big puff, his eyes rolled back in his head and he hit the ground. Scared the crap out of us, turned out he had a heart problem and that always happened when he smoked-we pretty much avoided him after that.

[funklab]

Tim13, on Dec 11 2007, 08:46 AM, said:

Your story and the one below is exactly why cannabis should be legal for medical purposes.
If it were legal, a doctor would be able to evaluate the patient and prescribe one of the hundreds if not thousands of strains of the plant that could best treat their individual condition instead of everyone having to sneak around and take whatever they can find or grow.

to my understanding it is legal in California and Arizona... right?

Also, I imagine the above posts about low blood pressure and why you passed out are correct, but something else to consider is what it does to your nervous system. I believe that the THC bonds to the fatty parts of your body, such as your spinal cord, so what it does while its there is anybodies guess. I doubt anything harmful, but its something to think about.

I am a newbie at this whole crippled thing, so ima lay off the weed for a bit, mostly because I dont want it to interfere with anything that might be repairing itself back there. But once I give up on that in a year or so, I imagine I smoke like I used to... no drug test at work to slow me down any more

[Elzeen]

Thanks so much, everyone, for the concern, responses, and info.

I am not a newbie to SCI or smoking dope. Came of age in the 60s but have smoked infrequently in the last 20 years.

I did not nod off. I passed out. Cold. My husband found me with my head hanging back, eyes rolled up in my head, and not breathing. I think the postural constriction of my airway caused that. Was hoping to find some emotional and physical relief from the weed but now I don't even want to consider it.

[funklab]

Elzeen, on Dec 11 2007, 11:04 PM, said:

Thanks so much, everyone, for the concern, responses, and info.

I am not a newbie to SCI or smoking dope. Came of age in the 60s but have smoked infrequently in the last 20 years.

I did not nod off. I passed out. Cold. My husband found me with my head hanging back, eyes rolled up in my head, and not breathing. I think the postural constriction of my airway caused that. Was hoping to find some emotional and physical relief from the weed but now I don't even want to consider it.

hmmm

that is kinda scary. You dont wanna pass out and drop the joint and catch your house on fire... not to mention the whole not breathing thing. It sounds too me like its probably not worth the risk

[Tim13]

Good rule to live by: ANYTHING that makes you instantly pass out is best avoided.

[LuckyinKentucky]

The fact that Cali's laws are so loose there is a much greater chance of you getting some really potent stuff. My friend has a little garden over there and he tells me the hippies wont buy his stuff because of it being too potent. On the other hand there is a large diversity of other strains over there, some of which may be very helpful. So if you decide to continue on with your experimentation do it with friends...at least to begin with. And if you find one thats good get a card and have that strain grown for you. You can probably have it grown for you for free but the gardener will expect some of the yield.

[sfultong]

Maybe if you ingested it, your body could adjust itself to the high better, because it would have a slower ramp-up period?

[Elzeen]

LuckyinKentucky, on Dec 12 2007, 11:47 AM, said:

The fact that Cali's laws are so loose there is a much greater chance of you getting some really potent stuff. My friend has a little garden over there and he tells me the hippies wont buy his stuff because of it being too potent. On the other hand there is a large diversity of other strains over there, some of which may be very helpful. So if you decide to continue on with your experimentation do it with friends...at least egin with. And if you find one thats good get a card and have that strain grown for you. You can probably have it grown for you for free but the gardener will expect some of the yield.

I have heard that the potency of marijuana is way more than what we smoked in the 60s and think that had something to do with my reaction. Thanks!

sfultong, on Dec 12 2007, 02:24 PM, said:

Maybe if you ingested it, your body could adjust itself to the high better, because it would have a slower ramp-up period?

Possibilty! Although my experience with baking and eating brownies used to leave me high for days!

[Tired of hurting]

Good Morning, We have two kinds of pain receptors in our spinal cords. Opinate and Cannabiod. We have 50 to 100 times more cannabiod pain receptors. I'm a T12 and have found it works great for my spasms. My Dr. has prescribed merinal for me. In two hours I get full relief. I would try only a small amount at a time. If you keep passing out, it could be interacting with your other meds. Good luck! Lisa :H2kOther [quote]

[just jake]

for those who want to smoke but dont want the health risks i reccomend a vaporizor, the volcano to be exact. its a bit pricy but OMG!!! it is so worth every penny!
http://www.storz-bic.../vaporizer.html

[wheeliebear75]

Well I became SCI before I took up smoking pot. Someone suggested the ingested method; there are drawbacks and there are benefits of eating it. Eaten the THC lasts longer in the system(I've found), but is also slower to "kick in" and because no two batches of brownies or hash butter will turn out the same it's not all that easy to gauge a high until you've sampled one does for it's potency. If you are having problems with pain and therefor are nauseous eating a THC brownie and tossing it back up is as helpful as swallowing some narcotics and tossing them up. The benefit of smoking pot is that it's almost immediately felt. The THC enters the blood stream through the avioli in the lungs.......this means if you loose your stomach contents the THC will still reach it's destination. I think Simon has a VERY plausible answer to why you passed out. Our blood pressure gets out of whack easier than non SCI's and also as you hold your breathe your blood pressure changes sometimes dramatically the longer you hold your breath. Also if you'd like some have founds some help with Merinaol.

I haven't heard AZ being "OK" with medical use of cannabis which since my sister lives there would be nice. In CA it is somewhat legal yes........the politicians and authorities would love to have it be just as illegal as cocaine or heroin. It's kinda shaky in some respects.........the voters say we should have the right and then those "in power" would like to see that be overturned. "The war on drugs" is good for getting votes........because there is no destinshon made between classes of drugs when we get to the bottom line.......that's why we hear about tons of marijuana being seized.

Hope I was able to clear up a a thing or two...and hopefully didn't confuse things further.

[funklab]

wheeliebear75, on Dec 14 2007, 05:03 PM, said:

the voters say we should have the right and then those "in power" would like to see that be overturned. "The war on drugs" is good for getting votes........because there is no destinshon made between classes of drugs when we get to the bottom line.......that's why we hear about tons of marijuana being seized.

Gotta love those "wars" that we cant win. The war on drugs and the war on terror... wait.... neither one of those is really a war is it?

[kiwiquad]

Loads of medicinal benefits from marijuana...passing out isn't one of them though.
It's back to individual choice again.

[Elzeen]

Great information and discussion, everyone. I'm very appreciative of all the responses! Thank you!

[woodman]

Apparelyzed, on Dec 10 2007, 09:51 PM, said:

I would imagine that the higher your injury, then the more likely it would be that you're at risk of passing out.

The chances are, those with high level injuries will be more at risk of postural hypotension...

Simon

This is correct.

I tried smoking several times after my accident and that is exactly what happened to me. Of course, it also made me rather paranoid, so getting high wasn't as "fun" anymore.

Cocaine is a little bit different, but let's save that thought for separate discussion.

[woodman]

Tease...

He he he!!!

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[essexscipilot]

Quote

Does anyone know if there is a correlation between SCI and adverse effects of smoking marijuana?

Tried it to get rid of some bad pain i was having, didnt get rid of the pain, I just laughed instead of moaned

[dave420atya]

YUM!

[Danny Westley]

What a nice bud from Hawii,wish it was here. And yes I've experenced the pass out thing myself,but never related it to the blood presure thing I just thought it was good smoke.Now I know why that happens sometimes.But it does help to deal with the pain,but only if its killer,most BS that people have doesnt work much.I sure would like to have a perscription to have too.But living in Minnesota thats probably not going to happen..sure wish I could find something to at least tone down the pain some...but until that happens I'll continue to use the bud to do so,perscriptions just mess with the mind,maryjane helps the body!!! so long and keep wishing

[longhaul]

Elzeen you didn't say what or how much you used or what kind it was. Some of this pot today is very potent (like the Hawaiian bud)and it is better used in small doses like a piece the size of a grain of rice to start with then adjust from there, some are almost narcotic like and others are more up. Have you checked your BP ? Later

Edited by longhaul, 27 January 2008 - 05:37 AM.

[Dave W.]

I have been paralyzed from my nipple line down for almost 5 years. Let me just say that from my own experience that smoking marijuana helps with a lot. I found it helps with appetite for one, spasms, depression, pain, increased sensation, insomnia, dysreflexia and strengthening the lungs(from coughing). Some of you may not believe me, but this is how it helps me. It may have different effects on everyone, but it may help at least one or two things I may or may not have mentioned. I really hope this helps everyone who is curious of marijuana.

Dave

[freedomdan]

4 months post accident? adverse effects??

[Dave W.]

I actually was a pothead in my younger years, but I started again about 3 1/2 years post accident.

as for side effects, none really. sometimes a little parinoia.

[PsychoSimon]

i tried it last weekend for the first time ever. although I'm only an l5 para the difference it made to my pain was awesome. i sat there almost completely pain free for 3 hours with a couple of joints and boy was it bliss!!


i did go light headed after i had too much and just about managed to hold on to my stomach contents but no other side efects for me

[Dave W.]

I also think the light headedness is due to BP drops.