I suffer from arthritis in my hands.
At certain times of the year, the stiffness, swelling and pain is mild. However, the weather affects me. Periodically, my fingers swell up like sausages, and it becomes difficult to make a fist. I’ve already been forced to cut my rings off. I am unwilling to use synthetic pharmaceuticals due to the harmful and long-term side-effects. I am not prepared to damage my kidney to alleviate arthritis pain. I’ve tried a variety of home remedies such as herbal teas, eating gin-soaked raisins and rubbing Vicks into my knuckles. The only thing that has provided true relief is cannabis. Living nearby Beverly Hills, I have access to a marijuana dispensary. I don’t need a medical card to shop there. Any US citizen over the age of 21 is allowed to purchase cannabis in California. By experimenting with different strains of weed, I’ve found that a combination of CBD, CBN and THC works the best to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. I shop cannabis-infused topicals. They don’t cause any psychoactive effects. I apply them directly to my knuckles for localized relief. I am fortunate that the dispensary carries a wide variety of topicals, including ointments, lotions, salves, roll-ons, sprays and soaks. They absorb quickly, and because of the addition of essential oils, don’t smell like medicine. I also appreciate the benefits of vapes. The dispensary offers disposable and refillable cartridges in all sorts of potency and flavors. The vape heats the cannabis oil to the point of vapor but not combustion, which avoids carcinogens and retains more of the valuable cannabinoids and terpenes. All I need to do is press a button and inhale.