My hope is, if/when weed is legal everywhere, science can really get into investigating where it can be used most effectively. I recently heard of a husband, whose wife has dementia and she was showing signs of great agitation, pacing...unable to be still. He gave her some CBD in the morning and at night. Her agitation stopped. It seemed to take her edge off. I'd love to see more study into whether this can be applied to others to help gently calm them as well.

As we can see from the map, recreational use of marijuana is now legal in Illinois, where I live. That went into effect on January 1 and I had been following discussions of marijuana on this blog each time it's come up and looked forward to trying some gummies or a tincture as sleep aids. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet and it may never.

The tax on the products here makes them significantly more expensive than most places, including Oregon, and it's hard to justify spending money on them when my husband and I are on such a tight budget as it is, and his life-sustaining medication (insulin and other diabetes related meds) take precedence.

In addition, there is a shortage of product here, resulting in long lines and waits (outdoors in January Illinois temps -- no thank you!). There is only one dispensary in the city in which I live and I expected to see lines and waits initially, but the first week people were waiting outdoors for 6-10 hours at a time. It isn't quite that bad now, but when ever I drive to the other side of town and pass the place, there are always people waiting in line outside. I guess I'll stick with the herbal tea that works reasonably well every now and then. Otherwise, I've lived with compromised sleep for a couple of decades, I suppose I can live out the rest of my days this way.

I'm not even sure of the exact legality here in New York, but am happy if it works for people. I haven't needed to use it but am not opposed. I just wish people wouldn't smoke it on the street, which I notice more and more. It has - to me -a very nauseating, almost putrid, smell, something I don't remember from days gone by. I swear, it smells different than it did in my youth! Meanwhile, my vet has prescribed CBD oil for my cat because of arthritis in her wonky knee. Shockingly expensive!!

I don't know if I'd ever try it---I'm allergic to too many things to experiment---but so many people report good results from using marijuana that it can't be discounted. I actually know someone who recently got a job at a recreational marijuana store so I've been asking a lot of questions. I don't sleep well so if I was going to try it, that would be why I'd do it.

But I'm just a little worried about your cat, Ronni, with a basket of edible next to your bed. Or don't you have a cat anymore?

I live in California and use cannabis frequently but in moderation. I'm never wasted. I usually add a little homemade tincture to my juice in the morning. Relieves some of the anxiety associated with everyday life. I also sometimes do edibles to help with sleep and make cannabis balm at home to use on creaky body parts. Finally, I vape flower (not concentrates). Right now I'm 90 days into growing my first plant and sharing progress reports on my blog.

During the "Summer of Love" in 1967 we felt grass would be legal within a decade. Oh well.
We went through a lot of training before a "dealer" would even sell us a lid. LSD experiments were still rampant. Grass became a somewhat mystical experience. In Denver, I used grass a lot, as did many returning Viet Nam vets. I would not smoke it now because of my lungs, but edibles are great. My wife is younger, and her Dad is a retired Or. state patrol officer. She is deeply trained against any drugs that were once illegal. When she is gone, I partake. I wish I could enjoy the new freedom more, but family peace dictates otherwise. Enjoy!!!!

Legal here in Washington. I use a CBD tincture for periodic spells of muscle spasms and arthritic pain. I don't use the THC as I also get paranoid and moody from the whole product. I haven't tried the edibles yet.

Not legal here in NY yet, but I use CBD oil nightly to help with sleep and arthritic pain.

I also smoked lots of pot in my younger days and am looking forward to it becoming available in NY.

Oregon person here. I've been experimenting with edibles after lingering side effects from cancer treatment. (I don't want to smoke). The dispensary budtender was super helpful with recommendations and a chart including how to counteract too much of a high (if you don't want one) and admonishments to call Poison Control if any worries. I've been keeping a journal as she recommended. Another friend warned me about getting thirsty and she was right! I keep a water bottle close at hand when imbibing. Thus far a combo of 10mg thc and then 25mg cbd an hour later helps with sleep and pain. I don't enjoy the feeling of being high, I guess I'm weird like that. I haven't noticed any help with nausea, in fact being high makes that worse. I too hope that mire research will be funded for cannabis.

SHHHHH
I make my own potions. I use highest potency "shatter". Decarb it in the oven, add to a mixture of coconut oil (the kind that stays liquid) and good quality CBD oil. Pour it into sterilized mini bottles with marked droppers. Yes, every batch is a little different in strength. It 's not rocket science, so you just have to "test" each bottle starting with a low dose to see the effect. We use it for sleep only. Helps with old age aches and pains and crappy sleep rhythms. Not driving, not doing anything but sleeping. Hurts no one. Screw you Texas. My red state may stay forever stupid.

I have posted before when the subject of cannabis has come up in the past.
I was not a cannabis user until college in the 60's (moderate) and left it completely when I was raising kids.

I'm now 74, live in California and had a medical license until it became legal for recreational use.

I and my husband are on a fixed income and buying it is cost prohibitive, especially with all the taxes the gov has added on. Therefore, I have been growing my own for the last 5 years. One plant is plenty to last me for a whole year. I buy a "baby" that is 3-4 inches tall ($15) and put it in a pot (no pun intended). I water it and use an organic fertilizer. Anyone with a backyard or even a balcony or patio that gets good sunlight can grow a plant.

I also make my own "cannabutter" and then use it to make cookies which my husband prefers to smoking. One stick of butter (1/2 cup) makes 40-44 cookies. That is so much cheaper than buying the edibiles found at a dispensary.

Like most of us, I have a variety of health problems that have been helped by the use of cannabis (anxiety and insomnia included). All my doctors know that I use it and none have told me that it will harm me in any way or that it affects the medications I also take.

I just bought myself a vape ($70) that uses only dry herb and I really like it because it's nicer to my throat than a joint or pipe.

And finally, I must admit that once I've settled in for the evening, whether to watch some TV or a movie, or to read a book or visit with friends, I really enjoy getting high! Nothing wrong with that. It beats a hangover!

Went to Berkeley in the 60's...
Got a medical card for myself when I turned 60.
Prices nearly doubled when Calif opened up to recreational use... also Ambien costs me $5 a month...edible gummies about $40... now
I like it for sleep...

I’m in California, so I can buy anything. I have long had trouble sleeping through the night, so I first tried gummies, which worked only intermittently and cost over $100 monthly. I asked the bud tender (funny term) for advice and he steered me toward full spectrum oil, which contains all the ingredients found in the complete plant. It comes in a small syringe and is the color of blackstrap molasses. You squeeze out a bit the size of a grain of rice onto a cracker, cookie, etc. and eat it. It works for me almost every night! The syringe lasts almost a full month, and costs $45. I often say to my partner “I’m going to the pot store”. The store is decorated to death — it looks like perfume boutique. Never thought I’d see the day!

I use CBD capsules or tinctures to help me sleep. It's subtle but I feel as if it relaxes my mind. It's expensive here in Colorado: about $1 per capsule.

Have been using a THC bud ground a bit and then put in a vaporizer for a few years now.
I no longer feel the same high as at first, but it definitely affects me. It does affect my balance and concentration for a short time, so I only take it just before I am ready to sleep. It makes a world of difference in getting to sleep. When I wake to use the bathroom, the effects I felt are gone. I fall right back to sleep for the best sleep I've had since I was a carefree kid living at home.

When traveling away from home, I use ambien. It works, but its a drug that can interact with other meds. With THC I never have to worry about that, and my doctors know I use it as described.

I have chronic pain that doesn't seem to be helped with CBD or at least the products I've tried so far. It may become more attractive over the months of recovering from my shoulder surgery tomorrow.

Thanks for the conversation, Ronni. It's interesting to hear others' experiences and uses.