As one of the most readily consumed plants on the planet outside of those we eat for food, Cannabis is well and truly entangled with the human race, for better or worse, in sickness and in health.

The opinions circulating on this plant and the laws around her are so polarising and oftentimes opposing it can be difficult for the uninitiated to see the wood from the trees. It almost seems like our collective cultural framework is suffering from schizophrenia or some other personality disorder.

This ‘Why take responsibility when you can blame something else’ attitude has made Cannabis the scapegoat for numerous societal issues and many individual meltdowns. Her image is further dragged through the dirt by those suffering, who become addicted, using Indricana (Cannabis) as a form of escapism. Some individuals even develop cannabis dependence, struggling with the need for clinical intervention and treatment trials to address their condition.

It’s indeed, more often than not, how the relationship starts. Most people come to this plant recreationally in a setting with peers that involves smoking a few puffs, which either leaves them super relaxed and/ or elated, or super paranoid and praying for the whole experience to end. Cannabis use disorder, characterized by symptoms such as withdrawal and negative health consequences, can develop from such recreational use.

The once insane propaganda of the United States government that labeled cannabis as a gateway drug with various avenues of harm has subsided to rediscoveries around its medical use, or more specifically, its ability to help us heal. As legalisation slowly spreads, this propaganda is gradually being replaced by hypocrisy. Whilst many benefit from legalization, an estimated 32k souls are rotting in federal facilities for Cannabis related crimes. A plant still illegal in the UK, which also happens to be the planet’s largest supplier of medical cannabis. A lucrative industry for those with the right political connections. Marijuana use continues to rise, highlighting the need for advancements in treatment approaches and research.

As you can see, the backdrop is shadowed and complex. It’s important to note this current status quo, as our overall interspecies relationship gives important context. Our relationship with the plant, manipulated and twisted on a global level, makes being in the right relations with Indricana a huge challenge—one in which we’ve been set up for a fall… So, how do we turn the tide?

Being Mindful of Smoking Cannabis

This is unpopular, I know many people disagree with this, but if your relationship with Cannabis is mainly through smoking marijuana, then you are most likely in a dysfunctional relationship due to the potential health risks such as lung and heart problems, and mental health conditions.

To meet the full spirit of this plant, we must ingest it so the liver can fully process the compounds of the plant. Something that doesn’t happen when we inhale the smoke. Our body can only process a fraction of the compounds when we smoke. Much in the same way that cocaine is only a small fraction of the coca plant. Additionally, marijuana smoke can have adverse effects on health, including the risk of failing a drug test and potential negative impacts on lung and heart health.

Ingesting the oil allows us to meet with the plant fully and experience its true essence and how she can help us heal.

That’s not to say don’t ever smoke, but know what you’re doing when you smoke and why you’re smoking. Smoking can be helpful for people, but it is also the quickest and easiest way to create a dysfunctional relationship.

8 Signs That Your Relationship with Cannabis is a Cannabis Use Disorder

Marijuana abuse can have significant negative impacts on individuals, affecting their sleep, mental health, and overall well-being. Here are some signs of a dysfunctional relationship with cannabis:

You can’t go six months without smoking despite having no defined use case
You always need to smoke in a social setting
You smoke to become stoned and tune out
You have no clear intention when consuming cannabis
You care where you get your cannabis from or how it’s grown
You need to consume cannabis shortly after or during work with other plants
Abandoning hobbies and other pursuits
Prioritising cannabis use over human relationships
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit

How Medical Marijuana Can Become Addictive: Pain Management

There’s a lot of societal shame around addictions, particularly to substances. Addictions like shopping and workaholism are often given much more grace and largely encouraged.

It’s why many people will go to great lengths to hide their addiction, even from themselves. Which is the same as saying we’ll go to great lengths to hide our pain. That’s almost always the driver behind addiction.

It helps to soothe the pain we’re in, be that physical, mental, or emotional. Yet, perhaps due to the societal problems caused by addiction, such as crime and domestic abuse, there is a strong level of intolerance to those suffering from addiction, with the exception of well-known support groups.

And this is where cannabis can become largely addictive, being one of the number one caregivers in the plant kingdom when it comes to pain management. Research suggests that marijuana is addictive, with a percentage of users developing addiction, especially those who start young or use it daily. Symptoms of withdrawal can also be experienced by individuals addicted to cannabis.

For some people, pain management is the only thing keeping them functional. However, cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of heart problems, respiratory illnesses, mental health issues, and negative effects on brain development in young people. If the relationship with cannabis, however, is dysfunctional, as discussed earlier, it may be time to plan for a way out.

Mending Your Relationship with Ganja

Changing our relationship with the plants we consume often requires an internal reflection, where we honestly uncover what the relationship is based on. This requires integrity; all the best relationships are based on integrity. Motivational enhancement therapy is a treatment option for cannabis addiction that can help guide individuals towards commitment and action toward change.

It is also important to address mental health issues when seeking support for cannabis addiction.

Define Your Why

What do you get from cannabis that keeps you coming back? This may take some soul searching. Once you arrive at your why, you can begin to formulate a plan.

If Cannabis is the triage nurse then plants like Ayahuasca and Iboga are the surgeons. Whilst cannabis can help you identify your pain and manage it, these plant medicines will help take you to the root of the problem. Look to how you might be able to work with these plants in a safe and supportive setting.

Not to do any disservice to Indricana, she is also adept at helping us examine our shadows when consumed in her fullest sense. However, it is important to compare cannabis use with alcohol and other drugs. Unlike other drugs, cannabis has unique properties that can aid in self-exploration and pain management without the severe withdrawal symptoms often associated with other substances.

Get Ceremonial with Cannabis

Change your usage from unconsciously smoking to ingesting in a ceremonial context. Create your own container and altar, carve out 6-8 hours where you can be undisturbed and sit with her in her truest essence. Ingest her as an oil and feel the fullest sense of her wisdom and healing powers. Go slow and go small to begin with. Indricana is a powerful entheogen when consumed in this form. Medical marijuana, which is used to treat conditions such as pain and muscle spasms, also has a complex legal history that varies by region.

Your relationship doesn’t only need to be based on consumption. Create a ceremony or ritual where instead of smoking you pray to her spirit and seek her guidance. Understand that the plants work energetically as much as they do physically.

Ask for Help and Support

As you come away from smoking cannabis you may well face some initial challenges. You may struggle with higher anxiety levels, you may notice your dreams more, which may even come in the form of nightmares. These things are common, as emotions and feelings we’ve been numbed out from begin to return to our waking consciousness. Long-term drug abuse can have a significant impact on individuals, leading to various withdrawal symptoms and challenges.

Be prepared for this and get help from both plant and human allies. Choose to work with nervines such as chamomile and passionflower, plants that will help calm and support the nervous system. Seek the help of a therapist, coach or someone specialising in trauma to support you as you begin to heal. Have a plan to heal the pain that creates your discomfort. It’s not wise to do it alone and nor do you have to. Cannabis use can also be linked to mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, which may require professional support.

This plant is a truly incredible gift to humanity when treated with respect and conscious awareness. It’s our responsibility to do so. And if we’re not, then there’s no shame in that, our pain will often lead us into all kinds of unhealthy dependent relationships. It happens with both humans and plants alike. The sooner we face our pain and get the right kind of help, the better life is going to feel. Even if you feel stuck, there is always a way.

Are you in need of support and mending your relationship with plant medicines like Cannabis?Let’s connect! I’d be more than honored to guide you on your path.

About the Author

Neil Kirwan has many years of experience behind and in front of the altar, apprenticing with Ayahuasca in the Shipibo-Conibo and Huni Kuin traditions. He has completed multiple Master Plant Dietas, including work with the potent, transformative Noya Rao tree. Neil is a trauma-informed, highly compassionate shamanic coach and guide, with an expertise in helping folks prepare for and integrate challenging Plant Medicine ceremonies, as well as leading Master Plant Dietas with dreamy, psychically connected Mugwort.

How to Heal Cannabis Addiction