An Open Letter To Those Opposed To Legalising CBD Oil In Medicine
To anyone against the legalisation of CBD oil for medicinal purposes,
My name is Natalie and I am 32 years old. I have suffered from chronic illnesses all my life. I was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the age of fifteen months, so have never known life without it. I was then diagnosed with iritis aged 7 and my bowel problems started at the age of 8 or 9. It wasn’t till I was 26 that I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease. Just 4 years later and 2 days after my 30th birthday, I had emergency surgery to remove diseased parts of my small and large bowel and an ileostomy formed.
My Blog, My Readers, My Friends
About 9 months after my surgery, I started my blog, The Spoonie Mummy. It had been something I considered for a while and at the beginning of 2017, I took the plunge. I wanted to show people that even with chronic illnesses, life could still be fun, fulfilling, meaningful and full of happiness. I wanted to help raise awareness of my often invisible conditions and help and support people with similar illnesses to me. Since starting my blog I have felt incredibly lucky. I have met some amazing and inspiring people, been given opportunities to work with great companies and been able to support many people experiencing health problems and having surgery. Receiving messages thanking me for my informative or supportive blog posts has meant the world to me. I also got the chance to become a host on The IBD & Ostomy Support Show – a weekly, live YouTube show during which we discuss everything IBD and ostomy related. This has broadened my ability to connect with people and offer my support and advice. I am not medically trained but I have a lot of experience having spent my life in and out of hospital. I take a keen interest in my illnesses and like to learn about them to give myself a good knowledge base to help inform my care.
Recently In The News
The case of Billy Caldwell has been high profile news in the last couple of weeks. For those who haven’t heard about Billy, he is a little boy who has epilepsy. He was suffering upwards of 100 fits a day. His mum discovered CBD oil lessened his symptoms greatly, helping him achieve a better quality of life. On returning from Canada with a six month supply of his CBD oil, prescribed by a Canadian doctor, the medication was taken away from them. Billy’s mum has since had to fight through the courts and has now been granted the right to continue this treatment, albeit having to take him into the hospital for it to be administered.
So What Was The Issue?
Cannabis is currently a controlled drug in the UK. Cannabis plants are made up of hundreds of cannabinoids which all have different effect on the body. The most common forms of these are THC and CBD. THC is the strain that recreational drug users take to get ‘high’. CBD does not. CBD is also a type of cannaboid which is not under the controlled drug status. This is why hemp (which contains CBD) can be industrially grown in the UK (with a license) as it contains little or no THC. That is why you will see some CBD oil in the shops, Holland and Barrett for example, sell it alongside other supplements. The CBD oil in question has a higher amount of THC in it which is why the problem has arisen.
Medicinal Benefits
The oil is thought to help in many ways, including as pain relief, relieving inflammation, anti seizure and reducing anxiety. There has been no conclusive medical studies to prove this. Licences have not been given for CBD oil as a medicine but it can still be bought as long as there are no claims made that it has medicinal benefits. Sativex, which has a 50-50 mix of THC and CBD had been approved for use in the UK to treat multiple schlerosis. However, in 2014 NICE gave it not recommended status as it felt it was not cost effective. The Home Secretary has now announced a review into the use of cannabis oil as a medicine.
A Personal Perspective
So I didn’t write this letter to provide information. I am not medically trained but I thought it best to try and explain the background and current laws surrounding the use of cannabis oil. I wanted to get across the reason so many people want to at least have the chance to try CBD oil to treat their ailments. Firstly, that is a point to remember. This may not work for everyone. Not everyone will even want to try it. But we would like to be given the choice to see if our chronic illnesses could be helped by this drug.
Apart from suffering huge problems myself with pain, inflammation and anxiety, I have met so many other people struggling with diseases like Crohns Disease, Arthritis and Epilepsy. Many struggle every day with simple tasks, like getting out of bed, showering and dressing. They are on strong and costly medications daily, including low dose chemotherapy and biologics which affect the immune system to the point where they can not leave the house in fear of getting an infection. Anxiety can make the everyday tasks seem impossible – making a telephone call, looking in the mirror and joining your family to eat.
I find many people who are so vehemently against the legalisation of cannabis oil have no experience of chronic illness. Having to fight through your every day to just complete the most basic of tasks. To grit your teeth and bear constant pain every single second of every tingle day. To slowly lose your friends due to you not being able to meet up or even reply to their messages. I implore you to think about these people, who live like this every single day. And to know that there is no cure for what you are facing, it will be your constant for the rest of your life.
We don’t want your sympathy, we adapt and learn to manage in our own ways. There are many online support groups and bloggers like myself out there who try our best to make sure people do not feel alone and get every tip and trick that may be of use to them. We ask that this be legalised, for medicinal use. That we can get a prescription from a doctor and a safe form of the product. That we can try something that may help give us more relief than anything else we have tried.
The medications I currently take have some terrible side effects including destroying my immune system, nausea, sickness, insomnia and an increased risk of certain cancers to name but a few. They make me feel semi-normal so I have to weigh up the pros and cons and take a risk. I have had to have a hip replacement and cataract surgery due to the effects of my medications I have had over the years. I would like the chance to try this in a safe and legal way. If it worked it could get me off some of the strong medications I am currently on and help save the NHS a small fortune.
My Plea
I know this post may receive both positive and negative feedback. I am very willing to listen to all views as long as they are thought out after reading what I have written and not abusive. I ask you to put yourself in my shoes, and thousands others who are much worse off than me. Our chance at a medication that could be vitally helpful is being held up due to the fact it is misused by so many. As with any medication, it is all about a choice. Some people may not want to try it. But give us who do, the chance and let’s see if it really does work like it is for little Billy.
I am tired of this constant pain, the nausea, vomiting, hospital stays and struggling to move. Please give me the chance to try CBD oil and see if it can make a difference.
Thankyou for reading,
The Spoonie Mummy 
Hi Nat
Just LOVED your bog about the use of Cannabis Oil. You’ve said it all really – and I agree with your opinion 100 per cent.
One other thing to be mentioned here Nat. Take a good look at ALCOHOL. Hundreds of forms of alcohol can be readily purchased, without the blink of an eye (maybe the odd age check here and there), right from your corner shop to your local supermarket. I’ve seen someone out of their mind on their alcoholic “binge” days, unable to function AT ALL. She could not even get to the toilet at times and was often found in a terrible state. I went to her funeral last year – she was 45 years old. Some years ago, when I lived in Abu Dhabi, I saw a dear friend of mine who had been beaten severely by her husband AFTER he’d come home following an event where he’d had a good drink. He had pulled this lovely lady downstairs, by her hair!! He was a well respected Bank Mwnager – and was as gentle as a lamb WHEN he hadn’t had a drink. He got on his knees begging her for forgiveness (more than once apparently). She eventually DID leave him.
How many lives has alcohol RUINED completely? – and how many deaths has the use and abuse of Alcohol caused? ALCOHOL can be a LETHAL substance – and it is not governed. Soooo….Why isn’t Alcohol “banned”? In my opinion, it is an 100 percent more LETHAL drug than Cannabis!!! The Government cream LOADS of TAX MONEY from folks buying alcohol, so they totally ignore Alcohol’s extreme lethality. They ignore the gigantic cost on the Health Service supporting alcohol abuse issues. They ignore the cost of the Police Force handling Cannabis Dealers. Don’t get me wrong here…..I enjoy my glasses of wine and beers – lol.
Finally, I’d say….LEGALISE CANNABIS in all its forms. It would take some of the unscrupulous “dealers” off the streets in a flash!! Certainly legalise it’s use to help the poor souls who depend on it in order to live a somewhat better life,with less pain and suffering. Oh yes….I’ve been there….I’ve suffered all my life with illnesses. I’ve had Crohns since I was 17 years old, resulting in an Ileostomy at 21 years of age and have suffered through the years…..right upto now, as I write this.
Hugs to you Nat, and to all fellow members of your great site. Xx
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Thankyou! I completely agree, it’s unfortunate that CBD has the association it does with illegal drugs which is why so many don’t like the idea. I’ve spent time on gastro wards with people who have alcohol problems and it isn’t nice x
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Totally agree. The only thing I can figure is that the government wants people hurting and sick so that they keep people employed and under control.
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Thankyou! I really hope we start to see some more progress in this area soon x
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Until then we do have legal cannabis in the form of CBD created from hemp at Hempingup.com
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So Sorry….beginning of my comment should read…..”Just loved your BLOG……”
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Fantastic post.
I myself have recently been into Holland and Barrett to enquire about the oil.
As I am fed up of the chemo and biologics and the side effects and the infections. I’m getting over a 5 week tummy bug.
I have heard so many positive things about it I just think we should have the choice. I know someone who is in her 80s who asked me if I knew where she could get some as she has bad osteo arthritis. So it’s certainly making an impact on all age groups.
Thank you once again Nat for a fantastic informative post.
Xx
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Thankyou very much x
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Reblogged this on lisapomerantzster: Are we there yet? and commented:
Hi all. I am reblogging this post from Natalie, the Spoonie Mummy about CBD. If you are a reader of mine, you know it has been a life changing experience for me and my family. Take a read, stay open and see what you think.
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Natalie, I am so with you here. CBD changed my life (of chronic pain) for the so much better. I just reblogged this post. Awareness… ❤ WIshing you well and sending hugs! ❤
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Thankyou so much! So glad it is working well for you x
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Great article. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s a few years ago (and as we all know the diagnosis is the longest part) and luckily since I’m in the states (California) I was able to try CBD and it’s readily available. I understand folks are against it, but it works. You’re right though, many of those who haven’t dealt with chronic pain, don’t understand why we want the option to experiment with something that will take away that pain.
Great article. Love it!
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Thankyou very much! So glad it’s helping you, I hope you are well xx
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this is a great article and i’m so happy that you have shared your personal experience and life with us. I myself take cbd oil, which is legal in uk as it has low levels of thc and I find it amazing. Tension headaches are gone and no nasty side effects. I think we have all been brainwashed by the media over the years but I believe over the course of the next few years Cannabis will be prescribed to those who need it.x
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Thankyou for sharing! I am so glad it is working for you. Really hope this gets given the chance to see if it can help more people
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Hi Nat,
I can highly recommend ENDOCAS’s oil. I am not selling CBD. This comes from a very reliable source.
https://www.endoca.com/product/hemp-oil-drops-1500-mg-cbd
Good luck
Nick
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Thanks for the advice
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Pingback: An Open Letter To Those Opposed To Legalising CBD Oil In Medicine | The Hemp Club
Reposted, good luck and just go for it. Best,
Nick
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Thankyou!
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Excellent article! Here’s mine:
https://beingwhollyvibrant.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/what-do-you-know-about-cbd-oil/
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Thankyou! Will have a read tomorrow, thanks x
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Excellent article. I am going through some of these issues as well..
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