Medicinal Marajuana

[MommaMouse]

My ex reported in his latest court documents that he and his doctor are exploring his options to get medicinal Marajuana for his bi-polar disorder. This has me concerned that he would be smoking this while caring for our children. I'm at a loss for what to do. Obviously it hasn't happened yet and I can't control what he puts into his body but around the kids? I guess I'm just wondering what others think about this?

[Teenwolf]

Well, if the doc authorizes weed for medicinal purposes, then there's not much you can do about him smoking it. However, I believe he shouldn't do this around the kids in anyway shape or form. He can go outside and keep the kids clear of it. Similar to smoking cigarettes, in that parents are not deemed unfit for being smokers. They just need to not smoke around the kids.

[ddol1]

marijiwana - luv my spelling! More so then cigarrettes it should be done not even in the house - if must the garage - if it doesn't come into the house. take nothing less. He will not get hi - the amounts taken will not be enough. his disorder - the normal effects of most drugs including this do not work the same for an injured or sick person as a healthy one doing the same drug to get hi.

I am on pain meds that well, could knock an elephant down. I was in th ehospital two weeeks ago and about 7 doctoros freeked at my levels. After explainiing the why, what's and hows, and how many years it has taken me to get to where I am........I am a walking Zombie???No Am I slower than I should be - yes. Do i drive when I am well at the high end of my daily intake - NEVER!!!!

one thing you will find is that over time his usage will rise to get the same benefit - this is the part where the body get used to a drug and it takes more...... and just in case you are wondering. My pain pills are not even perscribed on oan outpatient basis for any surgery - pallative cancer care -- yes. One thing - I have severe pain - I take pain pills - I have never gotten high from pain pills - ever. As long as the doctor is perscribing the right drug for the issue the drug goes to the affected zone inthe brain - not the center where it goes when people get high. As long as I have pain I will not get addicted to the pain drugs I am on. I also moderate my intake to match my pain levels.....I am responsable - so can your husband (even if you must support him/help him to be the responsable person he needs to be regardless but IMHO more so when children are involved.

sorry I am running on - but one issue can be - your husband does not operate an automobile after he has taken in an "x"amount of the drug......this needs to be closely followed by his doctors. I see mine and I report my daily intake every two weeks and I give him my monthly averages and I give him my averages over six months. Why? because I am on a heavily restricted drug and for both our protection - he knows exactly how much i am taking and I have the last six years of records should something ever go wrong - it is part of the responsability of using "dangerous" drugs - where the disadvantages are wieghed heavily against the benefit - constantly.

Please do internet research on the topic, spend hours, days, weeks - have an appointment yourself with his doctor - alone. ask your difficult questions ask him for resources for you to learn about his illness and why this proposed treatment is right for your husband. I f you should agree then please support him with all your heart. I f you strongly do not (not for religous belief or morals either - sorry for those I offended) this has to do with you, your husband, your children and your doctors. But if you can not be convinced for medical reasons then say so.......... maybe your reasearch will have uncovered other options to try first. If this is the last choice then you will have a very hard dicision to make.

end of another long and passionate post - hope I gave you plenty to think about..

[slughead10]

vaporization is the doctor recomended method so second hand smoke won't be a concern. Perhaps you should investigate what mmj is all about before jumping to conclusions.

[ddol1]

good point - never personally heard of this - but the only people i met (not a huge number!) that used this for health issues - lit it up. For the sake of this post and education of many: Vaporization if you are aware - does it work as well for the persons using it?

[Gary M]

Originally Posted by MommaMouse

I'm at a loss for what to do.

You politely ask him to consider your desire that he not comsume (you're (perhaps erroneously) assuming that he'll be smoking it) weed when the kids are present, and you explain why you're worried about it.

Beyond that, you stay out of his medical business: That's between him and his doc.

If this is important to you (and I can see that it is) I dare suggest that you be super-nice and concilatory when talking to him about this: If you place him on the defensive he's likely to ignore you, even if only out of spite.

Should he not take your wishes into account, the only other option you have is to educate your children about medicinal vs. recreational use of marijuana.

In closing, I understand that ganja is being considered as an effective treatment for BAD. Would you rather have your kids in the care of a mellow, happy, stable Dad, or a Dad prone to radical mood cycles?

Cheers!

Gary

*** "No, I'm not a Psychiatrist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last week"

[MommaMouse]

I have done some research and there is no colclusive evidence either way to if it's effective, most sites say more research must be done, I guess my concern is he is currently smoking it recreationally and has since we first met (15 years ago) He still has mood swings, which in my past experience were worse when he was high. Gary you are right, his medical desicisions are not my business which is why I haven't made an appointment to speak with the doctor about it, but maybe I should go see the family doctor and he could better educate me on it.

[Gary M]

Originally Posted by MommaMouse

I guess my concern is he is currently smoking it recreationally and has since we first met (15 years ago)

That statement looks bad. Really, really bad... It's as if to say that the toking was fine all-along, but now that you're apart it is no longer OK.

This subject has been brought up before on this board, usually to do with drinking... Some "concerned parent" posts that the other parent shouldn't have visitation because they're an alcoholic pothead who's prone to domestic violence and who drowns kittens for a hobbby... Oh, and they were married for 20 years and had 10 kids together. Do you see the problem here?

I'm not suggsting that you fall into the category of people I just described, but I am suggesting that it's a point of view that you may want to reflect upon as you consider your course of acton as it pertains to your situation.

Chers!

Gary

[Rioe]

Weird, I was just making this similar point in a different post not too long ago.

We tolerated a lot of behaviour from our ex's when we were together because we knew we would be there to pick up the slack. They only become issues after separation because the ex now has sole responsibility for the children. If the rule had been no toking up around the children, and it was easy to do because the other spouse put the kids to bed / took them to the movies / brought them to hockey while the first parent did their thing, while they were together. Now that they are separated, how is it going to work? That is why we worry now when we didn't during the marriage.

[MommaMouse]

Originally Posted by Rioe

Weird, I was just making this similar point in a different post not too long ago.

We tolerated a lot of behaviour from our ex's when we were together because we knew we would be there to pick up the slack. They only become issues after separation because the ex now has sole responsibility for the children. If the rule had been no toking up around the children, and it was easy to do because the other spouse put the kids to bed / took them to the movies / brought them to hockey while the first parent did their thing, while they were together. Now that they are separated, how is it going to work? That is why we worry now when we didn't during the marriage.

Very good point, although in my circumstance it was never ok, and was one of the reasons that the marriage fell apart. I think your absolutly spot on though, when we were together I was always there to help him with the baby, now that we are apart there is no one there to support him, and unlike many other parents my ex IS mentally ill and desperatly needs someone to help him. So that's probably where my anxieties lie and I have to find a way to cope with it.