Grief comes in many different forms. It could be the death of a loved one, the end of a meaningful relationship, or a major life change. The duration of grief varies significantly from person to person and is influenced by several factors. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and it is important to allow the grieving process to unfold naturally without imposing timelines or expectations.

Grief is a combination of many symptoms together:

• Intense emotions of sadness, anger, and anxiety;

• Insomnia or disturbed sleep;

• Chronic pain and muscle aches;

• Recurrent intrusive thoughts

• PTSD

• Loneliness

Cannabis has been known to help all of these symptoms.

Uncovering Repressed Emotions and Finding Clarity

When I decided to write this article it was just a few weeks after my stepmom’s funeral. She was in my life for more than 40 years. I didn’t think that writing this article would be so hard because I had cannabis in my life to help me process the intense emotions that come up when you lose someone you love.

Yet, when I started to go through the research and thoughts about how I process grief it opened up a bunch of repressed emotions that I didn’t fully process when my sister passed away 12 years ago. Back then I was already on antidepressants for 10 years. And continued to take them for another 10, until cannabis helped me to finally get off them for good.

From Antidepressants to Cannabis: A Path to Healing

I first came to cannabis recreationally because I wanted to cut out alcohol and sugar to improve my candida and food reactions. The bonus side-effects of my cannabis use was a calmer mind, deeper introspection of the negative thoughts that kept me on my depression medication, and some much-needed peace by being in the present moment. I was able to create my “Bliss cookie” (with coconut sugar and gluten-free flour for the candida) that had 6 mg of THC, and 4mg each of CBD, and CBG.

I can look back now and see how the antidepressants kept me numb and unable to express intense emotions, in a brain fog, and my head full of self-sabotaging negative thoughts. It’s no wonder that I still had lasting grief stored in my body. In order for me to be able to write this article without sobbing tears I needed to process all of these stuck emotions.

Healing and Reflection: A Cannabis-Infused Boat Ride to Embrace Emotions and Find Peace

So I purposely set out to do this with cannabis. I had an edible that I made with 20 mg of THC, 10 mg of CBD, and 4 mg of CBG and went for a boat ride. Being in nature with the wind on my face and the noise of the motor allowed me some uninterrupted time to work things out. I worked through the shame and guilt that was stored up because I didn’t spend enough time with her before she passed. I let go of the anger I had for all of the people that were always around and wouldn’t leave, giving me alone time with my sister and best friend. I released some sadness about her leaving me. And I cried it all out. I feel happy about being able to express my full range of emotions again after being numb for so long.

Expanding Perspectives: Cannabis, Spirituality, and the Journey of Discovery

My experience with cannabis in the last 5 years has led me to many new ideas, views, and concepts that I would not have been able to grasp in the past. Sometimes we are so stuck in our stories or beliefs that we forget there is a giant world of knowledge out there. There is so much that we don’t know until we are ready to start looking for it.

During the weekend of my stepmom’s funeral, I was at my Dad’s apartment and had smoked my usual daily flower blend of low THC, CBD, and CBG for mood regulation. We were preparing for the funeral that day and I was making my bed and looking at all of the furniture, pictures, thrift store picture frames and everything in that room. It was so evident that her spirit was everywhere in this space. I could see how her spirit was in everything she touched, every person she touched, and even in the way I made the bed. It really helped me feel that her spirit is never really gone, just in a different form of energy. I shared this with my Dad and he agreed with a tear in his eye.

 Enhancing Introspection and Creativity

Cannabis can open one’s perceptions and in this opened state of mind, it has the ability to help individuals explore complex topics in a new and creative way. It also leads to increased introspection (1), allowing individuals to delve into their thoughts and emotions.

 Unlocking Insights through THC-Rich Cannabis

That is what I needed. I love how cannabis aids in processing deep subjects and gaining insight. This is where THC-rich cannabis is a star for me. Sometimes getting out of my physical body and exploring my mind is what is needed to come to terms with complex issues such as grief. Terpenes to look for are Limonene, Pinene, Beta-Caryophyllene, and Myrcene together.

Cannabis and Sleep: Navigating Grief-Induced Insomnia

Although lack of sleep has never been an issue for me, grief can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or disturbed sleep. Insomnia has been described as one of the primary reasons individuals seek medicinal cannabis.

The Role of Sleep in Emotional Healing

Sleep plays a crucial role in emotional processing and regulation. When we experience grief, our emotions can be overwhelming and unpredictable. Sufficient sleep allows the brain to process these emotions and create a sense of emotional balance, making it easier to cope.

Restorative Sleep: A Key to Coping with Grief

Grieving takes a toll on the body, both mentally and physically. During sleep, the body goes through a restorative process, repairing tissues, and boosting the immune system. Adequate rest helps the body recover from the stress and strain of grief, promoting overall well-being.

Tailoring Cannabis Consumption for Restful Nights

To help with sleep caused by depression (2) and anxiety it is recommended to use THC-dominant products to aid in getting to sleep. CBD and CBDA can help some people sleep by helping reduce anxiety but CBD can be alerting with low and moderate doses.

What I find works great for me is inhaled THC-dominant cannabis, whether it is smoking or dry-herb vaporizing, with the myrcene, linalool, and nerolidol dominant terpenes before bed and a 1:1 THC: CBD edible to sustain it through the night. The inhaled cannabis will take effect within a few minutes and last up to 2 hours, while the edible could take 30 mins up to two hours to take effect and can last up to 8 hours.

Always start low (2mgs) and go slow when working with edibles. Adjust by 1-2 mg each night until the desired sleep duration is acquired. Overall, good sleep is essential during grief as it supports emotional and physical well-being, cognitive function, and the capacity to cope with the challenges grief presents.

Mood Regulation and Stress Reduction

Sleep is a natural stress reducer. When we don’t get enough sleep, stress levels increase, making it harder to cope with grief effectively. A well-rested mind and body are more resilient and better equipped to handle these stressors.

Sometimes using cannabis to help your sleep is enough to keep your stress levels down but when sleep isn’t an issue and you still have intrusive thoughts, intense feelings of sadness and depression, or anxiety you may want to try a natural plant medicine versus pharmaceuticals first.

Harmonizing Stress Response through the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

Cannabis interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) (3) to create balance in the mind, body, and spirit. It maintains homeostasis of all the other systems in our body. When we experience stress, our body’s ECS becomes imbalanced. Cannabis can mimic the body’s natural endocannabinoids and help to supplement the imbalance. 

Navigating Stress with Cannabinoids: Finding the Right Balance for Calmness

Cannabidiol (CBD) (4) has been found to reduce anxiety without the risk of feeling “high". The ECS helps regulate the release of stress hormones like cortisol and modulate the release of stress hormones promoting a more balanced stress response.

Certain cannabinoids, including THC, can induce a sense of relaxation and calmness. In this study (5) it shows that lower doses of THC can relieve stress but higher doses may do the opposite. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing acute stress or anxiety. Cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG) help reduce excessive neuronal activity, (6) promoting a calmer state of mind and reducing anxiety and stress levels.

Pain Management in Grief

Grief can also manifest as physical pain, such as tension headaches or muscle aches. When we hold on to intense emotions without releasing them or processing them they show up in our body as pain and illness. Chronic pain is one of the top 3 reasons many people come to cannabis, along with sleep and anxiety.

Alleviating Grief-Related Pain with Cannabinoids

Most cannabinoids including THC, CBD, and CBG are well-studied for their analgesic (7) properties (pain relief) and may help alleviate both acute and chronic pain.

• THC has muscle relaxant properties especially if you look for the terpenes Myrcene, Linalool, Terpineol, and Farnesene. 

• CBD interacts with receptors involved in pain modulation, reducing inflammation and pain perception. 

• CBG has analgesic properties similar to CBD. It helps reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions like arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Using all 3 of these cannabinoids together allows all of these properties to work together hitting over 65 targets in the body at the same time.

Exploring New Avenues of Healing: Cannabis as a Source of Comfort and Growth in Grief

My personal journey through grief has been one marked by both struggle and revelation. Embracing cannabis as a tool for introspection, stress relief, and pain relief allowed me to navigate the depths of my grief with newfound clarity and strength. While each individual’s experience may differ, and it is essential to approach cannabis use with care and intention, my own story stands as a testament to the potential benefits it can offer in the realm of grief processing. 

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References:

1. Marincolo. Sebastian, “Marijuana, Introspection, and Personal Growth.” Sebastian Marincolo, 22 Mar. 2015, www.sebastianmarincolo.de/en/marijuana-introspection-and-personal-growth/.

2. Kuhathasan, Nirushi et al. “An investigation of cannabis use for insomnia in depression and anxiety in a naturalistic sample.” BMC psychiatry vol. 22,1 303. 28 Apr. 2022, doi:10.1186/s12888-022-03948-6

3. Grinspoon, Peter, “The Endocannabinoid System: Essential and Mysterious by Dr. Grinspoon.” The Endocannabinoid System: Essential and Mysterious by Dr. Grinspoon, www.effectivenewsletter.com/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-by-dr-peter-grinspoon. Accessed 20 July 2023. 

4. Berger, Maximus et al. “Cannabidiol for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders in Young People: An Open-Label Trial.” The Journal of clinical psychiatry vol. 83,5 21m14130. 3 Aug. 2022, doi:10.4088/JCP.21m14130.

5. Lutz, Joseph, and Harriet de Wit. “Low-Dose THC Can Relieve Stress; More Does Just the Opposite.” Low-Dose THC Can Relieve Stress; More Does Just the Opposite | UIC Today,            2 June 2017, today.uic.edu/low-dose-thc-can-relieve-stress-more-does-just-the-opposite/#:~:text=Blood%20pressure%2C%20heart%20rate%2C%20and,dissipated%20faster%20after%20the%20test. 

6. Calapai, Fabrizio et al. “Pharmacological Aspects and Biological Effects of Cannabigerol and Its Synthetic Derivatives.” Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM vol. 2022 3336516. 8 Nov. 2022, doi:10.1155/2022/3336516.

7. Vučković Sonja, Srebro Dragana, Vujović Katarina Savić, Vučetić Čedomir, Prostran Milica, TITLE=Cannabinoids and Pain: New Insights From Old Molecules, JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology, VOLUME=9. YEAR=2018. URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.01259, DOI=10.3389/fphar.2018.01259, ISSN=1663-9812.