This is an opportunity to take a closer look at your relationship with this plant and the possibility of redefining how you use, why you use, and whether or not you wish to continue. Some people use this drug for medicinal purposes, recreational, creative, and spiritual uses. It can become problematic if you notice changes in motivation (ie. reduced), emotional dysregulation or numbness, cannabis dependence, relational discord and conflict, excessive paranoia and/or self/other judgement, and especially if you are living with an excessive amount of inner conflict and cognitive dissonance about your use. If this level of ambivalence is present, it may be an opportune time to take a closer look.

In my work with many individuals who use cannabis for various reasons, I have found that many people do struggle with self-esteem and low self worth issues, difficulties with setting boundaries and communication challenges in relationships. It often surfaces that there has been some small or big trauma’s in their life, which cannabis was discovered and helped cope with the pain of such experiences and the impact they have had. A common theme for those I have worked with is also the felt experience that they can’t “Be Myself”. The work has been about strengthening the person so that the pain of Authenticity is more bearable, more desirable, that the pain of inauthenticity or unaddressed trauma and relational issues.

It is also possible to work with this drug/sacred plant (depending on your view of this “medicine”) in a more intentional way. For example, in areas of India, consumation with this plant has been used specifically for spiritual practice, such as meditation, prayer and devotion to God(Shiva). In the lineage of Kriya Yoga, it is explicitly spoken about: If you are going to use the plant, use it with intention and practice the Kriya Yoga Practices. (See a great discussion on the topic with Stephen Gray and Dr. Keith Lowenstein (https://youtu.be/-CyGcF24Rxo?si=JbPUkDRJCa8sTFfx)). Some food for thought. The main point is, an approach can be a “harm reduction” approach, and life enhancing, under the right conditions, with supportive