After several days of reading and re-reading the doctor’s recommendations and treatment plans, I got up enough courage to visit the local dispensary, recommended by my local friends to be the best, most reliable source of cannabis products. It was actually recommended by two separate friends (who are friends in real time as well as Facebook), both professionals, and married to medical professionals.
On November 13, I posted:
“Every hour without a migraine is a gift. I have yet to experience any hours without arthritis neck pain. I rely solely on caffeine and sumatriptin to get me through the day. And codeine to get me through the night.”
I don’t know why I waited two weeks before visiting Harborside the first time. Admittedly, I was scared. I didn’t know exactly what to do. But I knew to have both my photo ID (driver’s license) and my newly acquired medical cannabis card ready to show the people at the bottom of the stairs.
I knew in advance that picture-taking was not allowed inside the building (for obvious reasons, if you think about it), so I didn’t take my phone in at all. What I didn’t know in advance is that Harborside did not take debit or credit cards–cash only. Fortunately, I had just barely enough cash in my wallet to cover my first-time purchases.
When I got inside, I had to go through a metal detector (also for obvious reasons), then was ushered over to a counter where a pleasant-looking middle-aged woman looked at my photo ID and medical cannabis card. She entered something on the workstation in front of her. Since I was not in the system, I had to “register.” I was given a clipboard and ushered to a seat in a small waiting area to fill in the required details. Then an efficient young women took my completed registration from, my photo ID, and medical cannabis card and disappeared into a nearby room for several minutes.
“Okay,” she announced cheerily, “you’re all set!” She gave back my photo ID and medical cannabis card. I looked around the spacious and well-lighted interior. On my right, there was a sign hanging from the ceiling that said CONSULTATION, and that looked like a good place to start. I know my body language and hesitancy exuded “newbie” loud and clear!
I was very soon accommodated by a “consultant.” I learned, during my conversation with him, that he had had a career of oncology nurse, so he was very familiar with treating serious illnesses. I told him I had chronic neck pain and chronic migraines. He suggested a cannabis salve, which I bought, especially since Dr. Olson had recommended it. He suggested a tincture of full-plant extract CBD in MCT oil in a 20:1 ratio (meaning 19 parts CBD to 1 part THC), and a tincture of pure THCA, the non-psychoactive form, also in MCT oil. The brand was TreatWell, and I just assumed it would always be available whenever I needed it.
My consultant recommended starting with 10 drops of each tincture and gradually working up to 20 drops of each one, twice a day.
He wrote down the two tinctures and the salve on an index card-sized piece of paper. He told me I would get a senior discount when I checked out at a cashier’s station. And, since I was a first-time purchaser, I would get a “free gift” then. The newcomer’s gift was a package of 4 CBD lozenges.
I feel like I’m finally starting on a journey that I’ve been preparing for the last couple of years!
