When I saw this opportunity, it really made me reflect on my usage of cannabis over many years.  I have to state up front, that I have used cannabis for over 50 years, and I thought about the differences from back in the 70’s when I started to today!  Mind boggling honestly!  Let me also mention that I am a C-suite executive in the biotech industry so the thought that it hinders your career pathway really depends on your focus, goals and usage on your own time.  And no, it does not lead to using other drugs!Back in the 70’s, we only  had cannabis leaves at our disposal.  Did it get you high?  Yeah, maybe a little but what did we know back then.  Then comes different names for essentially brown weed with several seeds. Of course, we were all intrigued about growing our own, but it was poor quality, risky and not worth it.   Lo and behold, Sinsemilla was introduced which essentially means in Spanish, without seeds!  We were in heaven.  Better quality and now we see buds available.  Fast forward over the years, the challenge was always trying to find someone that you could buy cannabis from.  A separate story, but the point is when you found a source, it was limited so you stretched out your weed as long as you could while looking for another source. Back in the 90’s, that’s when companies started drug testing.  Well, I experienced an interesting situation when it was unsure who was actually testing.  I interviewed with a large pharmaceutical company, an 8-hour event with several, and at the end, I was informed that they do drug testing.  Oh oh!  As already mentioned, I was a recreational user so in my last interview of the day, with the person who would be my manager, I told him that I was a recreational user and I would not pass a drug test for cannabis.  I apologized for not knowing in advance and for taking up several people’s time.  I left thinking that was it and moved on.  About an hour after I left, I got a phone call from the company’s HR department, explained more to them, and they said they really wanted to hire me, and this is what I have to do over the next 2 weeks to pass the test!  Wow!!  I passed the initial test and got the job and made it through 5 years without being requested to take another drug test. I also remember in 1996, the Compassionate Use Act was passed where you could get the first medical cards and buy cannabis at conventions.  Wow!  It was truly amusing how easy it was to get a card from these so-called doctor’s and many of them moved offices continually when you had to renew!  Then the Adult Use of Marijuana Act was passed in 2016, and honestly, I never thought I would see that day!  So now the ability to have delivery services or store fronts to buy makes life so much easier, let alone speaking about the quality these days!  Obviously, after many years of use I do have a high tolerance, but today’s quality with top shelf brands goes a long way.So, to the true intent of this question, first, it has never hindered my professional career. The enjoyment was more recreational for many years, but as I’ve gotten older, the impact it has had for me relative to relieving certain pains, arthritis and whatever other ailments I have dealt with, it does help me complete my day to relax and sleep well.  A little side note, my girlfriend has never been a user, but after complaining about not being able to sleep well, and trying all the other organic supplements like melatonin, I finally got her to try edibles for sleep.  I cannot tell you how well this has helped her to get a solid night's sleep and feel great in the morning.

I have struggled with cysts in my left eye since I was a baby. I've had multiple surgeries, but live with daily pain. Most doctors have simply pointed me to taking the maximum doses of tylenol. I don't want the long term effects to my liver and it barely helps. I started smoking as a young adult to help with the pain, and finally moved to a medical market where I have access to low dose edibles. 1:1 2mg THC Edibles. Being able to micro-dose cannabis throughout the day makes it bearable to live without pain or ocular migraines daily. I can actually live and enjoy my life without breaking the law. It's a great feeling.

So in august of 2024, I separated from the military and my life completely changed. I was struggling with sleep, I had chronic pain and honestly everyday was a bit miserable. I would spend most of my days inside just not doing much and it just led to me feeling worse. I also drank alcohol almost daily and used nicotine on a daily basis as well. It was pretty much a constant cycle of masking the pain but it was only getting worse. Then, one day I was hanging out with a friend of mine who likes to dab and I ended up trying one and it was a life changing experience. I inhaled , coughed a bit and instantly felt such relief, and I was instantly filled with happiness. I had no pain , my joints and body felt amazing and I couldn’t stop smiling and cracking jokes. The relief was so amazing that I started dabbing pretty much daily and it’s been the best thing that ever happened to me. The relief is pure bliss. The pain and constant anxiety are completely gone, and I truthfully feel like a normal person again. Navigating the world of anxiety after service was a living hell, and truthfully there are no words to describe the feeling. Before cannabis, it could only be numbed , and now cannabis is my medicine that gives me complete relief. I owe my life to this plant and I intend to work my way up in the cannabis world.
My life has improved to a level that I can’t describe in words, I have literal tears in my eyes as I write this (as embarrassing that is to admit). I’m happy, and I can enjoy things that I never could before. Being around a lot of people and things like that would overwhelm me at times and now all of that has melted away. My sleep has also improved to an outstanding level. I sleep amazing and through the entire night, and I used to sleep 2-3 hours a night, and wake up in a drunken haze. This plant also made me feel things again. It was so hard to be emotionally engaged before and now all I want to do is bring happiness and positivity into the world. I sit here everyday and thank god for cannabis, it gave me life again and I’m just so thankful. Weed brings people together, it’s beautiful and it deserves all of the glory it gets plus a thousand times more. I literally feel like a new person, and this plant is the love of my life. This plant gave me my life back, it healed my mind, my body, and my soul. I owe my life to this plant and it will be my passion for my entire existence.

I’m from an incredibly small town in rural West Virginia. We literally have three traffic lights. Yea, that kind of small. So naturally everyone knows everyone and everything about them. The opioid crisis hit my town hard! I can’t count the friends and family I’ve lost to addiction over the years. I was also apart of that statistic. I overdosed twice, each time my life was saved by emergency responders. It took me 7 years and countless rehab attempts to pull myself together. One thing I could always count on helping me was Cannabis. Cannabis curbed my cravings and helped tremendously with my panic and anxiety! After years of being off hard substances I was diagnosed manic depressive with bipolar 2 disorder. But it made sense looking back on my active addiction days. Doctors loaded me down with medications that honestly made me feel worse. Something had to change. Then my state legalized Medical Cannabis. I applied to be a patient immediately! After a few months my panic attacks and depression slowly started to get better. I couldn’t believe it, but the best part, I’ve been able to come off of almost all of my prescription medications. I had lived that life where I woke up to taking pills. I didn’t want to live that way again! Medical Cannabis has saved me in more ways than I can count. After feeling like myself again I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to heal others and share my story hoping it would help at least one person. I now work in a highly respected level one trauma center as a Health Unit Coordinator. I help the sick, pray with the dying and use my training to bring patients back from the brink of death. It is sometimes depressing but I try to find the beauty in every single situation. I would never be the person I am today if not for Medical Cannabis. I owe this miracle plant my life! I recommend it to my patients, family members and others still in active addiction hoping it will save them just like it saved me.

Recently my grandfather passed then my sister OD and 2 month later my father crashed my car into a tree and passed away. All of this happened withing 9 months of eachother. I felt lost to be honest and thought life wasnt real. I couldn't get though the days without anxiety of what was going to happen next. I couldn't sleep. I went to get help from a doctor and they put me on anxiety medication and it started making things worse. I was having cold sweats and my sleep got even worse. It wasnt until I got my medical Marijuana Card and started using recreational cannabis that my life started to change for the better. My sleep became immaculate, the anxiety of every day life went away and I could finally be myself again. I dont know where I would be mentally right now if it wasnt for cannabis and I hope that this helps someone if they are wondering what cannabis can do for their life. If I had to put it into one sentence it would be that: Medical Cannabis is life changing for the better and I wouldn't want my life any other way.

Before cannabis, my life was dominated by constant burning, tingling, and shooting pain from peripheral neuropathy. The nerve pain in my feet and legs made simple things—like walking across the house, standing at work, or even trying to sleep—feel unbearable. I was exhausted all the time, irritable from the never-ending discomfort, and nothing the doctors prescribed seemed to touch the pain without heavy side effects. I was masking the pain and frustration with alcohol in the evenings just to take the edge off and get a few hours of broken sleep.A friend who also dealt with chronic pain suggested I try CBD at first. It helped a little, but when I started researching online, I learned that cannabis with balanced THC and CBD ratios often provided much stronger relief for neuropathic pain. After talking with my doctor and exploring legal options here in Texas, I decided it was time to try something natural that might actually target the nerve pain instead of just covering it up.The change has been life-changing. I now use a low-to-moderate dose 1:1 hybrid edible in the morning, another around midday when the pain starts to build, and a gentler one in the early evening while I prep dinner or wind down. The burning and shooting pain has decreased dramatically—I can finally walk more comfortably, stand longer without agony, and actually sleep through the night most nights. My mood is so much steadier because I’m not constantly fighting the pain. I’ve got real energy back, I’ve started taking short walks again, and I’m more present with family and friends instead of being short-tempered or distracted by discomfort.Cannabis has given me my life back by finally quieting the relentless nerve pain from peripheral neuropathy—I’m no longer trapped in constant discomfort and can enjoy daily activities again without relying on alcohol or heavy prescriptions.

It all started with a fight with a work truck. It was a new truck and unfortunately a new design. I continuously got in and out of the truck. The door would jam and you had to pull really hard. The bracket for the door track was right at elbow hit. I hit it just right and fractured my elbow. From there on ,I was in severe pain. Nothing helped. Many doctors and 2 surgeries I was still in pain.
A friend had me try the chewable tarts. It was the first time in years the my pain did not run my life.  It gave me back control of my life.  I now keep them on hand all the time.

I’m a 70 year old retired fellow who has struggled with arthritis joint pain for about 10 years. PC Dr said to deal with it with OTC medication. I had little success with that. I was fortunate to be able to take a tour of a medical marijuana facility in Austin,Texas. I figured why not? Since getting my prescription I use an eye dropper in my coffee every morning and I am moving better and just use a salve for severe pain.

Before cannabis, my life was defined by the aftermath of a traumatic head injury that left me struggling with debilitating headaches and chronic insomnia. The pain was constant, and my inability to get restorative sleep meant that nothing I tried seemed to work for my recovery. I decided to try cannabis after doing my own research and hearing how it could provide more comprehensive relief than standard treatments for chronic pain and sleep issues. Since starting, my life has improved dramatically; I am finally able to sleep through the night, my mood is more stable, and the reduction in headache intensity has allowed me to re-engage with my daily life and relationships. Cannabis has truly changed my life by giving me back the sense of normalcy and physical relief I thought I had lost forever.

Before I had access to cannabis life was difficult. Dealing with anxiety and autism at the same time made life so confusing and scary. Later down the road I was also diagnosed with diabetes. I couldn't calm myself unless I ate almost constantly.  I first tried cannabis as a gummy I bought from a bar when I was 21. I've heard good things about it and how it could help with anxiety issues and did some online research. So I tried it at night when I got home. It was, unbelievable. I felt like my anxieties were never there. I felt like I could live like a normal person without constantly worrying. I also found out that it helped lower my blood sugars and aided my already prescribed medicine to lower my A1C. Currently I work in retail and cannabis has helped me be less anxious in my every day life, where as I used to dread even getting up in the morning. I feel like I can finally have a normal life.

Well 4. Yrs ago I got diagnosed with throat cancer. I'm going to make it short. If it wasn't for cannabis. This guy would not be here. Everything from make it thru radiation treatments, to ongoing Mind games.(stress). Eating food again. ( putting on weight)." Also being without insurance. Was the best for me.

It all started with a fight with a work truck. It was a new truck and unfortunately a new design. I continuously got in and out of the truck. The door would jam and you had to pull really hard. The bracket for the door track was right at elbow hit. I hit it just right and fractured my elbow. From there on ,I was in severe pain. Nothing helped. Many doctors and 2 surgeries I was still in pain. A friend had me try the chewable tarts. It was the first time in years the my pain did not run my life.  It gave me back control of my life.  I now keep them on hand all the time.