As a Curio and Relic FFL licensee, former concealed carry licensee (will update this) and a former NRA pistol instructor and RSO, I have been very religious about avoiding any use of hemp-derived products because of the federal government's continuing paranoia about cannabis in any form.
I recently moved from uptight Texas back to cannabis-chill New Mexico. Hanging with other senior citizens, if you are one you know that the subject of health issues and aches and pains is a prime topic of conversation. Almost all the elders I know here regularly use some form of cannabis. Some use products containing the "reefer madness" compound THC -- gummies, chocolate, actual plant, smoked -- in some proportion and others keep to the THC-free spectrum of salves, oils and tinctures. Virtually all claim significant relief from pain and much better sleep when using this stuff -- relief that exceeds that from prescription meds and humanity's old enemy/friend, alcohol.
As I haven't had five hours' unbroken sleep in years and live with serious and chronic back pain thanks to the four fusions and attendant arthritis, I listen to their experiences with great interest. I am still not willing to take anything that would conflict with federal law and jeopardize my firearms rights but I feel kind of stupid yielding to the feds' illogical interpretation when I believe I would benefit from some of this stuff.
When I am having a beer at the VFW post, many if not most of the vets there (I am not a vet, just auxilliary lifer) use cannabis products in some form as well.
Anyone else struggling with this issue? I know many hunters, shooters and gun owners who simply ignore the federal proscriptions and go about their lives. I do not feel in any way threatened by them, nor do I believe they present any threat whatsoever to the public health and safety.
If anyone is uncomfortable responding on the open forum and you wish to PM me with your experience, your PMs will be kept confidential.
I know. Can of worms, but I greatly value the wisdom and experience of those on this forum.

That is a hot button waiting to be pushed.
I won't touch the stuff due to exactly those issues, but have heard of people who do.
I expect to see benign neglect and very selective enforcement in the future.

Bill, I have never been a pot head but I have several friends who swear by it and smoke it all day like cigarettes. So I have tried CBD edibles. They did nothing for pain at all. They do make me sleep better but I rarely use it. I am in a similar situation as you with chronic back pain due to deterioration and surgery which did not help.

I have also tried THC edibles and they made me seriously sick. Using a vape for THC did nothing.

So there is no pain relief for me with these drugs. I realize everyone's mileage may be different. I have noted though that my friends do have problems with memory with being wasted all the time. They often mix in alcohol with it which also leaves a lot to be desired for behavior.

They all started pot as teenagers and I suspect it did something to their developing brains where it does cause effect. I don't want to be them.

Ann, I would only be interested in products with a therapeutic effect on pain and sleep issues. If I want a buzz I will have beers. Just wish our gummint would get on the same page as our states, or at least make meaningful research less troublesome to conduct so that we can find out what the cannabis compounds are scientifically good for. Geez.

I believe that will happen. I do want it to be clear that people driving while stoned need to be heavily prosecuted. Personally, I'd like to see much harsher laws for those driving while intoxicated but to me, if people want to do drugs, then what's to stop them? Laws sure don't so get rid of them. Just make the penalty very high for misuse. The other problem I have is having to smell weed. I do not like it and with it being legalized the stench is everywhere. Do it at home as much as you want but please respect public 'air'.

I am like you in the sense that I haven’t had a good night sleep in 15 or so years( I’m 76).wife and I started taking gummies that are a combination of CBD and THC( 100 mg of CBD and 5 mg of THC). I now sleep through the night, as does my wife. FWIW…..

The problem is the regulation and law are federal.

Even in a state w legalization, one can still be prosecuted under the Gun Control Act as amended because Marijuana, THC remains federally illegal. One is still an unlawful user because the Feds still make it illegal.

THC/Marijuana remains a Schedule I Narcotic under Fed law.

Yes you can be prosecuted if you are using THC even medicinal in a legalized state and check the form you are not an abuser of substances. Some folks have so been prosecuted, but ancillary to other charges, or when the Feds could not make other charges stick.

There is no way around this. Unless the Feds declassify THC, marijuana use, you can prosecuted if using and fill out a 4473.

Congress is going to have to pass a law decriminalizing marijuana/thc.

Here is the run, and why I do not buy gun registration snd bans, every state w med marijuana you have users given a license. If the fed wanted to mass incarcerate and strip large segment of gun owners, all they have to do is compare the issue of marijuana cars/licensees with 4473 applications.

CBD and THC are not from a law enforcement standpoint the same. THC Delta 9 is what gets you.

Secduke I means that the drug has not been proven to provide any medical use.

I am sorry. I have to advise you, you would be in jeopardy of Fed prosecution if using state legal med THC and seek out a 4473 that you are not an unlawful user.

Only you can decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.

Remember this discussion when you hear folks say, “ Enforce the laws we got. We don’t need any new laws.”

Oh, I just write our medical THC ordinance and public employee policy.

LE are banned by Fed law from participating in medical THC regardless of state legalization.

There are several court cases working their way through the federal courts.

On this issue.

Will they be decided fast no.

The anti's are working over time to make sure. The laws stay in place.

If a case makes it up to supreme court.

We shall see.

My step dad used to swear by cbd pills for arthritis pain. many others said they do nothing.
I wonder why?

Bill, congratulations on your move!!! Hope you're happy there. You're right about Texas's marijuana laws being Draconian. I don't smoke it or use any of the bi-products, but Linda has smoked it on occasion. She has suffered from back pain + other pain issues in the past + was even going to a pain management outfit for a while. What a joke. Once they found THC in her system, they removed her from the pain management program + by law had to report her to the DEA (they said). Regardless, she was then banned from the program. So now no pain meds. Some places are worse than others as far as prosecution goes; in Austin, you might get a ticket, but here in Williamson County, it's the crime of the century. It's still better law wise than it was in 1970; back then you were looking at serious jail time for even a small amount. It is a very major issue nationwide. Time will tell.

Thanks Randy. Sorry to hear Linda deals with chronic pain as well as many of the rest of us.
I hope this issue does get resolved in the courts sooner than later. Looking at a map of the states where it is legal in some measure, millions of Americans have decided that Uncle Sam can shove his proscriptions up his ass. A judge likely will not agree.

Sorry to hear that, Randy. Linda should be allowed any treatment necessary for pain. Our society and medical system/govt is terrible concerning that.

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:
Here is the run, and why I do not buy gun registration and bans, every state w med marijuana you have users given a license. If the fed wanted to mass incarcerate and strip large segment of gun owners, all they have to do is compare the issue of marijuana cards/licensees with 4473 applications.

Only a matter of time, before that comes around.

I don't know if it's still in effect, but years ago down in Belize the general policy was that if you felt that you needed a pharmaceutical pain med, you just went to the local drug store/pharmacy + bought what you wanted. If you were so stupid as to OD yourself, the government would gladly bury you at seas. But then again, I have always been in opposition of laws that were enacted to protect me from myself; with some caveats, of course; like being over 18, etc.