Yo, what’s good? It’s your boy Dan, and today we’re talking about some real heavy stuff. When it comes to the end of life, it’s tough to deal with all those emotions and unresolved issues. Even with hospice care, it ain’t easy. We Americans are taught to believe in happy endings, thanks to all them TV shows and movies where everything gets resolved in under 2 hours. But real life ain’t like that, it’s messy and full of pain.
So, here’s the question – can weed help in those final hours? When you’re in palliative or hospice care, anything that can ease the pain and suffering is worth considering.
Palliative care is when you get medical care for serious illnesses like cancer or heart failure. The goal is to treat your symptoms and improve your quality of life alongside any other treatments you’re getting.
Hospice care is a bit different – it’s all about making sure you’re as comfortable as possible when there’s no hope left for a cure. It’s prescribed when all other options have been exhausted and the focus shifts to making the patient comfortable until the end.
Now, some folks might tell you that marijuana can help with the pain and suffering that comes with serious illnesses. And there’s some science to back that up – studies have shown that weed can help increase appetite, relieve constipation, and reduce pain. But let’s be real here, it ain’t gonna cure anything.
But there’s another benefit to weed that we should talk about – its ability to ease spiritual and existential suffering. When you’re faced with the reality of a terminal illness and a lifetime of memories behind you, that’s some heavy stuff. A little bit of euphoria or sense of well-being can do wonders for your mind, body, and spirit as you come to terms with what’s coming.
In fact, a study was done recently among hospice professionals (think nurses, administrators, and doctors). Regardless of whether it was legal in their state or not, most of them agreed that medical marijuana is an important tool for supporting their patients.
Now, here’s the tricky part – even though weed is legal in 40 states and DC, there are still federal laws that make it a challenge for hospice and palliative care programs to prescribe it. Since most hospices are funded by Medicare, they can’t legally prescribe a Schedule 1 controlled substance like weed. It’s a real shame, considering how much it could help those who are suffering.
So, what’s the verdict? Marijuana might be able to help with some of the pain and suffering that comes with serious illnesses. It might even make you feel a little bit better emotionally. But it ain’t gonna cure anything, and it’s still tough to get access to in many places.
At the end of the day, we should all be doing everything we can to make sure those who are suffering have access to whatever tools they need to make the most of their time left. Whether that’s weed or something else entirely, we owe it to them and ourselves to try. Peace out.