Medical Marijuana to Treat Menstrual Cramps?
With several states in the country legalizing marijuana, either medically or recreationally, many are trying to get their hands on the expanding market. Whoopi Goldberg has been a long-time advocate of marijuana use. In an interview to Vanity Fair, Goldberg announced that she plans to launch a medical marijuana line to treat menstrual cramps.
The Whoopi & Maya line will be created in partnership with Om Edibles owner Maya Elisabeth, and will include products like weed edibles, topical rubs, liquid extracts and a “profoundly relaxing” THC-infused bath soak. The Whoopi & Maya line will hit shelves in April and be available to California residents with a medical marijuana card.
“For me, I feel like if you don’t want to get high, this is a product specifically just to get rid of discomfort,” said Goldberg. “Smoking a joint is fine, but most people can’t smoke a joint and go to work.”
Goldberg states the products will instead offer women a portable, discreet option to use in the workplace or on-the-go.
“This, you can put it in your purse,” Goldberg told Vanity Fair. “You can put the rub on your lower stomach and lower back at work, and then when you get home you can get in the tub for a soak or make tea, and it allows you to continue to work throughout the day.”
Goldberg came up with the idea because she has two granddaughters who suffer from severe cramps and she realized there was a need for a more natural alternative to treating menstrual pain. For those who want to avoid the mind-altering effects of pot, the Whoopi & Maya line will also include products with only cannabidiol (CBD) without the THC chemical that gets you high.
At first, when she brought up the idea, Goldberg was told the idea was a niche. However, Whoopi disagreed,
“Hey, this niche is half the population on the earth,” she said. “This seems to be people flippantly blowing you off, which is what you get whenever you start talking about cramps.”
Whoopi has always been open about her long-time use of medical marijuana to treat her glaucoma-related headaches. She raved about her medical pot vape pen in 2014. Whoopi believes that people should be aware of alternatives out there that can help assist with pain management.
Personally, I relate to some of the issues Goldberg is talking about, and I think it is about time that other solutions than painkillers receive consideration. Each month, I swallow a handfuls worth of ibuprofen to cope with the cramping that I get as a result of my menstrual cycle. While the medication does help with lowering the pain, I get extremely drowsy and nauseous due to the effects of taking the ibuprofen.
The long term side effects of ibuprofen are listed as:
• Upset stomach, mild heartburn, nausea, vomiting;
• Bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation
• Dizziness, headache, nervousness
• Mild itching or rash
• Ringing in your ears
I have explored all the options available, and so far, pain medications seem to work best for me. Still, it is comforting to know that a topic like that is getting attention because of Goldberg. Those with conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can often suffer severe pain during that time of the month and many patients end up using heavier pain medication for the pain associated with the conditions.
While medical marijuana and marijuana remain to be hot topics, finding alternatives to treat conditions like this is not a bad idea. Still, despite the possible health benefits of using marijuana, the drug can be addictive and abused just like any other drug. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please do not wait. Call toll-free 1-800-777-9588.