Ashley Cross – Profile in Courage
Patient Name: Ashley Cross
Age: 25
Using Medical Cannabis Since: I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2017. The disease has prevented me from doing the things I love to do and daily chores. I’ve been using medical cannabis since I was 19.
Why did you start using cannabis?
I started using medical cannabis because it helped with my depression, anxiety and insomnia. I use it for pain from a car accident in 2011 where I was ran into.
Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis?
I’ve had major depression and anxiety since I was a little and I was put on all different kinds of antidepressants. All of them I had different bad side effects. Later in life I was introduced to cannabis by my boyfriend, and this is the only thing that seems to help my pain and without having the bad side effects.
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients?
The major issue or problem medical patients are facing is federal government acceptance so there can be safe access for patients throughout the whole country. If you have a chronic disease like I do then it becomes a big issue.
What do you say to folks who are skeptical about cannabis as medicine?
When I talk to people who are skeptical about the use of medical cannabis I tell them it’s medicine, it doesn’t have horrible side effects like almost every pharmaceutical medication you take on a daily basis. Cannabis can ease the pain for a while and give you some relief without all those horrible side effects.
