Chilton Brown – Profile in Courage
Profile in Courage
Patient name: Chilton Brown
Age: 28
Condition/Illness: Depression/Anxiety
Using Medical Cannabis since: June 2014
Why did you start using cannabis?
I started using cannabis daily in 2014 as a result of losing my insurance. When I quit my job to relocate to another state, I was on a daily regimen of Wellbutrin and Xanax to combat severe depression and social anxiety. Shortly after moving, I had a close friend suggest I try medical cannabis, instead of prescriptions. I have found a personal balance of how cannabis helps me cope with everyday life, feelings and emotions. This is something pharmaceuticals never did. Not only have I not fallen back into a hole of depression but I have rediscovered passion and love for life again.
Did you try other methods or treatments before cannabis?
I was taking anti-depressants and mood stabilizers per my initial doctor’s recommendations. It was a roller coaster of emotions and balance before finding the right type of medications that worked for me without causing major side effects.
What’s the most important issue or problem facing medical cannabis patients?
One of the biggest problems medical marijuana patients face is misinformation coupled with the harmful stigma and stereotype it holds. With current federal law stating cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance there is an invisible label of “hard drugs” that has been attached to a harmless plant. By rescheduling cannabis we can start to save valuable time, money and public resources by addressing the flawed judicial system laws regarding non-violent cannabis offenses.
What do you say to folks that are skeptical about cannabis as medicine?
With all the misinformation that was taught to us and attached to cannabis from an early age, I understand the secondary view of skeptics. I simply ask for everyone to not judge so quickly and do your research, ask questions, get involved and put yourself in other’s shoes. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but we can start by raising awareness, asking the hard questions and then researching the answers.
