Medical Marijuana: What’s Wrong With Euphoria, Anyway?

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary entry for “euphoria” is thus:

eu·pho·ria noun yü-ˈfȯr-ē-ə

: a feeling of well-being or elation

Synonyms: cloud nine, elatedness, elation, ecstasy, exhilaration, heaven, high, intoxication, paradise, rapture, rhapsody, seventh heaven, swoon, transport

Antonyms: depression

Stedman’s Medical Dictionary defines euphoria as:

1. A feeling of well-being, commonly exaggerated and not necessarily well founded.

2. The pleasure state induced by a drug or substance of abuse.

The definition I perhaps like the most, comes from the Merriam-Webster’s student dictionary.

Main Entry: eu·pho·ria

Function: noun

: a strong feeling of happiness

I seem to recall a document that was required reading in school with that term in it… it said something like “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. “

Is it only to be pursued, never achieved? 

“Controversial” due to the fact that it is THAT particular effect that leads to so many judgments in regards to the use of cannabis, be it recreationally, medically or spiritually.

Let us assure ourselves as a society that this side effect is limited to only those “deserving!” Really? What does that mean?

Who is to judge who has lived a “good enough” life to be allowed to legally experience euphoria, happiness, when they desire?

Perhaps a cancer patient who has fought a long, valiant and brave fight, yet is losing?

If that patient is a child, dare we allow their innocence to be touched, their mind opened? Many would say no, even if that child was dying.

I am a huge proponent behind the research into other cannabinoids besides delta-9-THC. The cannabinoid with some of the most EXCITING research currently in regards to autism, aspergers, PTSD, depression, cancers, ADD & ADHD; is cannabidiol, or CBD.

An unfortunate side-effect of the excitement surrounding the research into CBD is the vilification of delta-9-THC… Due to the simple fact that it can lead to “euphoria”!

The reason this is unfortunate is that the more research is being explored, the more we are learning that ALL the various components of the plant cannabis sativa work in concert with one another, to interact within the human endocannabinoid system to regain homeostasis, or balance and health. 

To take a solitary component of this plant and label it “bad,” is to lose the message of healing entirely.

Let’s go back to delta-9-THC for a moment though… In our pursuit of balance.

In 2004, Dr. Ester Fride, an Israeli scientist, showed us that a newborn mammal can NOT suckle and SURVIVE without a functioning cannabinoid messaging system. Bred to lack CB1 receptors and unable to suckle at birth, when injected with THC, the mice were able to suckle and develop normally.

So…. In spite of the fact this substance is REQUIRED by mammals, the side effect “euphoria” is a reason to withhold treatment to children?! Why?

Because our Judeo-Christian so-called “values” say that euphoria is wrong? So we should allow CHILDREN to suffer and DIE because for them to experience euphoria would be “morally wrong”?!

Wow. 

I am disgusted with the perception that FEELING GOOD is inherently BAD!

If a person enjoys pleasure, they can be labeled a “hedonist,” as an insult. Feeling good is “wrong”… Didn’t anyone ever get that message into you?!

Seriously people, there is enough physical, psychological and emotional pain out there for all of us to share in. MORE than enough.

If those of use who awaken with physical pain on a daily basis… well, speaking JUST for myself, if I can manage to attain a BIT of euphoria for an hour… maybe two, I consider that “pursuit of happiness” part of my rights as a human being.

Euphoria, indeed.

Relief, reLEAF, in FACT.

Spread enLIGHTEnment with EDUCATION.

Love and Lighte.