Karl’s story: "It was a real lightbulb moment. I'm in the best place in my life at the moment"

Thanks for sharing your time with us, Karl. Can we start with your initial consultation with Releaf? How did you find it?

It was quite formal in some ways, but it was very good. He was a very nice person to speak to. I'm quite open about my mental health and have been for a long time, it's part of me. So it was formal, but very good, very friendly, everything I wanted, really. 

What was it like to receive legal cannabis in the post for the first time, and what is your normal dosing routine?

The first time I got it, I was absolutely blown away. I just thought “Wow, how things have changed over the last 40 years or so”. 

I use a dry herb vaporiser, as I've got COPD, so I don't want to smoke anything, totally apart from the fact that smoking medical cannabis is still illegal here in the UK. 

The first time I had it, I didn't realise the difference between a normal e-cigarette vape and my dry herb vape. I didn’t realise how few puffs were needed! All of a sudden, the effects hit a little harder than I was initially expecting, but it was a good wake-up call. After that, I quickly learned how to dose correctly for my health needs. 

I was first prescribed both oil and flower, but if I am being honest, I've not used the oil much at all. I know that other people find it helpful, but I was waking up a little groggy in the morning, which I don’t get from the vaporised flower. I have to get up early for the school run and work, so I decided that it probably wasn’t for me. 

So I just vape my prescribed flower, about a gram a day. I cut it into bits. I'm quite controlled about the dosage, especially after that first encounter with my dry herb vape. 

I don't medicate when I'm working. It's only after work and in the evening, and I'm relaxed by 10, half 10 at night. So it does its job well. I've also only just been prescribed some pastilles, which I've not tried before, but I like the idea of having something very discreet and convenient for when I go out and need to medicate. 

Has your treatment had a positive impact on your life apart from better physical and mental health? Has it helped with your relationships?

I won’t lie, it was a little hard with my partner at first. She has never been a cannabis user, and she found it difficult with the smell, especially as we've got children. But she's come around to it, especially seeing the impact on my mood and realising I'm a lot nicer person now, a lot more rational, especially compared to when I was drinking regularly. 

So yeah, I would say that it’s made a really positive impact on my relationships, and I am so grateful for that. 

And I sleep like a brick. To be fair, I'd have slept well with half a bottle of whisky inside me too, and I work hard, so I'm usually tired anyway. But the sleep I get now is much more restful than before, and I wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

Have you experienced any stigma as a medical cannabis patient when telling people?

I haven't told many people. Apart from my partner, I think I have only told my sister so far. 

I told her, and she was really chuffed because she's seeing the difference it's making to my health and to my day-to-day happiness and wellbeing. 

I've still got to tell my stepson. He's 18, and just finished his A-levels, so I'm waiting for the right moment. That said, It doesn't bother me what people think. I know that I have made the right choice for me, and it’s a totally legal treatment option, so it is no one else’s business, really. 

How do feel about the Releaf medical cannabis card as well. Have you ever had to use it?

No, I haven’t needed to pull it out as yet, but I've got it in my wallet all the time. 

It's reassuring that if I've had something the night before, and I get stopped the next morning, I've got my card, and it can hopefully sort things out. It's definitely peace of mind having it with me.

Is there anything you're looking forward to that medical cannabis has given you the ability to do?

It's helping with my health, definitely. Like I say, I've got COPD, and I've lost a bit of weight as well, which I'm shocked at, though I suppose cutting back on the whisky makes a difference. We're getting married later in the year, which is nice, I'm looking forward to that. It's just keeping me on the straight and happy.

If you were to share some advice for someone contemplating medical cannabis treatment, what would you say?

Don’t hesitate, I'd say it's very good. You'd be surprised at how good it is, and there are so many conditions it can help with. Give it a go, that would be my advice. 

To find out more about medical cannabis treatment for the health issues mentioned here, our dedicated page on medical cannabis for depression has all the information you need.