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Medical Marijuana Tryfecta

[L]ook at the triadic process in events and experiences. Triads govern the very nature of human experience. An essence enters the body for the sole purpose of experiencing and learning. Your essence sets up event after event; the way in which you learn is triadic. You spiral through each lifetime constantly experiencing triads, each one leading to the next. Problem-solving, then, is basically triadic.

Jose Stevens, Ph.D.

Tao to Earth, Michael's Guide to Relationships and Growth

The Relationship

Our world is built on relationships, all sorts of relationships, good and bad, healthy and unhealthy, honest and dishonest. Anyone or anything, human or otherwise, with which we regularly interact forms the basis of a relationship, the depth of which will depend on the character of each party.

This notion of relationship applies as easily to a drug as it does to a lover. In the case of marijuana, if we look at its vast chemical repertoire and biology, its age, evolution and hardiness as a member of the plant kingdom and so on, it is quite clear cannabis is an extremely substantial character.

In this light, to consider cannabis a mere drug---and its human counterparts mere users---seems almost belittling, or at least deceiving, for it undervalues the character of this plant and the relationship humans might develop with it. And relationships can only go as far as the value each party sees in the other.

Depending on one's view, cannabis can be different things to different people...a friend...a healer...an ally...a workout partner...a counselor... advisor...muse...and if not treated with respect, it can be your worst nightmare (the subject of which I'll address shortly).

Keeping in mind the varied, complex and adaptable character of cannabis will deepen your relationship with it and promote whatever benefits you wish.

Intent, Set and Setting

Why have you decided to employ marijuana as medicine? How do you wish to avail yourself to cannabis? What kind of relationship do you wish with the plant? (In light of the previous section, I'm purposely substituting for the terms use and using in order to re-qualify their meaning in the context of relationship with cannabis)

Asking and answering the above questions gives you clearer direction on your way and better allows cannabis to help you along. If you can't do this before you begin, you may still get help, but you'll be like a blind man in the dark (that's right, it's doubly uncertain). Let's work with this analogy.

Say you begin smoking marijuana and you have no idea why, other than the fact that a joint is being passed around. Good luck. If you have no reason for smoking the joint, you're as good as blind. If you have little idea where and with whom you're sharing the experience, now you're in a dark room too. Not recommended.

I'm NOT implying that such situations must turn out bad, you're simply putting yourself in a riskier situation because it's less certain territory. If you're in a safe environment with good company, more than likely you're in for a good experience. If you also have your proverbial sh*t together, you're in for a great one! The less certain any of the above factors, the bigger risk you're taking.

Using marijuana in safe surroundings with good company is like being in a lighted room, so that even if you are blind and have little to no idea what you're doing, you can at least rest assured you're in a supportive environment. That's called a GOOD SETTING.

The other half of the equation is all you and where your head is at. That is your SET, or mind-set. Having a GOOD SET begins with INTENT. When it comes to cannabis, intent means addressing where you want to go with it. However focused or blurry your destination may be, establishing intent sets your vision and gives you some direction towards where you want to go.

Moving Forward

Long recognized by psychedelic pioneers and explorers of mind and consciousness, SET and SETTING are prime considerations in cannabis usage. So too INTENT is primary. The better these are established and monitored the clearer your direction and more purposeful and beneficial your experience.

What Makes for Good Set, Setting and Intent?

Of course the exact answer to this question is as varied as the number of individuals in the world. Ultimately only you know what you want and need and what makes you feel safe and comfortable. Depending on how well you know yourself and your world, a good part of your cannabis experience may involve some exploration in this realm.

If you're not already happily where you want to be, or well on your way, here's something to consider:

Myself, I'm an avid hiker and Nature lover. I believe the natural world is not only big medicine but basic nutrition. And, most simply, my recommended daily allowance is LOTS!

When I'm outdoors, oftentimes I like to just sit and look around, enjoying my surroundings and soaking-in the experience. Other times I get restless or I'm intrigued by something I see, in which case I'm on the move. When I'm on the move, I may just wander around, observing whatever I happen upon, or I may move with certain direction, my destination clearly in sight (often a mixture of both suits me best). My thinking with cannabis is a lot like this. If you have a destination, it can help you get there. If you don't have a destination it can help you find one. If you're already there, great!

Speaking of such stuff, I'd like to end this chapter by sharing a little poem I've written. It's my own version and interpretation of a two-word phrase that's been tossed around for quite some time now.

Reefer Madness

Love Your World Madly

Fall Madly In Love

Love Your Life Madly

Fall Madly In Love

Love Your Dreams Madly

Fall Madly In Love

Now here is a different sort of Madness...

Deaths in U.S. from liver cirrhosis in 2005

Alcohol = 12,928

Cannabis = 0

U.S. Traffic Accidents/Fatalities in year 2004

Alcohol = 16,919 (39.5% of all crash fatalities)

Cannabis = 0

Average Annual Deaths from Acute Poisoning between 1996-1998

Alcohol = 317

Cannabis = 0