As many of you know, I’ve been open about my cancer journey in recent podcast episodes—from my diagnosis to my search for more holistic ways to heal. I’ve changed my diet, cut out cancer-feeding foods, and swapped out products containing harmful chemicals. I've incorporated detox routines into my daily life to help clear toxins and promote healing. But there was one more avenue I felt drawn to explore: medical cannabis.

I had heard about the potential benefits of cannabis in treating and even preventing cancer. But I knew nothing about it, other than the stories I'd heard of people using it for life-changing results. So, like Alice in Wonderland, I took a curious plunge down the rabbit hole to see what this mysterious "Mary Jane" could offer me.

It all started after a visit with my oncologist, as I waited for a flight at Honolulu airport. I was eager for more natural treatment options but completely clueless about where to begin. So, waiting for my flight home, I called a friend who works at a dispensary. She graciously helped me navigate the process of finding a doctor and registering with the Hawaii Medical Cannabis Registry Program. With some great advice and a few book recommendations, I was ready to start this journey.

I found a compassionate and knowledgeable doctor who guided me through the world of medical cannabis. One of the first things I learned was that smoking cannabis was not the best choice for healing—especially for someone like me, trying to treat cancer. Instead, my doctor recommended tinctures, edibles, and even vaping, which was all foreign territory for me. It was like being Alice standing at a table full of strange bottles, unsure of which one to choose.

I started with a 50-50 mix of THC and CBD tinctures, as my doctor suggested. But there was definitely a learning curve. I had to figure out how long it took for the effects to kick in, how to adjust the dose, and how to deal with unexpected highs (which were more intense than I anticipated). There were some hilarious moments with my family, like the time I attended my daughter’s family dinner while, let’s just say, not entirely sober!

While there were plenty of laughs, there were also challenges—especially after my surgery. I was determined not to take opioid painkillers due to my brother's tragic experience with them. So, I put all my hope in THC for pain relief. But finding the right balance was tough. Vaping was too harsh on my sore body post-surgery, and the tinctures didn't always offer the relief I had hoped for. The reality didn’t quite match the expectations I had pinned on this treatment.

Despite the ups and downs, I learned so much about cannabis, cancer, and myself. This journey wasn’t just about pain management; it became a deeper lesson in patience, resilience, and self-exploration.

While my first experiences with cannabis were a bit of a rollercoaster, they also opened up a new way of looking at healing—one that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and trust in my body’s natural wisdom.

If you're curious to hear the full story, including all the laughter, lessons, and surprises, I invite you to listen to the latest episode of the Radiate Health and Wellness Podcast: From Cancer to Cannabis: My Healing Journey with Mary Jane. You won’t want to miss it! Tune in on YouTube or SPOTIFY.

Stay curious, stay well, and Radiate Health and Wellness in all that you do!
Christine D. Ross 🌸