Hopegrown Spotlight: The Maine Difference

We are Adam and Laura Casey. We moved to the western Maine mountains in late 2015, specifically to try cannabis therapy for various ailments that include chronic pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, PTSD, Anxiety disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.

At the time we moved to Maine, I (Laura) was on 20 pharmaceutical pills that ranged from Percocet, Maxalt, Zoloft, Amitriptyline, Cymbalta, Flexeral, Lyrica, Robaxen, Ambien, Gabapentin, Tramadol, Touradol, Wellbutrin, Prozac, and various other medication (blood pressure meds, various Tylenol/codeine mixes).  I was also in PT (land and aquatic), TMS, Graston Technique, CBT, Biofeedback, Group Pain Therapy, ACT, mental health therapy, RFA, cortisone shots, acupuncture and massage/chiropractic care.

Adam was on Maxalt and also did PT and mental health counseling. 

A good friend of ours who served in the Navy with us moved to a medical marijuana state after a medical discharge. When I got close to retirement, he wrote me and recommended I attempt cannabis therapy since other therapies had failed (I was bedridden between 2013-2015 due to the high dose of medications, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts/tendencies).

In the (almost) 2 years we've started cannabis therapy (I started about 8 months prior to Adam), we've:

1) collectively lost 200 pounds

2) removed all prescription pills from our lives

3) seen increased improvement in medical conditions.  Laura is in remission for gastric issues and migraines.  Adam is in complete remission of migraines

4) I can be in social environments without panic attacks

5) We've stopped all traditional therapies

6) We've hiked over 1000 miles in the past year (I've gone from bedridden for two years to hiking almost daily).

We want to share our story to show others that cannabis is a viable option for chronic pain, surgery recovery (I also had a hysterectomy in October) and mental health issues. It literally saved my quality of life and I can't imagine another person suffering through the mind fog of traditional therapies when cannabis works.

As Navy veterans, it was a difficult and stressful leap into cannabis therapy, but we are thankful everyday for what it's given back to us with a healthy diet and lifestyle. 

I wish I could articulate better the change we've experienced...it could change lives.

They say a picture speaks a thousand words...the picture above is a difference of just two years. ☺️

I hope our story truly inspires others to think outside the box and try cannabis therapy!