21/06/2026
A Personal Post I've Been Nervous About Sharing
Many of you know that I live with multiple health conditions, including ADHD, autism, motor sensory neuropathy and CMT (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease). I've always tried to be honest about the challenges I face, and today I want to share something else that's become an important part of my life.
I am a medical cannabis patient.
For a long time, I kept that private because of the stigma attached to cannabis. Even in 2026, there are still a lot of assumptions,
misconceptions and judgments made about people who use it, even when it's prescribed for legitimate medical reasons.
The truth is that medical cannabis has been life-changing for me.
Without it, I struggle to concentrate. My pain levels can become overwhelming. My mobility is affected. Simple day-to-day tasks become far more difficult than most people realise. It doesn't cure my conditions, but it helps me manage them in a way that allows me to function, work, care for myself and live a fuller life.
Without medical cannabis, I genuinely don't know how I would cope day to day. It helps me focus, manage my symptoms, reduce my pain and maintain a level of independence that many people take for granted. It has allowed me to continue doing the things I love, including running my business, caring for my animals and showing up for the people who matter to me.
What frustrates me is that many people still hear the word "cannabis" and immediately think of outdated stereotypes rather than medicine. Medical cannabis isn't just one thing. It can be prescribed in different forms, including oils, capsules, vaporised medication, topical products and other treatments depending on the patient's needs.
I'm not posting this to convince anyone that cannabis is right for them. I'm not giving medical advice. What works for me may not work for somebody else.
What I am saying is that we need to have more informed, educated and compassionate conversations about it.
We live in a society where people rarely question many other medications, including powerful prescription drugs, yet medical cannabis patients are often expected to justify their treatment choices. That stigma can stop people from seeking information, asking questions or even discussing options with their healthcare professionals.
If you've never looked into medical cannabis, I would simply encourage you to educate yourself from reliable sources and keep an open mind.
For me, this isn't about getting high. It's about being able to focus. It's about being able to move. It's about managing pain. It's about having a better quality of life.
I'm sharing this because I know there are other people living with chronic pain, neurological conditions, disabilities and invisible illnesses who may feel hesitant to talk about their own experiences.
There should be no shame in using a legal, prescribed treatment that helps you live your life.
If this post changes the way you see me and you feel the need to unfollow me, that's entirely your choice. But I hope instead you'll choose understanding over judgment, education over stigma and support over assumptions.
I'm still the same person I've always been. I'm still running my business, caring for my animals, supporting my community and living with the same conditions I face every day. The only difference is that today I've chosen to be honest about one of the treatments that helps me do those things.
If you've read this far, thank you. Your support means more than you know. And if sharing my experience helps even one person feel less alone, or encourages someone to learn more before judging, then this post was worth writing. 💚
