PROFILE
After suffering a stroke in 2016,
Cannabis photographer and writer Amanda Day has become a fierce advocate for stroke awareness and using Cannabis as a sustainable treatment option. Amanda was just 25-yearsold when she experienced a stroke. Although rare, she continues to teach people about the warning signs that can mean the difference between life and death. And while Cannabis has helped her cope with the physical ails and build a healthy lifestyle free of opioids, Amanda says she remains critical of Oregon’s questionable oversight and testing standards and that finding reliable products can be a challenge.
WHEN DID YOU START USING CANNABIS? I’ve used Cannabis medicinally for all of my adult life to battle menstrual cramps, spinal issues, old sports injuries, and insomnia. I still use Cannabis for a wide range of issues, but these days it has taken on a very important part in maintaining my quality of life. I suffered a stroke in 2016 and it really became a necessary part of my healthcare routine.
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HOW HAS YOU R STROKE IMPACTED YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AND HOW HAS CANNABIS PLAYED A ROLE IN YOU R RECOVERY? With a medical history that complicates the use of many (even basic) pharmaceuticals, I’m often left with little to combat the chronic migraines, nerve pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and other complications. I had my stroke when I was on a backpacking trip with friends. At the time, I was under the impression that I was suffering from a horrible migraine, so I didn’t seek medical help until a couple of weeks after the incident. When the stroke happened, I took to consuming Cannabis at a rapid rate to ease the pain in my head and calm my nerves. Long story short, I was able to pack a 65-liter bag over seven uphill miles less than 24 hours after the event. It was not an easy task, but I absolutely attribute my success to heavy Cannabis consumption. It helped me maintain a calm connection with my body and definitely eased the extreme pain and swelling sensation in my brain. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH OUR READERS. WHAT CANNABIS STRAINS OR CANNABINOIDS/ TERPENES P ROVIDE THE BEST RELIEF IN YOUR EXPERIENCE? The strains and cannabinoid ratios that I pick depend entirely on the type of migraine I’m experiencing, and what symptoms are flaring up the most. I generally consume high THC content during an actual attack though. I like a true Sour Diesel (although it’s hard to find here) and Tangie crosses, even though I generally dislike the profile for head pain. I’m a huge fan of the ChemDawg lineage and you can usually catch me smoking on anything funky Medical professionals are often leery about or gassy. I’ve had good luck with 1:1 ratios when condoning a legitimate consumingCannabis in edible,assublingual or treatment topical form, but option. But find afterproducts consistent talks with her personally that work consistently harder doctor, to comeRaina by. was open about her choices and successfully advocated for treatment options outside traditional western medicine.
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DAY, AN OREGON LEAF CONTRIBUTOR, SAYS “I ABSOLUTELY ATTRIBUTE MY SUCCESS TO HEAVY CANNABIS CONSUMPTION. IT HELPED ME MAINTAIN A CALM CONNECTION WITH MY BODY AND DEFINITELY EASED THE EXTREME PAIN AND SWELLING SENSATION IN MY BRAIN.”
AMANDA DAY
WHAT FORMS OF CANNABIS DO YOU P REFER TO USE? CAN YOU GIVE OU R READERS SOME INSIGHT INTO YOUR CANNABIS REGIMEN? As much as I love fine flower and a good bong rip, I prefer dabbing for several reasons. Smoke can be incredibly irritating during a migraine. A dab offers the same immediate relief without the smoke, and the bonus of temperature control. I’m also very picky about what I consume. My biggest issue with many of the edibles/tinctures on the market is a lack of transparency when it comes to starting material. I always begin my purchasing process with producers and processors I know and trust - transparency and quality are a must. ARE THERE ANY CHALLENGES TO USING CANNABIS AS A TREATMENT OPTION? There certainly are, with the biggest being the lack
of scientific studies. I’m familiar with findings that connect cannabinoids to neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, however, the scale and number of studies are limited. The cause of my stroke was never identified, so any treatment would technically involve a little guesswork, but the lack of research makes it difficult to pinpoint which compounds are actually affecting each symptom. Product safety is also a challenge. Oregon might have some of the strictest testing standards in the nation, but they fall short for folks with compromised health in my opinion. I think a distinction between medical and recreational Cannabis will need to be standardized if we want to see real results.
Follow Amanda | @Terpodactyl_Media
INTERVIEW by SIMONE FISCHER @SIMONEFISCHERR | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN @BERMANPHOTOS