By Jackson Melin
A hemp flower. Courtesy of Secret Nature blog.
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabinol) are the two main compounds found in cannabis. THC is psychoactive, while CBD has pain relief properties.
Marijuana can be used medicinally or recreationally. Forty states have legalized medicinal usage, while 24 states have legalized it recreationally.
Three popular strains of cannabis include indica, sativa and hybrid. It can be molded in many forms: edibles, flowers, concentrates, topicals and oils.
I myself started using medicinal marijuana in 2024 for chronic pain. It has worked great for managing the pain, reducing anxiety and improving my creativity.
I asked two of my classmates (Rory Archer, 19, and Quinn Smalley, 32) about their THC and CBD usage, and what their experience was.
Jackson Melin: When did you first start using CBD/THC?
Rory Archer: The first time I used CBD itself was when I was 13. My mom had given me some, saying it’d help with my anxiety. I hadn’t felt a difference at the time, so I didn’t consider using it again for a while.
The first time I tried THC was when I was 17. I was on SSRIs that had worsened my OCD symptoms, and it had been impossible to sleep, so I took some of my mom’s edibles. My mother urged me to get a medical card shortly before I turned 19 to help manage joint pain caused by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
Quinn Smalley: In 2019, my partner introduced me to it. I suppose I had a couple failed attempts the year prior, but 2019 was the year I actually started to be a user.
JM: Have you noticed a change while taking them?
RA: THC is psychoactive. I think it makes my emotions a lot stronger. I avoid using it if I’m upset, because it’s easy to disassociate. But it elevates my mood if I’m already feeling good when taking it.
When it comes to pain relief, I’m not sure if it necessarily makes the pain go away. But it helps me forget the pain is there because of how it impairs my memory. It also helps me feel more well-rested after sleeping.
JM: What’s your key to not getting addicted?
RA: I’d say the major things are just having rules for when it can and can’t be used, having alternatives to it available, and having a reward system that balances the ‘rewarding feeling’ you can get from THC.
JM: Would you recommend it to someone who suffers chronic pain?
RA: I think cannabis can help with chronic pain, especially when nothing else has worked, but I personally find over-the-counter medications more helpful. That isn’t the case for everyone, and cannabis often provides the little extra pain relief that many don’t get from regular painkillers.
JM: Have the flowers or edibles worked better?
QS: Smoking flower by far is the most effective for me. At a certain point, edibles started pretty effective, but as the years went on I found them less effective, just giving me a very dull headache opposed to the high I was looking for.
JM: Have you found any pain relief from it?
QS: Not really. It’s purely fun for me. Even with a headache I can’t say that it managed the pain.
As of 2025, Arizona has more than 100 dispensaries. For more information on marijuana effects, visit the Center for Disease Control’s “About Cannabis” page.
Thank you to Quinn and Archer for the help!