On this fascinating episode, we comply with the journey of James Handyside, a retiree who has found the transformative energy of hashish. From continual ache to sleep difficulties, James’s private experiences have led him to discover the potential advantages of this plant. Get able to be impressed by his story of self-discovery and find out how he has embraced private science to enhance his well-being.
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- Launch Date: Monday, August 21, 2023
- Episode Quantity: Season 1, Episode 42
- Particular Visitor: James Handyside
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Why You Will Love This Episode
On this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with James Handyside, a retired gentleman who has launched into an extraordinary journey of self-discovery.
His decades-long expertise as a leisure hashish shopper led him to uncover the transformative energy of medical hashish.
His curiosity sparked when he witnessed the profitable remedy of his mom’s issues related to Parkinson’s illness via using hashish oil.
James’s dedication to evidence-based practices led him to doc his journey in a private manifesto known as “n of Me.”
Drawing from the understanding of medical science gained via his profession; he applies a scaled-down, enchancment science methodology to his well being experiments.
He intends to not advocate for his universally relevant strategies however to encourage listeners to strategy their well-being with an evidence-guided mindset.
Uncover how he has turn into the scientist and topic of his personal experiment, shedding mild on the potential of hashish, the significance of taking a personalised strategy to wellness, and how one can, too.
Full Transcript
James: Be your individual private scientist, and don’t be afraid to run your individual little experiments on your self, with your self, and your individual stuff that you just’re making. And, if it really works, that’s all you care about. I’m not going to publish a examine.
Announcer: Welcome to the Nicely With Hashish Podcast, a present devoted to telling the life-changing tales of those that dwell nicely with hashish all whereas instructing you tips on how to do the identical. Meet your host, Emily Kyle, a registered dietitian nutritionist turned licensed holistic hashish practitioner. Emily modified her life for the higher with the assistance of the hashish plant, and now she’s dedicated to serving to others do the identical.
Tune in every week to listen to heartwarming tales and acquire the data you want to really feel related, impressed, and supported by yourself hashish journey. Whether or not you’re a new hashish shopper or a lifetime lover, you’ll profit from these uplifting tales of real-life journeys that may present you ways you, too, can dwell your greatest life nicely with hashish.
Disclaimer: Hello there. Earlier than we soar into in the present day’s episode, I needed to share a notice on doubtlessly delicate content material. The episodes on the Nicely With Hashish Podcast are created for grownup audiences solely. We’ll, at occasions, cowl delicate subjects, together with however not restricted to suicide, abuse, psychological sickness, intercourse, medication, alcohol, psychedelics, and the plain use of plant drugs. Specific language could also be used sometimes. Please chorus from watching or listening to the present in case you’re prone to be offended or adversely impacted by any of those subjects.
The knowledge on this present is for informational and academic functions solely. It doesn’t represent medical recommendation. If any of the content material on this podcast has introduced up something for you, please attain out or converse to knowledgeable or somebody you belief.
Emily: Hi there, and welcome again to a different episode of the Nicely With Hashish Podcast. I’m excited to be right here with our new buddy, Mr. James Handyside! He’s a retired fellow who has been loving hashish for a very long time, and we’re right here to speak to you all about hashish in your life. So, welcome, James. Thanks for becoming a member of us.
James: Hey, thanks for having me, Emily.
Emily: You’re dwelling the retired life now. Is that true?
James: Yeah. You would say that. It’s humorous. I’ve labored lots by myself independently; I had a consulting enterprise for the final 25 years, so I didn’t have a “actual” job. I didn’t punch a clock and go to park in a car parking zone and go to a office.
James: I wound it down. However then, yeah, simply in late 2019, I stated, “That’s it. I’m not doing something anymore.” After being retired for some time, I’m trying round for stuff to try this may look extra like work, however I’m, luckily, not in want of labor.
Emily: It’s lovely once you could be a little bit extra selective about the way you wish to spend your time. You stated that you just’ve been utilizing hashish for 50 years. Is that appropriate?
James: Yeah.
Emily: You’ve had a lifelong journey with hashish.
James: I began utilizing hashish once I was like 15 once I was younger and searching for one thing completely different to do and a few enjoyable and so forth. In order that was 50 years in the past, and again in these days, trying again on it now, the herb itself was way more primitive, and the way in which wherein we acquired our goodies was completely beneath the radar as a result of it was completely unlawful and other people had been going to jail and stuff.
James: However yeah, so it was a leisure factor. I’d get excessive with my buddies once we didn’t have something to do and possibly have a few beers. Pot was at all times a part of my life. I wouldn’t say it was at all times as huge part of my life as it’s now. There wasn’t at all times a whole lot of hashish involvement, but it surely was at all times there. And I by no means stated, “I’m quitting these things.” After I wasn’t utilizing hashish, it was at all times as a result of I couldn’t discover any or I couldn’t get any, which was a difficulty for positive. It’s actually not a difficulty anymore in Canada.
Emily: It’s essential to’ve seen a lot distinction within the final 50 years within the hashish scene. How has that been, seeing that in your lifetime?
James: Yeah, it most likely didn’t change a lot. Availability did improve within the final 15 years, however even, I’d say 10 years in the past, I used to be nonetheless going to a jazz musician’s place. Our man was mainly a musician, which doesn’t make a lot cash, and he would promote hashish to remain alive.
James: The massive factor has been availability, and the opposite factor that hasn’t modified a lot is folks’s perspective. I’ve additionally talked to a few of my American buddies about it. They noticed all this legalization in Canada and figured issues should be completely different. They actually aren’t, not from my perspective, anyway, as a 65-year-old dude.
James: I’ve buddies for whom hashish continues to be a part of their life, and I’ve buddies who don’t have hashish in any respect of their life. My mother and father are each gone now, however my mother was within the nursing dwelling possibly about 6 or 7 years in the past once I began to get into medical hashish. Her expertise was what bought me into medical hashish as a result of she was having a whole lot of issues.
James: She was within the nursing dwelling. She wasn’t ambulatory. She had Parkinson’s; she had hassle sleeping. Till then, you’d at all times get a bag out of your buddy, such as you had for the final 40 years. Issues have actually began to alter in a good manner within the final 10-15 years.
Emily: Completely. Let’s speak about your transition from the leisure to the medical world in case you’re okay with speaking about your mother and the way your perspective on the plant became that medical facet.
James: The primary time I noticed medical hashish was once I was on a enterprise journey in Los Angeles or Southern California. I ended up in an space that had a whole lot of companies, however there have been additionally medical workplaces. I noticed a medical marijuana workplace the place you can be assessed and in addition purchase hashish.
James: At the moment, I assumed it wasn’t medical. I figured it was some facade or one thing. However my mother was having hassle sleeping, and I used to be doing web analysis for issues which may have the ability to assist her. I stumbled on the truth that hashish may assist together with her sleep.
James: We requested her doctor, who prescribed her 1:1 THC to CBD oil. I used to be her medical contact, so I needed to go to the web site, get her medical certificates, order the oil, and it will go to the nursing dwelling the place the nurses would administer it.
James: My mother was surprisingly open to it once I talked to her about making an attempt hashish to assist her. In fact, she knew that I had used it. She discovered my bag and a few papers occasionally, however we by no means actually talked about it. We ended up having a dialog, and I instructed her that I nonetheless used hashish and actually loved it. So she tried medical hashish, which actually helped her sleep, which is a giant deal.
Emily: I needed to ask, the place are you positioned that you just had such an awesome physician and a nursing dwelling that may permit her to have that?
James: Yeah, we’re in Southern Ontario. Canada.
Emily: I see. I don’t know if within the States they might permit anyone in a nursing dwelling to take hashish oil.
James: Yeah. I don’t know what it will be like wherever else, but it surely wasn’t tough.
Emily: Your physician was so cool about it and prescribed it. That’s not the standard American expertise, I discover. I’m so glad that was your expertise and that they let her use it within the nursing dwelling.
James: Yeah. It’s at all times a bedtime factor. So she would get her hit at bedtime. They wouldn’t give it to her throughout the day. So it was actually to assist her sleep. It helped her sleep lots, however looking back, it most likely would have helped her throughout the day, too. She was on the finish of her life, and it helped her recover from the bridge.
Emily: I’m sorry on your loss. I’m so grateful that you just had been capable of make it a snug expertise for her ultimately.
Emily: So, did you’re feeling like your world opened as much as the medical potentialities after seeing that?
James: Yeah. I ended up tearing my rotator cuff round that point. Shoulder ache could be very bothersome, and it was actually bugging me. So I appeared into what was concerned at the moment to get some recommendation and see a doctor.
James: I made an appointment at a clinic in a metropolis close to me, and I went into the clinic, and my interview with the physician was very like what we’re doing proper now. It was over the web. The physician was sitting someplace, I don’t know the place, and he requested me about what was occurring, and I instructed him about my ache and so forth, and I believe he ended up prescribing. I believe it was additionally a 1:1 oil, THC, and CBD.
James: At the moment, you’ll get a medical certificates, and you can then go to suppliers of medical hashish merchandise. It was all very unfastened. Your certificates would let you get a specific amount of hashish monthly. Your certificates would run out in 4-6 months, and also you’d return to the physician and renew it. I attempted the 1:1 oil, which helped me with my sleep and shoulder ache.
James: I’d been rising my very own for my “leisure” THC hashish, so I figured I’d develop some CBD. I appeared round, discovered some seeds, and grew my first CBD plant. I began making my very own drugs about 5 – 6 years in the past and continued to take action with recommendation from folks such as you. It’s not the simplest factor to determine, and none of my buddies had been doing that type of factor at the moment.
Emily: So let’s speak about that. What did that transition to creating your individual drugs appear to be for you? And please emphasize the trial and error for folks as a result of lots of people need it to be simple, but it surely’s actually not.
James: No, it’s not simple, and I’m nonetheless studying. There’s no manner that I’ve bought all of it found out. I did my analysis on what I wanted to do as soon as I had the flowers, clearly tips on how to get them decarboxylated after which infused and so forth, so I’d work on that. I don’t suppose I appreciated it as early on as I do now that you want to provide you with your dose with the batch you’ve bought as a result of each plant is completely different.
James: You don’t know what the degrees are as a result of there’s a big selection on the seed packet. There’s a giant distinction between 10% and 20%. We’re used to prescription drugs the place we take one or two pre-measured capsules, and the ailment is gone. Hashish could be very completely different. A few of my buddies observed I used to be having success with medical hashish, and I’ve given them some to strive. They’ve come again saying it didn’t work. It’s a must to mess around for some time and discover how hashish works for you and wherein mixture it really works greatest.
James: The opposite factor that I’ve been studying about is the mix of THC and CBD. It’s underrated. The physician who issued my medical certificates instructed me that CBD is for irritation and THC is for ache. Irritation causes ache, so something that helps with irritation can even assist with ache.
James: The truth that CBD works to alleviate ache with out being psychoactive is counterintuitive. Individuals can assume that once you’re taking hashish for ache, you’re excessive on a regular basis, so that you by no means really know in case you’re in ache. I’m positive that folks with extreme ache would profit from the psychoactive points of THC to assist them get via their ache.
Emily: It’s a ravishing factor, although. It’s a journey, a lifelong journey with hashish. After which the extra you’ll be able to tailor it to precisely what you want.
James: I’m a giant DIYer anyway. I dwell on a farm and develop most of my very own greens. Now we have a giant backyard, and our hens are simply beginning to lay after the winter.
Emily: We’ve bought chickens and turkeys. We began out rising a giant vegetable backyard and shortly realized you throw hashish on the market, and it simply suits proper in.
James: Oh, that’s cool. Yeah. It’s a life-style,
Emily: It’s gratifying to do all these issues collectively.
James: Yeah. It really works for me. I do know some people who wouldn’t be into rising, regardless that it’s authorized in Canada to develop 4 crops.
Emily: Was that not authorized earlier than?
James: For no matter motive, regardless that it has not been tough to discover seeds right here for years. In my early days of rising hashish, I used to be nervous that purchasing seeds on-line would reveal my tackle and actions and get me arrested. Because it seems, seeds fell via a authorized crack, and other people had been in some way capable of promote them.
Emily: They only had a giant courtroom ruling right here within the States that decided that since seeds don’t comprise THC, they can’t be regulated that manner.
James: That’s good. That provides the company and talent for motivated people who wish to make their very own drugs. Pharmaceutical firms aren’t going to love it, however. Everyone else ought to adore it. I don’t perceive why anyone wouldn’t suppose that is proper.
Emily: Particularly if it makes folks really feel higher. On the finish of the day, it’s a humanitarian factor. You need folks to be out of ache, you need folks to really feel good. And if they’ll try this by rising a plant in their very own backyard, why wouldn’t we would like that for folks?
James: Precisely. I believe it’s gotten higher. Like I say, we are able to develop 4 crops right here as people.
Emily: Now Canada appears far more progressive than the States in my restricted expertise in working with folks from Canada. How do you’re feeling in regards to the stigma and the stereotypes? Are these dissipating? Since you guys are years forward of us, I’d say, by way of progress.
James: It’s attention-grabbing. When legalization occurred, there was nonetheless a stigma surrounding the stoner stereotype, regardless that lots of people would use alcohol fairly freely. I misplaced a buddy to alcohol. I remorse that I gave up on them. If I had gotten extra concerned in his life, I may have helped him, however alcohol killed him. Hashish isn’t going to kill anyone. You shouldn’t function heavy equipment after getting actually excessive, however I’d slightly have somebody on a two-lane highway towards me who has simply smoked a joint versus somebody who simply drank six beers. I’ll take the joint smoker any day
Emily: Identical. And alcohol isn’t going to make your mom with Parkinson’s really feel higher or sleep higher. It’s by no means going to make your shoulder really feel higher. It’s what we permit. It’s loopy that folks nonetheless maintain these robust beliefs. Hashish is such a present with very restricted negative effects.
James: Yeah, it’s. It’s regrettable, however these issues take a very long time to go away.
Emily: Do you’re feeling such as you’re seeing progress as we transfer ahead?
James: Yeah, I do, as a result of individuals are realizing the medical advantages of it. There’s really a joke round our space proper now. Perhaps it’s like this in different elements of Canada, however in Ontario, there’s a small city close to us. The city’s title is Stratford, and it has possibly 15,000 folks in it. There are six hashish outlets and solely two liquor shops. In Ontario, liquor is offered in a retailer by the federal government.
Emily: Attention-grabbing. Are hashish outlets authorities outlets, like alcohol shops, or not?
James: No, they’re licensed right here, however they aren’t run by the federal government. There’s a authorities web site, an Ontario authorities web site the place you should buy hashish and equipment, like grinders, and that’s run by the federal government.
Emily: That’s one thing they don’t do right here within the States. That’s tremendous attention-grabbing, too.
James: I bear in mind studying that legalizing was supposed to scale back the black market so that folks would purchase hashish from a store as an alternative of a jazz musician. That has occurred, however not as a lot as they might have thought. So the city with six hashish outlets has folks saying that the six outlets gained’t all keep in enterprise. The folks going to those outlets appear to be curious in regards to the medical angle, slightly than the leisure and don’t have a lifetime of expertise utilizing it. The 1:1s are fashionable and though some folks don’t know why anybody would hassle utilizing hashish and never getting excessive. It makes your ache go away, and you’re feeling good. What’s mistaken with that?
Emily: Sure. Sure. There’s such a long-held stigma that in case you’re not getting excessive, you’re not doing it proper. So many individuals don’t wish to get excessive, and you’ll nonetheless do it proper. There are such a lot of choices. You don’t must get excessive, however if you wish to get excessive, you’ll be able to, and you’ll get pleasure from that too. Hashish is for everyone in all methods, which is nice.
James: Yeah, it’s, and I believe individuals are realizing that. Some buddies of mine are usually not shut buddies, however we see them socially often, and so they’re very in opposition to hashish. I hold it beneath the radar once I’m with folks like that as a result of I don’t wish to rock the boat. I don’t choose, and I don’t perceive it. I don’t wish to get into an argument as a result of I don’t ever wish to really feel like I’m making an attempt to persuade folks to make use of hashish. There are such a lot of issues on the planet which you can be judged for, however hashish isn’t one in all them.
Emily: Positively not. No. Now, do you may have a partner or a associate? Are they supportive of your hashish use?
James: My spouse makes use of hashish recreationally from time to time. We had been with some buddies the opposite evening, and she or he normally partakes. I’d given her a few of this yr’s THC, she bought excessive, and she or he thought she couldn’t sleep. I loaded up some CBD, and she or he was prepared for mattress in 20 minutes. CBD could be a little little bit of an antidote. When you get a little bit excessive, CBD will take the sting off.
Emily: Completely, and extra folks must know that as a result of once you devour an excessive amount of THC, you’re feeling unwell, and clearly, nobody desires to really feel unwell, however CBD might help a lot. I’ll share a private story as a result of I had at all times heard that and by no means tried it for myself. I made a cannabutter board for Thanksgiving, and it was very robust. I warned my sister that it was tremendous robust, however I didn’t know precisely how robust as a result of I had made it myself. Do you suppose anyone listened to me, together with myself?
Emily: I awakened at 5:30 am the following day with the infant, and I used to be like, “Oh my God, I didn’t even take heed to my very own recommendation. I’m nonetheless actually excessive.” And I took two CBD gummies, and inside half-hour, I felt so significantly better. So that’s only a nice tip for anyone who’s nervous about utilizing THC as nicely or doesn’t wish to really feel unwell. CBD actually can are available because the hero on the finish of the day to save lots of you and make you’re feeling higher.
James: It’s actually diversified the entire thing. We’ve all had experiments with edibles the place we thought it wasn’t working and we should always take one other one. No. You shouldn’t have one other one. Wait.
Emily: Completely. I wish to be respectful of your time. I wish to ask you an identical 4 questions I ask all of my friends. Are you prepared? All proper, first one: What are you most pleased with in your life thus far?
James: After I noticed that query, I used to be like, “Oh, come on, Emily. That is too heavy.” However there are a whole lot of issues I’m pleased with. Since my work is behind me, I gained’t even contact that. I’m actually pleased with the farm we’ve. We purchased 100 acres in 1987, and there have been 35 acres of hardwood forest.
James: Now, there are 48 acres of woodland and naturalized area. So we took out an entire pile of marginal farmland and planted 1000’s of bushes, and it’s a park. I dwell in a park. I really feel so lucky to dwell the place I do, and it’s due to our dedication to restoring some pure area. So I’m pleased with that.
Emily: That’s superb. And then you definately throw a hashish plant or two in there, and also you’ve bought a paradise on the market.
James: Precisely.
Emily: Yeah, that’s superior. Now, what do you suppose your life would appear to be with out hashish?
James: I believe that for positive, one factor would have occurred. I’d have used extra alcohol, which I don’t suppose is sweet for lots of various causes. I bear in mind my dad telling me as soon as once I was a young person that people have some want to alter their cognition, the way in which they suppose, or how they’re feeling of their minds. This was one of many causes that people like alcohol. On the time, I assumed that was one motive I appreciated pot. I’m not into different medication, however I’m more and more concerned with psychedelics – however that’s a unique matter for one more day.
Emily: Completely. And completely not on the identical enjoying area as any of the others.
James: However yeah I’d have used extra alcohol. I’d have been fatter and I’d have all these alcohol issues. Till lately in Canada, alcohol was actually the one socially sanctioned mind-altering substance, so I most likely would have used extra of it and that wouldn’t have been good.
Emily: That’s an awesome level. Such a greater high quality of life ultimately as a result of you may have so fewer negative effects with hashish than with alcohol. It’s loopy.
James: Oh, yeah. It’s additionally about your physique chemistry with respect to carbohydrates and fats that make you acquire weight, plus the hangovers and driving impairment. I’m not saying that getting actually excessive and driving isn’t a good suggestion, both.
Emily: Hashish is simply so significantly better on so many ranges. I’ve by no means performed something to embarrass myself on hashish, however I actually have with alcohol,
James: Yeah, that’s an excellent one too.
Emily: With hashish, I do know it’s time to go to mattress, however with alcohol, I at all times suppose I ought to keep up.
James: Yeah, I do know. And it’s horrible on your sleep.
Emily: Sure. I really like my sleep. I choose hashish. Sleep is treasured. Subsequent query. When you may return 10, 20, or 30 years in the past, give your self a bit of recommendation; what wouldn’t it be?
James: I’ve performed a whole lot of work on myself since I retired. I’ve at all times tried to raised myself to a level, however earlier than I retired, that was principally geared towards my work. I’d have instructed myself to work on myself just a bit bit extra. Hashish helped me with that, but it surely wasn’t the one factor. I’d have instructed myself to concentrate to my food regimen and well-being. I’ve had a mindfulness apply now for the final 3 years.
Emily: That’s superb. Lots of people suppose hashish does the other, however I really like that you just’re sharing that type of helps with all of this.
James: Yeah. I exploit an app known as Waking Up by Sam Harris. I’ve tried different mindfulness apps, however I’ve actually been diving into it on this app. I’ve been much more self-aware since I retired.
Emily: That’s superb. I’m so completely happy for you. And it’s good which you can retire and have the time to give attention to these issues.
James: That part-time is without doubt one of the issues that’s positively wanted.
Emily: So good that you are able to do issues that you just really get pleasure from whilst you’re retiring; get pleasure from your life. That brings us to our final query. When you may very well be remembered for one factor within the hashish area, what wouldn’t it be?
James: An idea known as n of Me. Whenever you look into the scientific literature, one of many belongings you search for is the pattern measurement of a examine and possibly even a few of the traits of the choice course of. The time period they use for the examine measurement is “n.”
James: I believe it’s necessary for all of us to know this idea of n of Me. You’re the one one. You’re the topic of the experiment, the one controlling it, the information collector, and many others. When you’re in charge of n of Me, you’re the one one who needs to be satisfied that it really works. You don’t must persuade anybody else. You’re the one who decides whether or not or not that is working or not, and don’t let anyone else let you know that it isn’t working.
James: I’ve a whole lot of buddies within the medical world as a result of that’s the place I labored. I wasn’t a clinician, however I labored there. One buddy of mine has a whole lot of hassle with migraines, and she or he stated that there isn’t a proof that CBD works for migraines primarily based on her analysis. I’m not an advocate for anyone. You’ve bought to return round to it for your self, otherwise you don’t.
James: To your level about what I’d wish to be remembered by, I’d wish to be remembered for encouraging folks to be their very own private scientists and don’t be afraid to run their very own little experiments.
James: There’s extra analysis occurring now. It’s simple to run a randomized managed trial with hashish. However, even when it’s a placebo impact, if the placebo works, then who cares? I’m curious in regards to the mechanism, although, and that’s one of many issues that I’ve learn an awesome deal about and proceed to have an urge for food for is the mechanism of motion for the way cannabinoids present their efficacy in our our bodies. However you don’t must undergo all that in case you run an excellent experiment your self: on your self, with your self, and your individual stuff you’re making. All you really want to care about is whether or not it really works. I’m not going to publish a examine.
Emily: The whole lot you’re saying is so true, so spot on. I hope everyone is listening and absorbing since you are 100% proper. It’s an experiment. It’s distinctive to you. And also you’re the one one who can learn the information and alter issues transferring ahead.
James: That’s proper. Oh, thanks. You’re the funder. You’re the funder and the researcher, and the topic.
Emily: Completely. And it’s okay to do these issues. So many people are afraid to belief ourselves, however you’re the scientist of your individual self and your individual physique, and also you couldn’t have stated it any higher. Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge, sharing your expertise, and giving that to our readers as a result of I really feel like that’s the greatest message to take dwelling. Oh, thanks a lot on your time in the present day. I actually recognize it.
James: Oh, it’s been a pleasure, Emily. Thanks.
Announcer: Congratulations, you’ve completed one other episode of the Nicely With Hashish Podcast and are one step nearer to discovering the way you, too, can dwell nicely with hashish.
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