David Heitz

President Trump this week moved to reclassify marijuana. Could it be a step toward Medicare and Medicaid paying for medical weed? While it’s probably unlikely, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a statement reported that the idea is to make cannabis’ medicinal qualities more accessible to those who need it. “The Department of Justice is delivering on President Trump’s promise to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

I am a big fan of medical marijuana in states where it is legal. But I want to share my story and issue a warning to anyone thinking about dumping their psych meds for cannabis. Several years ago, after my dad died and I briefly returned to the workplace, I decided to stop taking my anti-psychotic medication. I found a doctor who instead hooked me up with a medical marijuana card and benzodiazepines, namely Xanax, to manage my anxiety. At the time, my diagnoses were bipolar I, anxiety, and PTSD.

Here’s why I tell people I care about to steer clear of Kratom: Kratom binds to the same receptors in the brain as opioids. So, although it does not contain opiates, it works the same way on the brain. I admit I never have tried Kratom. And I never would, based on what I have read and heard about it from people I interview. Any herb can be incredibly dangerous. I say this admittedly being a proponent of medical cannabis.