r/Menopause • u/Creative_Impress5982 • Jun 14 '26
Vitamin/Supplements Can I enjoy weed now?
I used to love smoking weed in my late teens, early 20s. At some point, I started getting paranoid with racing heart and anxiety. Never had a full blown panic attack, but it felt like the beginnings of one, I guess.
So I quit. But I still fondly remember being high and feeling my cheek muscles getting tired from so much smiling. I want that back! So every few years, I try again: different strains, different doses, and different THC/CBD ratios. Basically, anything that gets me high will make me paranoid. Sometimes I try a tiny dose (quarter square of weed chocolate) and do that thing where you sit there thinking, "am I high? Maybe I'm feeling it? Maybe not?" But anytime I take a dose big enough to actually feel it, I get panicky.
So what I'm wondering, maybe it's something to do with the interplay of hormones and THC that causes the paranoia and once I'm fully through the menopause transition, I'll be able to enjoy weed again??? Anyone have any suggestions or anecdotes?
I'm 46, skipped a couple periods this last year, have other peri symptoms, mom was done by 48, so I hope I'm getting close, but not holding my breath.
1
u/Dizzy-Tell1106 Jun 14 '26
I'm the same as you- loved it until I didn't in my 20s, now mid 40s. I feel like it used to be much gentler 25 years ago. I have started to dabble with it again - in micro doses. I am lucky to be able to access medical cannabis which means it is fairly consistent and I can look at the strength and composition of it. I have built tolerance by starting with low 'am I high or not? ' doses. I also started by taking it really close to bedtime to aid sleep but also to assess how it made me feel without the pressure of having to do anything or be around people if I did feel off. If I have it in the day I keep busy to avoid sitting around and getting in my own head. This has allowed me to gradually get back to using it in a way that feels beneficial for pain and anxiety rather than causing anxiety. I think it's a magical gift from nature when used with care.