CANNAHEALTH Holistic Health | Page 60

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosed clients to obtain medical marijuana though New Jersey’s (NJ) Medical Marijuana Program, instead of referring them for psychotropic medication.

The need for mental health and behavioral health counseling for medical marijuana user’s is important, but many therapists find a hard time supporting these needs. Ms. Singh found that many medical marijuana users were challenged by a variety of circumstances, including working through the shame and stigma, the lack of understanding or support from family or loved ones, identifying how their medical marijuana use may be negatively impacting different areas of their life, and adjusting their behavioral use regimen to reduce their potential for addiction. Ms. Singh is educated in the multi-functional healing benefits of cannabis, but also acknowledges the potential risks that mind altering substances present.

“Medical marijuana users need support. They have become a marginalized population that faces constant criticism, judgement, shame and guilt due to their medicinal use of cannabis. They still need to hide their medicinal use and feel ashamed to share the truth about their journey with peers and professionals, due to the backlash or their own personal fears. Most therapists and health professionals don’t understand medicinal cannabis use. We weren’t taught to understand cannabis as medicine. As a dually licensed substance use therapist and mental health therapist, no one taught me either. But, I was taught to identify needs and address them with my skills. That is exactly what I did when created my outpatient programs. Cannabis users deserve to be treated fairly, with an open mind, an open heart, and with someone who has a deeper understanding of cannabis. They need help and shouldn’t be at a disadvantage due to their medical cannabis use” states the Ms. Singh.

Ms. Singh opened the Center of Inner Transformations, LLC, an outpatient mental health and substance use agency in 2017 and launched several programs that supported cannabis users in New Jersey, including the Medical Marijuana Transitions Program and the Brief Intervention and Clinical Referral Program. The Medical Marijuana Transitions Program at the Center of Inner Transformations provides: medication management, coordination of care with patient's prescribing medical marijuana doctor,

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