To be honest—most of us didn’t start using cannabis for health reasons.
For me, cannabis began as a social ritual, a way to loosen up, fit in, and shake off the awkwardness I often felt in groups. It wasn’t about wellness; it was about comfort. What I didn’t realize at the time was that cannabis was quietly tending to my mental health long before I ever considered it a form of medicine.
Years later, I understood that what began as recreational use has become something deeper. Today, cannabis is part of my personal wellness practice. I now grow my own and use every part of this amazing plant, creating tinctures, sugar-free edibles, THC-infused oils, and calming and pain balms. Even the act of growing is therapeutic. Whether psychoactive or not, each method of use contributes to my overall well-being.
One of the most life-changing benefits? Sleep. For years, I relied on Tylenol PM every single night just to rest. If I didn’t have eight full hours available, I simply didn’t sleep and anyone who has ever suffered from lack of sleep can tell you, there are few things more debilitating. Now, with the help of my custom cannabis tinctures, I sleep soundly, without grogginess. It took trial and error to find the right dosage, but once I did, it was a game changer.
Of course, mine is just one story, there are countless others who’ve turned to cannabis to manage everything from insomnia to life-altering diseases.
A close friend of mine was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at 22. The side effects from her medications were brutal. Out of desperation, she tried cannabis. Ten years later, she’s managing her symptoms more effectively than ever, with significantly fewer side effects, and she now speaks at cannabis advocacy events to help others find their own healing paths.
At By Any Other Name, the Clinton Hill dispensary I manage, our goal is to elevate our customers' overall cannabis experience and to educate them about cannabis. We believe in Cannabis as a cure and as such we carry a curated range of CBD and THC wellness products: from calming tinctures and pain-relieving topicals to sugar-free edibles and organically grown flower.
One brand we’re proud to spotlight is Jenny’s Baked at Home, founded by breast cancer survivor Jenny Argie. After choosing cannabis over chemotherapy and radiation, Jenny healed her body using a plant-based protocol tailored to her own needs. Her company makes sugar free, zero glycemic index, calorie free edibles; full spectrum solventless vapes as well as organically grown flowers and pre-rolls.
Her approach mirrors mine, customizing cannabis use for personal needs. She compares it to adding Vitamin C to your diet: the benefits aren’t instant, but over time, your body stores and utilizes it for healing. Cannabis is no different. It needs consistency to be effective. It needs personalization to be powerful.
Jenny also reframed something for me that I’ll never forget: We discussed how cocaine and other drugs only stay in the system for 2 or 3 days, while you can test positive for cannabis for up to 30! What we never thought about is why that is. The body treats cocaine for example as a toxin- a short-acting stimulant that the body recognizes as dangerous. Cannabis however gets stored by the body because it sees cannabinoids like THC and CBD as potentially useful compounds that interact with our endocannabinoid system, a regulatory system involved in sleep, mood, immunity and much more.
And that right there is the beauty of it, cannabis is medicine. Yet plant-based healing still carries negative stigma. We can accept Ambien as a treatment for insomnia but side-eye a THC gummy. Why?
At By Any Other Name, we’re working to change that. What sets us apart isn’t just our diverse product line, it’s our mission to bridge the gap between wellness and weed, fun and function.
We are intentional about partnering with local growers who understand healing, and we educate our community through our live, on-site “Elevated Conversations” series, meeting people wherever they are in their cannabis journey.
Cannabis is a multi-faceted plant, and we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of its many benefits and uses. This plant has been with us long before modern medicine. It’s only now that we’re learning to truly appreciate its full potential.
I believe it also very beneficial to mention that Cannabis’ non-psychoactive counterpart, hemp, is just as remarkable in other ways. Hemp is a regenerative powerhouse! As fabric, it’s softer, lighter, and more sustainable than linen. As paper, just one acre of hemp can yield the same output as four acres of trees and grow back in a fraction of the time.
It’s time to open our minds and explore what this miraculous plant can do to create a healthier, more natural world.
I’m grateful to be alive in this moment and to witness what I hope will be the de-stigmatization of cannabis. And we, at By Any Other Name, are proud to be part of a growing community helping others reimagine and explore cannabis as a path to healing.