Over the past few years, the United States has moved tepidly closer to legalizing it, first for medical use and then recreationally.
This slow walk toward legalization has led to increased research into the drug and its medical uses.
Support for marijuana legalization has grown over the past few years, and the percentage increases every year. Some states have already legalized marijuana – many for medical use and some for recreational.
As it becomes less stigmatized, there are an increasing number of doctors who are able to help people use it in a safe and efficient way. If you are looking to start, talk to a doctor about how you can use cannabis safely.
Of course, it’s not as well-studied as most other medications, due to its illegal status in many places around the world.
In fact, it’s historically been harder to receive government approval to study marijuana than to study the psychedelic drugs:magic mushrooms, and LSD.
In the past 25 years, scientists discovered that the body naturally has receptors in the brain that produce cannabinoids. They also learned that they play a major role in mood, the immune system, and memory.
Cannabis contains two primary active compounds – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). There are many others as well. THC is very similar to anandamide, a naturally occurring neurotransmitter that can also be found in chocolate.
It’s responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. CBD is less understood but appears to reduce anxiety and inflammation.
Because of the wide range of neurotransmitters that can be impacted by cannabis use, its effects on the body differ depending on the dosage and strain and are very diverse. Finding the best strain and dosage for an individual’s medical use requires trial and error.
Dosage
Anxiety is a common side effect of
marijuana use, but it’s usually a result of taking too large of a dose. You cannot overdose on cannabis, but people often experience paranoia and nausea. It’s entirely possible to avoid these adverse side effects when caution is exercised.
Marijuana can lower a person’s blood sugar, which can lead to a wide variety of symptoms. That’s why it’s a good idea not to use it on an empty stomach.
Marijuana has been bred for high yields and high potency so it can be very strong. However, the positive impacts of the drug are present inlow doses, while today’s varieties make it easy to take too much.
Despite the power of today’s strains, it is possible to experience medicinal benefits without the mind-altering effects.
How to Ingest
Smoking
Smoking marijuana, whether by a pipe or joint, is one of the most popular methods of ingestion. Just a couple of inhalations can lead to people feeling the effect, although it might take some practice for people who have never smoked before.
Vaping
Heating cannabis to a point where it vaporizes and the smoke can be inhaled has been found to be better for use indoors and better for lung health.
It’s become a very popular alternative. It’s less dense than smoke but more concentrated, so it’s easy to take too much.
Eating
Edibles are another popular alternative. By dissolving marijuana into an oil and mixing it into food, people can avoid inhaling the dangerous smoke. Plus, eating it provides a longer lasting effect and is less likely to lead to taking too much.
It’s tough to manage the concentration of edibles, since regulating the amount of cannabis that dissolves into oil is difficult.
Plus, it takes time for the human body to digest the drug, so the effects are not noticed for a while. That’s why people should take care not to eat too much,
Cannabis Strains
There are many varieties of the cannabis species, and a number of them are psychoactive. However, most marijuana that people purchase is either Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica.
Many users have described significant differences in these two strains. For most, Indica is a depressant and Sativa is a stimulant. It’s very common for hybrids to be sold with the two combined.
Cannabis Sativa is best for use during the daytime. It is energizing and has stronger psychoactive effects.
This strain can alleviate ADHD, depression, and social anxiety. However, it can also lead to paranoia when too much is taken, especially by people who already suffer from anxiety.
Indica, on the other hand, leads to feelings of relaxation. It’s often recommended for calming purposes and pain relief, and can even be an alternative to Ambien or Xanax.
In the United States, some veteran’s organization are currently lobbying for PTSD to be included in the diseases that marijuana can be prescribed for.
It has a clear impact on memory, which can soften traumatic memories and help people process them. Many organizations have proposed studies on this, but they have not been approved yet.
Safety
There are some precautions that a person should take before using any drug, and those are no different for marijuana. These are a few that are particular safety suggestions for the use of cannabis:
Take care not to take too much. Start with a small dose, and be aware of the potency of the strain you’ve chosen to use.
Make sure that you’re full. Cannabis can cause blood sugar levels to drop, leading to anxiety, faintness, confusion, impatience, and a wide range of other symptoms. That’s why it’s important to eat first.
If you have a family history of schizophrenia or have experienced it yourself, do not take cannabis.
With the help of a doctor (and a few safety precautions), medical marijuana can be a great help to people suffering from a wide range of ailments.
“Robert has been on a personal quest to the perfect cannabis seeds for the last 20 years and through this has gathered extensive knowledge growing marijuana. Not only does Robert share his insights about growing marijuana, but also offers his insights on marijuana in the field of politics, market insights, activism, product development to further educate the public and support the further legalization of the plant”.
AUTHOR BIO
Evie Harrison is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs.
Find her on Twitter: @iamevieharrison
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