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Thoughts On Marijuana
Health | January 23, 2019
Recently, I was asked for my opinion on marijuana also known as weed, pot, or joint. Rather than answer in a short comment, I wanted to expand upon the subject in a post. I’m going to cover the advantages as well as disadvantages of marijuana before giving you my personal opinion. I will also be covering the differences between two of the active components of marijuana (THC and CBD), and which of the two I prefer.
Marijuana 101
For those who are uninformed, marijuana is a type of psychoactive drug made from the Cannabis sativa or indica plant. It can be smoked, vaped, brewed into a tea, or consumed orally in foods like brownies. [1] Marijuana’s chief and most prominent chemical is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which exerts strong, intoxicating effects on our brain.
The Good
The use of marijuana isn’t anything new. In fact, for almost 3,000 years, mankind has used it for a variety of applications. [2] But aside from helping you to “have a good time” as recreational advocates would claim, it does provide some legitimate benefits:
• Chronic Pain Relief [3]
• Managing Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) [4]
• Improving Appetite [5]
• Anxiety [6]
• Insomnia [7]
• Nausea/Vomiting (specifically in cancer patients) [8]
• Inflammation [9]
The Bad
Unfortunately, marijuana is not a silver bullet. In fact, it can be a double-edged sword. The side effects of marijuana use include:
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Sleepiness
• Moodiness
• Impaired Thinking
• Interference in the performance of daily tasks (especially driving)
• Psychosis (including schizophrenia- at least, in those susceptible to it)
• Lung damage (extending even to secondhand smoking)
[10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
While there is certainly a time and place for marijuana, please understand that using it comes with its own set of risks. For one, there is a distinguished difference between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. Take for example drug-based marijuana. Last year in 2018, the FDA approved the two synthetic cannabinoids (dronabinol and nabilone) for the treatment of nausea and vomiting for chemotherapy patients. Dronabinol, in particular, was also approved to help address both appetite and weight loss in patients suffering from AIDS. [2] You must also keep in mind that there are many different strains of cannabis out there, each with its own specific purpose. [15] Not only that, you should be diligent when it comes to both the financial and quality implications from these strains. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Be very careful about where you get these from, and how it may also affect your wallet. Do not play with marijuana willy-nilly, and definitely consult with your healthcare provider and discuss whether or not it’s appropriate for you.
What About CBD?
Aside from THC, marijuana also contains CBD (cannabidiol), which is also found in hemp plants. To address the elephant in the room, CBD will not get you “high”, unlike THC. (It contains little to no THC- but be forewarned that trace amounts may show up on tests.) In fact, when compared to THC, CBD has nearly all of the benefits (and then some) without the side effects. These include:
• Pain relief [16]
• Lowering inflammation [17]
• Anxiety [18]
• Acne (although the research is still young) [19]
• Epilepsy (once again, more research is needed) [20]
• IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) (at least according to animal-based research) [21]
My Opinion
Now for my take on marijuana. Please understand that this is my opinion. I don’t judge people who use weed to have a good time, to relieve pain or to help with insomnia unless their use is somehow affecting me, my family or my business. I’m a little selfish that way ;). I used to be a smoker and it wasn’t exactly easy to stop. Since then I avoid smoking of any kind. I smoked weed here and there when I was being a rebellious teenager and in my early twenties (I’m almost 37 now). I stopped when I stopped smoking. I did try edibles in the form of butter last year to help me sleep. I would take a small amount of the canna butter mixed with almond butter about 30 minutes before bedtime, and personally, I didn’t like the side effects of THC. The three steps I had to take to get to the bedroom felt like I was climbing Mount Everest. I don’t like the feeling of being high and not having control over my body. Besides that, I slept great but it was really hard for me to wake up in the morning. I could never take weed during the day because when I’m high, I’m completely useless (no better than being drunk). Some people can function almost normal on weed, I can’t even walk. I’d much rather be alert and functional rather than impaired in this way. Also I would never higher someone who’s an obvious pot smoker. I would be worried about my business, because I’ve been around stoners and stoners make mistakes, and forget stuff. A lot of people here in California believe that hippies smoke weed because they’re so loving and easy going and all they want is to chill. I personally think people use weed to numb their emotions the same way they use alcohol. I think it’s a sign of emotional weakness when you can’t go through a day without taking the edge off with a joint or even a glass of wine. I’m not saying this to be judgmental, I feel for people who are trapped in this paradigm, because I’ve been there myself. I just want to point out that learning how to deal with our emotions and improving our maturity has way more benefits, then using a substance to hide from our feelings like children.
However, I’m a big fan of CBD. From my experience, it’s been great for helping me fall asleep without any weird side effects and it makes me feel fresh in the morning. I tried several brands, because companies are just bombarding me with free samples in hopes of getting a promotion out of me. I feel like bio-individuality plays a big role here just like with anything. So the brand that worked for me and really helped me sleep is HempSmart – ironically I didn’t get this one from a company but from a friend who loves it. These companies are coming up with all kinds of products like topicals and while I do believe that a balm or a lotion can help to strengthen and protect your skin, I do not buy into miracle lotions that resolve joint or back pain. As a mobility and movement specialists who suffered from back pain, sciatica and joint pain before, I know it takes a lot more to mitigate the uncomfortable symptoms of our mobility and posture issues.
Speaking of topicals, another great CBD product I tried and loved is Theramu Balm. During my recent cold, I started using a CBD-based balm with menthol around my nose to keep it healthy. Why? Because I was blowing my nose constantly and thanks to the balm I didn’t have any irritation whatsoever. It also prevented any cold sores from developing, which I’m prone to getting whenever I’m under the weather. So now this little balm is a must have for me.
To sum it up, I think CBD can be really great if you find the brand or the product that works for you!
Are there any CBD brands or products that worked for you? Are there any that didn’t? Let me know in the comments.
I hope that with this information, you can now decide for yourself whether or not it’s worth giving either marijuana or CBD a try.
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-marijuana
[2] https://nccih.nih.gov/health/marijuana
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549367/
[4] http://n.neurology.org/content/90/15_Supplement/P1.421
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204468/
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3691841/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18313952
[8] https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/marijuana-and-cancer.html
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/
[10] https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/under-counter-treatment-migraines#2
[11] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/how-does-marijuana-produce-its-effects
[12] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/does-marijuana-use-affect-driving
[13] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317170.php
[14] https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/marijuana-and-lung-health.html
[15] https://www.healthline.com/health/beginners-guide-to-marijuana-strains#13
[16] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17157290
[17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21238581
[18] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079847/
[19] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27094344
[20] https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1714631
[21] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5047908/
Private Member |
CBD can be helpful for neurological pain but when it comes to musculoskeletal issues like joint pain, it doesn’t help as much. I’m not a fan of the smell of weed. I’ve tried CBD after my surgery and it hasn’t been of much help. Back to ibuprofen I went. Unless the medication contains a mixture of both CBD and THC, the effects on the body are not as strong. I work in a medical setting with patients suffering from chronic pain, most of which are at the end of their life. Treating them with a liquid form of Indica helps with their pain (formula is a controlled substance containing both CBD and THC) and helps calm the patient if they exhibit behavioral issues. Use of weed can be helpful depending on the population. Usually children to young adults are recommended to avoid weed as their brains are still developing and it can lead to respiratory depression.
Private Member |
mza, argentina
Are you a fan of http://www.fitnessrevolucionario.com???!!!
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
I don’t speak Spanish 🙂
Private Member |
ellijay, ga, united states
I tried CBD isolate (so, absolutely no THC) for pain, but no luck. I later heard for pain, it’s more effective if it has THC (at least trace amounts). For me personally, I’m not willing to risk any of the side effects for that (after all, my pain lasts 17-30 hours at a time, max. I can deal with it, knowing it’s short term! 😊) I’ve never been comfortable with the thought of feeling like I’m not in control, whether that or getting drunk or whatever…and I’d just, personally, rather never go there. HOWEVER…I had the unexpected pleasant surprise of finding that the cbd isolate helped me IMMENSELY with sleep issues!!! I still have a hard time STAYING asleep. But before, I would take 1-1.5 hrs to fall asleep, whereas now it’s more like 10 minutes. It’s been such a blessing!!! I use Diamond cbd isolate (I’ve heard negatives on their quality. But we’ve had no issues. No issues on a drug test when my husband was applying for work, either). I opt for 350 or 450 mg strength. And they have flavored (sugar free) — the rice krispy treat flavor is soooooo good! 🤤 I put a dropper full under my tongue before bed and it keeps my brain from turning (which is a culprit to keeping me up). 😊
Private Member |
I use CBD for severe neurologic pain associated with autoimmunity. I get terrible joint pain and my skin feels scalded and burning. It can last days or months. A clean diet helps keep it under control (low carb/low inflammation/low-no gluten), but when it flares, its an unstoppable beast that otc meds cannot touch. Whenever I am sick with a flare and can’t do much else or sleep, I will review the newest medical and scientific research, studies, and technology, and comb the web to see if anyone out in digiland has tried anything new. On recommendation I have tried two different CBD liquids before finding the one I use now. The other two worked but made me beastly sick. The one I found to work for me was GreenRevolution’s Sublingual Spray tincture Remarkable (10mg THC/100mg CBD). So far so good and doesn’t make me sick! I agree that each persons reaction and mileage are bio-individual. It is also worth noting that individual brands and strains also change the affect, so if one makes you sick, try a smaller dose, another brand, or another ingestion method (edibles, spray tincture, liquid, oil, topical, etc.) before writing it off.
Private Member |
I never thought I would jump on the marijuana bandwagon, I assumed its medical benefits were exaggerated. My mother was just diagnosed with early stage pancreas cancer. She developed pancreatitis and several gastric ulcers from the tumor. She is a candidate for surgery, and for an entire week before operation, she is not allowed to use any pain killer that thins blood (tylenol, oxycodone, etc.) Even with these prescription drugs, my mother would be up all night and day crying, barely able to move, and unable to eat. I couldn’t take seeing her in that pain anymore, and didn’t want her to take a toxic dose of tylenol that would make her go deaf ( little know side effect of OTC pain relievers is that cause tinnitus and hearing loss.)
Her doctor was nice enough to prescribe medicinal marijuana, and as soon as we got a vape, my mother was able to sit up straight, get dressed, have an attentive conversation. Three days in, she sleeps through the night, she eats throughout the day, and I have not seen her cry again. If the pain comes back she takes a little puff. It seems to calm her anxiety also. Funniest of all, I swear her poor hearing has improved. It sounds crazy, but I’m a believer in medicinal marijuana. It doesn’t thin blood or cause hearing loss, and it was worth the investment to see my mom be able to eat and have normal conversations, no more crying. When she was in the hospital and nurses asked her pain level, she would usually say 8 or 9. She said with the vape, it has come down to 4. Thank you for this article Zuzka, its what made me remember this option!
Private Member |
santa cruz, ca
Great article. I am currently researching the endocannabinoid system (one of our endogenous signaling systems, just like other neurotransmitter and ion channel signaling systems like the opioid system) and acupuncture for my doctoral thesis. Through this research I have found that acupuncture is primarily mediated by the endocannabinoid system, and this is “how acupuncture works”. The endocannabinoid system was named after cannabis because phytocannabinoids (such as CBD and THC) interact with our cannabinoid receptors. However, other than that, this CRUCIAL part of our bodies is found in all animals and has nothing really to do with cannabis. It just happens that humans and cannabis have SUCH a long and evolved history that the compounds in cannabis are VERY analogous to the endocannabinoids that we produce naturally within us.
CBD and THC both interact with our endocannabinoid system. However we do NOT produce ANYWHERE NEAR the quantities of endocannabinoids that would be analogous to THC (as far as we know, anandamide or AEA) as a typical cannabis strain, containing THC, would have. THC has great uses, but historically humans did not consume large quantities of THC on a regulat basis. The psychoactive aspect of cannabis was important in various ceremonial and shamanic practices, but other than that, it’s only recently that it is being used for escapism. There is plenty of research in its benefits for cancers, tumors, and neurological disorders like epilepsy. For the average person, however, THC should really be kept minimal. Many traditional herbology systems incorporate cannabis in non-psychoactive preparations. It really does NOT take much cannabis to jumpstart the endocannabinoid system.
For those who don’t fully understand how “CBD works”, please research the endocannabinoid system. It’s like trying to understand what happens to food in our bodies without knowing we have a digestive system…….the ECS is of UTMOST medical importance right now, because it mediates all other signaling systems: i.e. GABAergic, glutamatergic, opioid, serotonergic, adrenergic, ion channels, etc. The most studied receptors are CB1 and CB2. CB1 is mostly abundant in the central and peripheral nervous systems. CB2 receptors are also found in the central and peripheral nervous systems, but are mostly abundant in the immune system, and is found in nearly every tissue of the body! This is why the ECS is of extreme importance–> it mediates the immune response (aka inflammation and tissue repair) and also nociceptive and neuropathic pain. It is responsible for keeping all other physiological systems in a state of homeostasis, and thus—-> the Endocannabinoid System is responsible for keeping our body in balance when under stress.
So when you take CBD, you are “feeding” the endocannabinoid system. Due to the extremely high levels of stressors that the modern human is exposed to (including environmental pollution, radiation (hands down!) from cell phones and towers, wifi, poor diet and pesticides/GMOs/related chemicals, psycho-social and work stress, busy schedules, fast paced living, etc), the ECS is in a state of hypofunction in the average Western civilized human. This means that some other physiological function that the ECS would otherwise regulate to maintain homeostasis, will go unchecked, and where that would occur is very much based on your genetic predisposition and epigenetics.
For example, auto-immune disease is a state in which the immune system is unchecked and attacks a particular tissue or tissues of its own body. Here, the endocannabinoid system is unable to do its job, mainly via CB2 receptor signaling (as far as the current research can demonstrate) of regulating the immune response.
This is why CBD is used for many things…….and in my research exploring the very current literature on how acupuncture influences endogenous cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptor signaling, there is clear evidence that acupuncture regulates this system, which then allows the ECS to regulate all the downstream signaling pathways that it should normally control. It’s not just acupuncture, too. There is research on other practices that have been considered “mind-body” practices for a long time, like yoga and meditation, and any practice that involves mindfulness—> these practices mobilize the endocannabinoid system. For the longest time we have been trying to understand these “mind-body” or seemingly “spiritual” practices, and now there is potential to understand them from a scientific standpoint.
Private Member |
santa cruz, ca
Another thing worth mentioning is that a few weeks ago, the US Federal Government awarded a grant of $3million to CBD research. Most likely, they are researching to develop drugs that can target CB2 receptors without interacting with CB1 receptors. This is because CB2 receptor activation has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving effects without psychoactive effects.
For those living in the US, do you want the pharmaceutical industry, which has no more than monetary interests and desire for profit and does not have interest in serving the public, to control how you can rehabilitate your endocannabinoid system, and therefore treat your chronic and acute health conditions? Think about that for a second. This is why it is so important that we treat cannabis as a medicine and not as a recreational escape, and we defend our freedom to use it for medicinal purposes.