Cannabis as alternative medicine continues to gain popularity. Although it’s still argued there is not enough large-scale research to prove the effectiveness of cannabis as medicine, plenty of anecdotal evidence shows otherwise.
Chances are if you have a medical concern, positive testimonials from friends and family have you searching the web for “weed delivery near me” out of curiosity for your maladies. But before you take the leap, there are a few things you should know.
This article will discuss five things you should know before you use Cannabis as alternative medicine:
- Cannabis is going to make you high.
- There are many strains of cannabis, and you probably don’t need to worry about it much.
- There’s not enough evidence to say cannabis can treat or cure things.
- CBD is not Cannabis, but your cannabis probably contains CBD.
- There are lots of ways to try cannabis — you don’t have to smoke it.
1. Cannabis is going to make you high.
Well, we should clarify: If your product contains THC, it’s going to make you high. And PSA: if you buy medical marijuana, it’s going to contain THC.
The inclusion of THC is what separates marijuana products from CBD products. THC is the cannabinoid that creates a psychoactive effect and gives that feeling of euphoria or relaxation.
2. There are many strains of cannabis, and you probably don’t need to worry about it much.
Cannabis breeders develop cannabis strains. They cross-breed different cannabis strains known for specific attributes to create varieties more likely to cause specific desired medicinal effects.
Some of these effects can:
– Provide additional relaxation
– Encourage appetite
– Help you manage pain
– Support mood
– Support healthy stress levels
When trying to decide which strain to purchase, consider the medicinal effects and choose a supplier who clearly lists them.
3. There’s not enough evidence to say cannabis can treat or cure things.
There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence that points to cannabis helping people manage physical and mental health conditions. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of definitive studies that say the same.
That’s why it’s important to heed your doctor’s advice, and not replace your medication with cannabis without their blessing. Take the time to do plenty of research before implementing cannabis as part of an alternative medicine regime.
Cannabis contains THC and other cannabinoids that have properties that can change our moods or physical state. Because of this, cannabis can interact negatively with your medications.
For example:
– Many medications have sedative properties. If your THC also makes you tired, you may have trouble waking up after a reasonable amount of sleep.
– Many medications have blood-thinning properties. Cannabis can also thin the blood in some people, so mixing the two might increase the risk of bruising.
– In some cases, more serious issues have been discovered, such as loss of medication absorption or changes in how the liver breaks down your medication.
4. CBD is not cannabis, but your cannabis probably contains CBD.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about CBD products and cannabis products. Likely because we don’t always call things by their correct names.
For example, cannabis is a plant from which we get both CBD and marijuana. However, we often call marijuana “cannabis,” but not usually the other way around.
A little background:
Cannabis contains both THC and CBD — chemicals called cannabinoids that interact with the endocannabinoid system. But THC and CBD are not the only cannabinoids in your marijuana or CBD product. There are at least 113 individual cannabinoids, each with unique medicinal properties. Like THC, CBD has dozens of medicinal properties and is typically included in your cannabis strain.
Using CBD alongside THC can provide plenty of benefits if you’re using cannabis as alternative medicine.
5. There are lots of ways to try cannabis — you don’t have to smoke it.
We hear from many people who want to try cannabis but don’t want to smoke. If you’ve been considering weed for alternative medicine but you’ve been concerned about smoking it, there are other ways to give it a try.
Other ways to try cannabis:
– Vaping
– Drinking infused tea or other hot drinks
– Eating infused candy
– Coated or treats and snacks
– Infused cookies and other sweets
– Chewing gummies
– Taking oils or drops orally
There are also concentrates you can buy that can be as simple as taking your evening vitamins.
The big takeaway: There are thousands and thousands of people who profess cannabis gives them relief from depression, insomnia, eating disorders, chronic pain, and more. If you want to try cannabis as alternative medicine, it’s important to proceed carefully.
Speak to your doctor to make sure you won’t cause any adverse Cannabis reactions to medications you might be taking.
Cannabis has an interesting and promising track record of assisting people with many medical conditions. As we get results from more studies, we’ll have a clearer understanding of which strains are most helpful for specific health concerns.