7 Awesome Facts about Cannabis you may not know
Did you know that you can consume cannabis to get that feeling of physical and mental ease but not be technically stoned or high? Not that there is anything wrong with being stoned, but everything has its time and place.
I apologize if you are already in the know, but these are some of the facts I share with pretty much anyone who will listen, from the simply uninformed to naysayers and prohibitionists promoting science-denying myths about Cannabis.
1) All humans and most land bound mammals have an Endocannabinoid system similar to other biological systems like our digestive and respiratory systems.
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We are all born with cell receptors inside our bodies meant to absorb cannabinoids, the compounds found in cannabis, such as THC, the most prevalent and well known.
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Once THC is absorbed, it is usually followed by mind and body effects such as euphoria, relaxation, and sometimes anxiety and short-term memory loss, pain relief and muscle relaxation.
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Cannabis has been known to help reduce the ravages of serious illnesses like cancer, MS, parkinson's disease and more widespread anxiety, PTSD, depression, insomnia, muscle pain and opioid addiction.
2) The cannabinoid CBD, a "sober" sister compound to THC found in cannabis, is proven to provide healing effects without causing any temporary mind and body impairing effects. Say what?!
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CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning folks can enjoy the anti-inflammatory properties and a sense of physical/mental ease that CBD delivers without the "High" feeling.
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CBD when ingested or applied topically has helped to reduce anxiety, PTSD, muscle spasms, and pain. CBD can be just as effective as addictive pharmaceuticals that often come with serious side effects.
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CBD can help folks "come down" if they accidentally over-medicate with THC, which can be very uncomfortable but never fatal on its own. Did you eat the whole brownie, forgot about it then freaked out 2 hours later? Take a dose of CBD to help you come back down into Earth - preferably a fast-acting tincture, beverage or hard candy that get absorbed under the tongue and in the mouth before swallowing for faster delivery to the bloodstream.
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CBD infused pet food and topicals have been reported by veterinarians to help treat pet arthritis, anxiety, skin issues, and digestive conditions that rob our animal housemates of their appetites and normal vigor. Help them get their wag back!
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CBD has even been known to help people safely cope with the symptoms of withdrawal from opioid and alcohol addiction.
3) Cannabis Strains impact resulting effects.
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Effects can range from extremely relaxed "couch-lock" and strong pain relief to ready "to party like it's 1999" or somewhere in between on the canna spectrum, depending the individual tolerance and body chemistry.
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Sativa strains usually are known to be more uplifting and "light," indica has been known to be more mind and body relaxing and "heavy," while hybrid is in between and can lean either way. This is an oversimplification for such a complex plant but it's a basic explanation.
4) Terpenes - plant compounds or "essentials oils" found in cannabis, fruit and vegetables
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Terpenes provide cannabis with its unique bouquet and healing properties and ultimately differentiates one cultivated strain of cannabis from another. They are instrumental to the physiological and psychoactive effects of cannabis.
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Terpenes and cannabinoids are known to work together to cause the “entourage effect,” multiplying the sum total of each individually. Note that terpenes exist also exist in a range of herbs and fruit, such as lavender, containing the calming terpene linalool and the invigorating limonene found in lemons and limes.
5) Who has Seniority? Cannabis has been known to offer safe, non-addictive relief for seniors, by far the largest group that can benefit the most from cannabis, yet often the most resistant, due to prolonged exposure to prohibition propaganda.
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Savvy seniors can heal without being high unless they want to do so responsibly. They can medicate with CBD or THCa, non-activated THC, which heals without the high.
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They don’t need to ever smoke cannabis flower to reap the benefits, but can medicate with tinctures, capsules, edibles, drinkables and vape pens.
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CBD has been known to help slow down the onset of Alzheimer’s among some, helping our sage loved ones maintain their mental faculties and sense of self longer. Additional non-toxicating healing cannabinoids like CBG, CBN and THCV are being added to topical, inhaled, and edible products.
6) Many modes of consumption in addition to smoking
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Sublingual (applied under the tongue) edibles or "medibles" like tinctures, canna beverages and candy tend to take effect faster and with less intensity than infused baked goods like brownies and cookies.
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The effects of THC and CBD are usually felt within 15-30 minutes with these forms because the medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream as you swallow.
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Baked goods usually takes effect at least 45 minutes later because the THC has to be digested before being released into the bloodstream. Once passing through the liver it releases a substance that can cause "couch lock" and brain farts. Not the move if you have stuff to do or don't have a high tolerance!
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It's best to follow suggested 5 - 10 milligram dosing when trying any THC edible for the first time, making sure you are in a safe space and not operating heavy machinery or performing highly analytical tasks. Be patient and take your time before dosing again to avoid over-medicating, which is never deadly but usually quite uncomfortable...
7) Topicals can help soothe muscle pain, skin irritations and heighten sensuality and generally don’t make you high.
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Cannabinoids in Topicals can help block pain signals and can help alleviate skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis without making you high or causing you to test positive.
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Topicals are absorbed into the skin and typically do not cross the "bloodstream/brain barrier" into the bloodstream to cause a psychoactive effect unlike when inhaled or ingested. You are not likely to test positive during a drug test but may need to use non-THC infusions to make sure.
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Infused massage oils and stimulating lubricants help heighten the intensity when it's Sexy Time...
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Since PURPLE RAINA products are food-grade and contain a high percentage of organic ingredients, if your pet or someone in your household were to for some strange reason end up eating the contents (highly discouraged) you would not need to call the Poison Center. They may likely get hungry and/or fall into a deep restful sleep. You can give them CBD to reduce any unwanted effects.