Did you know that cannabis has been used for wellness for over 5,000 years? Today, more people than ever are discovering its benefits for managing stress, pain, and sleep. The Beginner’s Guide to Using Cannabis for wellness aims to educate those new to the use of cannabis and provide a comprehensive guide to safely making your first experience enjoyable. The benefits satisfied our ancestors for centuries, why would it betray us now? It isn’t logical. Before medicine in its modern sense became the go to method for illness, disease and belly aches; there was herbs, fruits, seeds and oils from plants.
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“Although it has a million names, it’s purpose has always the same. To heal.”
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis: Cannabis sativa is a flowering plant that is usually smoked, but can be inhaled, vaporized or ingested via food/drink. The “high” you get from it is the result of a cannabinoid called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Another cannabinoid that is an alternative to THC is CBD. Both are derived from this same plant, that produces also hemp. It has many names and references: marijuana, weed, bud, green, smoke, dope, grass, 420, blunts, joints, doobie, gas, etc… So are the ways to use it: flower, hash, oil, dab, edible and more.
Patients from around the world prefer cannabis over doctor prescribed medication to treat a host of problems. In addition to healing, it helps. Helps with sleep, appetite, seizures, pain, anxiety, insomnia and with making friends. Weed is a very social drug. It’s also the simplest “drug” in terms of its process prior to consumption. You take a branch from nature, dry it and light it on fire. With a whole world created around this trillion-dollar industry, all the names different methods of consumption can be tricky for those new to cannabis or haven’t used it in a while. The Beginner’s Guide to Using Cannabis for wellness will help you navigate your path to paradise.
Fact: Studies show that over 62% of people who use medicinal cannabis do so to manage chronic pain (source: Journal of Cannabis Research).
What’s the science behind Cannabis?
Cannabis is usually derived from one of two plants: Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica. Sativa’s and Indica’s are used for different reasons, those reasons are contingent upon the user’s tolerance level. One is used more during the day; the other is preferred at night. Both contain over 100 cannabinoids, including THC & CBD, that interacts with our own Endocannabinoid system: influencing pain levels, moods, appetites, energy levels and more. In addition to trying to decide between sativa and indica, you also need to decide if you prefer THC or CBD. Need to learn the difference? See our guide on what CBD is.
The Beginner’s Guide to Using Cannabis for wellness is not designed to replace your doctor or primary health care professional, just a guide from our over 30 years’ experience of studying of this magnificent plant. There are many misconceptions, stigmas and false narratives surrounding cannabis, mostly propaganda and lies told to continue its criminalization. A quick search of its benefits will yield several interesting stories, including: A paralyzed dad with MS, who replaced his pills with cannabis and is walking again, older patients showing improvements after using medicinal marijuana, Americans are using it to help with diabetes and that it’s helped people quit prescription pills. All reasons why someone who business is selling pills would want it to remain illegal.
The Beginner’s Guide to Using Cannabis for wellness
Marijuana benefits are numerous. Hemp alone is extremely valuable commodity that can be used for hundreds of things, including clothing, paper, rope, food, biofuels, and construction materials. You would think the Government would embrace a plant with these many benefits to society. It is very easy to grow, cheap to maintain, matures quickly and produces large yields. It’s ideal and obviously far more an asset to the people than a liability.
The list of benefits cannabis provides is much longer than the list of problems it causes. The oils have helped children minimize and even has eliminated seizures, pain associated with chemo, increased appetites for eating disorders and proven to be healthier alternatives to medicine for behavior issues. Marijuana does more for teens than make them look cool. Teens using CBD said it helps with their anxiety and appetite. Teens also overwhelmingly prefer Medicinal Marijuana as an alternative to medication. The side effects in the lab created medications often come with more side effects, often worse than the problem you’re treating.
Cannabis is the opposite. All natural and with no man-made interference, you are allowed to benefit from it the way nature intended. Cannabis is widely used as a sleep aid for young and older adults, with sativa being the most preferred strain for relaxing. Chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, autoimmune disorders and stress are all treated with cannabis as well. Research and science will tell you that most of this is unsubstantiated and not proven; although thousands of people have written blogs, made post and wrote books dispelling this notion.
Choosing the Right Method of Consumption
Smoking/Vaping:
Quick onset, ideal for immediate relief. Easier to over gauge your intake. Start slow, one or two puffs. Creates pungent odor.
Cons: Potential respiratory irritation. Excessive coughing. Inhale too much, ruining first experience.
Edibles:
Longer-lasting effects, great for pain or sleep. Can be inside anything edible; a gummy, cake, candy bar, cookie, etc…
Tip: Start with a low dose (5mg THC or less). Easy to misgauge dose. Takes a while to work.
Tinctures and Oils:
Easy to dose, perfect for discreet use. No smell. No smoke. Suitable for everyone.
Topicals:
Best for localized pain or skin conditions. Apply directly to source.
What is the best method for consumption?
The answer can only be determined after attempting each method (at different times) and seeing which method gives you the desired result. With every method of consumption: start slow. Always use a small amount and start slow. Overtime your tolerance will increase and then you scale up incrementally. As with alcohol, it affects everyone differently, therefore not even twins will have the same experience, even using the same amount.
Often people say they don’t use it, and most times cause the one time they tried; it went bad. This is 90% caused by having no guide to gauge their initial intake. Staying hydrated prior to and during consumption will aid in dry mouth and nausea prevention. If you choose to smoke, we suggest using papers instead of tobacco wraps or blunts. They are organic, all natural, biodegradable, has no chemicals and when purchased in bulk, are dirt cheap. The Beginner’s Guide to Using Cannabis for wellness recommends these.
Fact: Edibles can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in but may last up to 8 hours.
Common Myths and Misconceptions about Cannabis
Marijuana is addictive
Marijuana is, in fact, less addictive than tobacco and alcohol. Both of which are legal and the latter, is promoted extensively at all professional sporting events. Every day we lose Americans as a result of Tabacco use. This includes lung cancers, respiratory illnesses, heart disease and organ failures. In the same span many more Americans with either be severely injured or killed due to alcohol related accidents. It still will be a major sponsor for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL & FIFA. Logically, the reservations and lack of support for its legalization cannot about public health. Our food alone proves that isn’t a concern.
Fact: Less than 10% of users develop dependency, compared to 30% for tobacco.
CBD is ineffective
Not true. CBD is a very dope alternative to THC. Again, not everyone’s body will respond to it the same way, so some people are actually better off with CBD instead of THC. The ‘high” is different between the two, but both are equally beneficial where they’re applicable. If you tried weed and it was too intense of an experience, but you still desire to benefits from its medicinal properties, I recommend a low dosage of CBD. Many professionals: including lawyers, bus drivers, teachers and retirees, prefer CBD to THC.
Weed is just about smoking
Contrary to this ignorant belief, weed is much more than just smoking. It’s very social. Not many other things release a scent that can instantly bridge the gap between to two or more strangers and foster a more peaceful interaction instantly. Countless times throughout life, it will be the scent of weed that spark a dope conversation between two people who otherwise would’ve remained unknown to each other. It connects different sexes, races, cultures and generations. It has for centuries, it will for many more; thus, proving that smoking isn’t even its most important aspect. This is all without mentioning medicinal benefits.
How to choose the right marijuana
•Do your research. If you are new to cannabis and want the best experience, only purchase from a dispensary or reputable seller. Here is our list of Cincy Dispensaries. Check for THC or CBD percentage before purchasing. Start low, start slow.
•Contact a professional. If medicinal marijuana is legal in your state, you can contact a doctor and have all your medical questions answered in relation to cannabis consumption.
•Seek lab tested brands. This ensures purity, potency and your safety before you begin your journey.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
We cannot write an article titled The Beginner’s Guide to Using Cannabis for wellness and not highlight potential risk and side effects of cannabis as well. Cannabis side effects include:
•Dry mouth– The result of lack of hydration. Drink plenty fluids before and after using marijuana. This is a rookie move almost everyone experiences. It’s ok, just get some electrolytes.
•Dizziness– This happens either for consuming too much and/or the potency of the bud. Another common rookie mistake, this is preventable and usually happens when you have no guide or way to regulate your initial intake.
•Paranoia– Paranoia can be attributed to a multitude of things. Too high potency of cannabis, you exceeded your body’s threshold for consumption, could be a dormant chemical unbalance unrelated to marijuana that was triggered by it. Most people will attribute it to weed and say that’s why they don’t smoke. The irony is that they are usually still paranoid without it.
•Dependency– Every substance comes with the potential for abuse. It’s the human condition to want to escape reality. We are all guilty, we just use different means of accomplishing it. Cannabis dependency increases when used as a sleep aid, anxiety reducer and as an alternative to prescriptions.
•Contraindications– If you are already on medication, depending on its ingredients, it can have adverse effects to chemical compounds found in Cannabis. Make sure you check with your doctor or healthcare provider to ensure any medications you take aren’t affected by cannabis use. Blood thinners especially.
In conclusion:
In conclusion, there is no right or wrong answer to cannabis consumption. It’s a case-by-case situation. While most prefer THC, it’s perfectly fine to like CBD more. It’ even ok to not like cannabis at all. Everything isn’t for everyone. That’s why we recommend a slow, low intake ease into using a marijuana related product. This helps limit you from a bad experience, extreme paranoia, or excessive coughing. Extreme laughing and hunger is to be expected. Our recommendation is do your research, ask questions, talk to your doctor, visit a dispensary and then make a sound judgement. TEven if you don’t like it now, the beautiful thing about cannabis is that you can always try it later and have a totally different experience. So, roll up and smoke, eat an edible, use the oil or vape. All, done with proper steps, can yield a pretty dope adventure.
The Beginner’s Guide to Using Cannabis for wellness
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