CBD
The Sandman and the Greenman
“Mr. Sandman bring me a dream…” Sometimes it’s not that easy. According to the NIH 10-15% of adults complain of chronic insomnia, with as many as 40% suffering in the short term throughout the year. This is no laughing matter. Sleep is a very important bodily function. It allows the body to relax and recuperate from the stresses that make up daily life. It is necessary also to keep the mind healthy. Insomnia can lead to many neurological disorders including hallucinations, memory failure, psychotic episodes and many more. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Stay awake long enough and that will happen sooner rather than later.
For those who suffer from sleep disorders, there are many treatments available. Some problems can be solved with a change of diet or behavior. Other people benefit from meditation and relaxation techniques. For many others, the only solace lies in a doctor’s prescription. Many narcotics, such as Valium, are derived from opiates. They are effective, but do have their drawbacks. Most sleeping medications, like Lunesta, Ambien, Rozerem, and Halcion can be habit forming and need to be carefully regulated. And a common problem with any drug, taken over extended periods is tolerance. As the body grows used to it, more and more of the drug is necessary to achieve the desired effect. On a long enough time scale, or at high enough doses, all of these drugs can be lethal or can cause dire withdrawal symptoms.
There is a natural alternative to these pharmaceuticals, and that alternative is Marijuana. Actually, there are many other naturally-found sleep aids available, such as Melatonin, but today let us discuss the wonder plant cannabis. Many patients prefer cannabis because it not only has sedative properties and causes drowsiness, but because it helps stimulate a sense of personal well-being. Many people’s insomnia is partially due to anxiety, and this reduces that feeling while also bringing on sleep. But how does it work? Luckily, this is a time where science is bringing all its tools together and our understanding of the plant is growing in leaps and bounds. The chemicals in marijuana, amongst them cannabinoids and terpenes, are numerous but many studies are underway to gain further knowledge of them. Terpenes are lipophilic (from latin “fat” + “love” so they work well with fats, just like cannabinoids) compounds found in almost every plant. They are the essential oils that are responsible for the odors we smell, such as pine, citrus and marijuana’s unique fragrance.
THC, the most famous of marijuana’s active compounds, has been shown to cause anxiety in some patients, but when it works in synergy with the many other compounds has sedative effects. When combined with the terpene Myrcene, THC can be sedating and acts as a muscle relaxant; Also, studies show it to “potentiate sleep time,” helping people to stay asleep. Some users refer to this as “couch-lock,” the feeling that they are melting into the couch, which is generally enjoyed by the cannabis crowd, and decried by its many detractors. Two other terpenes enjoy the “entourage effect” (synergy) of THC; they are Nerolidol and Linalool (also found in lavender). These are not the only interactions scientists have found. Limonene (found highly in lemons) works with CBD (cannabidiol) as an anti-anxiety compound to counter THC’s anxiety causing effects. And Nerolidol (also found in oranges) combine with THC and CBN (cannabinol) to augment the sedative qualities. CBD also works to counter the accelerated heartbeat that many users feel when smoking, an effect of the THC.
These are just a few of the 300+ chemicals and compounds found in marijuana. They work in conjunction to create the many effects that people feel when they medicate with cannabis. This is why many patients did not warm up to Marinol (Big Pharma’s pill) when it was released in the 1980’s. THC is not the only thing going on in that plant which helps so many people. One patient’s testimony, “I used to take Ambien for sleep, but I’d wind up sleepwalking. And in the morning, I’d be so groggy I could barely function. When I vape a little before bed, I feel peaceful and sleep well. Sometimes I am a bit foggy when I wake, but as soon as I get moving, the fog lifts and the day awaits. Before that, I slept poorly for years. I wish I could get a prescription for it where I lived.” With proper, regular sleep many of the little aches and pains that bother people from day to day vanish. When the Greenman meets the Sandman, people sleep at night and prosper in the day.
Those Incredible Edibles
Like a giant pink elephant in the room, detractors of marijuana only assume that intake is done via smoking. Cannabis, the giving plant that it is, offers us so much and gives us many options for intake, rather than simply sparking up and inhaling. Among the alternative methods are vaporizing and the world of culinary delight. Hemp seeds are an excellent source of nutrition, but offer little in the way of THC or CBD. And what about those patients who simply cannot inhale smoke? How does one get maximum medical effects by eating this plant? We do not recommend eating raw buds. The human digestive system cannot handle all that plant fiber and will not extract the THC well enough to have the desired effect. But there are a variety of methods one can use to prepare this perfumed plant into palatable pastries.
It used to be the case that creating edibles was a D0-It-Yourself affair for those who had both the motivation and an abundance of medication. But these days chefs and pharmacists everywhere are turning their hands to the world of “Medibles.” In certain states with legalized medical marijuana, one can walk into a dispensary and bypass the bud jars and gaze upon the tasty edible medications. On certain beaches in Maui, patients can find bakers distributing goodies too. In fact, culinary cannabis has exploded into an extravagant field offering more choices than a banquet. Many of us are familiar with brownies and cookies, or anything like that which uses oil or butter to cook with. But the selection has grown even further. There are tinctures and teas, colas, sprays, lozenges and lollipops. If variety is the spice of life, then this is one spicy meatball.
It is important to take precautions when medicating with edible cannabis. When ingested, its effects can be different than when inhaled. It often takes longer to feel the effects, generally between 30 minutes and two hours. And the effects will last longer in your body. While operating heavy machinery always requires caution, it is even more imperative that caution is taken after the consumption of edibles. Also, it can be easier to over-medicate when ingesting marijuana through edibles. When THC hits the liver, it is metabolized into 11-Hydroxy-THC which has shown to have stronger psychoactive properties than the original THC compound. Be careful when purchasing products and ensure their potency is labelled. Some manufacturers, like Cheeba Chews, label their products well and patients know what to expect. Furthermore, they subject their product to rigorous lab testing to ensure safety and quality standards. Unfortunately, some companies use packaging labels that do not include all of the pertinent information and patients are often unsure of what they are getting. A good rule of thumb for those new to edibles is the wait and see approach. Let’s say you’ve just gotten home with a batch of fresh brownies. Don’t just pop it in and wait for the ride. Cut the brownie into 2-4 pieces and spread out ingestion over the course of several hours. This will help significantly reduce the likelihood of over medication.
There is a lot to be said for edibles. We hope you enjoy them safely, and check back with us for more on this subject.
Marijuana contributes to Patients’ Quality of Existence
A primary reason medicinal marijuana is heralded has related to its positive impact on the patients’ quality of existence. We are not talking about the “high” and “buzz” nor shall we be speaking about how exactly it inspires creativeness in artists. The medical advantages of discomfort relief are enormous. Traditional remedies for extreme discomfort sufferers include drugs and opium-derived medicines. Although individuals are frequently effective types of discomfort relief, they’ve unwanted effects that may be crippling unwanted effects including sedation, respiratory system depression, and constipation. Drugs cause physical and mental dependency which have destroyed 1000’s of lives. Also, as tolerance accumulates to individuals drugs, bigger doses are needed. So when someone is finally completed with them, they face withdrawal syndrome which could frequently be as debilitating because the initial illness these were dealing with.
As new strains of marijuana happen to be developed, concentrating on high CBD content minimizing THC, marijuana’s medical benefits have jumped. Patients are now able to self-medicate and carry on living a usual daily life after they have discovered the very best strain for his or her condition. We request ourselves, isn’t that the purpose of medicine, to deal with disease and permit patients to operate in society? The number of pharmaceutical drugs have side-effect lists which are worse compared to illnesses? A current medical study including marijuana from Tel Aviv, Israel has proven huge enhancements for patients quality of existence. A investigator was cited as saying “After three months’ treatment patients reported improvement generally health perception, social functioning, capability to work, physical discomfort and depression.” For individuals who are suffering from IBD and Crohn’s the mental respite from symptom reduction is enormous. Suppose every single day you awaken and also have to organize your entire day around being not able to manage your bowels. It’s a debilitating fear to reside with, that certain moment you may be on an outing and all of a sudden you’ll need access immediately to some bathroom. Furthermore, patients seek privacy and hygiene too. IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) could be crippling inside a world where public bathrooms frequently don’t meed public demand.
Medicinal marijuana provides relief with this and a whole lot. People are feeling better and can go enjoy existence. They are able to get away from home and choose a hike, or visit the beach. Patients can bask on a sunny day and do not need to worry. Discomfort is relieved, anxiety reduced and there’s generally a large grin evidently of patients. Even large information mill being attentive to the life-style enhancements that is included with medicinal marijuana use. Cheeba Chews, those who win from the Colorado Cannabis Cup (food items category), are thinking about sponsoring a snowboard team. This straightforward corporate move demonstrates several positive factors. For just one, clearly the organization supplying medicine for thus many does well financially. Furthermore, if your sponsorship of snowboarders does develop it might shows a conditioning of anti marijuana sentiments. Cheba Chews may likely get their title the main attraction of major competitions. This may lead to more education and knowledge of the existence patients live.
Sit Back and Relax… Without the harmful side effects!
Studies in Relaxation
There are many reasons why people turn to Medical Marijuana. As a psychoactive drug, one of its greatest benefits is how it relaxes people. It induces feelings of calmness, serenity and it relieves anxiety for many. There are lots of substances out there that can also create this effect for patients, so why would one turn to one that is still illegal in most states? Big Pharma has been pushing all kinds of chemicals on us for years and yet some people still feel uneasy about taking them because of the potential or unknown side effects. Have you ever read the possible side effects on a bottle of Prozac or Xanax? Read it and try not to have a panic attack. So what we see is that people turn to that marvelous medicinal plant that has been with mankind since the dawn of civilization.
How does Cannabis effect the brain and help the patient relax? There are many active ingredients in medical marijuana which scientists are still discovering, as well as their potential applications. Two of the most popular ones are THC and CBD. THC (Tetrahydracannabinol) by now most everyone has heard of. There is also CBD (Cannabidiol), which in recent studies has also shown to have a strong effect on users. THC is responsible for the “high” or psychoactive feeling that alters your senses. Colors seem brighter and sharper, food tastes better (especially sweets), sounds seem clearer and things seem to feel better to the touch. THC helps you notice the details in your environment and is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. CBD has shown “to prompt brain activity linked to appropriate responses to significant stimuli in the environment,” which also helps to prevent feelings of paranoia that can be associated with smoking marijuana. The medical community is spending more time looking into this chemical because it appears to be the active ingredient for pain relief that so many cancer patients are seeking.
At the end of a long day you come home from work and you need to unwind. For some, a cold beer is all you need. But not everyone has that luxury. There are many people out there that alcohol simply does not agree with. It can aggravate digestive disorders, or interfere with other medications; it’s toxic when combined with acetaminophen. Also, one drink often leads to another and then in the morning you have a hangover. And hangovers are not conducive to productive days at work. Furthermore, alcohol has been shown to interfere with REM sleep leading to the next day being unproductive. Other medications can also leave people feeling groggy the following morning. Marijuana is great for relaxing patients as well as treating their uncomfortable symptoms.
There are few things as wholly unpleasant as a trip to the clinic for chemotherapy. Patients return home feeling exhausted due to the physically draining process. When you’re fighting cancer you need to keep up your strength, but many chemo patients just waste away due to side effects such as nausea and loss of appetite keeping them from nourishing their bodies with the nutrients they need to combat their illness. Many cancer victims can testify to Marijuana’s helpful effects; it can pick up your spirits and help keep an active appetite. Medical grade marijuana helps maintain a calm stomach that let’s food stay down so that it can be digested so patients can maintain their strength.
Clearly Marijuana has many obvious medical benefits in regards to physical pain, but the true nature of the plant to help alleviate emotional stresses is still yet to be seen. With the alternative being physically addictive pills with uncomfortable and potentially fatal side effects, the idea of using medical marijuana in replacement of typical dangerous prescription medications to relax and treat forms of anxiety seems more appealing as the facts pile up.
Sexy Marijuana Advertisements at Odds With Medical Intent
The majority of us understand probably the most excessively used cliché in marketing, the attractive lady putting on her bathing suit even when no lake is at miles. Does she really result in the beer taste better? Basically crack open a chilly you do a bus filled with her buddies appear to my otherwise lame bbq? Customers ought to be cautious about firms that market the beautiful lady within the tangible product.
The medicinal marijuana market is going through this same problem presently departing advocates itching their heads. Among benefits, medical cannabis offers discomfort relief, depression/ anxiety relief, and may open creative shops. It definitely is not really a watered lower product that should constantly reinforce how cold or “Rocky Mountain Fresh” it’s. Medicinal marijuana patients have sadly observed a lot of the main focus change toward social gratification becasue it is beginning.
If recent raids carried out by the us government are any suggestion, then your legal fight for medicinal marijuana is not even close to over. The must operate legitimately to be able to show the patient’s needs are thought first. A medicinal marijuana program is made to provide relief to patients who’re in need of assistance, to not glorify frat boy antics or to develop a quick profit. While a lot of research signifies that medicinal marijuana is advantageous in lots of areas, a tainted product undermines it’s medicinal value. The scantily clad lady who signifies much of the present marketing in the market may have the ability to lead towards the medical area by dealing with erection dysfunction, but it’s doing harm to medicinal marijuana if she’s directing the interest from more severe concerns. Rather the main focus must be on mold, pesticides, cbd/thc levels, additionally with other growing and cultivation issues. Labs concentrating in marijuana analysis for example The Werc Shop, can further the industry’s authenticity much much more than the usual cute face.
While support for medical cannabis is reaching new levels, most People in america likely support a business where candidates are correctly tested and really have issues that may be relieved with legitimate marijuana use. We all like quite a face, but one that will browse the small print and it has a love for helping patients is much more attractive.
The Marijuana Name Game
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 2-Scene 2 (The famous balcony Scene)
As Juliet so poetically stated, what truly is in a name? What lies under the surface is infinitely more important and while name games can be fun for some, they may not be for serious medical marijuana patients.
The safety of the medical marijuana industry needs to be an important concern. When someone is seeking relief from MS symptoms or other ailments, what are they to make of strain names such as “purple urkle” or “green crack”. The famous “Northern Lights” alone has many different variations and dispensaries are not always clear about which one they are selling or including in their hybrid strains. Another large problem is that many hybrid strains can be considered an Indica or a Sativa. While to some this is unimportant, there is a clear cut difference between the two. If one is seeking to alleviate insomnia but instead is given a strain that increases cerebral activity and paranoia, their experience may be less than enjoyable.
The need for a consistent industry is clear. Many of these concerns can be neutralized with lab testing. Imagine going to buy Tylenol and not knowing if it will be the same formula as the last time you purchased it for a headache. FDA regulations and the multi phased clinical trial model help to greatly increase consistency. Being close or pretty sure of a strains genetic makeup simply is not good enough. A brother and sister could have over 99% of the same genetics, but are they the same? Will they react to stimuli in identical fashion? Additionally, many medical marijuana users are concerned specifically with the chemical makeup of a particular strain. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major component of marijuana and has been known to deliver more treatment and relief for medical issues. While a high level of THC is important for some, patients have other concerns and need to rely on lab testing in order to ensure that their medication is addressing their situation.
Much of this responsibility will have to fall on the collectives/caregivers for now. In order to serve their patients properly there needs to be a demand for medications to be tested on-site or in laboratories. In addition to a complete chemical breakdown, labs can also test for mold, insecticides, and other harmful hazards that can potentially be a part of the cultivation process. Juliet was correct in identifying that there is not much in a name, but ultimately we need to prove her wrong.
The Importance of Medical Marijuana Testing Labs
We have grown accustomed to many safety nets in America. How many people really spend considerable thought about our food testing? The FDA regulates safety testing for food and drugs. Could we imagine food hitting the market without E.Coli screening? Without intense clinical trials, most Americans would feel very apprehensive about their pharmaceuticals.
With a new area of medication growing rapidly, the demand for lab testing in the medical marijuana industry will likely increase as well. Mold, pests, and insecticides are among the major safety concerns for medical cannabis cultivation. This is not the only function of the labs. While THC is a household name, many patients are concerned with another compound, CBD. This also is found in cannabis and has been known to bring relief for many medical ailments. Medical labs can test for this and help patients find strains that are tailored to their concerns.
While there have not been reports of widespread side effects from a lack of testing in dispensaries, it would only take one major incident to railroad the medical marijuana industry. Universal acceptance of medical marijuana will have to involve lab tests and safety assurance. Additionally, the increased lab presence in the industry could have a positive economic impact. The current labs would grow with new ones being needed to keep up with testing demands. Safety and affordability for meds is becoming vital as Americans continue to struggle financially. Lab tested medical marijuana could still satisfy both of these concerns.
The early stages of the food industry in the United States were not acceptable with few federal laws monitoring safety for food. States had some of their own laws, but the scrutiny needed to properly ensure food safety was simply not there. In 1906, due to food companies not creating the proper levels of quality control, President Theodore Roosevelt created the Food and Drug act. This, in turn, led to the eventual creation of the FDA. The medical marijuana industry should take note, and seek testing voluntarily (a number of the major dispensaries have already begun this) before a tragic event that devastates the industry.
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