עבריתHow to use and consume Cannabis & CBD - What is the best method for you
- Sunday, August 6 2023 at 14:12
- Snir Mutzafi
- Cannabis 101
- 7 minutes
It seems there is a lot of misconception by many people in regards to cannabis, especially when it is consumed with a medicinal purpose, "Just smoke a joint mate" can be found endlessly browsing the dark net, from cannabis blogs to forums. People seem to generalize cannabis's attributes and potential to a rolled out paper with some "green" or "brown", advising individuals they don't know nor will they ever meet on how to treat and even "cure" their pain, chronic illnesses, mental health and yes, even cancer through cannabis use. Why does it pose such a major problem in my eyes?
But hundreds of active ingredients, including phytocannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids acids, and more, one has to take into account PRIOR to consuming it since:
Even when using they use the same:
Similar Chronic medication profile
Allow me to elaborate and expand on that notion, there are typically 6 ways to use cannabis from common and popular to the least: 1. Inhalation (smoking or vaping) 2. Sub-lingual (under the tongue) 3. Ingesting (eating) 4. Topical (superficial) 5. suppositories (anal...) 6. Intravenous (IV) - less common and discussed with fewer academic studies\\, which is why it has been listed last.
The act of combustion/burning of dried - out cannabis can be made by: Rolling it in paper creates a "Joint", the most commonly seen way to consumers globally, since they're easy to create requiring only rolling papers, filters, and the bud. (important to note the type of rolling paper can influence the experience you get. "Blunts" are cigar-shaped joints filled with cannabis. Other devices/instruments used for the inhalation of cannabis are:
Is using a vaporizer, a device that heats cannabis to a selected or ideal temperature thus causing a release of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that are inhaled. The act of inhaling delivers the different cannabis compounds into your body through your lungs, and from there to your bloodstream and central nervous system (CNS), meaning the time it takes to influence is very fast - approximately 15-20 minutes.
Start with only a single inhalation, and should wait a few minutes to assess the effects before inhaling more, if you feel the sensation you've wanted - you've reached YOUR optimal dosage, don't inhale more or the influence will change, for better - worse.
Smoking produces higher temperatures thus creating damaging gases such as toluene and benzene. leading to the loss of Terpenes, Cannabinoids, and flavonoids due to the high temperatures. The pros of vaporizing cannabis compared to smoking
You can control the temperature for maximum - effect and absorption of all compounds. The cons of vaporizing cannabis compared to smoking
A term derived from pharmacology, it means - The relative percent of a drug given to an individual\\, and the amount that reaches the bloodstream. A simple example is this, a drug given through the vein has 100% bioavailability, since it is given directly to your bloodstream, why am I annoying you with these disturbing medical definitions? THC's bioavailability through inhalation is only slightly lower than when given through the vein. In 2016, a major study confirmed this, using a vaporizer is the best way to use Cannabis rich with THC and CBD, compared to smoking.
The administration of cannabis via droplets (oil), tinctures, or spray (Sativex) under your tongue, tinctures requires soaking dry cannabis in ethanol or ethyl alcohol. Not a lot of pharmacological literature exists, present knowledge is based mainly on studies done on Sativex used to treat neuropathic pain in Multiple Sclerosis. This drug holds almost identical levels of THC to CBD.
Why you should consider this administration method:
There are many ways to consume cannabis through your digestive system: - Oil - Capsules or pills - Edibles - food containing cannabis - (cookies\\, snacks\\, and beverages) It is a suitable alternative for patients with respiratory problems(COPD, cancer, chronic bronchitis), it also provides an accurate dosage administration method, no smoke or smell making them discreet, it's possible to add other compounds such as vitamins to the capsules making them multipurpose. The downsides exist though, your THC intake will last much longer due to the liver producing psychoactive metabolites, and it will take longer to reach peak influence.
The significant difference is associated with the extensive metabolism occurring in the liver.
The largest organ in the human body is the skin, so it should not surprise you that multiple products containing phytocannabinoids such as CBD are already in the market in the past few years, there are not as many extensive studies or evidence-based compared to other consumption methods, but several ways exist to deliver cannabis and CBD onto your skin:
Used mainly for local pain, joint pain, skin injuries such as burns, bites, abrasions, and other skin conditions such as psoriasis, and eczema.
-In the form of candles, tablets, and homemade cocoa butter Now I know what you're thinking... who in the holy hell is going to be willing to stick something, let alone cannabis up their rectum.. well as an RN sticking things up the rectum is not new to me (sadly, yeah? but you got to do what you got to do). Rectal suppositories dissolve in the rectum, allowing active compounds to enter your bloodstream through blood vessels in the rectum, and fast.