Weed, pot, cannabis, edibles, gummies - My take on them
Well, as many of you know, cannabis is now legal in NJ…. As a doctor, I was against it for years due to there not being enough research data. Since it’s become legal, I’ve been testing out CBD and have come to recognize massivebenefits (such as reducing inflammation, anxiety and as an infrequent sleep aid). But hold on, that doesn’t mean I want you to go light up a joint right away, LOL….
Today I’d like to briefly cover the pros and cons of cannabis use, it’s safety concerns regarding dosage and modalities of use.
First off, I hope you enjoyed our cooking class last week. We made two 1-dish/pan meals, plus some simple apple muffins, yummmm 🍏🍎🍏 If you aren’t taking advantage of these monthly classes, you’re really missing out. It was awesome having men and women there together, and we had a great time tasting and learning how to substitute healthy ingredients in some of your favorite dishes. Cris is really good at sharing her tricks of how to cook at home as a busy working family with very little time. Great job, Cris 💗 If you missed it, you can watch the recording using this link.
Next, this Tuesday (yes, tomorrow!) we are hosting our FREE, “Is your DI-et Killing You?” event from 6-7pm. Call or text the front desk to reserve your seat. Better yet, bring a friend along and make it an early Halloween fun outing. I promise you’ll learn some helpful diet tips, and have plenty to talk about once you leave. Use can also use this linkto reserve your seat.
Lastly, I hope you enjoyed last week’s newsletter on “What causes food CRAVINGS?”. I’ve heard lots of great feedback from you! If you missed it, you can use this link, here.
OK, read on for my take on cannabis use, and it’s pro’s and cons…
According to the National Institutes of Health, people have used marijuana, or cannabis, to treat their ailments for at least 3,000 years.
The tension, between a widespread belief that cannabis is an effective treatment for a wide assortment of ailments and a lack of scientific knowledge on its effects, has been somewhat exacerbated in recent times by a drive toward legalization.
As you can imagine, I’m not all in on cannabis yet; but I’m extremely impressed with the massive benefits of CBD that I am finding. There are still major issues with some of the ways cannabis is consumed, and there are risks involved in many of them.
SMOKING and/or VAPING:
Smoking marijuana clearly damages the human lung. Research shows that smoking marijuana causes chronic bronchitis and marijuana smoke has been shown to injure the cell linings of the large airways, which could explain why smoking marijuana leads to symptoms such as chronic cough, phlegm production, wheeze and acute bronchitis. You can read an in-depth article here.
Research has found that vaping cannabis shows a greater number of unhealthy respiratory symptoms than if you just smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or vape e-cigarettes. Cigarettes and e-cigarettes are unhealthy and not good for lungs. However, vaping marijuana is even worse. Adolescents who reported vaping marijuana were roughly twice as likely to report “wheezing and whistling” in the chest than those who did not. Symptoms were: wheezing and whistling in the chest; sleep disturbed or speech limited due to wheezing; sounded wheezy during or after exercise; and dry cough at night not associated with chest illness or infection. In short, vaping of any kind can cause or contribute to lung disease. Some cases of the serious lung disease EVALI were linked to vaping CBD oil. CBD products are largely unregulated, so it's possible that the oils contain dangerous substances, as well.
When it comes to the question of whether it's safer to vape or smoke, it's a matter of degrees of danger. It's not safe to smoke or vape anything.
With nicotine-containing products, vaping may be safer than smoking. It involves fewer hazardous chemicals and results in less lung damage. Still, it's far from safe and can lead to nicotine addiction and potentially fatal lung disease.
With marijuana products, though, that doesn't appear to be the case.
Smoking marijuana harms your lungs, but vaping marijuana appears to be even worse.
What's more, vaping marijuana appears to be more dangerous than vaping or even smoking nicotine products.
Researchers were surprised to find that vaping marijuana was even worse than using e-cigarettes. Among adolescents, marijuana vaping was significantly more likely to cause symptoms of lung injury.
But the good news is, with careful dosing and precautions, there are tons of studies showing the massive benefits of cannabis! CBD benefits are proving to be much further reaching than ever imagined, and the positive scientific reports are coming in hot and heavy!
CHEMOTHERAPY
In adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, oral cannabinoids are effective antiemetics.
CHRONIC PAIN
In adults with chronic pain, patients who were treated with cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
In adults with multiple sclerosis (MS)-related spasticity, short-term use of oral cannabinoids improves patient-reported spasticity symptoms.
INFLAMMATION:
Cannabidiol (CBD) is showing massive benefits in treating pain and inflammation. CBD is a compound from the cannabis plant and comes in both topical and edible forms.
Although research is still in its early stages, people are increasingly using CBD as an alternative treatment for a variety of health conditions, including inflammation.
There are a few different kinds of cannabis, including Cannabis sativa.
Cannabis sativa contains over 400 different chemical compounds. Two of the best-known are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD.
Although THC is the cannabinoid that leads to the “high” feeling that many people associate with cannabis, research is showing that CBD can help ease inflammation, among other things.
Studies have found that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can help with the following conditions:
Alzheimer’s disease
multiple sclerosis
general pain
inflammatory conditions
inflammatory bowel diseases
cardiovascular diseases
CBD comes in many different forms. Some people may find that edibles (such as gummies and oral oils) work better for them, while others may find topical CBD (such as creams and massage oils) easier to use.
People should try different forms and concentrations to understand what works best for them.
CBD does not have the same side effects as other cannabinoids, such as THC.
However, there are some risks and side effects associated with CBD:
If a person uses CBD alongside other medications, such as valproate, it can increase the risk of liver damage
CBD can cause drowsiness and sleepiness
CBD can cause an allergic reaction in some people
That said, there are a number of CBD products available that cause few to no side effects. And, please make sure to purchase cannabis products from reputable dispensaries selling products that have been tested for authenticity and safety. Ask questions! If you need help finding the best products for your health situation, contact the front desk.
Due to the possibility of drug interactions, be sure to speak to me before trying CBD.
Click here for a great in-depth article on Cannabis for Inflammation!
SLEEP AID:
Around 70% of young adults that casually use cannabis report that they do so to help them sleep. Among long-term cannabis users (those who have been using it for 10 years or more), about half use cannabis to improve their sleep. Among people who use cannabis for medical reasons, such as pain relief, as many as 85% say it improves their sleep.
Research into cannabis as a sleep aid is still developing. Cannabis is showing to help relieve insomnia when used occasionally, though researchers are unsure whether long-term use is ultimately beneficial or detrimental for sleep quality.
I personally have used an edible gummy as a sleep aid when dealing with pain, or several nights in a row of unrestful sleep. In no way do I indulge more than once or twice a month.
Cannabis appears to improve sleep in certain cases. For people with certain conditions such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multiple sclerosis, cannabis may help them fall asleep faster, wake up less during the night, and enjoy better sleep quality overall. A recent study also found that cannabis effectively relieves symptoms for people with restless legs syndrome.
Many people use cannabis to self-treat insomnia, anxiety, and pain. Among these users, the effectiveness of cannabis for sleep is more ambivalent, though a study conducted on individuals with insomnia found that many participants reported relief from their symptoms when using cannabis.
Some studies have found a distinction between daily users and less frequent, non-daily users in how cannabis affects their sleep.
NOTE: Those who use cannabis daily are more likely to report more sleep problems than occasional users.
Due to its relaxing effects, indica may be considered the best cannabis strain for sleep. Used on a short-term basis, cannabis may help you fall asleep faster. Health professionals do not recommend using sleep aids, including cannabis, on a long-term basis, because of their potential to negatively impact your sleep quality and cause other side effects.
Studies suggest that people who use cannabis as a long-term sleep aid tend to develop a tolerance to its sedative effects, and may need to take more to obtain the same results. Heavy cannabis use, especially on a long-term basis, may have consequences for sleep, including:
Less sleep overall
Less time spent in deep sleep
Longer time to fall asleep
Frequent awakenings
Click here for a great in-depth article on Cannabis for Sleep!
SAFER WAYS TO CONSUME CANNABIS
The good news is, that you can use marijuana without either smoking or vaping. Where cannabis is legal, you can buy it in many different forms that are considered significantly safer. My advice, “Go Low in dosage and Slow in timing”!
EDIBLES:
To make edibles, cannabis extract oils or butter can be used to cook or bake any number of sweets, savory foods, or even beverages. No smoke means no risk to your lungs.
However, dosing can be tricky. It can take about two hours to notice an edible's effects. It's common for people to think the product isn't working and take more. That can lead to dangerous side effects.
So if you're using edibles, be patient and don't eat more while you're waiting.
SUBLINGUAL FORMS:
Several forms of cannabis products are used sublingually (under the tongue.)
Tinctures are alcohol-based cannabis extracts that are often cut with hemp oil or CBD oil. They can be just as potent as edibles, but kick in faster.
You put a few drops under your tongue and generally feel the effects within 20 minutes. Tinctures should come with a dropper that makes it easier to keep doses consistent.
Other sublingual forms include:
Mouth sprays
Dissolvable tablets
Strips or films
SUPPOSITORIES:
Suppositories are products designed to be inserted into the rectum or vagina, where they release the drug as they dissolve.
Rectal cannabis suppositories are sometimes used to treat:
Irritable bowel syndrome
Hemorrhoids
Constipation
Other digestive or urinary issues
Vaginal suppositories can also be used to treat:
Menstrual cramps
Endometriosis
A benefit of suppositories is that they don't get you high.
Any time you consume cannabis in an edible, sublingual, or suppository form, start with a low dose and be patient if you don't feel the effects right away. For sublinguals and suppositories, wait at least 20 minutes before taking more. For edibles, wait at least three hours.
The Bottom Line
So yes, I’m seeing massive positive benefits from studies of cannabis! IF, and only if, you take precautions and are careful….
The ton of research being done is supporting the use for cannabis for pain relief, inflammation, insomnia, MS and chemo-induced nausea/vomiting, among many other things.
Once again, please don’t go out and light up before researching the pro’s and con’s. AND, make sure to purchase cannabis products from reputable dispensaries selling products that have been tested for authenticity and safety. Ask questions! If you need help finding the best products for your health situation, contact the front desk.
Due to the possibility of drug interactions, be sure to speak to me before trying CBD.
Now that we live in a state where use of cannabis is legal, you need to carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks, and how they relate to your individual health before using this drug.
For example, while there is strong evidence to support the use for cannabis for pain relief, but you should certainly avoid cannabis if you have a history of mental health problems. To read more on the pros and cons of cannabis use, here’s a good article for more in-depth information.
We all want a quick fix to feel better when we don’t, and there are a multitude of tips and trends bombarding us daily on social media, TV ads, and making headlines.
But how do we know what’s true, and what’s just a scheme or fad? When it comes to health information, how do you separate fact from fiction?
Keep in mind that health tips are not always black and white. What may work for your neighbor or spouse, may not work for you. It’s important to realize that what may be “good” for someone else, may be “hazardous” for you, and vice versa.
Remember, if you haven’t used cannabis before, please speak to me before taking this new medicine.
Keep in mind that clinical studies can take (20) years to become scientifically published. This is why I’m sharing this information with you today and offer my help with your questions.
I hope that today’s newsletter has cleared up some of the confusing information out there; and that the Functional Medicine approach we use here in our offices can offer you clear insight as to your health options.
Feel free to come talk to us if you are having doubts or questions about your family’s health. We will give you the honest truth, and the clinical research that supports it.
Remember, the (5) Essentials we talk about at Ferguson Life Health Centers are…
Mindset
Nerve Supply
Nutrition
Exercise
Minimizing Toxins
There are NO LIMITS of what you can create, you are POWERFUL and there is nothing that you can not have or achieve! Believe in your power, believe in yourself and let go of what no longer serves you! ♡ Design your life, Create your reality…
This is life changing!
* * * * * * *