Don't assume smoking is the only way to consume cannabis
I've learned to start most conversations about my experience with medical cannabis with these words, "First of all, I don't smoke it." I've gotten into lengthy discussions advocating for legal medical cannabis feeling the tension from the other side until I clarify that I take cannabis oils sublingually (under my tongue). Once I say this, usually there is a moment of relief from the other person who seems to listen more openly about what I have to say. Funny how the method of delivery of cannabis makes that much difference to the others when smoking tobacco for the addictive nicotine doesn't put people in this much alarm. They wouldn't have the same objection if I said I smoke tobacco. Strange. But, I will not put down those patients who seem to get the most benefit from smoking cannabis. There are people in which this is the case.
This issue of whether one smokes cannabis or takes it another way is an issue though. Any opposition I have dealt with uses the side effects of smoking anything as their proof that cannabis is bad for you. Just look at any research against cannabis. It most often will state that there can be lung issues or other problems related to smoking it, but they make blanket statements only based on intaking cannabis through smoking and applying to all methods of taking cannabis.
So, once I learned myself that most people who use cannabis medically don't smoke it, I became curious and learned through my own questions. As a medical cannabis consumer, I was searching for solid evidence in how the pain relief I had found could have more potential for my health in general and how it might help my Multiple Sclerosis.
Because cannabis is illegal in most states, the information out there online can be confusing. Much of it is geared towards the recreational consumer who is looking for much more basic info. I personally had a hard time getting the right type of info and I was often not sure of the accuracy. The following is a list of the lessons I learned when I had questions in the order in which I learned them as a new medical cannabis oil patient. Hopefully, this saves you some time for doing the searching I had to do:
You may have these same questions:
Because cannabis is illegal in most states, the information out there online can be confusing. Much of it is geared towards the recreational consumer who is looking for much more basic info. I personally had a hard time getting the right type of info and I was often not sure of the accuracy. The following is a list of the lessons I learned when I had questions in the order in which I learned them as a new medical cannabis oil patient. Hopefully, this saves you some time for doing the searching I had to do:
You may have these same questions:
Lesson 1. I think I know what THC is, but what is CBD?
CBD is short for Cannabidiol. (kan-i-bi-die-ol) - Take a minute and pronounce it correctly. Can i bi die ol. It will be important one day when you are describing its benefits to someone else. You lose credibility if you can't pronounce it, just warning you. I've witnessed it.
Now, most people know what THC is...right? That's the stuff in cannabis that makes people high or give the euphoric feeling recreational consumers are primarily after. It's probably better to not try to say the word THC stands for, but here it is just for fun. Tetrahydrocannabinol. Be careful. The last part of it is not cannabidiol...it's cannabiNOL. Tetra-hydro-cannab-in-ol.
CBD or cannabidiol is another component in cannabis that does not make people 'high.' However, it helps with a lot of symptoms like neuropathic pain, spasticity, and tremors for me. These are symptoms of MS that are difficult for doctors to treat with other medications. People say that it has more benefits than I've listed, but I can only speak from my own experience.
Lesson 2. Ok, so if you don't smoke or vape it, consuming it in oil seems to be the way. But, why is it in oil?
The chemicals in cannabis like CBD are fat soluble which means they are absorbed best along with fats in our diet and can be stored in the body's fatty tissue. This is why you hear about baked goods with cannabis as a popular delivery method and old school cannabis consumers baked it in brownies. It's the fat in the baked goods that help the cannabis be absorbed into your body. There are vitamins that are fat soluble too like vitamin A, D, E, and K. It's just how our bodies process some things efficiently.
Lesson 3. There are so many places on the Internet that advertise CBD oil, how can I trust what I get is safe to consume, free from harmful chemicals and actually contains CBD oil in the strength I should have?
This is a lesson I continue to explore on my own. It's what led me to ask questions, talk to experts, and join the fight to speak up for legalization. I have tried several brands so far, but I have found CW Hemp Everyday Advanced is what works for me the best so far. I don't get any kick backs nor do I sell this product, but I've learned about the product through other cannabis oil patients I trust. I trust the Stanley Brothers story in how when they were asked to make a cannabis oil to help a little girl named Charlotte Figi with Epilepsy, they did and ended up naming the oil after her - Charlotte's Web. Their website shows all the science and purity in their brand. You can see for yourself here. One thing to keep in mind wherever you decide to get CBD oil is to have access to testing stats. If the CBD oil company can provide you with the testing stats for the oil they are selling you, then this is a sign they follow some protocols of efficacy and purity.
Lesson 4. CBD oil is claimed to help with everything from headaches to cancer, so how can this be anything but a snake oil?
This is one question I started to wonder until I started to read about the Endocannabinoid System from trusted sources like Dr. Sulak in this explanation. https://healer.com/the-endocannabinoid-system/ It makes a lot of sense how CBD oil can help so many problems because it works at the cellular level with the communication and coordination of our cells. I believe there needs to be more research done because cannabis has more potential than we know currently.
I'll continue to add more lessons here, but here is a list of links I trust that I have found helpful in my curiosity.
CBD is short for Cannabidiol. (kan-i-bi-die-ol) - Take a minute and pronounce it correctly. Can i bi die ol. It will be important one day when you are describing its benefits to someone else. You lose credibility if you can't pronounce it, just warning you. I've witnessed it.
Now, most people know what THC is...right? That's the stuff in cannabis that makes people high or give the euphoric feeling recreational consumers are primarily after. It's probably better to not try to say the word THC stands for, but here it is just for fun. Tetrahydrocannabinol. Be careful. The last part of it is not cannabidiol...it's cannabiNOL. Tetra-hydro-cannab-in-ol.
CBD or cannabidiol is another component in cannabis that does not make people 'high.' However, it helps with a lot of symptoms like neuropathic pain, spasticity, and tremors for me. These are symptoms of MS that are difficult for doctors to treat with other medications. People say that it has more benefits than I've listed, but I can only speak from my own experience.
Lesson 2. Ok, so if you don't smoke or vape it, consuming it in oil seems to be the way. But, why is it in oil?
The chemicals in cannabis like CBD are fat soluble which means they are absorbed best along with fats in our diet and can be stored in the body's fatty tissue. This is why you hear about baked goods with cannabis as a popular delivery method and old school cannabis consumers baked it in brownies. It's the fat in the baked goods that help the cannabis be absorbed into your body. There are vitamins that are fat soluble too like vitamin A, D, E, and K. It's just how our bodies process some things efficiently.
Lesson 3. There are so many places on the Internet that advertise CBD oil, how can I trust what I get is safe to consume, free from harmful chemicals and actually contains CBD oil in the strength I should have?
This is a lesson I continue to explore on my own. It's what led me to ask questions, talk to experts, and join the fight to speak up for legalization. I have tried several brands so far, but I have found CW Hemp Everyday Advanced is what works for me the best so far. I don't get any kick backs nor do I sell this product, but I've learned about the product through other cannabis oil patients I trust. I trust the Stanley Brothers story in how when they were asked to make a cannabis oil to help a little girl named Charlotte Figi with Epilepsy, they did and ended up naming the oil after her - Charlotte's Web. Their website shows all the science and purity in their brand. You can see for yourself here. One thing to keep in mind wherever you decide to get CBD oil is to have access to testing stats. If the CBD oil company can provide you with the testing stats for the oil they are selling you, then this is a sign they follow some protocols of efficacy and purity.
Lesson 4. CBD oil is claimed to help with everything from headaches to cancer, so how can this be anything but a snake oil?
This is one question I started to wonder until I started to read about the Endocannabinoid System from trusted sources like Dr. Sulak in this explanation. https://healer.com/the-endocannabinoid-system/ It makes a lot of sense how CBD oil can help so many problems because it works at the cellular level with the communication and coordination of our cells. I believe there needs to be more research done because cannabis has more potential than we know currently.
I'll continue to add more lessons here, but here is a list of links I trust that I have found helpful in my curiosity.
https://www.safeaccessnow.org/
Americans for Safe Access is a national organization formed to advanced legal medical cannabis therapeutics through lobbying for legislation. Their website has information for specific illnesses and how cannabis can help with "Condition Based Booklets" and "How to talk to your doctor."
Project CBD is a non-profit in California created to give a non-biased look at the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids. I look for a lot of my information on websites like this because they are not trying to sell me their product nor are they promoting recreational cannabis. There are a lot of articles on this site for medical cannabis education.
https://wakeandbake.co/cannabis-dosing-not-a-one-size-fits-all-solution/
- A great place to learn more about CBD. She is in Canada, so all cannabis is legal for her, but I love the site. It makes me think of her as the Martha Stewart of cannabis.
Healer.com
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