Tuesday, November 20, 2018

CBD, THC, Hemp, Marijuana - Where I Stand -

YES - I'm beginning this is with a loud YES, I am in support of medical marijuana, which includes Hemp, Marijuana, and the derivatives extracted from these plants, namely CBD and THC.

I didn't take when I had cancer, but I wish it had been available; I would have gladly welcomed CBD into my medical tool box. With that said, CBD oil has a place in my tool box now - sleeplessness, anxiety, and nerve pain are all a part of my daily repertoire, and I am grateful for these plants and their medicinal value.

Below is a short tutorial I have created based on hours of research - which includes medical, pharmaceutical, popular, and valued patient resources. I think it's pretty basic and inclusive. As well as education, I have listed reading and accessing resources. 

(My disclaimer - this is information I have gleaned, and I am not liable for information you glean from this or for the resources I have chosen to list that you may choose to access in any way.) 

CBD Fact Sheet
As legal use of marijuana grows, it is important to understand the medical benefits and medicinal qualities of marijuana, particularly the difference between CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). These are 2 compounds found in marijuana.

CBD comes from primarily the hemp plant. THC comes from marijuana. THC is the psychoactive compound that provides the “high.” Both interact with the body’s own endocannabinoid system, with different effects. However, they both have the exact same chemical structure, although their arrangement means they each have a different impact on the body, particularly with the neurotransmitters in the brain (responsible for transmitting messages between brain and body cells). With that said, below is a simple graph explaining CBD and THC.

CBD                                                                                                        THC
Hemp (Can produce a minute amount of THC), no more than 0.3% THC
Marijuana (Average strain has 15% THC; although marijuana sold on the street is typically 2-5%)
Non-psychoactive (No High)
Psychoactive (High)
Suppresses
Enhances
Legal in all states
Legal in 29 states + DC for medical, 9+ DC for personal use
Typical ratio is 10 parts CBD
To 1 part THC
Used for: seizures, inflammation, pain, nausea, migraines, depression, anxiety (does not increase appetite)
Used for: pain, muscle spasms (not seizures), insomnia, appetite enhancement, nausea, anxiety
Available in: gels, gummies, oils, supplements, vap
Available in: edibles, tinctures, capsules, oils, “weed”
Reactions: Zero to drug-to-drug interactions with medications
Reactions: Increased heart rate, coordination, dry mouth, red eyes, slow motor abilities, memory loss. Also increases risk of psychiatric disorders.
Stored in the body’s fat; can show on a drug test for several days or weeks after use.
Stored in the body’s fat; can show on a drug test for several days or weeks after use.
Considered safe when used properly
Considered safe when used properly

Buying CBD and THC:
Anyone can purchase hemp-derived CBD products, yet marijuana-derived CBD and THC products can only be purchased from a dispensary (online or shop). Whether hemp or marijuana based, CBD is CBD is CBD. Just a simple web-search for “CBD to purchase” brings up more than 45 million results. So, be careful. The best way to find credible sources is to glean information from friends and family, and of course, your healthcare provider. Make sure your healthcare provider knows you are using/interested in CBD.

In order to get the correct compound for your needs, you will need to understand the strength and concentration of the product as well as other additives (terpenes: https://greencamp.com/terpenes, essences, oils) to the compound. Oils, edibles, topicals, and e-vap are the most popular forms of CBD compounds.

Some things to be aware of when looking for a product are:
1.       Marketing of Rick Simpson Oil (RSO). This oil cannot be purchased. It can be made at home, growing a particular strain of cannabis and following a rigorous step-by-step process (more about RSO can be found on Simpson’s YouTube documentary, “Run From the Cure”). Rick Simpson does not sell his product, and Simpson oil are not associated with any organization that sells “Rick Simpson Oil.”
2.       Ratio of CBD to THC, and CBD to a base product, whether oil or sugar or ethanol, and if topical, is there an emulsifier added.
3.       There are many folks getting on the band-wagon of marketing and selling CBD products. Do your research. Pricing is not always an indication of quality.

Sources for further education:
Cannabinoid Clinical, cannabinoidclinical.com
National Cancer Institute, cancer.gov, “Cannabis and Cannabinoids”
Leafly.com
CBD Reviews, ravereviews.org, “Best CBD Oil”
Differences between CBD and THC, echoconnection.org
Primer on CBD: Projectcbd.org
Primer on CBD/Hemp: zatural.com
Primer on Marijuana: honestmarijuana.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ygtX2nyexo – David Casarett TED Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bZb10ZxpBk The Inside Story of Cannabidiol – What are the Benefits of CBD?

Products and resources we would recommend, if we could:
Nuleafnaturals.com
Canna Trading Company, cannatrading.co
Foria Wellness, foriawellness.com
Charlotte’s Web (oldest dispensary in Colorado; expensive, potent, produced by the Stanley Brothers) cwhemp.com, stanleybrothers.co
https://www.purecbdvapors.com – variety of products

Gummies – 10mg CBD with .57 THC – Pioneer Squares; Craft Elixirs; http://craftelixirs.com/products.html#edibles  Purchase in person in WA
                Liberty Lixir – 1 oz. High CBD Tincture; 1 pump is 2.2 grams   https://libertylotion.com/
                Revive –  https://kannaway.com/revve-p-m-restore-and-recharge/
                http://greenhorizen.com/
                Alammi Tobacco Shop, PG, UT (801-796-8888) – variety of products


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