With cannabis is proven a safe, effective treatment for various illnesses, more patients are now opting for it over medicines. In fact, they are interested in learning about the anatomy of the plant, how it works, and how to use it right. Research says that the plant’s therapeutic potential is due to the presence of chemical compounds, called cannabinoids. The cannabinoids mimic certain neurotransmitters produced by the body.
Marijuana’s high depends on a range of factors, which should be carefully monitored. Read on to learn more about the topic.
Cannabis Provides Lots of Benefits
Marijuana is beneficial in treating many conditions, thus improving overall wellness. Research says that the herb can be used as an alternative treatment for chronic pain, anxiety disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s disease, etc.
Related- Fight These Mental Illnesses With Medical Marijuana Today
When you consume cannabis, the cannabinoids bind to receptors in the endocannabinoid system. This helps in regulating sleep, mood, memory, metabolism, etc. Medical studies have found that THC has a similar chemical structure as anandamide—a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating behavior, motivation, and pleasure.
What Influences Cannabis High?
Dosage
How much cannabis you consume influences the high. Additionally, it affects how long the high lasts. So, to get the right medicinal effects, you need to take the right amount of cannabis.
If you take low doses, you will not be able to hit the sweet spot. On the other hand, taking high doses can lead to severe side-effects. Cannabis overdose can cause confusion, anxiety, paranoia, and increased heart rate. So, make sure you dose marijuana optimally.
How to know the right dose for your condition? A simple formula is to start with a low dose and note the effects. Now, increase the dose step-by-step and see the effects. You can also create a journal noting down these details. This way, you can determine how much cannabis you should consume for anxiety relief, pain relief, boosting sleep, etc.
Delivery Method
Another important factor influencing high is how you deliver cannabis into the body. Smoking and vaping are the two most popular marijuana delivery methods, which involve heating the substance and inhaling cannabinoids. They provide instant medicinal effects.
But, when you eat marijuana, you have to wait for some time to feel the therapeutic effects of cannabis. Usually, the onset time of edibles is 30-90 minutes depending on the potency of the product consumed. The reason for that is—edibles are processed through the digestive system before reaching the bloodstream.
However, edibles containing high-levels of THC kick in faster. Additionally, edibles last longer than smoking or vaping. Thus, they are often preferred by patients with sleep problems or anxiety.
Tinctures and oils are absorbed sublingually and are perfect for measuring doses.
So, choose the method of cannabis consumption wisely.
Levels of Cannabinoids
Different cannabis compounds deliver different effects on the body and mind. For instance, THC offers strong euphoric effects while CBD helps in relaxing the mind. Combining THC and CBD can help you with an entourage effect. So, based on your condition, you can select marijuana strains with optimal levels of cannabinoids.
It’s important to learn how each cannabinoid affects your system. For this, you require some experimenting. After you know what works for you the best, you can find strains with the right ratio of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids.
Related- Is CBD The Answer to Aging Problems? Let’s Find Out
Terpenes
Terpenes are chemical compounds present in marijuana. They are responsible for the aroma and taste of cannabis and can directly impact the medicinal potential of the herb. The major factors influencing the development of terpenes are—climate, soil type, fertilizers used, etc.
There are more than 100 terpenes, each having a different aroma and medicinal properties. For instance, limonene has a citrus aroma and is perfect for stress relief and mood boost. According to a 2013 study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, limonene demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antidepressant properties on rodent models.
So, along with checking the cannabinoid profile, you should check terpene levels when buying cannabis products from the dispensary.
Tolerance
It may vary from one consumer to another. For instance, if your friend gets pain relief after smoking a joint, you may smoke less or more to receive the same effects. This is because your friend & you have different tolerance levels.
What affects tolerance? There are many factors. The common ones are—how often do you smoke cannabis, since when have you been smoking, your age, and body chemistry. A 2007 study was focused on evaluating the association between age and marijuana’s effects. Researchers concluded that adolescent rats were able to tolerate cannabis much better than their adult counterparts. Additionally, adult participants showed some signs of anxiety and stress.
So, it’s necessary to evaluate how much or how little to consume, especially when you are smoking cannabis with your friends with different tolerances.
Environment
Where do you consume cannabis matters. Smoking the same strain at two different places will provide you different experiences. Additionally, your mood before using marijuana affects high. You are less likely to enjoy the smoking session if you are anxious about the kind of effects you are going to experience.
So, next time, when you have amazing cannabis experience, note down everything from the environment to your mood along with the cannabinoid profile, dosage, and consumption method.
Enjoy Marijuana’s Therapeutic Effects
So, these are some important factors that play an important role in how marijuana high affects you. It’s not easy to receive the desired effects of cannabis consumption. Do more experiments, determine how cannabis affects your body and mind, and find the right way to use it.
Before you use cannabis for medical purposes, make sure you have a medical cannabis card. It ensures that you are a valid medical marijuana patient who can access state-licensed dispensaries to buy high-potency products. Other benefits of an MMJ card are—tax saving, age relaxation, and legal permission to grow marijuana plants for personal use.
If you don’t have an MMJ card, you can apply it online. It’s very simple-
- Sign up an account
- See a doctor online through HIPAA-compliant software
- Receive your MMJ recs via email
As per the Farm Bill of 2018, hemp-derived CBD products are legal across the United States. However, hemp should contain no more than 0.3 percent THC and must be grown by licensed growers. CBD products containing more than 0.3 percent THC will be considered as marijuana. And, you require a medical marijuana card to use them legally.
Conclusion
To use cannabis for managing pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, Alzheimer’s disease, or other medical purposes, it’s important to learn how your system responds to cannabinoids. Different cannabinoids work differently. For instance, THC provides medicinal effects by binding to CB1 receptors in the brain.
There are many factors influencing high, such as dosage, method of consumption, strains, age, tolerance, terpene levels, etc. Experiment with different combinations and see what works well for you. Talk to your doctor to evaluate your symptoms and seek professional advice on how to use cannabis to improve your health.
Apply for 420 evaluations to access medical marijuana legally.