Cannabis effects and the body

How does marijuana affect ones health and body?

Now that medical marijuana is becoming legal all around the world we should take a closer look at the effects of weed on your health, there are many positive benefits to this wonder herb with just a few negative ones.

It’s important to know that the effects of marijuana differ from person to person though we have seen through research that the majority of marijuana users in California have benefitted from the use of this “wonder herb” even through many of these users still to this day expose themselves to the harmful toxins that are found when combustion is used, anything that lights the plant on fire creates respiratory irritants. Luckily vaporizing has hit the main stream. Vaporizing appears to be a much safer and healthier way of consuming your herb, with reduced carbon monoxide, fewer toxic hydrocarbons and lower temperatures we find that vaporizing drastically reduces tar and other toxins found in smoke inhalation, and while there is no evidence to suggest any health risks associated with vaporizing there has been some concern regarding the additives used in some of the vape pen cartridges as well as cheap plastics that may release toxic chemicals when heated at high temperatures. Both of these cautions can be avoided by the use of more quality vaporizers as well as avoiding the pre-packed cartridges.

So far research indicates people who use marijuana have reported better overall health conditions especially those who use it to treat pain and other medical conditions. A study done in 2013 indicated 92% of medical marijuana patients surveyed in California reported this wonder herb worked with improving conditions such as arthritis, migraine, chronic pain and even cancer.

Heath benefits of marijuana:

The list of benefits is just about endless, from pain, to nausea to multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, glaucoma, Parkinson’s to treatment of cancer this truly is a miracle herb. It controls epileptic seizures by binding to the brain cells responsible for controlling excitability and regulating relaxation. Marijuana slows the formation of amyloid plaques, which is toxic to the neurons in the brain causing Alzheimer’s.

The moment you inhale the vapor a flood of plant-based anti anxiety compounds travel through the blood stream and into your brain resulting in relaxation and euphoria, within minutes of smoking you will be able to breathe a huge sigh of relief – smiling instantly! For a more in depth explanation on how to medicate yourself, have a look at this post from Grant or the one from Mary-Jane…on our Blog section.

Cannabis has been found to increase the lung capacity and help reverse the carcinogenic effects of tobacco all the while improving lung health. The cannabinoids found in marijuana seem to help the gut regulate bacteria and intestinal function treating inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease from significantly reducing symptoms to complete remission in some cases.

Effects you can experience almost immediately; enhanced sensory experiences, laughter, creativity, euphoria and bliss. It increases the activity in the frontal lobe and the ability to connect abstract thoughts, the reason so many famous artists use the plant. And let’s be honest there is nothing more pleasing than sitting back after a long days work and unwinding with a bit of cannabis.

Here is a list of some of the known medical benefits of cannabis:

• Insomnia
• Epilepsy
• Huntington’s disease
• Chronic pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Glaucoma
• Eczema
• Parkinson’s
• PTSD
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Cancer
• Dravet’s Syndrome
• Improves symptoms of an autoimmune disorder, Lupus
• Marijuana protects the brain after a stroke and from concussions and trauma.

While this list is ever expanding there are some more superficial benefits as well like, lowering ones BMI (Body Mass Index) even though marijuana is known to increase appetite stimulation it also kicks the metabolism into overdrive. The nutrient such as CBD is also a powerful anti-oxidant relieving oxidative damage as well as being anti-aging as it protects against DNA damage.

Now it’s not without its cautions, due to the fact that the active ingredients acts in the part of the brain called hippocampus altering the way information is processed and how memories are formed, it has shown to effect short term memory, this is especially true while the brain is still developing – hence the legal age of 21. Studies suggest that those who use marijuana in early adulthood are less likely to have impaired cognitive functions even after using the drug for many years.

Another cautions is that marijuana should not be mixed with alcohol, the effects are intense and not in a good way. With Alcohol in your system THC is not only absorbed quicker but you get a much stronger effect, while this may sound like a good thing it certainly isn’t – especially for those who do not have a build up tolerance to marijuana. When the two are combined they have known to have the “Greenies” effect meaning the user experiences extreme nausea and vomiting, they go pale and sweaty with intense dizzy spells. In cases with more vulnerable people, psychotic symptoms, panic attacks, anxiety as well as paranoia can be experienced. Combining the two will worsen the effects of alcohol.

Some of the negative effects that can be experienced are:

• Altered senses
• Dizziness and Fatigue
• Reduced co-ordination
• Cognitive impairment
• Anxiety, Panic and Paranoia
• Mood alterations
• Blood pressure and increased heart rate
• Dry mouth
• Red eyes
• Blurred vision
• Cough

Although most of these are caused when the herb is overused or abused, the fact is that due to this herb being illegal, users never quite know exactly what active compounds are in the cannabis they are using. It has also been said that some if not all of these negatives are due to the fact that users are inhaling other toxins and other by-products because of the method in which they consume the herb ie: combustion.
Choosing a safer and healthier method when consuming your favorite strain will lessen if not eliminate most of these negatives.

In conclusion I say that the benefits way outweigh the negatives and when used properly this wonder herb can change and improve the lives of many curing disease and protecting the brain. This is no drug, it is herb grown from nature to help and assist in many ways.

Personally I have used this herb for many years with the only negatives being dry mouth, red eyes and the occasional sleepiness as this would depend on what strain you are using.

So for now, be wise vaporize and choose your bud carefully.

Take care my happy fellows
Mary Jane – Vape Store