Welcome, stoner. I’m Doctor High. In this article, our topic is none other than the source of my…enlightenment. That gift from nature that takes you up but never brings you down. Our very own holy grail. Weed.
Now, whether you’ve just begun your canna journey, or you are one of many curious chaps, this article will give you everything you need. If you have questions about this particular controversial plant, fret not. I will give you as much clarity as I can.
What is Weed?
Weed, also referred to as cannabis or marijuana, has been an integral part of human civilizations for millennia. Both as a medicine and as a recreational substance, cannabis is the most popular illicit drug in the world.
Today, the legal landscape that has prohibited marijuana for much of the twentieth century is giving way to decriminalization and full legalization. Legal, commercial cannabis businesses are already making an enormous economic impact.
Thus, marijuana is re-emerging as an important cultural, social, and political force. Yet knowledge about the drug remains incomplete, inconsistent, and plagued by false information. As a result, the demand for trustworthy, accurate information about cannabis is at an all-time high.
So this is it about weed: all you need to know.
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Preparation of Weed
While the preparation of cannabis and its final products come in many forms, the one I will discuss today is the most ubiquitous form of prepared cannabis. With the dried and cured flowers of female cannabis plants.
The flowering portions of the marijuana plant contain the richest concentrations of terpenes and cannabinoids, the most desirable compounds of the plant for medical and recreational marijuana users.
How People Consume Weed
Now I will discuss the various ways people consume this special plant. You might be surprised to learn that smoking is not the only form of consumption.
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Smoking
Of course, this tops the list, and for good reason. If cannabis was a celebrity, smoking would be their manager. So famous is this practice that, despite health concerns, it is the fastest and most enjoyable method of consuming weed.
Smoking marijuana is hands down the most widely used method of consuming cannabis. It’s also the simplest: a rolling paper and some dried marijuana flowers are all you need. And for many people, the social experience of passing weed around with some friends is what cannabis is all about.
Vaping
In many ways, venty vaporizer vaping cannabis has quite a bit in common with the process of vaping tobacco, such as the use of e-cigarette batteries and heating elements.
It’s easy to see why vaping has become such a popular method for consuming marijuana. The method is remarkably discrete and produces none of the telltale “weed smells” that often betray cannabis users.
Vape pens and other hand-held devices are portable and convenient. They’re free of many of the harsh marijuana plant compounds that can harm your lung health, like tars. And companies are getting better at crafting high-quality, flavorful vape cartridges with a wide array of cannabinoid profiles.
Edibles
From the old standby of the “special brownie” to advanced gastropub techniques, culinary cannabis has attracted amateur and professional “cannachefs” alike.
Eating cannabis, however, does not involve simply ingesting dried marijuana flowers. Instead, the process involves activating and then extracting THC and other cannabinoids from ground marijuana flower using fatty substances like oils and, well, fat.
After decarboxylation, which is the process of “activating” marijuana’s cannabinoids with heat, THC and other cannabinoids become soluble in fats. Hence the enduring power of the pot brownie; the fats in chocolate and butter excel at sucking up the cannabinoids in the marijuana plant matter.
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Effects of Weed On Areas of the Body
The effects of weed on the human body are complex and incompletely understood. Most of the perceptible side effects of marijuana use are a result of the body’s reaction to the psychoactive THC cannabinoid. THC stimulates specific psychological responses generally, but not always, associated with euphoria and relaxation.
The results of a major, long-term study into marijuana use and lung health reveal no substantive link between cannabis use and respiratory diseases like lung cancer. Additionally, lifelong marijuana users had no significantly increased risk of breathing problems.
Scientists simply do not know the overall impact of marijuana on cardiovascular health. However, they do agree that its use increases the heart rate anywhere from 20 to 50 beats per minute for up to 3 hours. Other studies have indicated links between marijuana use and increased blood pressure and hypertension. However, these findings were contradicted by further studies.
Multiple studies have also concluded that the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD imparts the significant neuroprotective effects of marijuana. This effect can shield nerve cells from damage and deterioration, making medical marijuana a promising drug for treating a range of neurological diseases.
The relationship between marijuana use and mental health is not fully understood. On the one hand, research suggests that cannabis can help treat certain mood disorders. The effects of marijuana use on memory and cognition may also help patients suffering from PTSD forget traumatic memories.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Weed
They love it. People love it.
In a sense, because we are designed to love it. Depending on who you ask, the plant has either evolved to react to our bodies, or our bodies have evolved to react to the cannabis plant.
Each of us has a network of receptors called the “endocannabinoid system,” located in our brain and throughout the nervous system. Turns out that the compounds in the cannabis plant “turn on” this system—and that our bodies produce similar compounds that also activate these receptors.
These receptors regulate mood, appetite, and sleep cycles, as well as manage pain and alter our perception. Most people, if you haven’t noticed, seriously like to alter their reality, whether it’s to eliminate pain or suffering, achieve a state of bliss, help go to sleep, or just change the channel of life for a moment.
Not really. Your body produces endocannabinoids so you are likely full of THC all the time.
Your body makes endocannabinoids, which serve the same functions as phytocannabinoids, which are found in plants.
More FAQs regarding weed
Don’t take my word for it. Take a look at what’s been dug up by GW Pharmaceuticals, the British drug company blowing up the NASDAQ after its cannabis-derived drug had success treating kids with epilepsy. Not marijuana smoking, mind you, but doses of highly concentrated cannabis oil have, anecdotally at least, helped cancer patients also pursuing a modern Western treatment heal more quickly.
Smoking is probably the worst thing about cannabis, since it can damage the lungs. But even that damage is supposed to be reversible and is not linked to major, long-lasting respiratory illnesses like COPD or lung cancer the way cigarette smoking is. That said, scientists insist that marijuana smoke does cause harm, and if you’re smoking 10 joints a day, you’re probably hurting something.
Right now, there’s little science as to the long-term effects of heavy use of cannabis concentrates.
A Final Word From Battabox
Well, look at the time. I guess that’s a wrap on weed. If you didn’t get that joke, that’s on you. Whether or not you should acquaint yourself with weed is not a decision we can make for you. Like all things, there are pros and cons. the key is finding what works for you.
If you have any questions, post them below. You can also check the video below on what Nigerians think of weed:
