CBD and Addiction

Cannabidiol or CBD is something that comes with a lot of research, and applications. Here, we’ll discuss how it can help with possibly combatting addiction. It’s a fascinating and powerful part of us, and it’s something that definitely is a big issue for plenty of people. But let’s look at it from a different perspective. How can CBD assist with this? Let’s find out. 

What addiction is 

It’s basically compulsive behavior and doing something even though you may not want to, but you’re not able to stop it. Spending money too much, doing something on instinct without realizing it, continuing behaviors not good for you, getting cravings from this, and even making excuses are all signs of it. Sometimes, it’s triggered because your brain’s reward mechanisms are releasing dopamine, so they will definitely trigger these points, making it easier for you to get addicted for the long-term. 

Can CBD Help though? 

Does it have any place in treating substance abuse disorders, where you have to compulsively have a substance, much to the problems that come with it? Well, so far all the studies are in their early stages, so it’s too early to discuss what CBD may play in the realm of addiction. But the research is becoming stronger than ever, and it does have a variety of applications, including interactions to the way the addictive system works. 

The role of this is definitely complex, and it does offer a lot of different systems, including dopamine, dopaminergic systems, and even the serotonin that works with addiction. It can possibly impact these, interacting with your receptors in order to create more beneficial effects. Some of the different disorders that are there, which you can combat through the use of CBD, include the following: 

• Cocaine 

• Tobacco 

• Alcohol 

• Meth

• Heroin or opiates 

• Cannabis or THC 

This is something that definitely plays a huge part in your dopaminergic system, and it can help with creating neurogenesis along with neuroprotection, helping your brain fight off those addictive properties. There is serotonin as well, which is something that’s a bi neurotransmitter and is responsible for sociability and happiness and is playing a major role in addiction as well. 

It’s something that animals deal with, where they don’t get enough serotonin, and it can cause addictive behaviors to form, and that reversing this may make those who are more susceptible to addiction less as a result of this. 

Some studies have found that the serotonin reuptake and the inhibiting of this is a big part of combatting addiction, since it can reduce both anxiety and stress, two major triggers that play a role in addiction, so it’s something that’s not only serotonergic, but it also may help with the way the neurotransmitters work. It also will modulate your dopamine response. It may play a role in the CB1 and CB2 receptors, along with the TRPV1 receptors, which are all constantly being looked at in a relationship to CBD. 

Currently the findings aren’t totally there, but it’s something that could be used to modulate, and play a good role in managing, along with overcoming various addictions. Is it safe though? In general, it’s pretty safe, to the point where even the FDA has drugs with it that are approved for treatment of conditions, which in turn involve CBD. We don’t know if there are super long-term effects, but so far, the results are promising, safe, and looking better than ever. CBD may play a role in the future of a person’s health and wellness, and right now, we have to wait and see the bigger picture.

Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid Strains - What You Need to Know

When it comes to using marijuana for the first time, it can be a little bit overwhelming. It seems like there are a million different products and strains available at any given dispensary. How on earth are you going to choose the right one? Well, as the United States’ acceptance of medical marijuana continues to grow, medical patients have better resources in figuring out the difference between marijuana strains and which ones are best for them. 

There is a lot to know about different strains of cannabis, especially now that there are well over 700 strains that have been developed and introduced in the North American market. If you are looking for a little bit of insight into how strains work and some of the things you need to know about them, then you have come to the right place, my friend. 

Today, I wanted to take some time out of my busy schedule to write a beginners guide to sativa, indica, and hybrid strains. If you did not already know, those three categories are basically what every type of marijuana strain will fall into. It is important to know the difference between strains and how they can affect and benefit you, whether you are a medical weed user.

So firstly, let’s talk about sativa. Sativa strains are most generally associated with what is called a “head high”. This type of marijuana strain is great for increasing energy levels and focus, which makes them a popular choice for daytime and social use. Say you are going to a concert with some friends and want to light up a joint beforehand - in that case, sativa is the way to go. Sativa users usually experience lighter and happier moods, euphoric highs, and increased levels of creativity and thought. 

However, sativa strains can also cause some unwanted side effects in some patients, specifically things like rapid heart beat, anxiety, and even insomnia. It is best to not take any sativa cannabis before you try to go to bed, since you will likely experience racing thoughts and increased energy levels. 

There are certain medical benefits for sativa strains specifically, especially for people that tend to lose focus or motivation. Sativa strains have been used by patients with ADHD and ADD due to the way it lowers their symptoms and increases focus. When using sativa, make sure that you are careful with how much you smoke and the specific strain that you use. Popular sativa strains include Sour Diesel, Durban Poison, Lemon Haze, Green Crack, and Panama Red.

Indica strains differ from sativa strains in a lot of ways. Primarily, the type of high that one experiences from an indica strain is less of a head high and more of a body high. Indica strains are great for a night at home when you want to relax on the couch or head to bed early. This type of marijuana will leave your body feeling warm and tingly, and it’s almost impossible to find an uncomfortable position on the couch after smoking enough indica. 

Most people use indica strains at night due to how relaxing and calming they are - you will definitely want to fall asleep early. Indica strains also have a lot of great medical benefits, especially when it comes to reducing stress and anxiety. Since indica helps people to relax, many patients use it to reduce their pain levels before going to bed which can help people with insomnia. Popular indica strains include Hindu Kush, Granddaddy Purple, Northern Lights, and White Widow.

When it comes to picking the right strain, I suggest picking a hybrid of the two. Hybrids are great because they combine both sativa and indica, making for a great mix of body and head highs.

When Should I take CBD Oil?

CBD oil is something that works in certain times of day, and it’s something that does work better based on when you take it. Here, you’ll learn about the best time to take CBD oil, and what it means if you take it in different time periods. 

The best Time 

The best time is pretty much determined based on when you’re taking it. If you’re taking this to help with stress and anxiety, or with stress and pain before you start the day, then early on in the morning may be better for you. If you’re taking this to improve your sleep, then do it at night for the best results that you can get from this. 

This is cool though since it can be taken whenever you want, but the best thing to remember is that the way you take it does depend on the  type of means, so also keep that in mind too. For example, if you’re taking this as a tincture, you can place this underneath your tongue, and you’ll feel the effects in around 15-30 minutes, as it gets absorbed there. This then gets absorbed into your blood stream and it can clast up to 6-8 hours in some cases, but usually, it’s about two or three hours. 

If you do drink cannabis beverages, it can sometimes work a bit faster, depending on if you decide to have it go under the tongue first. Edibles take a lot longer to cause effects, since they need to go to the liver, and from there get metabolized. The effects of this do peak after a few hours but can last almost 12 hours in some cases. The best way to consume this does depend on whether or not you need this to quickly be done, or if you want to get long-term effects from this as well. 

The times of day and their benefits 

Morning is sometimes a good time if you need that little burst of energy, since it can improve the synthesis of proteins within the brain, and help you wake up. If you have chronic pain, this is a great way to handle chronic pain in a person. It also may offer pain relief regardless of the time to take it, but for those who have pain in the morning, it can impact the day time. 

If you have anxiety though, you can of course use this to help, since this can relief the feelings of anxiety that you have, allowing you to feel better, a lot more relaxed, and able to handle the day as you continue. 

Morning does have some drawbacks though, especially if you take a lot.  If you have a ton, it may cause sedative results from this, but usually, it’s not totally apparent. 

As for the afternoon, this is good for relieving stress, is a natural antidepressant, and it improves the energy and the brain health. However, in the afternoon it can cause a bit of fatigue, your appetite get reduced and diarrhea. 

As for nighttime, CBD is best for those who use it to unwind. It does have the sedative effects too, but the drawback to this, is that you do need to take a lot. Too little, and it’ll wake you up. CBD is also considered a powerful muscle relaxant, which helps and offers benefits to allow you to fall asleep in a better, easier way. 

However you take it is ultimately your call, and there are tons of great ways for you to get the health benefits that you desire through the use of CBD as well.

Cannabis for epilepsy Treatments

Since there is a lot of emerging research on cannabis as an alternative for a lot of medicines in the world, a lot of people are looking to see if cannabis can help with other ailments. One of the disorders that they’re looking at is epilepsy, and it’s something that may not be treated just with cannabis, but a combination of the cannabinoids inside is helpful too. CBD does offer great chances for this to help with epilepsy treatment, and it’s actually shown to have a really good role in the treatment of this recently. While science is still looking at this, cannabis for various epilepsy conditions might be powerful enough to treat various epilepsy conditions, prevent seizures, and help with a lot of problems that may not otherwise be there. 

What is It 

Epilepsy is considered a neurological condition which means that there is abnormal brain composition, including weird behaviors, awareness loss, and other sensations that may be there. It also is characterized as well by the repetitive intensities of the seizures, all of which are caused by disturbances in certain parts of the circulatory system of the brain, and that in turn creates too much electricity. About 1 in 26 people get this at some point, and about 2/3 of people that have it don’t seem to have a reason for this. 

There are over 30% of deaths that happen with this too, especially amongst children, and epilepsy is the major cause of this, since they can experience falls and other traumatic events which can be critical as well. Since there isn’t enough drugs available, this is a major reason why a lot of epileptic patients deal with this. 

Cannabis Research at the Moment 

Currently, cannabis and epilepsy research has come a long way, and it actually is known for treating seizures quite efficiently. A lot of success stories about CBD cannabinoids and the plant itself are oftentimes looked at as great ways to treat this. One person named Charlotte Figi, who recovered from her condition of Dravet syndrome, which was a very unique kind of epilepsy, was a big supporter of this, since she was able to treat her symptoms in ways that drugs didn’t. 

Not to mention the discoveries of the cannabis plant working to treat epilepsy did have a lot of benefits, and it’s great not just for treating younger people, but adults too. Throughout the benefits of marijuana, there ware also stories about the role that the studies have done for this, and also have played a role in the legalization process. Some institutions have actually gotten permission to explore the medicinal benefits and uses of cannabis and determine the side effects of such as well. 

After the updated permissions and regulations, a lot of experiments along with clinical trials happened, and the goal was to find out as much as you can about the medicinal uses of cannabis, and also to determine how it not only prevents seizures, but also treats epilepsy in both adults and children. Based on preclinical studies, it was found that there were therapeutic uses for cannabis, but the lack of proper rules on cannabis research and how hard it is to do it have stopped it. 

Right now, there is some research being done to look at the treatment of chronic diseases to prove the medicinal benefits of this, and this is something that’s been called out as the only plant out there to be used for purposes that are medicinal, despite also being a schedule 1 drug with many rules and regulations placed on it.

Cannabis Decriminalization Vs. Legalization

Both these words are all a big part of the way that cannabis is regarded. If you’re curious about what these mean, and if there are any possible chances of getting charges, you’re not alone.  Some of these are important to understand, and it’s important that in states that do decriminalize the plant, there is a chance that you could get a misdemeanor, especially if you’re not using it medically. Here is the difference, and what it means for the state of marijuana. 

All about Decriminalization 

At this point, 27 states currently have some kind of decriminalized version of cannabis. It’s not legal, but if you consume or have it, you won’t get tired or arrested for this.  It’s not going to be a big crime, or there may be no problem at all. For example, let’s take New York, if you have less than three ounces of some kind of cannabis, you won’t get in trouble. But if you’re possessing up to 8 ounces, it’s considered a misdemeanor. 

New York only partially decriminalized this though. If you’ve got more than 5 ounces, it’s a felony, and you can get arrested and incarcerated.  Some states that do have more lenient ideas on this don't apply it everywhere. There is still the civil penalties and fines that come with this, but if it’s decriminalized, it’s not a felony, and you’re not going to be charged with it.  You may get charged with an infraction or misdemeanor though. Many as well have been able to get the criminal records that they have expunged in states that have made cannabis decriminalized. Prior felonies for marijuana may impact housing, employment, and the like, and this gets erased from the record. 

Some of the time, you can also have a clean state with this, which is great for those who have a history of this, and it also gets rid of the war on drugs. 

Legalization 

On the flip side, it’s basically legal to use it, and it’s not a crime to use this. There are some types of legalization. First, you have it for recreational or medical usage, and some for medical usage only. The first is less common, which means that only a few states have it. But that means any adult over the age of 21 in possession of this is allowed to use it. 

There is a big illegal cannabis market, and if you purchase this on the market even in legal states does lower the quality of the product itself, and it can cause problems with criminal results. Legalizing this lets people get this from dispensaries that are totally legal and kosher. 

What’s More Common Right Now 

Right now, decriminalization is definitely more common, but currently, about 19 states have legalized the use of this. If you do factor in the medical programs and the legality of those however, medical legalization is becoming way more common too.While legalization, especially through the use of marijuana, is becoming a lot more common, recreational usage still is a major hurdle in some cases.

This is because a lot of people think they’re going to be reckless with this, but to this day, if you operate machinery or drive a car while under the influence, you can face the consequences period. 

Some states have voted however to fully decriminalize the use of cannabis, so you won’t even have to worry about jail or getting charges for consuming or possessing even the smallest amounts of weed. But, if you’re constantly repeating, or doing a large amount multiple times, there is still the risk of possibly getting charged and arrested. It’s also important to note that even though the charges for the state may not be levied against the person, there is still the possibility of federal punishment. 

The marijuana movement is definitely growing, and we’ve made some great strides. Hopefully, as time goes on, we can see more and more move not just into decriminalization, but also full legalization of this, in order to help keep those who are innocent out of jail and able to not get arrested for this too.

How cannabis aids with holiday Stress

Do you deal with holiday stress? It’s quite common, from sending out the perfect gifts, cards, handling family drama, all of this can make you feel as if you’re going insane. If you feel like you’re about to lose your mind due to the festivities, you’re not alone, and cannabis can be a big part of helping with this. Here’s how cannabis can be the best thing to add to your holiday regime, especially when you’re dealing with a lot at the present moment. 

Stress and anxiety 

Stress, anxiety and the like are all common with the holidays, and it can be quite hard on you. If you feel like your day is going to be a hard one, you can add cannabis to the holiday routine. If you have something that’s there to help you at the beginning of the day, that’s great. Something at night to decompress is also valid too.

 

No matter what you choose, you want to definitely look for different strains that can help. A vape pen is a good, discreet way to ensure that you’re not super stressed during those moments of holiday cheer. Cannabis is a great way to help with anxiety, especially those that are high in CBD, as this is perfect for depression. According to a review that highlighted those benefits, people that took 300 mg of this definitely were better with anxiety, and they handled it a lot better. 

Alleviating the holiday Blues 

The holiday blues, or seasonal depression, can really stink. Your symptoms may go into overdrive at this time of the year. You’d think during a time when you should be happy, high and wonderful, you’re just feeling down. 

However, cannabis can help with this, and it can definitely be good for people. Be mindful though, for a little bit goes a long way, and some people deal with much higher depressive symptoms when they take too much THC, so definitely keep an eye out for that as well. 

Better Sleep 

If you’re someone struggling to make the holidays perfect, you’re probably not getting the best sleep either, or sometimes falling asleep is an impossible feat. It can make stress worse, and you can continue these bad behaviors. Cannabis is good for relaxing before you go to bed, and it may be worth trying as well. You should try to consume this around an hour prior to bedtime, and try to avoid edibles, as they can take too long for them to actually work, but bear in mind that it can also be quite strong too. 

Helping with holiday Grief 

Sometimes, grief strikes during the holidays, and lots of people struggle with the death of a loved one during this. It can be especially hard, and if you’re someone who struggles with grief during this point, cannabis may help with this. 

However, do remember that unlike any of the previous ones, this is not the cure-all that you should use for everything. A mild strain is probably the best way to handle all of this, and also make sure that you don’t forget to engage in self-care either to help with this. Talking to a friend or loved one, journaling, walking in nature, all of this is a great way to properly manage the holiday grief that’s there. 

For a lot of people, this can be the perfect means to truly improve and better the different aspects of your life, and for those of us who just hate the holidays and wish that they would go away, this is a good way to manage those feelings in a healthy manner.

What is Hexahydrocannibinol (HHC)

Hexahydrocannabinol is something that’s naturally occurring in a ton of parts of the cannabis plant, and is seen as a minor cannabinoid, and is considered a derivative o both delta-8 and delta-9 THC in most cases, and while it’s found naturally in small amounts within the cannabis sativa plant, it is something that’s synthetically produced through hydrogenation, which is where you add a bond of hydrogen to this, and it can also be made from CBD. 

While there isn’t a ton of research to this, it does create the similar euphoria that HC does, which is what makes it psychoactive, so it’s good for reducing inflammation, helping to reduce vomiting, and also will stimulate your appetite, which is great for chronic pain, and chemotherapy side effects. 

What is HHC though? 

This is basically a cannabinoid that’s there, and it’s basically another biproduct of the degradation of THC. HHC is also something that is created through hydrogenation of different extracts, where the hydrogen is added to THC. Unlike the delta-8 and the delta-9 versions of this, HHC is something that doesn’t have double bonds within the cyclohexanol rings, so it’s similar to other cannabis compounds. 

This is something that does offer the same effects that THC does, and it does bind to receptors in a similar manner, so it does offer a variety of benefits to the body, but the effects of it are far less. There are two enantiomers, which are compounds with the same levels of connectivity, but also opposite shapes that are there, which can bind directly towards CB1 receptors much more, and it’s something that also is used as an acetate too, but it’s about 1.5 times stronger than HHC is. 

The Health Benefits 

The structure of this is very similar to THC, so it also may be an antioxidant, reduces inflammation, and also might offer effects which are anti-emetic, so it’s something that does offer a variety of different applications. 

Some of the applications that this could be used for including the following: 

• Chronic pain, especially neuropathy 

• Appetite problems 

• Insomnia, 

• Vomiting and nausea 

• Spasms, especially associated with MS and the like 

• Cancer and other side effects 

It also may offer similar benefits that THC does to the body. Some people use HTC to help with sleeping, and with this, it can help to reduce the problems associated with this, and then offer a ton of benefits. 

Side Effects and Risks 

The problem with HCH is that it’s a novel compound, so we don’t know as much as the other compounds. But it also does have similar effects that THC does, which can be quite adverse. Dry mouth, dizziness, memory problems, cottonmouth, red eyes, heart rate acceleration, issues with reaction time and coordination, and forgetfulness are all a big risk of this. However, this is something that’s not as potent as what THC offers, so it may not have as potent effects 

However if you get this that’s synthetic, that’s another story. That’s because the side effects are much more sever, and the industrial actions that use different compounds, oftentimes very harsh, do end up in the final product, so those synthetically produced ones do have higher levels of HHC compared to cannabis that’s natural, so higher levels and dosages may also offer more adverse effects. 

The lab-produced kind is something that’s much different from the palnt0-produced, so if you do want to use this, you should definitely go for something that comes naturally from the plant, and from there, you can use it safely for your needs.