Due to limited mental healthcare providers, stigma surrounding treatment, and existing pharmaceutical therapies with mixed results, many patients are turning to alternative weed therapies such as marijuana for relief. Consumption of its main active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) through food or drinks may prove beneficial; however it should also be carefully considered since its effects could potentially have both benefits and drawbacks.
Edibles
Cannabis is an herb with therapeutic benefits that can be used in numerous forms – oils to edibles. Cannabinoids found in cannabis interact with the endocannabinoid receptors in your brain to alter mood, sleep patterns, appetite and pain responses in individual users – these effects will vary based on who consumes it; edibles often produce stronger highs than smoking or vaping due to entering through digestion and being processed through liver metabolism; this leads to longer lasting psychoactive effects lasting 30 minutes to one hour at the least.
There are many varieties of edible products on the market, ranging from cookies and candy bars to chocolate bars. Most of these edible products contain cannabis-derived cannabinoids combined with flour or other ingredients which makes them high in THC content, and will eventually metabolize in your stomach and small intestine before entering your bloodstream. While this method might take slightly longer than smoking a joint or device directly outside, edibles provide an easy and enjoyable way to enjoy cannabis!
Gummies are among the most widely consumed cannabis products, offering multiple flavors and strengths of THC that ranges up to 20 mg. An average dose is sufficient for most individuals; however, higher dosages may provide stronger or longer-acting effects. Edibles may affect drug tests; it’s wise to refrain from them if taking an exam in the near future.
Edible cannabis products may offer a safer option to smoking due to reduced lung irritation and potential cancer risks associated with inhaling smoke-filled cigarettes, though there remain several safety issues surrounding their consumption, including overconsumption that could lead to side effects like paranoia and anxiety.
Edibles can also pose serious danger to children. Mistaking them for other sweet snacks could result in overdosing on toxic substances; this risk becomes particularly apparent among young children who may not know how to read a label or recognize warning signs for an overdose.
Vaporizers
Vaporizers provide a safe and cost-effective means of administering medical marijuana, by heating cannabis at an ideal temperature that vaporizes cannabinoids without burning plant material. This process is far safer than smoking traditional cigarettes or recreational forms of cannabis as it reduces exposure to toxic pyrolytic by-products while providing faster therapeutic window, faster onset effects, more discrete administration, cost savings over time and discreetness.
Vaporisers can be used to vaporize both dry herb and concentrates, producing cleaner and more flavorful vapor than smoke, full of beneficial compounds like THC and CBN cannabinoids. They have much faster onset effects than smoking; typically within 90 seconds and peaking after 15-30 minutes before dissipating within 2-4 hours.
Since its conception, the vaporizer industry has experienced explosive growth. Today there is an array of products on the market from high-end tabletop models such as Volcano and Storz & Bickel to portable and affordable options like those offered by Aspire and Volcano Vaporizers; some even boast interchangeable cartridges allowing easy material switching!
Portable concentrate vaporizers such as the PAX series and Grenco Science SWITCH Vaporizer have recently emerged to meet an unmet market need for on-the-go concentrate vaping. These units were created with portability in mind, designed to be small and discreet while still offering users convenient concentrate vaporization on-the-go. Utilizing induction heating technology with electromagnetic induction to generate magnetic fields which induce electromagnetic induction that heat the “induction cup”, where your concentrate sits.
Dr. Steck and his team stay current with all of the latest medical marijuana research studies and resources, and are always more than willing to discuss different techniques for using medical cannabis during consultations. They can show you how best to administer your medication via vaping or other forms of delivery systems.
Inhalation
Cannabis can be inhaled using a small heating device that vaporizes rather than burns the plant material, enabling patients to inhale beneficial compounds without inhaling harsh smoke. One study with 24 subjects suffering from herniated discs or spinal stenosis discovered that inhaling THC-rich cannabis reduced pain intensity while simultaneously improving function as measured by Oswestry Disability Index and SF-12 patient-reported outcome measures; participants continued with rescue analgesic medications (tramadol or oxycodone plus acetaminophen), but dosages were reduced significantly.
Topicals
Most dispensaries stock some form of cannabis-infused cream or balm. More recently, entrepreneurs have developed various formulas including body oils, sexual lubricants, bath salts sprays and transdermal patches infused with THC or CBD or both; many also contain essential oils for added benefits.
Topicals are intended to be applied directly to the skin. Their formula of lipids interact with receptors in your skin to ease pain and inflammation. While application methods vary, most often it involves spreading a thin layer of product over an affected area – anecdotally they work best when applied directly over clean, dry skin.
Topicals won’t get you high or show up on drug tests like vaping or edibles will. But they could contain other ingredients that have an effect; so it is essential that you are aware of exactly what ingredients may have an impact.
Tinctures are another form of medical cannabis that can be administered either topically or sublingually (by dropping under your tongue). When applied topically, full effects typically take two hours to kick in; their duration ranges between four and six hours. Tinctures make an excellent microdosing method as you can administer small doses to test tolerance levels.
If you prefer something simpler, a MacGyver solution can be created by mixing half a dropper’s worth of tincture with existing cream or lotion in order to form a topical. Apply the mixture onto your skin, rub in gently until a thin layer forms.
Olamide Olowe became the youngest Black female entrepreneur ever to raise millions, when she established Topicals in 2020. Since then, she and her team have set out on an ambitious journey of self-care combined with treating chronic skin conditions. Committed to giving back, they’ve donated $50k each to five organizations dedicated to mental health resources in marginalized communities – as over 85 million Americans experience some sort of dermatological issue, it is no wonder Olowe and her team have successfully raised so much funding.