{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/101/2","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2090-markdown","title":"How to Talk to Your Teen About Cannabis","slug":"how-to-talk-to-your-teen-about-cannabis","content":"Michele Levine is a longtime educator who has worked in schools and education non profits. She has been on the ground in schools and camp settings working with youth, teens, college students and young adults from all backgrounds while being a high school teacher in the South Bronx, a private school administrator, to working with teens in Oakland public schools.\r\n\r\nMichele is focused on the education, policy, and the information being discussed about legalization, the medicinal benefits of cannabis, and how cannabis education and information is being discussed and delivered to teens, parents, teachers, and communities. HelloMD is very excited to have Michele as a featured guest blogger. In her first article Michele gives her thoughts on how to talk to teens about cannabis.\r\n\r\n**From Illegal to Acceptance…How Do We Talk About it with Young People?**\r\n\r\nWe’re witnessing a social shift in acceptance for cannabis use from being something illegal to something with medicinal benefits and accepted for adult-recreational use in some states. This creates an opportunity for parents and adults to engage young people on a topic that is both current and relevant for everyone involved. This is a teachable moment, a chance to have real-time, meaningful conversations about social change, cannabis use and wellness, rules and regulations, and consequences for illegal or misuse of a regulated substance.\r\n\r\nDuring my time working with teens and young adults, I was sometimes the only adult in their life who took the time to listen to them. Many of them discussed topics with me that they would not feel comfortable discussing with their parents such as relationship issues, personal/self esteem concerns, and the challenges of being a young person in a modern, social-media infested world. As you can imagine, I’ve been told many things and asked a variety of questions. \r\n\r\nAs any adult knows when working with impressionable young people, it’s important to stay open, non judgmental, and curious about what is being discussed. Despite your concern or disapproval, one thing you can’t do is lecture or give reasons that are not meaningful or relevant to their lives.\r\n\r\n**This is a Teachable Moment….**\r\n\r\nHere are some good starting questions, for yourself first, and then for engagement with any young person in your life.\r\n\r\n- What does cannabis legalization mean?\r\n- What do we know about Cannabis now, that has created this shift in thinking?\r\n- Why now?\r\n- How will these changes impact society?\r\n- What are the consequences of illegal use?\r\n- How can something legal be abused?\r\n- What does marijuana abuse look like?\r\n\r\n\r\n**The Prevalence of Cannabis- It’s Already Here**\r\n\r\nGiven that marijuana was so prevalent, even before the current status of legalization/future legalization, many young people view legalization as nothing more than a rubber stamp and do not understand the significance of illegal use. While research shows that using marijuana during adolescence could have a long-term impact on a teen’s memory, problem-solving skills and critical thinking, it’s becoming clear that information has little to no effect on teen use. \r\n\r\nIn [Talking to Kids About Legal Marijuana](http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/06/living/feat-marijuana-talking-to-kids-post-legalization/), Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director for Colorado's Department of Public Health and Environment, says “What doesn’t work is hammering children over the head with how, medically speaking, marijuana is bad for the developing brain. The research shows that that’s like a turn off.”\r\n\r\n**Focus On Immediate Consequences**\r\n\r\nInstead of focusing on the long term health risks, getting caught using cannabis under the age of 21 can have serious and immediate consequences:\r\n\r\n- School Consequences: Student could be suspended or expelled. Student could be suspended from a sports team. This could affect scholarship and college opportunities. School may require drug counseling.\r\n- Legal Consequences: Breaking state/federal laws. Youth could receive a possession charge and/or fines, public service, drug counseling, loss of driver's license, and a misdemeanor or felony charge on personal records. This could affect future job opportunities, apartment rentals, and/or result in loss of college financial aid.\r\n\r\n**With Legalization, Comes Adult Responsibility**\r\n\r\nBe prepared to have open and honest conversations about cannabis use, legalization, and consequences of misuse. Understand your state and local Cannabis policies. Learn from other cities and schools on best practices around education and understanding of Cannabis Legalization.  Here are some excellent resources:\r\n\r\n- The Drug Policy Alliance supports reality-based youth drug education that prioritizes the safety, health and well-being of young people. Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens and Drugs\r\n- Preventing Youth Marijuana Use in Colorado: Information for Schools\r\n- Know your state and local policies and initiatives. Marijuana Policy Project\r\n\r\n**It Takes a Village; In Partnership**\r\n\r\nOur schools, local government agencies, and cannabis-related companies share a responsibility in educating our youth, teens, and communities on cannabis legalization, responsible adult use, and consequences of teen use and abuse. Since local city governments dictate local cannabis laws and regulations and school districts operate as independent entities through state and federal funding/requirements, upcoming Cannabis legalization is an opportunity for our communities to take collective action and responsibility on educating and protecting our youth. Local Cannabis companies can support the initiative through marketing and public outreach.\r\n\r\nAs a community, let’s seize this opportunity of Cannabis legalization to grow and develop community collaborations, create space for education and professional opportunities, and take collective action and responsibility for the safety of our youth, schools, and neighborhoods. \r\n\r\nIf you would like to connect with Michele, connect with her on her [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelelevine).\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\r\n\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/ee604/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.png","srcSet":"/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/69585/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.png 200w,\n/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/497c6/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.png 400w,\n/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/ee604/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.png 800w,\n/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/f3583/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.png 1200w,\n/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/f90fa/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/58556/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/61e93/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.webp 200w,\n/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/1f5c5/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.webp 400w,\n/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/58556/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.webp 800w,\n/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/99238/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.webp 1200w,\n/static/410b455d72d1353fc1e2896e38c8de85/5e0b8/db01d2e1954dc9243ea8baec84ddec97.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2103-markdown","title":"Beginners Guide to Growing Marijuana & New 'Leaf' System","slug":"beginners-guide-to-growing-marijuana-and-new-leaf-system","content":"The new and tech-savvy [Leaf is the world's first Plug N' Plant cannabis\ngrowing system](http://www.getleaf.co/) and it offers a complete system\nthat includes social media apps, remote controls and remote viewing of\nyour plants. The Leaf system is perfect for beginners that are looking\nto grow their own medicinal marijuana and the technical aspects of the\nLeaf system eliminate many of the worries and [questions that first-time\ngrowers\nhave](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana)\nabout the growing process. There is an overwhelming amount of\ninformation readily available about growing medicinal marijuana and\nmedicinal cannabis, but making sense of that information and applying\nthe information to your personal growing situation can be challenging.\nYou want the best type of plant for your personal condition and you want\nto achieve the optimum growing conditions for your specific strain of\nmarijuana.\n\n### Marijuana and Cannabis as Healing Medicines\n\nAcross North America and around the world, attitudes and legislation\nabout marijuana and about cannabis as effective medicines are changing.\nJustice departments and health professionals are in the process of\nreviewing clinical studies and revising legislation to better serve the\nhealth needs of North American people: in some jurisdictions, the\npreparation of marijuana into medical cannabis is the legislative\nconcern, and in other areas, governments have made access to medical\nmarijuana legal and more accessible. Cannabis and medical marijuana are\nalready legal across Canada, but not always easily accessible - partly\ndue to a reluctance on the part of physicians and nurses to support\nmedical cannabis referrals. In the United States, control of marijuana\nand medical cannabis is regulated by the state. Studies have proven that\nwhen grown, prepared, and used appropriately medical cannabis is a very\neffective medical therapy for [relief from a wide variety of\ndebilitating\nconditions](https://hellomd.com/health-wellness/57169cf805483f000c00008b/constance-finleys-story-treating-my-autoimmune-disease-with-cannabis-oil)\nincluding seizure disorders, panic disorders, PTSD, pain control and\nmore.\n\n### Male Versus Female Plants\n\nMarijuana plants are sexual plants, meaning there are male plants and\nthere are female plants. In their naturally growing state, they\nreproduce sexually and produce seeds. Marijuana plants grown for\nmedicinal cannabis are either cloned or started from seeds. To clone a\nplant means to take a cutting, or a slip from the original stem of a\nhealthy adult plant and rooting it to grow a second healthy adult plant.\nWhen medical marijuana growers clone plants, they clone almost\nexclusively females because female marijuana plants produce the\ncompounds used for human therapeutic use. By contrast, the male plant is\nthe pollen producer. The female plant produces the medicinal bud, and if\npollinated, the female marijuana plant produces the seed. Experienced\ngrowers have proven that the gender of the plant produced by a marijuana\nseed can be affected by controlling planting and growing conditions.\nThere are several methods to increase the probability that your\nmarijuana seeds will be 'feminized' and produce a higher percentage of\nmedical cannabis female plants:\n\n-   Monitor and control soil nutrients to keep high nitrogen and low\n    potassium levels\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   Keep plants at a high relative humidity (60-70 percent)\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   Expose plants to a high frequency light (blue or purple)\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   Limit plant exposure to the sun to no more than 14 hours of light\n    per day\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   Keep plants at a lower temperature (62-65 degrees Fahrenheit)\n\n### Traditional Cannabis Growing Systems\n\nTraditional cannabis growing systems for both indoor and outdoor growing\nrequire some working knowledge of the following concepts: temperature\ncontrol, light control and soil nutrition. Other broad agricultural\nconcepts are also important including pest control, mildew control and\noutdoor growing conditions including season, weather and planting zone\nspecifics. Monitoring and optimizing soil nutrition is a key component\nof all marijuana growing systems. Healthy soil means healthy plants, and\nhealthy plants produce the cannabis for a healthier you. Growing\nmarijuana to produce medicinal cannabis really requires learning about\nyour own health condition and what strain or variety of marijuana is\ngoing to provide the medical cannabis that is appropriate for providing\ntherapeutic relief for your specific condition. Honest dialogue with\nyour medical professional or knowledgeable local budtender is essential\nto ensuring that you find the strain of marijuana that actually provides\noptimal relief for your [specific medical\ncondition](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/health-conditions).\n\n### Leaf Plug N' Plant Growing System: Perfect For Beginners\n\nIf you are new to growing medical marijuana, the new Leaf Plug N' Plant\ncannabis growing system might be the perfect system to help you learn\nvery quickly all of the different components involved in growing\neffective medical cannabis. If you are an experienced medical marijuana\ngrower, you will find the Leaf system difficult to resist trying out-\nthe range of technical applications and software components are just to\ninteresting to ignore. The compact size and aesthetically pleasing look\nof the Leaf system makes it ideal for any location. It's fits like a bar\nfridge neatly into any room or office. The Leaf features a\nmade-for-cannabis LED grow light custom designed for Leaf by leading\nNASA researchers and made specifically for growing medical cannabis. The\npatent-pending Nutrient Dosing System automatically feeds your plants\nwith the precise blend of nutrients exactly when they need them. Leaf\noptimizes its settings for best size, weight, density and potency. Leaf\ncontinuously monitors the plant environment and automatically adjusts it\nto optimize plant growth. The Leaf phone app provides you with an\nastonishing real time plant growth monitoring system via your phone. The\nLeaf app displays all of your environmental data in real time and you\ncan even watch your plants grow through the built-in HD camera. Leaf's\nphone app also provides you with social media links where you can\nconnect with other medical cannabis growers, compare data, and even\nwatch other peoples' plants grow in real time.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.6260162601626016,"src":"/static/06787d1349975e4db0add184aecbe926/27625/e09f07dafdba8ff8de123ccd8ba1ec62.png","srcSet":"/static/06787d1349975e4db0add184aecbe926/69585/e09f07dafdba8ff8de123ccd8ba1ec62.png 200w,\n/static/06787d1349975e4db0add184aecbe926/497c6/e09f07dafdba8ff8de123ccd8ba1ec62.png 400w,\n/static/06787d1349975e4db0add184aecbe926/27625/e09f07dafdba8ff8de123ccd8ba1ec62.png 680w","srcWebp":"/static/06787d1349975e4db0add184aecbe926/8829b/e09f07dafdba8ff8de123ccd8ba1ec62.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/06787d1349975e4db0add184aecbe926/61e93/e09f07dafdba8ff8de123ccd8ba1ec62.webp 200w,\n/static/06787d1349975e4db0add184aecbe926/1f5c5/e09f07dafdba8ff8de123ccd8ba1ec62.webp 400w,\n/static/06787d1349975e4db0add184aecbe926/8829b/e09f07dafdba8ff8de123ccd8ba1ec62.webp 680w","sizes":"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2140-markdown","title":"Why Moms Should Support Marijuana Legalization","slug":"why-moms-should-support-marijuana-legalization","content":"I’ve written a lot concerning my change of heart regarding marijuana, leading to my pro-legalization stance. Observing the myriad of cannabis users around me both within the industry and outside of it, I see people successfully using cannabis, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes, who remain highly functioning, healthy members of society. Additionally, and arguably more important, from a medical perspective cannabis can range from offering hope to those suffering debilitating chronic illnesses, to saving the lives of those who have no other viable medicinal alternative. The road to cannabis legalization is serious stuff, encompassing a variety of issues, and the potential net positive impact on our society in a legalized United States cannot be underestimated. \n\nTo give context of where we stand today, a recent 2015 [Gallop Poll](http://www.gallup.com/poll/186260/back-legal-marijuana.aspx) states “A majority of Americans continue to say marijuana use should be legal in the United States, with 58% holding that view.” As times are changing and overall stigma is reduced, the tide is turning away from a [‘Just Say No’](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Say_No) sentiment. The overwhelming exception to this however are conservative voters, many over the age of 65 who still hold the belief that marijuana is uniformly bad for society. \n\nMy personal belief is that every mom in America should understand the potential positive impact cannabis legalization could have on society overall.  As a mother of three, I clearly understand the issues and stigmas mothers may hold against marijuana. These range from concerns over child welfare, an increase in crime, and a firmly held belief that marijuana is a gateway drug, to name just a handful.  Fortunately, we do have data points to call upon from research and strong anecdotal evidence (clinical trials have been strictly limited due to federal regulation). Both California and Colorado have progressively embraced legalization, and along the way have proven that marijuana legalization does not lead to the degradation of society. The bottom line, supporting the marijuana movement has many positive effects on society. \n\nBelow are my top reasons for supporting cannabis legalization:\n\n# Cannabis Treats Numerous Medical Conditions\n\nIt’s an unfortunate truth that humans get sick and require medical attention. New information and reports are being released almost on a weekly basis on the positive effects cannabis has on such serious conditions as Cancer, Epilepsy, PTSD, Chronic Pain, Crohn’s Disease, Arthritis, as well as many, many more. \n\nThousands of families across America are having to face the tough choice [to pick up and move to Colorado]( http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/marijuana-on-main-street/medical-marijuana-colorado) in order to treat their children with rare and deadly forms of epilepsy. [NFL players are battling the establishment](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/04/14/ex-nfl-players-rally-behind-medical-marijuana.html) to be allowed to use marijuana to combat their chronic pain, arthritis and brain injuries in lieu of opiates. [Small children with aggressive forms of cancer]( http://cannakids.org/sophies-story/) have been treated successfully (in conjunction with chemo) with cannabis. Twenty-two veterans a day commit suicide in the US and yet all evidence supports that marijuana may be the best treatment for PTSD. This is [backed by research]( http://veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/content/general-use-cannabis-ptsd-symptoms) by the world-renowned Israeli cannabis scientist Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D., who has dedicated his life to studying the effects of marijuana. \n\nOn a daily basis we see patients come to HelloMD who are at the end of their rope, where standard Western medical treatment has failed or has not done enough to help them. Patients should have the access and the choice to try marijuana for their medical condition, because in many cases, it is not only a viable option that improves overall quality of life, it can literally save a life. If you get sick, or a family member gets sick, shouldn’t you be able to legally make this choice yourself or a loved one? It is indisputable at this point that marijuana has far ranging medicinal benefits, which millions of Americans may benefit from.  \n\n[Realm of Caring](https://www.theroc.us/), a medically oriented non profit in Colorado, provides links to information and research on various medical conditions and has established itself as a gold standard for education, advocacy and research in the industry. Additionally, [United Patients Group]( http://www.unitedpatientsgroup.com/) in California helps patients with specific conditions. If you would like to learn more about the medicinal benefits of cannabis, this is a great place to start.\n\n# Cannabis Can Replace Addictive Opiates\n\nThis past February, President Obama announced an additional $1.1 billion dollars in new funding to address prescription opioid abuse and heroin addiction. To give an indication of how serious this is 28,648 deaths were attributed to this affliction in 2014 alone. Broken down, 46 people die every single day in the US. During his address, Obama failed to mention cannabis as a possible tool to be used to combat the problem.\n\nMedical cannabis can help combat the symptoms that lead people to start using opiates (and sometimes heroin) to begin with. These can include Chronic Pain, Neuropathic Pain, AIDS, and the list goes on. A [study]( http://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/lower-opioid-overdose-death-rates-associated-with-state-medical-marijuana-laws/) by the Journal of the America Medical Association says, “States that implemented medical marijuana laws appear to have lower annual opioid analgesic overdose death rates (both from prescription pain killers and illicit drugs such as heroin) than states without such laws.” It’s also important to note that cannabis is not associated with the multitude of negative side effects so often associated with opiates.\n\nIn addition, using medical marijuana shows excellent promise in helping people detox off their addiction from both opiate and heroin use. Although more studies need to be done in this area, an article by [NORML]( http://blog.norml.org/2013/07/16/study-marijuana-use-associated-with-decreased-symptoms-of-opiate-withdrawal-in-methadone-maintenance-treatment-subjects/) states, “Cannabis consumption is associated with mitigated symptoms of opiate withdrawal in subjects undergoing methadone maintenance treatment.”\n\nAnecdotally, at HelloMD we consistently hear from people using marijuana in lieu of opiates for pain and other chronic conditions. Our recent study which included 1400 participants, showed that 66% of participants polled use marijuana as the primary method for treating their medical condition. 84% said they felt it successfully addressed their condition. For us, it creates a sense of hope when patients let us know that cannabis has helped them get off opiates and or avoid them altogether. Patients in our study reported almost zero negative side effects from using marijuana. That is good news.\n\n# Cannabis Legalization Results in Safer Cannabis & Reduces Black Market Trade\n\n42% of American adults admit to having used cannabis. Your child, at some point, will be offered marijuana and he or she may decide to partake. There is an enormous amount of cannabis ingested in the US that is purchased illegally with unknown origins. Unfortunately, cannabis that is not lab tested is often full of nasty chemicals, which can adversely affect your health. This includes microbial material such as ecoli, carcinogenic phospholoads, pesticides, residual solvents and even deadly neurotoxins. An interesting fact is that most of these chemicals can be traced directly back to the chemicals available at your local garden store. A legalized system leads to government-mandated regulation, which equates to safer consumables and responsible growing practices. \n\nBefore the wider spread legalization of marijuana in the U.S., most cannabis bought and sold here had been grown in and smuggled from Mexico. As you know, drug cartels have zero concern about the actual consumer. By taking an anti-cannabis stance you are inadvertently supporting a black market that is foundationally supported by Mexican drug cartels that care about the survival of their crops at any cost and the overall profits to be made. You can be against personal cannabis use while at the same time supporting a regulated system that protects the safety of a vast number of consumers. One of the bright linings on legalization is that the price of marijuana has dropped, leading to much less cannabis crossing the border via Mexican smugglers.\n\n# Cannabis is Less Harmful Than Alcohol\n \nMost people who drink do not like to hear this, but marijuana has less adverse effects on society and your health than alcohol consumption. Fifteen percent of people who drink alcohol will end up addicted. Addiction rates for marijuana stand at about 9%. [Withdrawal symptoms from marijuana are far less severe than those from alcohol]( http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/health/marijuana-versus-alcohol/), which includes vomiting and even seizures. \n\nAccording to the [NIH]( http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body), there is plenty to be concerned about with alcohol consumption. While moderate amounts can protect adults from coronary disease and aid in relaxation, chronic use and overuse can lead to stretching and drooping of heart muscle, irregular heartbeat, stroke and high blood pressure. Drinking can also lead to liver dysfunction including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Alcohol is also a known to cause cancer particularly of the mouth, throat, breast, esophagus and liver. Lastly, drinking reduces the power of your immune system to fight off disease.\n\nThe collateral damage of alcohol includes 10,000 road deaths every year, and nearly 1.4 million people arrested for DUIs. According to the [NPAMC]( http://www.alcoholandcrime.org/issues/alcohol-and-crime/), “40% of state prisoners convicted of violent crimes were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their offense − the more violent the crime, the greater the likelihood that alcohol was involved.” Also, “the incidence of other alcohol-involved crimes including domestic violence, underage drinking, and assault has reached staggering proportions.”\n\n88,000 people die every year from alcohol abuse according to the CDC. There is not a recorded incident of a person overdosing on marijuana. To die from marijuana you need to eat 38% of your body weight, and that is a lot of marijuana. Marijuana’s health benefits for medicinal users far outweigh negatives. Cannabis does react differently with different people and typical negative side effects that are reported might be a sense of lethargy, paranoia and possibly anxiety. However, interestingly it also seems to help many people with anxiety as well.\n\n# Marijuana is NOT a Gateway Drug - Alcohol IS\n\nA recent article in [Newsweek]( http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-not-gateway-drug-325358) elaborates on findings that conclude that marijuana is NOT a gateway drug. However, new evidence supports that alcohol IS a gateway drug. “[The common government stance within the US is that alcohol is a gateway drug]( http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/connection-between-alcohol-and-drugs/). This means that a user first starts drinking and then moves on to harder substances, such as cannabis and heroin, later on in life.” We grew up being told a very different story than this, so mentally it is hard for many people to absorb this new finding.\n\n# Cannabis Legalization Results in Enormous Revenue for States & A Lot of Jobs\n\nColorado has been the biggest proving ground as one of the first truly legalized states. In the first 18 months of legalization [CNN Money]( http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/20/news/economy/marijuana-taxes-colorado/) reports, $610 million dollars was generated, $184 million of which resulted from tax revenue. Much of this money resulted in programs to teach kids how to stay away from marijuana. Other uses for the money went towards public health, regulatory oversight, enforcement and general education.\n\nChildren’s education in regards to cannabis is important whether cannabis is legalized in your state or not. Kids, especially teenagers, have access to cannabis more frequently than is regularly acknowledged. Having state run programs that create a thoughtful dialogue is of the utmost importance.\n\nCannabis also creates jobs, and lots of them. Legal cannabis states, such as Colorado, experienced a bump in overall employment, correlating directly to the growth of the industry. [Colorado Pot Guide](https://www.coloradopotguide.com/colorado-marijuana-blog/2015/march/27/canna-businesses-good-for-the-economy/) noted that “Colorado job growth increased more than the national average by about one percent in 2014. This growth is largely accounted for by newly-developed cannabis positions such as bud tenders, trimmers and edible manufactures, but also includes an increase in construction, engineering and marketing jobs.” An estimated 200,000 new jobs were projected from 2015 through 2016 in the state of Colorado. Drug Policy Alliance states “Estimated annual revenue that California would raise if it taxed and regulated the sale of marijuana: $1,400,000,000”.\n\n# Illegal Cannabis Wastes Police Resources\n\nThe ‘War on Drugs’, which includes cannabis, has been a costly failure and resulting in more than $51,000,000,000 spent annually, with little to show for it. According to [Drug Policy Alliance](http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-facts/10-facts-about-marijuana) our states collectively spent an estimated $3.6 billion enforcing marijuana possession laws. In 2014 there were 700,993 marijuana drug arrests made in the US, which comprises almost half of all drug arrests made. 87% of those arrests were for simple possession. These is a dramatic drain on our police task force, which takes police away from serious crimes such as murder, rape, and first call response. When people are arrested for marijuana, they are handcuffed and taken to the police station where more churn occurs including the creation of a permanent criminal record, which often affects a person’s employment. All of this for a drug that has never caused an overdose and which anecdotally, does not seem to spur on any type of violent crime.\n\nKeeping cannabis illegal also has a disproportionately negative impact on the minority populations. It is no secret that our jails are filled to the brim with young African American males. According to a  [2012 ACLU report](https://www.aclu.org/news/new-aclu-report-finds-overwhelming-racial-bias-marijuana-arrests?redirect=criminal-law-reform/new-aclu-report-finds-overwhelming-racial-bias-marijuana-arrests) “Black people are 3.7 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people despite comparable usage rates. Furthermore, in counties with the worst disparities, Blacks were as much as 30 times more likely to be arrested.” \n\n[Alternet](http://www.alternet.org/drugs/increased-access-cannabis-associated-reductions-violent-crimes) states “Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas reported that the enactment of laws legalizing people’s access to medical marijuana is not associated with any rise in statewide criminal activity, and that it may even be related to reductions in incidences of violent crime.”\n\n# You Can Use Cannabis & Not Get Stoned or be a “Stoner”\n\nThis last point is an important one and part of general education surrounding cannabis use. There are many ways to receive medicinal benefits from cannabis without having the effect of being high or stoned. There is only one cannabinoid within cannabis that creates the psychedelic effect known as ‘getting high’ and this is THC. There are over 80 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, including the well-known CBD (Cannabidiol) and none of them will get you high. Many cannabis products on the market today contain small amounts of THC or even no THC. A common misconception is that you must smoke cannabis, & many people still choose to do so. There are many alternatives to smoking which includes topicals, transdermal patches, drinks, edibles, sub lingual sprays, suppositories, tinctures and even bath soaks. This is often hard for people to understand, given what they have been taught to believe historically. I ingest cannabis on a daily basis and I almost never choose to get ‘head high’, as I like to say. Said differently, I don't get stoned.\n\nMany people voice concern that by legalizing recreational use we will pave the way to a 'doped up' society. Colorado though has been an interesting proving ground on this. In Colorado, recreation/retail sales are split from medicinal sales. Stats have shown that medicinal sales easily outpace recreational sales. A [Wired](http://www.wired.com/2015/03/five-charts-explain-colorados-first-year-recreational-weed/) article gives some interesting stats on this and states, \"Medicinal dispensaries sold nearly three times the amount of bud: 109,600 pounds, compared to the nearly 37,000 pounds sold to recreational buyers.\" At HelloMD, our research leads us to believe that the recreational market will ultimately hover at around 13% of the total market, the other consumers will primarily be medicinal users.\n\n# The Mess That Illegal Cannabis Creates\n\nA recent [Brookings Essay]( http://www.brookings.edu/research/essays/2016/the-medical-marijuana-mess?utm_campaign=Brookings+Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=27719230&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8F-VSED5hvkpAFhcslKQxowzUzmDxktZDzFX_U1IrIzcYhGZ9j7jWBn2lWXNvKUPkfj8fvryJxIdW7UQoC02uDjmrOTw&_hsmi=27719230) sums up the mess that is created by keeping cannabis illegal: \n\n>“Reform should take government out of the doctor‐patient relationship entirely. It should also ensure that when a doctor decides that medical marijuana could help a patient, the government would not obstruct safe access to the drug. Medical marijuana policy in the United States is putting Americans at risk. The federal government keeps people who live in states that don’t have medical marijuana programs from accessing a product that could benefit their health. And even as it prevents some people from having it, it erects barriers against research into the safety and efficacy of a product used by tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people who do live in states that have legalized it.”\n\nMany pro cannabis folks will say that legalization is a fait accompli, as more and more states continue to lean towards legalization. Seeing the mercurial nature of how laws and regulations are enacted state to state today though, this is not necessarily the case. As we watch states legalize to one extent or another, each state behaves and reacts differently, creating wildly different implementations. Many states, such as New York, take such timid steps towards medical legalization that the end result are impotent laws and regulations that serve no one.\n\nMy belief is that all moms should be educated on the positive aspects of cannabis legalization. Cannabis is not a panacea but neither is it the demon that so many portray it to be. I realize not everyone will agree with my pro legalization stance, and that is OK. Our society is in the midst of an extreme shift and not everyone will be on board with these progressive changes. Ultimately though, if mothers across the United States were to be pro-cannabis, legalization would happen even more quickly leading to rapid and wide spread legalization across the US. My hope is that you will join me.\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuanahttps://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketboom/6817806698/in/photolist-bot3pm-bBo2gx-bosZ7w-VJqWT-bosYe5-bot6Td-bot8h3-2sDrX1-bBo4pt-bot5ju-bBnRHc-bosUaL-bBo2UX-bBnTAT-bosUyy-bBo1Np-dZEhxw-bosUVW-bot6P3-bosZaw-7Y1ozi-bBnTpa-9EiNGG-bBo8q4-bBo6ha-botbkC-bBo6iZ-botd8J-botdaL-4z9NDQ-bBo8ER-bBo8nH-botdfd-botd3w-botaWb-botaMq-bBo6Ha-aDxXN3-botbNb-botdh9-botdjE-botcpN-botd1C-6bCoJd-bBnTCM-9Ef3Tk-bosVjE-bBnUva-bBo3tB-bosZFy)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4705882352941178,"src":"/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/ee604/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png","srcSet":"/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/69585/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png 200w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/497c6/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png 400w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/ee604/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png 800w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/9a85a/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png 1182w","srcWebp":"/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/58556/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/61e93/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp 200w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/1f5c5/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp 400w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/58556/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp 800w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/34d2c/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp 1182w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2039-markdown","title":"Topicals: A Revelation in Treating Pain with Cannabis","slug":"topicals-a-revelation-in-treating-pain-with-cannabis","content":"HelloMD welcomes Andrea Brooks, our newest guest blogger. Andrea is the founder of [Sava](https://www.getsava.com), the premier marketplace for high-quality, hand-crafted cannabis goods. Sava offers next day delivery for patients throughout California and is one of the newest collectives gaining a passionate following of enthusiastic medicinal cannabis patients. Andrea is extremely knowledgeable about how to use cannabis for pain and below she shares her personal story.\r\n\r\n**A Journey from Pain to Wellness**\r\n\r\nMy personal journey into the cannabis industry started with my own pain. Several years ago I was the program director for a San Francisco human and social services nonprofit, doing a job that I absolutely loved, when an injury caused systemic nerve damage and prevented me from being able to sit and use the computer for the long hours required, as well as other routine daily activities. The two years that followed were some of the harder times of my life, while I struggled to find a new way of caring for my body--one that would allow me to be pain free. \r\n\r\nLiving with chronic pain required me to do a lot of research and learning, and a lot of experimentation. I quickly realized that the side effects from pharmaceuticals were best avoided and thus began my trial and error with alternative forms of medicine. I always knew smoking cannabis could alleviate pain, but I’ve since learned that there is so much more to using cannabis than simply picking up a joint. Ultimately, cannabis and a solid self-care routine is what brought me back to health. \r\n\r\n**Beyond the Smoke**\r\n\r\nAt first I turned to smoking flower for pain relief. It did wonders--especially now that there is so much information available on strain types. The only downside of the some of the flower was I felt too high. I wanted to get back to life as usual and although I’ve always enjoyed smoking a joint from time to time, I’ve never been an all day every day smoker. I needed to find a way to manage my pain and stay more clear-minded. \r\n\r\nAs the medical cannabis industry has grown, we’ve seen an explosion in other methods of consumption. Learning about these products gave me a vast toolkit. Edibles and tinctures offer a discreet, easy to measure dose of cannabis available in many configurations. Some are low-dose, some are for sleep, some are high-CBD, and the list goes on. These products have been life-savers. But by far one class of products has helped me day in and day out more than any other is topicals. \r\n\r\n**Topicals - What Are They?**\r\n\r\nTopicals are a way to apply cannabis directly to your skin. Formulas come in many forms including oils, balms, salves, and lotion bars. Topicals are not psychoactive so you will not feel high after using them. \r\n\r\n**How Do They Work?** \r\n\r\nApplying a topical is a transdermal method of ingesting cannabis - meaning it goes through your skin. They work by binding to a network of receptors called CB2 that are found throughout the body and are activated either by the body’s naturally-occurring endocannabinoids or by cannabis compounds known as phytocannabinoids. \r\n\r\nWhen you apply most topicals, the cannabinoids don’t enter the bloodstream so you will not have a psychoactive experience. The two exceptions are with transdermal patches, which will deliver THC to the bloodstream and can cause psychoactive effects and cannabis-infused soaks, which allow THC to be absorbed through the colon. However, with lotions, salves, and the like, you can use them to relieve pain in a specific area while going about your day. \r\n\r\n**Penetration vs. Absorption** \r\n\r\nIn skincare, there is a difference between penetration and absorption. Skin penetration refers to the amount of a topically applied compound that exists between the top layer of skin, the stratum corneum, and the bottom layer of skin, the stratum basale. During penetration, the body does not absorb the compound so it does not affect the body systems. Skin absorption refers to the process where the compound breaks the skin barrier and enters the bloodstream.  \r\n\r\nMany factors influence penetration and absorption, including how thick the skin is in the area a formula is applied and the type of formula being applied. Most topicals will not pass the skin barrier and absorb into the bloodstream, but patches, for example, have been made with molecules small enough to do so. \r\n\r\n**Body Oils, Lotions and Salves**\r\n\r\nThrough my experimentation, I found each of these formulas have their own purposes. \r\n\r\nBody Oils - Coupling cannabis with self-massage (or massage from someone else if you’re lucky) can dramatically increase the therapeutic effects. Body oils stay on the skin long enough to provide lubrication for deeper massage, releasing of knots and tension. \r\n\r\nSalves and Balms - These absorb into the skin a bit faster and they are less messy to use, making them my go to for portable relief. Keeping a jar in my purse to apply as needed has been a lifesaver on many occasions. Salves and balms provide enough oil for some massage, but will sink into your skin faster than oil. \r\n\r\nBody Butters - Butters are one step down on the oily scale from salves and balms. Another great choice for relief on the go, body butters made with a natural butter base such as mango, shea, or cocoa. In my experience, the natural butters carry enough scent that they are the predominant smell, not the cannabis. \r\n\r\nLotions - the lightest in texture and oiliness, these will penetrate your skin the fastest. They are not good for massage, but they are great if you want to apply something under your clothes that will leave no mess. \r\n\r\nLotion Bars - lotion bars are solid bars that melt when applied to skin. Often made from a combination of natural butters and oils, these are great for an at home massage treatment. \r\n\r\nSoaks - A newer trend on the cannabis market are bath salts and bath bombs. Fill your tub, add the product, and soak. While you’re relaxing in the tub, the cannabis is penetrating your outer skin layers while also being absorbed by your colon. This leaves you with a very light psychoactive experience that is somewhere between very calm and slightly high. \r\n\r\n**...That Smells Nice**\r\n\r\nSome topicals have stronger cannabis scents than others. There are several options that do not smell like cannabis at all, offering you relief in places where you’d prefer not to unleash the smell of cannabis. Some companies add additional ingredients, such as wintergreen, eucalyptus, and lavender add to the experience. Some topicals are heating and some are cooling. Try a few to find your favorites. \r\n\r\n**What Can I Use Them For?** \r\n\r\nFor Inflammation and Arthritis - CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. If you’d like to combat inflammation or pain related to arthritis, look for a high CBD topical. \r\n\r\nFor Cramps - Topicals calm menstrual cramps. I’ve found body oils to be very effective, especially if applied to both the lower back and lower abdomen and paired with a hot water bottle. \r\n\r\nFor Sore Muscles - Soaking after a workout or self-massage with an oil will leave you less sore the next day. \r\n\r\nFor Better Sleep - a thorough rub down before bed with any topical makes me sleep more  soundly. My body relaxes more deeply as I drift off into my dreams. \r\n\r\n**A Self-Care Routine**\r\n\r\nFinding a way to handle pain that didn’t make me high was a game-changer. But cannabis alone is not a magic bullet. Developing a self-care routine was invaluable to my recovery. For some techniques, such as massage, pairing with cannabis magnified the healing effects.  \r\n\r\nStretching - Developing a 10-15 minute routine at the beginning and end of your day can make a world of difference. Luckily, the internet abounds with yoga and stretching videos if you’d like inspiration. \r\n\r\nMovement - A vital part of each day, especially if your job requires you to sit in one place. A brief daily walk or getting up once per hour move a bit will make the world of difference. Topical balm can be used in advance of any activity to loosen muscles, as well as be applied afterwards to soothe soreness.\r\n\r\nMassage and other Body Work - Massage alone is magnificently healing. Pairing it with a cannabis brings another level of relaxation. While a professional body worker will reach very deep levels of healing, self-massage on a regular basis is also fantastic. \r\n\r\nMini Foot Spa - While integrating massage into your life is a worthwhile luxury due to the health benefits, it’s not always possible to get a massage. Doing your own mini foot spa is another at-home, accessible self-care routine. Our feet carry so much tension a foot spa can release. Try a cannabis soak and rub some bath salts into your feet to exfoliate. Follow with an oil applied with massage. If you want to take it to another level, look at a reflexology chart and target areas specific to your tension. \r\n\r\nTake A Minute to Breathe - Much like stretching, just a few minutes each day makes a world of difference. While I was initially skeptical, meditation taught me a way to stay grounded during a flare up. I developed a pre-meditation ritual of rubbing some of my favorite scented topical into my temples and neck beforehand, helping me to settle in. \r\n\r\nAs I’ve come to find is often the case for providers of cannabis medicine, it was my own discovery of the vast and varied healing properties of this plant that inspired me to share it with others. In 2015 I founded [Sava](https://www.getsava.com), a marketplace for high-quality, hand-crafted cannabis goods. My hope is to share detailed information on use and dosage with patients while also providing access to safe, consistent medicine. \r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/ee604/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png","srcSet":"/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/69585/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 200w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/497c6/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 400w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/ee604/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 800w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/f3583/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 1200w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/f90fa/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/58556/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/61e93/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 200w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/1f5c5/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 400w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/58556/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 800w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/99238/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 1200w,\n/static/180c0d5969d8f620ba0d0b33edcea28f/5e0b8/55f4db69ab8fef1c1754e43421bdfbb3.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2222-markdown","title":"What Are Terpenes and What Is Their Effect?","slug":"what-are-terpenes-and-what-is-their-effect","content":"The distinctive flavors and smells are one of the most striking\nqualities of marijuana, and it varies between strains. The flavors and\nsmells are produced by terpenes, which are small molecules with\nrepeating units of the organic compound isoprene. Terpenes are\nmanufactured inside specialized hairs, called trichomes, located on the\nsurface of the leaves and stems of the plant, and they account for 5-10\npercent of the total essential oils produced by trichomes; in fact,\nterpenes are found in all plants to varying degrees.\n\nMore than 100 different terpenes have been identified in marijuana, and\nthese terpene profiles can vary from strain to strain. Terpene profiling\n-- the process of determining the types and quantities of terpenes\npresent in a plant -- is thought to be one of the most accurate ways to\ndistinguish between marijuana strains. Various factors influence the\nratio of terpenes present in marijuana, including strain, environment,\ncultivation and degree of plant degradation.\n\n**The Role of Terpenes**\n\nTerpenes are functionally diverse, and many are integral to marijuana's\ngrowth and survival. They attract pollinators, repel harmful insects,\ndeter herbivores, protect against bacteria and fungi, and act as\nprecursors for more complex molecules, such as cannabinoids. Many\nterpenes interact with other types of terpenes, and some assist or\ninhibit the formation of different compounds within the marijuana plant.\n\n**Primary Terpenes**\n\nTerpenes can be classified as primary or secondary, depending on their\nrole: Primary terpenes are essential for plant growth and development,\nwhile secondary terpenes are involved in plant defenses. Following are\nsome of the primary terpenes found in marijuana:\n\n-   **Pinene** gives marijuana its earthy, pine-like flavor and spicy,\n    herbal notes. This terpene crosses the blood-brain barrier and\n    promotes memory retention and alertness by inhibiting the breakdown\n    of acetylcholinesterase, which is a chemical found in the brain. It\n    also acts as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory.\n-   **Caryophyllene** has a peppery flavor and a spicy, earthy aroma\n    with citrus notes. It is the only terpene known to act on the\n    [endocannabinoid\n    system](https://hellomd.com/articles/is-your-endocannabinoid-system-in-balance),\n    which regulates a variety of physiological processes, including\n    [pain\n    sensation](https://hellomd.com/articles/marijuana-nips-pain-in-the-bud)\n    and\n    [inflammation](https://hellomd.com/articles/medical-marijuana-as-an-aid-against-inflammation).\n    Activation of the CB2 receptors by caryophyllene is instrumental in\n    enhancing marijuana's anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.\n-   **Humulene** gives marijuana its robust, woody flavor and spicy,\n    herbal notes. This terpene possesses [anti-inflammatory\n    properties](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/the-powerful-anti-inflammatory-effects-of-cannabis)\n    and acts as an [appetite\n    suppressant](https://hellomd.com/articles/the-munchies-will-make-you-fat-right-think-again).\n-   **Linalool** has a floral flavor reminiscent of lavender, with the\n    addition of spicy overtones. It exhibits powerful analgesic and\n    [anti-seizure](https://hellomd.com/articles/epilepsy-relief-possible-through-medical-cannabis)\n    properties and is partly responsible for the sedative effects of\n    certain marijuana strains. It also has strong antibacterial,\n    anti-cancer and antifungal effects.\n-   **Myrcene** is the most common terpene found in marijuana, and it is\n    also present in bay, thyme, hops and lemongrass. This musky terpene\n    is a potent analgesic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, and its\n    concentration determines whether a strain has an energizing or\n    sedative effect. Strains containing more than 0.5 percent of myrcene\n    have a\n    [sedative](https://hellomd.com/articles/medical-marijuana-could-help-insomniacs-sleep-better)\n    effect, while strains containing less than 0.5 percent myrcene\n    produce an\n    [energizing](https://hellomd.com/articles/relief-from-fibromyalgia-symptoms-the-case-for-medical-marijuana) effect.\n-   **Terpinolene** has a woody flavor and is responsible for many of\n    the floral notes characteristic of Jack Herer varieties\n    of marijuana. It has been shown to exhibit\n    [antioxidant](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/are-hemp-seeds-a-superfood),\n    [anti-cancer](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/marijuana-found-to-shrink-aggressive-brain-cancer)\n    and\n    [sedative](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/no-longer-sleepless-in-seattle-medical-marijuana-eases-insomnia) properties.\n-   **Limonene** is most often found in sativa strains of marijuana and\n    has a citrus flavor reminiscent of oranges. It has antioxidant,\n    anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and it is known to\n    activate enzymes that stimulate the liver and increase bile flow,\n    which in turn aids digestion. Studies show that limonene can also\n    help treat\n    [anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/does-marijuana-ease-anxiety)\n    and\n    [depression](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/depression-sufferers-find-relief-in-medical-marijuana).\n\n**Secondary Terpenes**\n\nFollowing are some of the secondary terpenes found in marijuana:\n\n-   **Sabinene** has a woody flavor with spicy, peppery notes. It has\n    been shown to aid digestion, relieve\n    [arthritis](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-soothes-arthritis-pain)\n    and soothe skin conditions.\n-   **Phellandrene** is known for its peppermint flavor, with slight\n    citrus notes. It possesses\n    [antidepressant](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/depression-sufferers-find-relief-in-medical-marijuana).\n-   **Borneol** has a minty aroma and is found in high concentrations in\n    herbs such as rosemary and mint. It has both anti-inflammatory and\n    [analgesic](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/how-thc-and-cbd-work-to-fight-pain) effects.\n-   **Isoborneol** has a sweet and musty flavor; also found in mugwort,\n    isoborneol exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial\n    properties, and it inhibits the herpes simplex type 1 virus, which\n    causes cold sores.\n-   **Phytol** results from the breakdown of a green pigment\n    called chlorophyll. It has a floral, balsamic flavor and\n    demonstrates sedative and\n    [anti-anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/does-marijuana-ease-anxiety)\n    effects through inhibiting the activity of an enzyme that degrades\n    GABA, which is a chemical found in the brain.\n\n**The Entourage Effect**\n\nThe medicinal effects of terpenes are due in part to their interactions\nwith cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol\n(THC). [Research](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/)\nconducted by Ethan Russo, MD and published in the British Journal of\nPharmacology in August 2011, reveals that terpenes mediate the\nphysiological and psychoactive effects of cannabinoids: a phenomenon\ntermed the [entourage\neffect](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/what-is-the-entourage-effect).\nThis may help to explain why the effects of synthetic cannabinoids --\nchemicals made to mimic the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids\n-- differ from those of smoking or ingesting the whole marijuana plant\nand why different strains of the marijuana plant differ in their\neffects.\n\nThe primary and secondary terpenes in marijuana exhibit a variety of\naromas, flavors and medicinal benefits. Understanding the differences\nbetween the different types of terpenes make choosing a suitable strain\nof marijuana easier.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/mindwhisperings/3202191448/in/photolist-5SY4Xo-8n6c7h-9kh3bS-p5UBJC-9iSR3f-oxTr4v-9rHh47-aaQcLJ-9rEiVB-9rEiTF-dQTKqM-4X5eAv-9rEiWz-6dnEaq-iCzjGK-fTq6wD-9rHh9W-7mSznR-4oThFo-5C16rF-P15Sc-kVXmSg-4TkU8v-8s8NiE-7C2C2K-hmjD7N-9L5jVV-HUhxF-as8xvv-6nphvT-62YzRN-6F6z28-2tiLf-dezxSJ-fch9VE-5J3N14-3ZHPK-3ZHQq-oxqQQR-pQgnHR-5ugN1D-rAiAvY-63oMZY-3ZHN5-nVfH1y-dawLt2-qqpVLu-abv6JW-qYY4AW-3ZHP2)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4705882352941178,"src":"/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/ee604/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.png","srcSet":"/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/69585/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.png 200w,\n/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/497c6/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.png 400w,\n/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/ee604/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.png 800w,\n/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/a4253/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.png 969w","srcWebp":"/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/58556/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/61e93/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.webp 200w,\n/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/1f5c5/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.webp 400w,\n/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/58556/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.webp 800w,\n/static/9a4c5759398c1f0cf4d4bb602e683e40/c7cd9/33dc664e08b8641da97f6dca48afaa9a.webp 969w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2025-markdown","title":"What is the Entourage Effect?","slug":"what-is-the-entourage-effect","content":"While medical researchers have identified more than [480 components in\r\ncannabis](http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/11/health/gupta-marijuana-entourage/),\r\nincluding 66 compounds unique to the plant, scientists have yet to\r\ndetermine exactly how these chemical components work together to produce\r\ndifferent reactions. One concept, termed the \"entourage effect,\"\r\ntheorizes that some cannabis compounds, which have no effect in\r\nisolation, affect the human body only when combined with other\r\ncomponents.\r\n\r\n**Synergy vs. the Entourage Effect**\r\n\r\nBefore the entourage effect gained prominence in medical circles, many\r\nresearchers discussed [the effect of\r\nsynergy](http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/Herbal-Medicine/Beyond-Synergy%E2%80%94the-Entourage-Effect-in-Nutrition-Herbalism.html)\r\nin herbal medicines and dietary supplements. For components within an\r\nherbal medicine to achieve synergy, the effects of two or more\r\ncomponents must become magnified when combined. Synergisms also explain\r\nwhy vitamins in isolation are less beneficial than eating fruits and\r\nvegetables that contain a wide variety of vitamins and antioxidants.\r\n\r\nThe entourage effect is a related, but different, concept. For the\r\nentourage effect to occur, isolated components must have no noticeable\r\nbenefit in curing the condition under examination. However, when\r\ncombined with other components that also have no discernible benefit,\r\nthere must be a palpable advantage to using the composite.\r\n\r\nResearchers believe that the entourage effect explains why cannabis can\r\nbe so effective when treating certain conditions while synthetic\r\nformulations of only THC or CBD medications may only achieve limited\r\nsuccess in some patients. Evidence suggests that although certain\r\ncannabinoids may appear to be inert, they may produce tangible benefits\r\nwhen mixed with other compounds.\r\n\r\n**How the Entourage Effect Impacts Medication Formulation**\r\n\r\nWhen patients reported that cannabis consumption eased the weight loss\r\ncaused by AIDS or the adverse affects of chemotherapy, medical\r\nresearchers analyzed the plant to determine what caused these benefits.\r\nResearch credited the cannabinoid THC for these benefits, so\r\npharmaceutical companies isolated the THC to create drugs to address\r\nAIDs and chemotherapy symptoms. However, patients who used these\r\n[THC-only\r\ndrugs](http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2015/01/medicinal-cannabis)\r\nreported greater psychotropic side effects when compared to ingesting\r\ncannabis.\r\n\r\nFurther research into cannabis uncovered that the cannabinoid CBD,\r\nblended with other cannabinoids, reduced the hallucinatory effects of\r\nTHC. Therefore, THC-only drugs eliminated the benefit of the rest of the\r\ncannabinoids. The Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam named this observed\r\nphenomenon the entourage effect.\r\n\r\nPharmaceutical companies used the concept of the entourage effect to\r\nreformulate their THC-only medications to include an equal measurement\r\nof CBD. The resulting formulations achieved a greater therapeutic\r\nbenefit while reducing the adverse reactions of THC-only medications.\r\n\r\nThe entourage effect also impacts the work of scientists who want to\r\n[breed certain strains of\r\ncannabis](http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7570_supp/full/525S6a.html)\r\nto treat specific health problems. Breeding these cannabis strains to\r\nincrease specific cannabinoids that may treat common ailments may result\r\nin new plants that can better treat patients with fewer side effects.\r\nHowever, such new strains also may create an imbalance within the\r\ndifferent cannabis compounds that eliminate known benefits.\r\n\r\n**Whole Plant Medicinal Use: Barriers and Origins**\r\n\r\nFor people who have observed or experienced the entourage effect in\r\ncannabis, it may be difficult to understand why some doctors hesitate to\r\nrecommend botanical cannabis use and prefer medications with only THC or\r\nCBD cannabinoids. Many medical professionals prefer to prescribe a\r\nsingle compound used to treat a specific problem, disease or ailment\r\nbecause Western medical philosophy endorses this type of\r\nisolated-treatment medicine. While this approach may unintentionally\r\neliminate the entourage effect of cannabis, doctors support this\r\nphilosophy because it also serves to minimize adverse side effects.\r\n\r\nHowever, to effectively use botanical cannabis, some researchers argue\r\nthat doctors should reject the idea of creating a single potent drug to\r\ntreat an isolated problem. Instead, these researchers believe that\r\ndoctors should return to a philosophy of treating multiple possible\r\nproblems with a low dosage of a single, wide-range medication. These\r\nscientists, including noted cannabis researcher Vincenzo Di Marzo, also\r\nbelieve that [some cancers and other diseases may come from an imbalance\r\nof some natural\r\nsystems](http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2015/01/medicinal-cannabis)\r\nwithin the human body.\r\n\r\nThis concept of poly-pharmacology remains in practice in traditional\r\nChinese medicine. Instead of using a single herb to treat a specific\r\nproblem, practitioners prescribe a combination of herbs called herbal\r\nformulas. The combinations of these herbs, some of which may have no\r\ndiscernible benefit on their own, are well-known to have many benefits\r\nfrom numerous past studies. Experts carefully combine the herbs to\r\ncreate the necessary treatment for a combination of related health\r\nproblems.\r\n\r\n**Known Instances of the Entourage Effect in Cannabis**\r\n\r\nWhile the effect of CBD on THC is the most notable illustration of the\r\nentourage effect, research also indicates that [cannabinoids and\r\nterpenes may also\r\ncombine](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x/pdf)\r\nto achieve greater therapeutic advantages. Studies indicate that certain\r\nterpenes may impact the blood-brain barrier, which may explain why\r\ncertain cannabinoids have greater efficacy when they do not operate in\r\nisolation.\r\n\r\nIn the whole-plant cannabis versus synthetic-cannabis medication debate,\r\nall researchers agree that the entourage effect is still not a concept\r\nthat they fully understand. Further research into exactly how THC, CBD\r\nand other important cannabis compounds work will allow scientists to\r\nmake better recommendations for how to use cannabis compounds to treat\r\nvarious diseases and ailments. With nearly 500 different cannabis\r\ncomponents to explore, the field of whole-plant and\r\nsynthetic-cannabinoid medications is wide open for new and exciting\r\ndevelopments.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/2074121298/in/photolist-4ahq13-9cgKf-79zW3r-d4VuPJ-AtFDzK-pqhzaG-998tw4-4LhphD-ixJ3oL-5uLDAd-X8tR1-4adqtr-4ads8H-8swLhf-X47Pc-95LerV-6axMb-8sLuuq-8VBLCx-9Ge2nu-fuRSHd-4mKc6X-zj9M1S-4NvAzX-8VUnfd-7Z7dwD-7STQ1K-jHXBe-9Atkcr-5KVEaV-5EyWGV-79zXev-q7W8Qp-586np6-4aZTX7-qdfpkk-ooKL5j-9jpQKH-5uGh1x-RAuCj-63aMz3-586mZz-586mP2-rcmPQL-oH1n1i-r3uTa3-mL5Enn-7ZejvR-Agbbn9-AgaUTT)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5267175572519085,"src":"/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/ee604/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.png","srcSet":"/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/69585/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.png 200w,\n/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/497c6/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.png 400w,\n/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/ee604/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.png 800w,\n/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/30c15/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.png 936w","srcWebp":"/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/58556/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/61e93/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.webp 200w,\n/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/1f5c5/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.webp 400w,\n/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/58556/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.webp 800w,\n/static/30a869a99ff2da1f7d4d8dbaa4798fd0/5d27d/d1766b6511dc373bc43c72bbf2b842a5.webp 936w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1966-markdown","title":"Consuming Marijuana Every Day: The Pros & Cons","slug":"consuming-marijuana-every-day-the-pros-and-cons","content":"Many people consume marijuana every day and feel that it improves their health. Others are concerned about how it affects their brain and lungs—if they're smoking. So, what's the answer? Is it safe to consume marijuana daily? If so, is it something you _should_ do? Here's our list of pros and cons of marijuana use on a daily basis.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \n\n### Consuming Marijuana Every Day: Pros\n\nIn addition to helping people cope with things like digestive disorders and depression, cannabis is also good for the management of regular aches and pains. This is one of the main reasons that people consume it on a daily basis. Some even think of cannabis, and especially the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) as a preventative substance, like a vitamin, and so consume it daily. Here are some marijuana pros to consider.\n\n#### Daily Cannabis Consumption Helps Cope With Pain\n\nFor thousands of years, marijuana has been used as an effective treatment for everything from [chronic pain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a5559d6237660006250000/marijuana-nips-pain-in-the-bud)\nto [menstrual cramps](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55dcd66a3961660006470000/marijuana-brings-relief-to-women-suffering-from-pms-symptoms). For some pain sufferers, marijuana can offer formidable pain relief benefits with none of the [dangerous side\neffects of painkillers—over the counter or prescribed by a doctor](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c91db33934390006220000/cannabis-may-be-safer-than-opioids-for-managing-pain).\n\nStudies are now showing that pain sufferers who take opioids for their ailments [prefer marijuana and say that the plant gives them comparable pain relief](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/58c731c766f73a578ef78e50/science-backs-cannabis-as-a-replacement-to-opioids) without opioids’ scary side effects. \n\n#### Marijuana May Make You More Creative\n\nWhen it comes to letting the creative juices flow, [smoking marijuana can help some people get creative](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/psychology-masala/201204/cannabis-and-creativity). In light of this, it's used daily by [many people in creative professional fields, like music and art](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a53b186100a820006562f54/meet-3-artists-who-use-cannabis-to-spark-their-creativity). While marijuana doesn’t stimulate creativity for everyone, it can certainly help you come up with new ideas and think outside the box more than you typically would.\n\n#### Marijuana Can Help Regulate Blood Sugar & Weight Gain\n\nDespite that old stereotype of stoners getting the munchies and becoming fat on unhealthy food binges, research shows that everyday marijuana consumers are actually healthier than previously thought. According to a study published in the _American Journal of Epidemiology_, [people who use marijuana daily have a lower risk of obesity](https://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/24/aje.kwr200.abstract) than people who don't consume cannabis.\n\nAdditionally, a study in the _American Journal of Medicine_ showed that [regular cannabis users have thinner waists and lower insulin levels](http://healthland.time.com/2013/05/21/marijuana-the-next-diabetes-drug/) than their cannabis-free peers. Because of this, daily cannabis consumption may be a good option for people struggling to maintain a healthy weight, it just may take a bit of experimentation to see which cannabis strains and products don’t stimulate your appetite. \n\n### Consuming Marijuana on a Daily Basis: Cons\n\nWhile consuming cannabis daily offers some folks many positive effects including pain relief and enhanced creativity, there are some marijuana cons that you should be aware of as well. \n\n#### Smoking Marijuana Daily Increases the Risk of Respiratory Illness\n\nWhile there are many ways of consuming marijuana, people who choose to smoke it may experience [forms of respiratory illness](http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20091015/daily-pot-smokers-court-health-risks?page=2), such as chronic bronchitis, chronic coughing, wheezing and higher-than-normal levels of sputum. Studies have also shown a [potential link between regular marijuana inhalation and upper respiratory tract cancers](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2516340/), although the results have been mixed and often contradictory. If this is something that concerns you, try a smoke-free way of consuming cannabis including tinctures, edibles or topicals.\n\n#### Smoking Marijuana Can Damage Lungs in the Long Term\n\nAccording to the [American Lung Association, marijuana smoke can damage lung health](http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/marijuana-and-lung-health.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/). Additionally, since marijuana smokers generally hold their breath longer and inhale more deeply than people who smoke cigarettes, there’s a risk that marijuana smokers may actually be exposed to more tar than cigarette smokers, though the carcinogens released from cigarettes are different than cannabis.\n\nBut anyone concerned about this aspect of consuming marijuana should opt for consumption methods like edibles or vaporizers, which offer the medicinal effects of the plant without the harmful effects smoking marijuana can have on the lungs.\n\n#### Marijuana Can Raise Your Heart Rate\n\nAccording to research, [marijuana raises the resting heart rate of people who use it frequently](http://www.livescience.com/45087-marijuana-heart-problems-deaths.html).\nWhile this isn’t a problem for healthy folks, it may be dangerous for people who have risk factors such as heart disease, arrhythmias or a family history of heart disease. In light of this, people suffering from any form of heart disease should consult a doctor and review their symptoms before getting involved in daily marijuana use.\n\n#### Excess Use of Cannabis May Disrupt Learning\n\nAccording to a 2011 study, it's possible that [excess cannabis use can impair verbal learning and problem solving](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037578/). But if cannabis consumption stops, these effects generally last for only three weeks. It’s worth keeping in mind, though, that these symptoms are most pronounced in people who consume large amounts of cannabis on a regular basis.\n\nResearch now is supporting the thinking that cannabis doesn’t lead to IQ decline and that older studies that suggested it did didn’t account for other factors such as mental illness, alcohol use and socioeconomic status. \n\nRELATED: [DOES SMOKING MARIJUANA MAKE YOU STUPID?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56d69af2a6d8a5000c00002c/does-smoking-marijuana-make-you-stupid)\n\n### How to Decide How Much Cannabis Is Right for You\n\nThe decision about whether to smoke or ingest cannabis every day is a highly personal one. Cannabis has many well-known medicinal effects and has been shown time and time again to be a healthier and safer treatment option for a wide variety of [anxiety and mood\ndisorders](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55fc4eea3063390006b90000/cannabis-for-anxiety-and-stress-disorders), as well as [physical symptoms like muscle spasms](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b156f433303700060f0000/easing-muscle-spasms-with-medical-marijuana). Even people who don't suffer from these symptoms often enjoy consuming marijuana on a daily basis. While you should always talk to your doctor before adopting a daily marijuana regimen, this is a valid option for many consumers.\n\nBut it's important to keep in mind that there are also risks to everyday marijuana usage, although they’re less conclusive than the noted benefits. Daily marijuana smokers may suffer from lung disease. Frequent use of cannabis can also increase risk of heart disease and difficulty maintaining attention span.\n\nIt’s up to individuals and their doctors to weigh the pros and cons of cannabis and decide whether daily marijuana usage is a good fit for their lifestyle.\n\nPhoto credit: [ashton](https://www.flickr.com/photos/8364994@N02/4834872285/in/photolist-8neZ5Z-64VQXv-dox2X-8FDa14-dmtvQG-nJCA9q-TTo2aa-QZZAcG-6p4WvU-2iAnC-6Wm5VR-nJCp4j-ogDqSp-HTEy2K-8dsv7Z-GqVRVR-9fPLXx-6rw6Rz-9nn8Sr-dtwbRQ-jZ7sr-5QLD8w-dK7UdC-jZ3kp-6TUTVp-21CmSdS-gv2Qpd-jqsZEW-8m9Zpi-aBqp8F-8nuNoz-HTEvpa-pyekQm-R3BnqK-8QzbMH-rkzc1F-axBBkh-7TKsfj-8nxwXJ-7ZHRji-996agY-rY3P5t-7RncRf-R2Ftww-8neNWp-d7PfnQ-RGVjn3-awPuQe-21KMFMs-yDxCT)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/14b42/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/f836f/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.jpg 200w,\n/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/2244e/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.jpg 400w,\n/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/14b42/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.jpg 800w,\n/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/4fcde/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.jpg 928w","srcWebp":"/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/58556/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/61e93/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.webp 200w,\n/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/1f5c5/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.webp 400w,\n/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/58556/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.webp 800w,\n/static/e8a69b41784e6b75b2d972f2f4bd4bf4/ac1cd/3a1595299c1a32a3025565213032da41.webp 928w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2060-markdown","title":"How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your Body?","slug":"how-long-does-marijuana-stay-in-your-body","content":"Despite the potential therapeutic benefits, using marijuana is\r\ncurrently prohibited under federal law. Additionally, testing in the workplace is common, with many people feeling their jobs may be at risk in case of detection.\r\n\r\nAs a result, many prospective and current medical marijuana users want to know how long marijuana\r\nstays in their system so they can reap the benefits while avoiding the\r\npotential legal repercussions. \r\n\r\n**Detecting the Presence of Marijuana**\r\n\r\nWhen marijuana is inhaled or ingested, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and\r\nother cannabinoids are absorbed into the bloodstream. THC is detectable\r\nin the blood for only a short time before being broken down into\r\nmolecules known as metabolites. These metabolites are stored in fat and\r\nare eliminated from the body over time. Determining exactly how long\r\nmarijuana stays in the body depends greatly on how long THC and its\r\nmetabolites remain in the following biological specimens:\r\n\r\n### Urine\r\n\r\nUrine reveals the presence of THC-COOH, a THC metabolite, for up to\r\neight days after a single use of marijuana. The accuracy of urine\r\ntesting declines after about a week, but many frequent or heavy\r\nmarijuana users continue to test positive for up to 15 and 90 days,\r\nrespectively. Diluting urine with water or other substances can increase\r\nthe chances of a false-negative result.\r\n\r\n### Hair\r\n\r\nHair provides the longest record of past marijuana use, and detection\r\ntimes are based on hair length. It takes about 5-10 days for hair\r\ncontaining THC-COOH to grow above the scalp where it can be extracted,\r\nand moving from root to tip, every half inch of hair provides a 30-day\r\ndetection window. A standard hair test uses a 1.5-inch sample of hair\r\ncut at the scalp line, and covers a 90-day detection period. The results\r\nof hair analysis are not affected by external contaminants, such as hair\r\ndyes and styling products.\r\n\r\n### Blood\r\n\r\nTHC is detectable in the blood for appropriately six to 24 hours after a\r\nsingle use of marijuana. Heavy or frequent use can produce positive\r\nresults for up to a week.\r\n\r\n### Saliva\r\n\r\nSaliva testing offers the shortest detection window and thus provides a\r\nrecord of more recent marijuana use. THC is most readily detectable in\r\nsaliva one to two hours after ingestion, but can continue to produce\r\npositive results for up to 12 hours. The results of saliva analysis are\r\nnot always reliable because only minimal amounts of marijuana are\r\nexcreted in saliva.\r\n\r\n**Factors Affecting the Elimination of Marijuana**\r\n\r\nEstimating how long marijuana stays in the body is a challenging task\r\nbecause of the many factors that influence the drug's elimination. Some\r\nof these include:\r\n\r\n-   **Amount and frequency of use:** Frequent or heavy marijuana use\r\n    typically results in longer elimination times.\r\n-   **Metabolic rate:** People with high metabolic rates break down THC\r\n    faster than those with low metabolic rates and thus eliminate\r\n    marijuana faster.\r\n-   **Age and overall health:** Metabolism slows with age and ill\r\n    health, resulting in longer elimination periods.\r\n\r\nThe amount of time marijuana stays in the body depends on a combination\r\nof factors that are unique to each individual. In a small percentage of\r\ncases, marijuana may stay in the body for longer than the times\r\ndescribed here.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/spapax/4864045598/in/photolist-8pPvi9-6yJcjt-jRcDHD-94iuSL-p6MCC5-dzFnp3-fKm5e6-5WgcMT-mLTYN7-7DCC5m-d9txSf-88G64K-pn5hmK-5DVfVF-rNDquC-qNUG9X-eb373f-gXvhUX-2TtdZm-dtgLMo-hKgkTV-rWJ5K-dZrrr-7CBSbv-c3sm2W-dtPGk-5qhemo-pELvqg-HmAzJ-srLvJp-amT8d2-rqW93q-7Q9sio-7gYhP-5ZvVMf-71c6CD-4rFABb-ePnmx-Kr1ZU-qJrofv-iwCDhG-5eqYC3-cS5Rqj-8Luk2K-9grNy-srCwVE-co64gJ-7svqiD-nxhgPZ-oeXqzE)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5267175572519085,"src":"/static/6e98958a5ee565cfb9746215b363b56d/86732/7327ef5a1d418846597b77ffb49c5bf5.png","srcSet":"/static/6e98958a5ee565cfb9746215b363b56d/69585/7327ef5a1d418846597b77ffb49c5bf5.png 200w,\n/static/6e98958a5ee565cfb9746215b363b56d/497c6/7327ef5a1d418846597b77ffb49c5bf5.png 400w,\n/static/6e98958a5ee565cfb9746215b363b56d/86732/7327ef5a1d418846597b77ffb49c5bf5.png 596w","srcWebp":"/static/6e98958a5ee565cfb9746215b363b56d/a6880/7327ef5a1d418846597b77ffb49c5bf5.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6e98958a5ee565cfb9746215b363b56d/61e93/7327ef5a1d418846597b77ffb49c5bf5.webp 200w,\n/static/6e98958a5ee565cfb9746215b363b56d/1f5c5/7327ef5a1d418846597b77ffb49c5bf5.webp 400w,\n/static/6e98958a5ee565cfb9746215b363b56d/a6880/7327ef5a1d418846597b77ffb49c5bf5.webp 596w","sizes":"(max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1998-markdown","title":"CBD (Cannabidiol): The Medicine of the Future","slug":"cbd-cannabidiol-the-medicine-of-the-future","content":"If you're anything like me, you've probably spent a fair deal of time\nhoping that the medical establishment would begin transitioning to more\nuser-friendly, safer drugs. So many of the medicines doctors prescribe\ntoday are damaging or downright dangerous, and it's easy to wonder if\nthe results are worth the price consumers pay - both financially and\nphysically.\n\nToday, however, it looks like there's light at the end of that tunnel.\nIt comes in the form of cannabidiol (CBD), and all evidence points to\nthe fact that it may well be the medicine of the future.\n\n**CBD 101: What You Need to Know**\n\nWithin the cannabis plant, there are more than 60 chemical compounds\ncalled\n[cannabinoids](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55da2ff26430380006690000/cannabinoids-chemical-compounds-with-huge-therapeutic-potential),\nincluding cannabidiol. These cannabinoids work within the body to\nactivate the cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system. While\nall of these cannabinoids offer benefits of their own, recent research\nhas shown that\n[cannabidiol](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55e12afb6539390006040000/cbd-oil-breaking-the-stereotypes-of-cannabis)\nmay present more health benefits than any single manufactured drug\nthat's being prescribed today.\n\nCannabidiol is present in the cannabis plant in high levels. In fact,\nit's the second-most abundant cannabinoid in the entire herb, which is\nfortunate because doctors are now singing the praises of CBD for\ntreating everything from [autoimmune\ndiseases](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/560c73fa62373500064d0000/cannabinoids-and-the-immune-system)\nand diabetes to\n[arthritis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5822789665e8fd000cc74ebc/cannabis-soothes-arthritis-pain),\n[nausea](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b7eb226264330006320000/the-next-step-for-nausea-treatment-medical-marijuana),\n[digestive\ndisorders](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/561d5de53233340006be0000/cannabis-shows-promise-in-treating-crohns-disease-and-colitis)\nand much more.\n\nCBD has also been suggested to possess neuroprotective effects, which\nmakes it a fantastic potential treatment for people at high risk of\nrecurring head injuries (like NFL players).\n\nThanks to the medicinal value of CBD, this unique little compound could\nbecome big news in the medical world sooner rather than later.\n\n**CBD and THC**\n\nUntil recently, medical professionals believed that THC was a byproduct\nof CBD. But today we know that THC and CBD are separate compounds that,\nwhen subjected to heat or extraction processes, undergo extensive\nchanges that make them psychoactive.\n\nBecause CBD can be used without the psychoactive effects of THC, the\ncompound is an exciting alternative for patients who are attempting to\ndo away with their current medication in favor of something safer, more\neasily accessible, and with far fewer side effects.\n\n**CBD and Cancer**\n\nCBD is the main compound that gives cannabis its soothing, relaxing\neffect. Because of this, CBD has emerged as a powerful treatment for\nanxiety disorders, epilepsy, eating disorders and pain. Some scientists\nare even evaluating the compound with regard to potential treatment\noptions for cancer patients - and CBD has already [proven\npromising](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22506672)!\n\nWithin the last several years, a scientist with San Francisco's Pacific\nMedical Center named Dr. Sean McAllister discovered that CBD can\nactually restrict the growth of cancer cells throughout the body, thus\nslowing tumor growth and providing more time for cancer patients to\nexplore treatment options.\n\nWhen Dr. McAllister studied the effect of CBD on [breast cancer\npatients](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/can-cannabidiol-cbd-fight-metastatic-cancer-according-to-the-latest-research-the-answer-is-yes-170681736.html),\nhe found that the administration of CBD actually decreased the number of\ncancer cells present. Plus, since CBD is completely nontoxic, applying\nthe compound didn't present any unwanted side effects for the patients\nin question.\n\n**CBD and Diabetes**\n\nIn addition to showing promise for cancer treatment, CBD has also given\nhope in the world of diabetes treatment. In a study conducted by Marc\nFeldman at the Imperial College of London, CBD was administered to mice\nsuffering from genetic type-1 diabetes, which generally begins to affect\nthe mice around 14 weeks of age.\n\nBut when one group of mice was treated with CBD during the first seven\nweeks of their lives, only 30 percent showed diabetic symptoms at the\nregular time of onset. From these results, Feldman concluded that the\nadministration of CBD is actually capable of preventing the onset of\ndiabetes in mice - a development which is, needless to say, incredibly\nexciting for the human population.\n\n**CBD and Inflammation**\n\nWhen it's not treating cancer or diabetes, CBD is busy being a\nformidable opponent for inflammation. CBD has been tested by dozens of\nscientists worldwide and has consistently been shown to reduce the\nsymptoms associated with inflammation from gastrointestinal disorders\nand even arthritis.\n\nIn fact, numerous lab studies have found that the correct doses of CBD\ncan reduce symptoms of inflammation [up to 50\npercent](http://www.beyondthc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Mechoulam-on-CBD.pdf)\nin lab mice.\n\n**The Future of CBD**\n\nOver the last several years, consumers of medical marijuana have\ndisplayed a marked preference for high-THC indica strains which often\nprovide an intense psychoactive experience. Because of this, CBD-rich\nstrains have fallen out of popularity; today, it's tough to find strains\nwith more than 1 percent CBD.\n\nFortunately, some growers have recognized the medicinal and recreational\nimportance of CBD-rich\nstrains,\nwhich are making a comeback around the country. Strains such as\n[Charlotte's\nWeb](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5b903761404e830001078772) and\nHarlequin have been shown to possess a multitude of medical benefits,\nand new strains are being developed on a regular basis.\n\nIt's clear that CBD offers a whole host of health benefits, and the\nresearch into this exciting compound will continue in the coming years.\nAs it stands now, I'm optimistic about the future of CBD and all of the\nincredible treatment options it presents us with.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/29792566@N08/5495492674/in/photolist-9nBQvG-aEupdX-nwkaeT-7bbt8P-6Y8XS9-dfh569-n22tcJ-k8XFWc-dHmSPx-dfh6af-8rJoxs-91uSk-7bfhgo-5rD8x2-dfh1QJ-dfgZRC-NQ2J7-aEygTo-aEursa-aEt3Yb-dfgYNC-qGJaSk-8Mm8rb-dfh5BS-9nyNFR-n4Vas8-dfh2SS-dfh4Cj-dfh252-6Y8Xr3-3u1CEx-dfh2Uv-aEyeXL-JfJQV-7AvwPK-9nyNDi-9nyNEt-JfCNA-p4ctsX-4wv3L-9nBQDf-bEKqPs-dfgZaZ-8mhi7P-bcBUSV-6L1qcA-9hprca-n1ZE4D-9KY9Wj-a3rZWA)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3513513513513513,"src":"/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/ee604/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png","srcSet":"/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/69585/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png 200w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/497c6/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png 400w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/ee604/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png 800w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/dff58/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.png 944w","srcWebp":"/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/58556/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/61e93/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp 200w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/1f5c5/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp 400w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/58556/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp 800w,\n/static/349ebbb1c8d7351225dd919d8d926856/2bbfb/7b47cc7b76d805dd2d47e0c48ba7a931.webp 944w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2033-markdown","title":"Marijuana Edibles vs. Flowers","slug":"marijuana-edibles-vs-flowers","content":"Should somebody eat or smoke their medical cannabis? It's a good\nquestion, as patients today have a choice in how they get their\ncannabis. Two of these options are flowers, also known as buds, and\nedibles, which are foodstuffs that contain cannabis. The best choice\ndepends on a number of factors, including a patient's diagnosis,\nprescription and personal preference regarding delivery method. Here's a\nlook at the differences between flowers and edibles to help patients\nunderstand their options.\n\n**THC Metabolism**\n\nBoth flowers and edibles contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the\nmost common cannabinoids in medical marijuana and the chemical\nresponsible for the psychoactive effects of the plant. THC has been used\nto treat [pain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5cb960fcc56378f60684a367/3-popular-questions-about-cbd-and-chronic-pain-answered),\n[nausea](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a5842c6636300006510000/marijuana-shows-promise-as-a-treatment-for-chemotherapy-induced-nausea),\n[mood disorders](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c10d093166350006110000/bipolar-disorder-is-marijuana-a-natural-mood-stabilizer),\n[inflammation](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5abeae81f24d1300077ccbaf/the-powerful-anti-inflammatory-effects-of-cannabis),\n[appetite\nloss](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b14a863330370006050000/loss-of-appetite-from-cancer)\nand more. Even though both flowers and edibles contain THC, the way this\nchemical is metabolized depends on whether it's smoked or ingested. When\n[smoked](http://jat.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/5/276.long), THC moves\nquickly through the lungs into the bloodstream and then to the brain.\nThe effects are rapid, and occur within\n[minutes](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/clpt.1992.100/abstract;jsessionid=5F398D0C4D37AFDEF9AFDCC10B1BE6F8.f04t01)\nof the first inhalation. The effects of ingesting cannabis are much\nslower, as the THC must pass through the digestive system before\nreaching the bloodstream. During this process, the liver changes the THC\ninto\n[11-hydroxy-THC](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3196989/),\nwhich can cause a more-intense high than THC that's inhaled.\n\n**Effects and Duration**\n\nIn addition to rapid onset, inhaled THC effects wear off in 30 to 60\nminutes. [Ingested\nTHC](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2689518/# R32) effects\ncan take between 30 minutes and two hours to be felt and can take\nseveral hours to wear off.\n\nThe more intense high associated with ingested THC has been described as\na more [physical\nhigh](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/08/marijuana-pot-edibles-thc-legalized-recreational/8463787/),\nor body high, than that of inhaled THC. This may be caused by the\n11-hydroxy-THC, but it may also result from an inadvertent overdose --\npeople who aren't used to edibles may not know that there's a lag\nbetween ingestion and effect, and this often causes them to overindulge.\n\n**Potency**\n\nToday's cannabis is higher in THC than cannabis that was cultivated in\nthe past. An [American Chemical Society\nstudy](http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2015/march/legalizing-marijuana-and-the-new-science-of-weed-video.html)\nfound that THC potency in medical marijuana is approaching 30 percent --\nthree times higher than it was 30 years ago.\n\nThis higher concentration in plants also means a potential for higher\nconcentration in edibles. Edibles are made with [cannabis\nconcentrate](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56b0f2466d677f000b000050/what-is-cannabis-wax-shatter-and-oil).\nThe process of extracting the cannabinoids has been shown to increase\npotency, the percent of active cannabinoids, by [40-80\npercent](http://www.dea.gov/pr/multimedia-library/publications/marijuana-concentrates.pdf).\n\nBecause of the increase in intensity and the higher potency, it is\nrecommended that people using edibles [start\nsmall](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/57aa569b4059f80007e22798/dosing-cannabis-edibles-safely).\nThey should only consume a product containing less than 2.5 mg of THC\nand recognize that it will take at least an hour before they feel any\neffects.\n\n**Dosing**\n\nEdibles are unpredictable with regard to dosing. This is due to a number\nof factors:\n\n-   Ingestion only delivers between 10 and 20 percent of the THC in the\n    product, whereas smoking delivers between 50 and 60 percent of the\n    THC in the flower.\n-   A\n    [study](http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2338239)\n    of the THC content of edibles found only 17 percent of examined\n    products were accurately labeled. The remaining 83 percent either\n    over- or under-labeled the THC content.\n-   Until recently, there were few regulations regarding packaging,\n    labeling or potency of manufactured edibles. Serving size might seem\n    to be one cookie, but the cookie could contain anywhere from 2.5 mg\n    to 20 mg or more of THC. States are beginning to address\n    this discrepancy. In\n    [Colorado](https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/14-10_IndustryBulletin-Attachments.pdf),\n    for example, an individually packaged serving can now contain no\n    more than 10 mg of THC.\n\nIt's even more difficult to determine the potency and dosing of homemade\nedibles. People who require a specific dose of THC are recommended to\nstick with manufactured products that are clearly labeled and have been\ntested for potency, as well as food safety, and to be sure to follow the\ndirections on the label.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dankdepot/5500915851/in/photolist-9o9EZj-9o6CCK-kNxB1e-nA6rP2-nQxGXj-8cA1xU-7aUPJF-7b1em2-bjyU1L-atJFX4-bwQBYj-awPuQe-rehJzP-7aWEBS-bEDnr9-9juU68-C4jmjz-Czr2ey-CurQn6-CzqYrj-C4dWPi-Bd2UMc-BZQ2dL-9da14T)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3986013986013985,"src":"/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/ee604/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.png","srcSet":"/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/69585/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.png 200w,\n/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/497c6/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.png 400w,\n/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/ee604/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.png 800w,\n/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/f3583/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.png 1200w,\n/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/9735e/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.png 1434w","srcWebp":"/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/58556/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/61e93/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.webp 200w,\n/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/1f5c5/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.webp 400w,\n/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/58556/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.webp 800w,\n/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/99238/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.webp 1200w,\n/static/0f52358c88b6d487757f5fdfa1cb01cf/99f96/e2cdfd1f74bd6c63bd6f9688799a2d35.webp 1434w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2013-markdown","title":"The CBN Cannabinoid: Affects Your Health","slug":"the-cbn-cannabinoid-affects-your-health","content":"Doctors and patients alike are becoming familiar with the benefits\noffered for a variety of ailments through compounds contained in medical\nmarijuana like CBD (cannabidiol) or, to a different degree, THC\n(tetrahydrocannabinol). Cannabis contains far more compounds than just\nthese two best-known compounds, however. One of the lesser-known\ncompounds, CBN (cannabinol), is being studied closely because of its\npossible therapeutic value to patients.\n\n**CBD, THC and CBN**\n\nCBD has been found useful in pain management, as a drug that could\npossibly [combat cancer](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22506672)\nand for its general anti-inflammatory properties. CBD achieves this\nthrough its impact on certain receptors in the brain.\n[THC](https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/marijuana.html), the\nbest-known property of cannabis, can enable pain relief, help with\nnausea and diminish anxiety due to its psychotropic properties. CBN is\nthe third compound in medical marijuana that can help with [pain\nrelief](http://www.jneurosci.org/content/22/11/4720.full). In addition,\nCBN has been studied for its ability to [treat\ninsomnia](http://steephilllab.com/cbn-a-sleeping-synergy/) and\n[stimulate appetite](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22543671).\n\n**How CBN Activates**\n\nUnlike CBD, which occurs separately from THC within cannabis, CBN\n[distills](http://steephilllab.com/cbn-a-sleeping-synergy/) from THC.\nSpecifically, Steep Hill Lab describes the CBD-to-THC process as being\none of oxidization after THC degrades. During this process, THC loses\nits psychoactive properties, but retains the ability to be an\nanti-inflammatory while also enhancing feelings of relaxation.\n\n**Enhanced Impact of CBN on Patients**\n\nStudies have shown that CBN enhances the impact of THC and CBD in\ncertain types of therapies. All three compounds--THC, CBD and CBN--have\nbeen found to have antibacterial qualities, particularly against viruses\nsuch as [MRSA](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18681481). In\naddition, studies have shown positive results in the impact of CBN on\n[lung carcinomas](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1159836) in\nanimals. That could mean that patients may someday experience similar\npositive benefits from CBN as well.\n\n**Getting the Best of Cannabis**\n\nLike many mainstream medications, different medical marijuana patients\nget different results from the various compounds that comprise cannabis.\nOne benefit to CBN is, as the National Institute of Health terms it,\n[the taming of\nTHC](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/). Some\npatients may need and seek the more psychotropic properties offered by\nTHC. For other patients, however, those very properties outweigh the\npotential benefits they may experience. And that's where CBN can make a\ndifference. As THC oxidizes into CBN, psychotropic properties are\ntamed--thinned out, basically--and that enables patients to achieve the\nanti-inflammatory, pain relief or other symptomatic improvements they\nneed.\n\n**Hope for the Future**\n\nThe list of ailments that medical marijuana may be able to treat or help\nprovide relief from grows on a near-daily basis: help for cancer\npatients, controlling\nepilepsy,\nminimizing the pain of\n[fibromyalgia](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/fibromyalgia)\nand\n[migraines](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/migraines)\nare a few medical issues on that list. More research dollars are\nbeginning to flow to determine the other properties of cannabis that may\nprove medically beneficial. Additionally, more formulations of medical\nmarijuana are being developed in different strains to help increasingly\ndifferent issues.\n\nCBN is the latest discovery that has proven to be of great benefit to\npatients, and it won't be the last. As research ferrets out more ways in\nwhich CBN and other compounds can be used--such as the anti-tumor\nproperties already observed in lab animals--practitioners can begin\nrecommend cannabis to broader groups of patients. Medical marijuana is\nalready legal in 23 states as well as the District of Columbia, and its\nreach grows with each election cycle as well. With the combination of\nenhanced research, enhanced prescribing and enhanced availability,\npatients will benefit exponentially.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/noaa_glerl/6329688296/in/photolist-aDkiNQ-tCkcU-x1m84-oUChc-5x1Trn-eex4Fn-rxei46-rt3L2H-iG3ViD-UQ1W-GB86X-aPUr2a-bv75No-asMweG-6gBj3T-QZ7Kg-bk4yHS-dPdydB-6AV8nA-63DZSF-iG5Lmf-8FegjL-6AQWT4-9QM3mp-orYs3-orYs5-9U2ZkW-cBwrEu-9FTGM9-r9QMhM-qfb9Ls-aeh1t9-rkFrGp-aeh1J5-92SgXr-4NjUJ-eqfihP-8cGETw-rnUFk7-woA9Mh-dGcWib-o66YH-cBwruS-27ywx-bpYfH6-61U8f2-4ZpJrh-2ViCx-aeh2fU-ezuEza)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.408450704225352,"src":"/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/ee604/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.png","srcSet":"/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/69585/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.png 200w,\n/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/497c6/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.png 400w,\n/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/ee604/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.png 800w,\n/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/f3583/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.png 1200w,\n/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/6af1e/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.png 1424w","srcWebp":"/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/58556/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/61e93/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.webp 200w,\n/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/1f5c5/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.webp 400w,\n/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/58556/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.webp 800w,\n/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/99238/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.webp 1200w,\n/static/f0938514a6eb3023d048f1759e0bdf7b/ed80f/e1aa58d3a4245cd37ccbdc3ea7ce325a.webp 1424w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2053-markdown","title":"Download our Medical Marijuana Patient Study","slug":"download-our-medical-marijuana-patient-study","content":"For us at HelloMD, the medical cannabis industry is an exciting and fascinating business to be in. Every day we leave the office knowing that we are improving people's lives and helping further the cause for mainstream acceptance of this amazing plant.  In the short time since we’ve been providing our service (one year) we’ve witnessed a positive shift in how the broader population perceive the legal cannabis market. The collective contribution of the industry has performed a remarkable feat in changing attitudes and in moving us from back-alley to the main street.\r\n\r\nWe have come far. Yet, for anyone entering the industry, indeed for anyone in it, it can still be difficult finding information to help plan and grow a business. Very little is published indicating patient preferences, methods of use, reasons for use, etc. Most in the industry are planning products and services based upon small sample sets of anecdotal data and intuition. Not that there is anything wrong with that. After all, we did that. But if that’s all you’ve got, then it’s really difficult to identify trends and to plan ahead. \r\n\r\nThat is why, in January of this year, we conducted a detailed study of patients that use medical marijuana. \r\n\r\n[Download the medical marijuana patient study here](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).\r\n\r\nWe believe it to be the most comprehensive study to date and we are very pleased to share it with the community at large. Our methodology included surveying our membership of 17,000 patients (all of whom have been evaluated by our own doctors), correlating with other data sets (public and private), analyzing, and then using the results to form key findings. Thanks to our friends at [FireFly](http://www.thefirefly.com) (of whom generously donated 5 of their beautiful vaporizers as an incentive to participants) we had an exceptional response of over 1,400 patients. Anonymously, every one of them answered an extensive questionnaire that detailed their own experience and details regarding conditions leading to use, modes of use, efficacy, and much more.\r\n\r\nAll this data led to key findings and learning's that helped us understand:  \r\n\r\n - The demographic of patients using medical marijuana today, and how it has been changing overtime\r\n - Conditions being treating with medical cannabis\r\n - How effective cannabis is as a treatment modality\r\n - How patients feel about using cannabis as an alternative, or as a compliment, to other more-traditional prescribed pharmaceuticals\r\n - How, or if, patients talk about their use of cannabis among family, friends and colleagues.\r\n - Where medical cannabis purchases are made\r\n - Where patients obtain education and knowledge of medical cannabis\r\n\r\nPerhaps the most surprising finding; an emerging demographic that, indisputably, is eclipsing the recreational demographic. This has all sorts of implications – politically and otherwise.\r\n\r\nWe have compiled all findings into a report that can be [downloaded as a PDF here](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/14b42/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/f836f/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 200w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/2244e/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 400w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/14b42/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 800w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/47498/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/58556/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/61e93/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 200w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/1f5c5/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 400w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/58556/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 800w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/99238/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":12,"numPages":4,"currentPage":2,"id":4903,"name":"101","slug":"101","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}