RE: I Have a Long-Term Relationship with Marijuana

[lilyraabe]

To be fair, weed was illegal when I was growing up. ;) And, it still is in many parts of the US - which is really weird when traveling because I get very used to it being legal in WA, OR, and CA (now also in Canada)...so its strange when you realize how criminalized it still is elsewhere.

In general, there’s some good research out there that shows that marijuana is less addictive than alcohol or caffeine. Where people say it gets addictive is through habitual use. A person is more likely to get addicted to the actual act of using it, rather than the substance itself. So that’s more of a psychological thing, although its real. Still, I think like with anything else, you have to educate people about dosage and the effect on your body...which brings me to:

Dosage in general. :) Now that weed is legal all around, I’ve learned a lot more about the actual chemical properties, i.e. THC content etc... In short - not all weed is the same. Some is stronger, some is milder. Some is more physically relaxing, some is more creative. There is weed you should smoke when you want to write or paint, and there is weed for when you need to simply relax. It’s all broken down by content percentage and strain - knowing weed is almost like knowing wine here. How much a person needs depends on their history of usage and own body. For a general buzz when eating edibles I like 10mg of THC - for most people I’d start them at 5mg (or even 2.5mg) and see where they landed.

Comments

[macoolette]

In short - not all weed is the same. Some is stronger, some is milder.

Now that is more interesting. Are the differences from the plant themselves or because of post-processing? I thought the plant itself is unique and no varieties.

[lilyraabe]

There are so many varieties - here’s a quote from an article that sums it up well but can only be viewed in the US and Canada apparently...from Leafly:

The cannabis plant is comprised of hundreds of chemical compounds that create a unique harmony of effects, which is primarily led by cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD (the two most common) are the main drivers of cannabis’ therapeutic and recreational effects:

THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) makes us feel hungry and high, and relieves symptoms like pain and nausea.

CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating compound known to alleviate anxiety, pain, inflammation, and many other medical ailments.

Cannabis contains over a hundred different types of these cannabinoids, but start by familiarizing yourself with these two first. Instead of choosing a strain based on its indica or sativa classification, consider basing your selection on these three buckets instead:
THC-dominant strains are primarily chosen by consumers seeking a potent euphoric experience. These strains are also selected by patients treating pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and more. If you tend to feel anxious with THC-dominant strains or dislike other side effects associated with THC, try a strain with higher levels of CBD.

CBD-dominant strains contain only small amounts of THC, and are widely used by those highly sensitive to THC or patients needing clear-headed symptom relief.

Balanced THC/CBD strains contain balanced levels of THC, offering mild euphoria alongside symptom relief. These tend to be a good choice for novice consumers seeking an introduction to cannabis’ signature high.

[macoolette]

Oh, thank you for copying that article here. It's good to learn new things like these. Thanks for sharing them!