Cannabis is a plant that has uses as a recreational and medicinal drug.
Cannabis-based products come from the dried flowering tops, leaves, stems, and seeds of the Cannabis sativa
The legal status of medical and recreational cannabis varies among states. People who are considering buying or using cannabis should first check whether it is legal in their state.
Share on Pinterest People may consume cannabis for medicinal purposes, such as chronic pain management, and recreational use.
Cannabis is a plant. People use the dried leaves, seed oil, and other parts of the cannabis plant for recreational and medicinal purposes. It can have a pleasurable effect and may soothe the symptoms of various conditions, such as chronic pain.
Ways of using it include:
- smoking or vaping it
- brewing it as a tea
- consuming it in the form of edibles, such as brownies or candies
- eating it raw
- applying it as a topical treatment
- taking it as capsules or supplements
Some of the ingredients in cannabis are psychoactive (mind-altering), but others are not. The potency and balance of the ingredients vary, depending on how the manufacturer grows and processes the plant.
Cannabis contains at least 120 active ingredients, or cannabinoids. The most abundant ones are cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Some cannabinoids can have euphoric or psychoactive effects. THC produces both effects.
CBD is present in various forms, including:
- oils for applying to the skin
- capsules, to take as a supplement
- gummy candies
So far, most studies have focused on CBD and THC, but scientists are looking into the effects of other cannabinoids, too.
Is CBD Legal?Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level, but are still illegal under some state laws.Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level, but are legal under some state laws.Check your state’s laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, there is conclusive evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids can help manage:
- chronic pain in adults
- nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy treatment
- some symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
There is moderate evidence that it can help with sleep problems relating to sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and MS.
Other conditions that it may be helpful for include:
- low appetite
- Tourette’s syndrome
- anxiety, in some individuals
In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a medication that derives from cannabis, to treat two rare and severe types of epilepsy that do not respond well to other treatments. Epidiolex is a purified form of CBD that does not contain THC.
Three drugs that contain synthetic substances with a structure similar to that of THC have received FDA approval. Marinol, Syndros, and Cesamet are treatment options for some kinds of anorexia.
There are different ways of using cannabis, and the method can determine the effects of the drug.
Smoking or inhaling:
Ingesting:
Topical:
How do cannabinoids work?
The human body naturally produces some cannabinoids through the endocannabinoid system. They act in a similar way to neurotransmitters, sending messages throughout the nervous system.
These neurotransmitters affect brain areas that play a role in memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, sensory and time perception, and pleasure.
The receptors that respond to these cannabinoids also react to THC and other cannabinoids. In this way, cannabinoids from an outside source can change and disrupt normal brain function.
THC appears to affect areas of the brain that control:
- memory and attention
- balance, posture, and coordination
- reaction time
Due to these effects, a person should not drive a car, operate heavy machinery, or engage in risky physical activities after using cannabis.
THC stimulates specific cannabinoid receptors that increase the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that relates to feelings of pleasure.
THC can also affect sensory perception. Colors may seem brighter, music more vivid, and emotions more profound.
What does a person feel?
When people use cannabis, they may notice the following effects:
- a feeling of elation or euphoria, known as a high
- relaxation
- changes in perception, for example, of color, time, and space
- an increase in appetite
- feeling more talkative
Sunday, February 16, 2020