Must Watch:Now that the laws in the United States are changing to allow the use of marijuana for medical reasons in all 50 States.

Now that the laws in the United States are changing to allow the use of marijuana for medical reasons more people are using it and reporting positive health outcomes. There are a number of different uses, more than just smoking. Many patients are vaporizing it or putting it in edibles or tinctures. It is being successfully used to treat epilepsy, chronic pain, depression, and cancer. Learn more about medical cannabis from this infographic!

The Laws In United States

To smoke or not to smoke, that is the question

From an infused breakfast to perfectly rolled joints, how you ingest marijuana will alter how the medicine affects your body & mind

The Many Methods of Madness

Smoking: Roll it, light it, hit it

Smoke the dried flowers from a pipe, water bong, or cigarette

Pros
- Minimally processed
- Instant effect
- Easy to regulate dose
Cons
- Smoke can be harmful to lungs
- Not recommended for people with pulmonary damage

Vaporizing

Vaporizing: For the sophisticated user in all of us

Heats the cannabis just below the combustion point so the plant doesn’t burn
- Pros
  - Easier on lungs than smoking
  - Delivers clean inhalation
  - Less smell than smoking
- Cons
  - Vaporizers can be expensive
  - Equipment needs to be cared for & maintained

Edibles

Foodies can go nuts too.A bas of fat or oil absorbs active ingredients & can be used for cooking.

Tinctures

Like the village herbalist used to make,grain alcohol extracts active compounds for a potent liquid solution.

Tinctures: Like the village herbalist used to make

Grain alcohol extracts active compounds for a potent liquid solution
- Pros
  - Easy to judge amounts
  - Great for small doses
  - Preferred method for children
- Cons
  - Requires a lot of cannabis
  - Can be very expensive for high doses

But how does it work?

A Match Made In Nature: Cannabinoids Are Produced in the Body & Also Found in Cannabis Plants
The Endocannabinoid System
Network of receptors in the body that bind with cannabinoids
CB1 & CB2: 2 main receptors control where compounds activate throughout body

80+ Cannabinoids Are Found In Marijuana Plants

THC: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
- Most abundant cannabinoid in marijuana
- Binds to CB1 receptors in the brain & reproductive organs
- Produces a psychoactive effect by releasing dopamine in the brain
- Getting “high” is a sense of euphoria & well-being
- Good for
  - Moderating pain

CBD: cannabidiol

2nd most abundant cannabinoid
Binds to CB2 receptors in the immune system
Non-psychoactive, reduces mental effects of THC, & has more medicinal properties
- High CBD & THC amounts create a clear head high
- Low CBD levels will produce a hazier, foggy feeling
Good for
- Inflammation
- Migraines
- Arthritis
- Muscle spasms
- Epilepsy
- Shown promise at fighting cancer cells

92% of patients agree that medical cannabis works for them

Why The Grass Is Always Greener
- Epilepsy: Cannabis may help reduce seizures in children with severe forms of epilepsy
  - <.3% THC is in the cannabis tincture given to epileptic children with severe childhood epilepsy
  - 60% of children achieved 50+% reduction in number of seizures
  - 10% became seizure free
- Chronic pain: Helps relieve physical discomfort of diseases like arthritis, fibromyalgia, & spinal cord injuries
  - 5% THC & 2.5 grams/day given to test groups
  - Cannabis user’s symptoms improved “significantly” quicker than control group
  - No adverse effects on kidney, liver, or hormonal function
- Depression: Replenishes endocannabinoid levels that are depleted from chronic stress
  - 75% reduction of PTSD symptoms
  - States where medical cannabis is legal see a dip in male suicide rates
    - 11% ages 20-29
    - 9% ages 30-39
- Cancer: Early tests indicate cannabis may destroy the walls of cancer cells & aid current cancer treatments
  - CBD shown to inhibit cell growth of human carcinoma breast cells
  - Supports chemotherapy by reducing nausea, pain, indigestion, & increasing appetite

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