We take pride in what we do at Greeley Gallery. To us, marijuana is more than just a fun way to spend a free afternoon. It also offers incredible health benefits. For instance, we all know the stereotypes surrounding marijuana. Many of them paint those who consume cannabis as lazy “potheads” and “stoners” who lay around munching on junk food while killing brain cells.
And okay, maybe we do sometimes lay around snacking on chips when we’re high. However, science shows we aren’t killing our brain cells. In fact, science shows cannabis appears to protect our brains.
Staying Up to Date With Cannabis News
At our recreational and medicinal cannabis dispensary in North Portland, Greeley Gallery wants our customers to have the best experience possible. That means doing more than offering high quality cannabis. It also means providing education to anyone who wants to learn more about our favorite plant.
Thankfully, as cannabis is becoming legalized, scientists are making explosive headway and learning more about it. What they’re discovering surpasses all expectations. Most of the better-known findings relate to the health benefits from cannabinol (CBD), the non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
However, over the last two decades, experts found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) possesses its own array of health benefits. Particularly when it comes to the brain. A rising number of studies suggest that cannabis, both CBD and THC, function as a neuroprotectants, which helps protect brain cells. This radically diverges from most drugs that are neurotoxic, or harm the brain.
The Science
The myth that cannabis hurts brain cells has been busted ten-fold. Study after study shows that marijuana protects brain cells from being damaged. One study from 2014 found that people who had THC in their systems were about 80 percent less likely to die from traumatic brain injuries than those who didn’t have any.
Scientists worldwide believe another discovery about cannabis contributes to its effectiveness as a neuroprotectant. It turns out, cannabinoids including THC are potent antioxidants. The cannabis plant produces THC for a reason, one of which is to protect the plant from pathogens. But the cannabis plant also creates THC to shield it from UVB light – a type of light that stresses and damages cellular health. THC in turn, helps protect our cells from this damage, including our brain cells.
In addition to protecting our brain cells, cannabis has built a reputation for easing mental health. Marijuana is mainly known for its positive impact in reducing anxiety, depression, and insomnia. However, preliminary research shows cannabis can also help people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). THC, specifically, eases many symptoms of PTSD. In addition to the benefits already mentioned, THC reduces nightmares and flashbacks. Making it easier for those experiencing PTSD to have a peaceful night’s sleep.
Final Thoughts
We at Greeley Gallery want all of our customers to enjoy our products, but we also want to ensure we offer accurate information regarding the world of cannabis. Because the truth is, marijuana is so much more than the reputation it developed many years ago. Cannabis offers vast health benefits. It helps us relax and sleep better, boosts our creativity, and now we know marijuana protects us on a cellular level. Isn’t weed amazing?
Katrina Paulson
