The psychoactive high associated with cannabis stirred quite a bit of controversy over the decades. Eventually, it led it to be classified as a Schedule 1 illicit drug, the most restrictive category, in 1970. For half a century, cannabis vanished into the shadows until the 2010s when it reappeared on the social scene with a new image – one of a medicinal miracle with untapped potential. Soon after, states like Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and others began legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes, especially after studies linked marijuana to helping cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Since then, cannabis has been linked to an ever-growing list of health benefits. Most of these are attributed to the cannabis compound Cannabidiol, or CBD. While tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is responsible for the psychoactive experience, cannabis was scorned for. However, as research grows, we now know that THC also offers an impressive list of health benefits. This, among other things, opened the door for further legalization allowing recreational cannabis to be sold to the public, which is why we at Greeley Gallery can exist. While getting high is fun, and we enjoy being a recreational cannabis dispensary, sometimes we want to enjoy the health benefits cannabis provides without the high.
CBD Only
There’s a reason CBD is considered a miracle drug by some, it’s because this one compound, out of over 500 in the cannabis plant, is single-handedly linked to dozens of health benefits. The most common perks include its strong antioxidant properties, ability to decrease anxiety and depression, and improved sleep. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You may not know that CBD also reduces inflammation, has anti-bacterial properties, and even protects brain cells from decay and damage.
Aside from all the CBD benefits, research shows no one has ever fatally overdosed on cannabis. The worst thing to happen is you’ll get sleepy if you take more than your tolerance allows. In fact, a 2017 research review found that humans can take at least up to 1,500 milligrams of CBD a day. Although the recommended dose is around five to ten milligrams a day, some research found that as little as two milligrams per day achieve the same results.
Another reason CBD is a favorite among medicinally minded consumers is that CBD offers all the health benefits without the psychoactive high THC produces. This makes it easy to incorporate CBD into your supplement regime by simply adding a CBD pill capsule such as Siskiyou Sungrown Softgels with your other vitamins or squeezing a dropper of Angel Hemp CBD tincture under your tongue with your morning coffee.
Build Your Tolerance
Consuming CBD alone is a sure way to reap many health benefits cannabis offers, but if you want the full gauntlet of perks, you’ll want to include THC too. As we mentioned in the intro, like CBD, THC has its own impressive advantages despite its reputation for producing lazy couch potatoes.
For starters, THC is linked to several of the same health benefits CBD provides, including being a potent anti-inflammatory, but it also has positive effects treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease. Further, THC does wonders for boosting our creativity and mood and has an uncanny ability to make everyday activities more enjoyable, from a simple walk around the neighborhood to exercising.
However, since THC is responsible for the mind-altering high cannabis is known for, many people shy away from THC altogether. Either believing that THC doesn’t hold health benefits or assuming you can’t receive these benefits without also becoming high. Well, believe it or not, it’s possible to gain these additional benefits without the intense psychoactive effects. The key lies in the dose.
We always recommend starting with a low amount, perhaps only a milligram or two for newbies, then slowly adding more over time. Similar to CBD, a little goes a long way. You really don’t need more than a few milligrams of cannabis to receive all of its benefits. Tinctures are perhaps the perfect way to achieve this because they provide the most accurate dosing; our favorite is the Siskiyou Sungrown Tinctures. Siskiyou Sungrown cannabis concentrates are an awesome option too.
Final Thoughts
The thing we love most about cannabis, beyond its extraordinary healing properties, is the many ways to enjoy it. Since its legalization, the cannabis industry has exploded with a wide variety of products to fit the wants and needs of every cannabis consumer. This includes providing solutions to anyone who wants the many health benefits cannabis provides without the recreational high.
As a recreational and medicinal cannabis dispensary, you’ll find a diverse selection of high-quality and locally-made cannabis products on our shelves. If you struggle to choose which product is right for you, our friendly and knowledgeable staff is happy to assist. Simply tell them what sort of experience you hope to have, and they will be happy to recommend it. We welcome you to stop by our North Portland cannabis dispensary any day of the week between 7 am and 10 pm. We hope to see you soon!
Written By: Katrina Paulson
