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For all those people who figured it was too time-consuming to get in their car and drive down to a clinic to get a medical marijuana recommendation, southern California-based Heally is the perfect solution. This is a 100% online evaluation center that helps MMJ applicants quickly obtain their medical marijuana recommendation. Heally (formerly known as […]
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About NuggMD California NuggMD in California is a unique and non-traditional medical marijuana clinic that is revolutionizing the cannabis industry for medical patients all around California and now New York and Nevada. With medical marijuana clinic NuggMD, you can skip the hassle of having to find a physically present cannabis facility and driving there, along […]
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Toxin Rid is a household detox name that has been around for years, so one might assume it’s one of the best detox treatment programs around. In this Toxin Rid detox review, our team tests out a handful of the company’s products to see if it actually works to quickly flush the body of detectable […]
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Tips for making your smoking experience even easier
How do they stack up?
Your guide to blowin’ big clouds
The Marijuana Smoking Alternative
The complete comparison
All are promised to leave you blazin'
For all those people who figured it was too time-consuming to get in their car and drive down to a clinic to get a medical marijuana recommendation, southern California-based Heally is the perfect solution. This is a 100% online evaluation center that helps MMJ applicants quickly obtain their medical marijuana recommendation. Heally (formerly known as […]
Portland, Oregon's finest
A fried sandwich that’ll get you fried!
About NuggMD California NuggMD in California is a unique and non-traditional medical marijuana clinic that is revolutionizing the cannabis industry for medical patients all around California and now New York and Nevada. With medical marijuana clinic NuggMD, you can skip the hassle of having to find a physically present cannabis facility and driving there, along […]
Savory noodles with dankest medical marijuana
Your marijuana strain guide for a chill night in
Things you probably didn’t know about cannabis
Your Guide to the Best Forms of Cannabis Available
The word 'cannabis' is generally used to describe a variety
of plant phenotypes that fall under the taxonomic classification Cannabis sativa L. Contrary to what many people think, 'cannabis' can encompass
much more than just the dried flowers and leaves of the
plant. Today, cannabis, also known as marijuana, is grown all over the world. It can
be grown in virtually any climate, and due to recent high demand, it is
being cultivated indoors in massive quantities using expansive hydroponic technology.
Cannabis is of course often smoked in the form of a joint, but thanks to recent
research showing the positive healing properties of the plant,
many different consumption techniques are now common -
including things like edibles, topical lotions, and oils. Each product has specific healing properties and
is aimed at helping different medical conditions.
When referring to the actual cannabis plant, you will find that while it can be grown in many parts of the world, it mostly flourishes in mild
climates. The plant itself is characterized by its iconic fan leaves and dense flowers, which are
complete with a gorgeous arrangement of crystalline trichomes.
Cannabis is often categorized into three sub-species (Cannabis
sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis),
though this taxonomic breakdown is more of an anecdotal 'acceptance' rather than a true evidence-based classification.
Cannabis sativa – These plants tend to be tall, with thin leaves and widely - spaced branches.
Sativa-derived products are commonly used for both recreational and medical purposes.
Cannabis sativa plants are suitable for outdoor gardens, and they tend to provide patients with uplifting,
energizing properties. Sativa strains are often used to treat depression,
ADD, fatigue, and mood disorders, among many other things.
Cannabis indica – Indica plants subtly juxtapose the traditional sativa phenotype.
These plants are often short and dense, with stubby leaves and trichome-packed flowers.
While indica can grow well outdoors, they are most often suited for indoor, climate-controlled operations.
Indica strains are often smoked by patients during the evening, as the cannabinoid and
terpene profile of the plants tend to provide sedating, sleep-promoting effects.
For this reason, indica strains are often used to help treat anxiety,
insomnia, muscle spasms, and more.
Cannabis ruderalis – Certainly the most mysterious of the three cannabis sub-species, ruderalis plants
are quite rare. They are
characterized by varied leaflets in the mature leaves, and are extremely hardy, resilient plants that do well even in the harshest of outdoor conditions. In the past, ruderalis cultivars have been
used to create sativa and indica hybrids that offer select traits.
It is important to understand that each strain of cannabis has its own characteristics, and
can help treat different medical conditions.
Cannabis dates back to 2737 BCE, and was believed to be used as a therapy for many
ailments in the Far East. The earliest known record of English-speaking countries
using cannabis was when the plants were introduced in Jamestown in
1611. In these colonial times, the plants were mostly bought and sold as a commercial crop.
For over 300 years -up until 1937, to be exact - cannabis extract was
used as an ingredient in medicine to treat a variety of illnesses and
common problems. This included things like toothaches, menstrual cramping, and even childbirth. This all changed when the plant
was brought into the U.S. on a larger scale during the
Mexican Revolution of 1910-1911. During this time cannabis developed a stigma in many parts of the United States,
and an overall negative image of the plant was borne. In 1937, Harry Anslinger,
Head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, pushed to classify cannabis as an
illegal substance. It was then that the infamous MTA Act of 1937 was
created.
Today, cannabis is still classed as an illegal drug on a federal level. However, the
perception towards the plant has significantly changed. In a recent study, it
was recorded that nearly 70% of Americans think cannabis should be
legalized on a broad scale. Furthermore, roughly 71% of Americans believe that the federal government
should not try to prohibit the sale and use of cannabis in states that have laws
permitting its possession.
While cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug on a federal level, many individual
states have adopted a proactive approach towards the plant. In fact,
the majority of U.S. states now allow
cannabis possession at either the medical or recreational level. Various states have implemented
laws that permit approved patients to consume cannabis in different forms. As
of now, over 35 states have legalized marijuana for medical
purposes.
In terms of legality, hemp occupies a different space altogether compared to other varieties of cannabis.
In fact, hemp was removed altogether from the Controlled Substances Act
after the passing of the U.S. Farm Bill back in 2018. The Farm Bill permits the legal
cultivation of hemp, and this has in fact opened a variety of options (in the form of hemp-derived CBD products)
for patients living in states that don’t allow the use of medical marijuana by
allowing them to buy CBD oil.
There is still much debate as to whether medical cannabis can help treat
patients as effectively as traditional medicine. However, over the last
several years, quality research has grown by leaps and bounds. And of course,
this is in addition to the countless numbers of anecdotal reports
involving patients that have used cannabis to recover from a number of severe medical conditions.
One of the most famous stories is that of young Charlotte Figi. Charlotte’s story
went viral on the internet when she was only 6 years old. The young girl was
experiencing over 300 epileptic seizures per week until she was
successfully treated by a CBD-rich strain of cannabis.
CBD oil, which is an extract of specific genetically-selected strains, literally
changed her life, helping her to overcome a 6-year battle with chronic seizures. Since the release
of her story, CBD products in all different forms (oils, capsules, topicals, edibles, etc)
have gained immense popularity throughout the United States.
Today, the high-CBD Charlotte’s Web strain, along with dozens of other
strains such as OG Kush, AC/DC, and more, are being used by
millions of people worldwide to combat a wide range of medical conditions.
As a matter of fact, studies now suggest that medical cannabis (including CBD-specific products)
may have potential to help over 100 medical conditions. Among these are
conditions such as anorexia, arthritis, chronic pain, depression, anxiety,
insomnia, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and PTSD.
Unfortunately, the healing potential of cannabis is still not acknowledged by
everyone. This is of course due to the generations of stereotyping and
stigmatism it has received. Some even still identify the plant as a gateway drug,
even though alcohol is statistically far more dangerous.
For nearly four decades, all forms of cannabis were classed as a Schedule 1 drug. This
means that unlike other medications, cannabis has not been
researched to great extent. Furthermore, the plant is still off-limits and
prohibited in several states due to restrictions on use and possession.
People often get confused between the terms 'cannabis' and 'hemp.' While there aren’t many
differences, it is important to understand that there are in fact variations between these two cannabis cultivars.
While both plants belong to the species Cannabis sativa L, they each contain different phytochemical components, as well as obvious differences in phenotype.
For example, high-THC cannabis plants tend to be shorter and wider than hemp’s narrow and tall
physique.
Furthermore, marijuana is widely known for both medicinal and recreational purposes, while
hemp is grown almost exclusively for medical use, dietary supplements, skin products,
clothing, and accessories. The crucial pharmacological difference is that hemp doesn’t
contain high amounts of THC - the psychoactive component that gives you
the “high”.
In fact, industrial hemp that is
cultivated for the above purposes contains less than 0.3% THC. THC in
most cannabis strains ranges anywhere between 10%-25%. Hemp is becoming
extremely popular for its abundant CBD content, and is easily found nowadays in most states,
regardless of whether or not a medical cannabis program is in operation.
In regards to appearance, hemp and cannabis look quite different.
If you observe the plant's flowering buds, you’ll notice that the shape of cannabis flower tends to be
in the form of dense, tightly-packed buds. Hemp tends to
have narrower flowers and skinnier leaves that are concentrated at the top of the plant. Hemp is also
typically taller than other cannabis cultivars, reaching up to 15 ft in height in some instances.
Cultivation differences between hemp and cannabis can also be quite drastic. Cannabis requires an extremely
monitored environment, and demands strict daily watering and nutrient regimens. Hemp, on the other hand, is typically grown in large multi-acre plots;
its growth cycle is around 4 months, while that of cannabis is just 60-90 days.
Cannabis affects the body differently from individual to individual.
In fact, the same exact cannabis strain may provide dramatically different effects on two
different people. This is due to things like genetics, tolerance,
general medical health, and most importantly, the presence (or absence) of specific
endocannabinoid receptors in the body.
The effects of cannabis also depend on the method of consumption.
For example, the effects of smoking or vaping cannabis can be quite different to the effects of oils or edibles.
This is because phytocannabinoids - the active compounds in cannabis - interact with our bodily systems in different ways.
Consider many of the CBD oils for sale that you see nowadays all across the country.
Most of these oils are consumed sublingually (below the tongue), which involves a distinct mode of phytocompound absorption
compared to something like inhalation or digestion.
That said, cannabis and the way it affects our bodies is still largely a mystery to researchers.
What we do know is that cannabis helps people by influencing something called the endocannabinoid system, or ECS.
Specific plant-based phytocannabinoids in cannabis and hemp interact with naturally-occurring endocannabinoid receptors in the body,
which we all have. When this happens, a wide range of psychological and physical benefits may become apparent.
The two most common cannabinoids are THC and CBD,
but there are dozens of others, including CBG, CBC, CBL, THCV, and more.
Some cannabinoids within cannabis signal the body to create more endocannabinoids and build more receptors.
This may trigger the body to manipulate the physiological processes of things like inflammation, pain,
and emotional response. From research, we know that physiological processes of the ECS can help to repair cells,
promote immune response, encourage healthy sleep patterns, promote the destruction of dangerous cells (apoptosis),
and even mollify emotional and behavioral abnormalities that lead to things like stress, anxiety, and mood disorders.
What’s more astonishing is that the cannabinoids in cannabis
are almost identical (save for some subtle structural differences)
to the endocannabinoids produced naturally in the body.
This allows plant-based cannabinoids like THC and CBD to directly
and indirectly influence dozens of internal physiological processes.
Still, there is much to be learned about these cannabinoids and how they can be utilized to treat specific medical conditions.
Although researchers are beginning to fathom how our
body interacts with cannabis, we are still surely just at the tip of the iceberg in terms of cannabis-based therapy.
When it comes to medical cannabis, it is important to understand the
legalities of your state. Each medically-legal state has its own qualifying conditions and
guidelines for which an individual may qualify to receive cannabis treatment. In most
states, the process will require you to have an evaluation with a registered
cannabis doctor before you can apply to receive a medical marijuana card.
It’s important also to understand that you are required to
apply for a cannabis card in the state that you permanently reside. Currently, only a few
dispensaries accept medical cannabis ID cards from out-of-state customers.
If you live in a state like California or Washington, the process
of obtaining a medical cannabis card is much easier. California specifically has
adopted a more lenient process through Prop 215. In 1996, with the passing of Proposition 215 (otherwise known as 'The Compassionate Use Act;), medical cannabis became legal in California.
This state law permitted patients to cultivate and possess their own
medicine for personal use. The only legal requirement was that the patient
had to have a doctor’s recommendation. Also, with the passage of the
Telehealth Act, patients in some states can now obtain a medical cannabis card
online without having to go to a doctor for a physical evaluation.
This has turned the medical cannabis application process into an
extremely simple one. In states that permit Telehealth, residents can
complete the process from the comfort of their home. States that have
not adopted this approach will require you to go through the conventional
route of obtaining a marijuana card, which includes having a physical
evaluation and submitting relevant application fees to the state.
Here at WayofLeaf, you will conveniently find your state’s process
explained in our state-by-state guides section on the site.
The short answer is no, but there could be alternative cannabis options that you are not aware of. We encourage everyone to sign up to our site, FREE of charge, to receive information about the cannabis process in their state. You can start the medical cannabis card process here. For those of you in non-legalized states that are looking for an alternative to medical cannabis, you will find a plethora of information on the site that discusses the benefits of hemp-based CBD oil. The CBD oil market is growing at a rapid pace, and is soon expected to surpass the $20 billion revenue mark. When purchasing CBD oil, however, it’s important to know that many CBD oil brands import their oil. This makes it difficult to control and regulate product quality. We recommend reading the assortment of up-to-date articles on our site to better understand what goes into making the best CBD oil. Also, it's crucial to know and understand what kind of product will work best for you, and our doctor-reviewed guides are here to help.
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