Marijuana - Cannabis sativa

Marijuana - Cannabis sativa

Cannabis is now a buzz word, which is extremely interesting to witness based on my upbringing.

I was raised in a Rastafarian household before it was cool to be a Rasta. I had friends that were not allowed to play at my house because marijuana buds would casually lie on the dining table. So it’s really ironic to see the shifts and growth of the cannabis industry.

I find that when things become popular, there is also a high chance for misconceptions and misunderstandings. So in this week's A Herb A Week I wanted to help you gain a little more insight into the medical potential of the plant.

Cannabis plants contain over 400 different chemicals. Approximately 70 are classified as cannabinoids. The human body naturally produces cannabinoids as part of the “Endocannabinoid system”. Molecules from the plant bind to receptors we already have in our bodies (like a lock and a key) to produce the effects.

Tetrahydrocannabinoid or THC is the most abundant cannabinoid present in the resin of the plant and is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabinol are two other major cannabinoids that are not psychoactive and have medicinal actions both similar and distinct from THC. The amount of THC and CBD varies from plant to plant. THC and CBD also work synergistically to either heighten or attenuate the effects of the other. For example, the presence of CBD can decrease the anxiety-producing effects of THC as well as enhances the pain-relieving effects of THC alone.

These days, a wide variety of preparations and methods of intake are available: smoked, steamed, water infusion (tea), in foods (edibles), oil extractions, salves etc. Also, separate THC and CBD extractions can be obtained based on the medical actions desired.

An important note: the act of smoking causes significant oxidative damage and the high heat destroys active constituents. Cannabinoids are also not very soluble in water so a tea will not extract the active constituents very well. For these reasons, vaporizing, steaming or ingesting the plant may be more ideal methods. Tinctures (alcohol extractions) or oil extractions may be preferred due to potential for more accurate dosing.

As a whole plant, here is a summary of the major uses of Marijuana:

- appetite stimulant, slowing undesired weight loss
- severe nausea and vomiting
- chronic pain
- muscle spasticity
- migraines
- anti-tumor activity
- insomnia
- stress

Marijuana is very potent medicine and it is quite exciting to see the growing body of research and personal testimonies related to its medicinal uses.

But what is often overlooked in the popular community is the potential adverse effects. These include anxiety, paranoia, increased heart rate, short-term memory loss, hypotension, chronic cough (if smoked) and fertility issues. Most notably, heavy use of marijuana can cause psychosis, especially in people with a genetic predisposition (such as a family history) or personal history of conditions like schizophrenia. This risk is greatest when cannabis use is initiated at an early age (12-15years). There is also a high rate of dependency with some adverse effects upon withdrawal (depression, anxiety, irritability, weight loss, tremors and headache)

The legalities of cannabis must also be considered for prescribers or users of the medicine.

The cannabis industry is extremely profitable and the cultural and social implications for the growth of the industry is concerning. As a Rasta pickney I can’t help but notice how out-right discrimination against historical and spiritual users of marijuana has quickly turned into a fad and business as usual. There seems to be a general oversight of the original proponents of the herb - the Rastafarian community - as well as the spiritual uses of the plant within this community.

I hope you enjoyed all the food for thought in this “special edition” of A Herb A Week! (sign up for weekly emails with herbal medicine information until June 2017!)

See you next week!

Love,
Kimani