Oral/Transdermal Cannabis vs. Smoking.

Medicinal cannabis has been tested and researched since the talk of legalization. We all know cannabis has been around for as long as we can remember and that there have never been any harm caused by ingesting or consuming this medicinal plant. Cannabis is not any more different than oregano, rosemary or any other plant out there that we use to cook or make tea with. Nature has provided us with all the medicine we need and if we know how to make use of it, there is no reason to think it is harmful and instead we should be grateful that all is provided.

Marijuana is known to be a nontoxic substance, unless grown with pesticides and chemical substances. Please not for the rest of the article, when i refer to marijuana or cannabis it should be clear that i am speaking about medicinal grown strands and not those on the street, which are nothing but toxic chemicals.

There are many benefits to consuming marijuana, however research has shown that its all about how it is consumed. We all know smoking is bad for us. Well when it comes to marijuana, the same rule applies. Event though you are consuming a clean and healthy substance, the act of smoking it completely negates its medicinal properties. The reason for this is simply because when we smoke it, the actual combustion process creates toxic compounds and destroys the beneficial ones.
Smoking marijuana actually has a limited medicinal value when used this way. Although smoking it has been known to reduce blood sugar and help with glaucoma, reduce nausea and act as an analgesic, we still lose much of the benefits by burning and smoking it. It is said that 90% of the medicinal aspect is destroyed when the plant is smoked rather than ingested.

It has been shown that oral consumption of the actual oil is far more beneficial. Smoking it is the least effective way of benefiting from what this miraculous plant has to offer us.

It is known that when the oil is consumed it has to pass through our digestive system and has to be broken down by the liver, which has been shown to amplify the effectiveness of the compounds by 4-5 times. The THC in the plant is converted into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is then sent into the bloodstream and eventually our brains.

Marijuana taken as a edible usually takes effect between 40-60 minutes and has a peak effect at the two hour mark. This is what the average person has documented, but depending on many factors, this can take more time or less time. Diet, weight, degree of illness, degree of pain etc...

The most important take away when it comes to oral marijuana is to know your limit. Everyone reacts differently and again this is due to some of the factors mentioned above. It also depends on what you are trying to achieve by ingesting it. So the recommendation is always to take 1/4 of what is recommended, waiting about an hour and seeing how you feel. If there is nothing, you can add the same quantity, until you achieve your desired affect. Its a learning curve at the beginning but again, it is harmless.

Most people may not like the side effects, but this is something that is personal, and again, its a learning curve.

Please take note that everything, whether chemical or natural can be harmful. Moderation and vigilance is the name of the game. Please do your due diligence and take heed when ingesting anything.