Weed For Beginners

Part 1

Weed For Beginners

             Weedology is a series dedicated to you out there who have been thinking about exploring cannabis due to hearing how it can help you in various mental or physical ways. You have very little or no experience with anything THC or CBD based, are confused on what the differences even are, where to begin, but are starting to go down the path of research and understanding. If this sounds like you, then welcome and you are exactly the person we are trying to help with this series.

It’s been a long time since the “Reefer Madness” panic, where the idea that marijuana could cause madness and murder ran rampent. Nowadays Cannabis has a much more positive reputation as medical use becomes more prevalent. There still is this disconnect between the previous negative association and the new health conscious outlook for marijunana. This disconnect creates a wall for those with no previous experience with weed who want to try but are afraid of the negative claims. It’s time to break down these walls and fully educate people on the realities of THC and CBD.

Difference Between THC and CBD

The first thing to go over when it comes to marijuana is its two major chemical compounds – THC and CBD. We have an article, “What is the difference between THC and CBD“, that goes over the difference between these two compounds. To shortly explain, THC and CBD have the same chemical formula but the overall structure is different. This allows for two drastically different effects, with THC being the main psychoactive component found primarily in marijuana, while CBD will NOT cause a “high” feeling and instead can work with other elements in the body to create feelings of well being. CBD is primarily found in hemp plants. So in summary if you want a higher percentage of THC you will find that in marijuana, but if you’re looking for CBD in a greater amount then you’d be looking for something hemp derived.

Terpenes And How They Benefit You

Marijuana has a plethora of different chemical compounds, aside from THC and CBD, each with its own way of affecting the body. The next important item to understand is terpenes. For a full explanation of what they are and how they can help you, please check out our article, “Terpenes and how they benefit you”. The way I would like to explain the relationships between THC/CBD and terpenes is this: imagine THC/CBD as the concept of going on vacation and the terpenes are the destination. In other words THC/CBD can assist with the sense of wellness, but terpenes can help dictate whatever specific feeling of wellness will occur. Some can create a sense of euphoria, while others can help ease chronic pain. They have a range of effects and in combination with each other can help a variety of afflictions.

Different Cannabis Classifications

The next major thing to understand is the classification of cannabis. There are three basic types. Indica, Sativa, and hybrids. These classifications help users group together strains of marijuana by the generalized effects they will have. Indica’s are known to be particularly great for sleep and chronic pain. Sativas tend to energize the user, used primarily for its effects on mental well-being. Hybrids are a cross between the other two categories, and can present themselves in two ways. You have Indica dominant and Sativa dominant. What this means is while the strain has parentage from both Indica and Sativa and may share effects from both categories, it has a stronger leaning towards one or the other. Users will utilize a combination of the classification and the smell (which comes from terpenes) to help decide what strain is best for their maladies.

Indica

Great for sleep and chronic pain

Sativa

Energize, great for mental wellbeing

Hybrids

A cross of both types with one dominating over the other

Microdosing

Now marijuana has a storied history of causing behavioral changes in its users for the duration of its psychoactive effects. But what isn’t really talked about often is how these effects can be managed based on dose. In today’s world microdosing is the new way to consume cannabis, especially for those looking for medical relief. But what is microdosing? Well, microdosing is the action or practice of taking or administering very small amounts of a drug in order to test or benefit from its physiological action while minimizing undesirable effects (https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/).

In practice, you ingest or smoke very minute amounts of cannabis(THC) or hemp(CBD) to achieve the positive medical effects while you experience very little amounts of the overwhelming psychoactive effects. This is perfect for newcomers to the cannabis culture because it allows them to achieve more control over whatever effects they may feel. Microdosing also allows people to move through their everyday life without impairment but also with an improved quality of life.

This leads us to the varied medical effects that marijuana and hemp can provide someone. You can combine all the knowledge we listed here to create a fantastic medical regimen that is perfectly catered to your needs. First is to do some research into terpenes and find the top 3 that address your needs.

I personally tend to use things with limonene, pinene, and terpinolene. These three together help me with chronic joint pain, and negative mood swings. and provide the ability to have restful sleep. Therefore I use strains like Jack Herer, Girl Scout Cookies, and Gorilla Glue to address my medical needs. And with the help of microdosing I can go about my daily life without psychoactive interference. But what about those with a low tolerance? In those cases, even microdosing could be too extreme for a daily regimen. But then can those people experience the benefits of marijuana in their life? In comes CBD to the rescue!

CBD

          CBD, by many accounts, can be considered a wonder drug. Providing so many useful benefits it is almost impossible to write them all down. For an in-depth explanation of CBD please look at our article “CBD Flower, Worth the Hype?“. As stated earlier, CBD is believed to work with the body to help enhance a feeling of wellness. It can help with so many issues, like pain, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, migraines, and even depression/anxiety.

Since it lacks the psychoactive effects of THC, this is the perfect thing to try for those who are still too afraid of trying something THC-heavy. Now in order for it to work to its full potential, it does require a small amount of THC. When CBD is the higher ratio, it undercuts any effects THC can have on the body which means no psychoactive feeling will be felt. Most importantly to keep in mind is many hemp-derived CBD products only contain .3% THC which is the federal legal limit for the substance. This way you can be confident that you will keep your wits about you while making sure your daily struggles are addressed.

As CBD is the newest booming industry, it’s nearly impossible to go anywhere without seeing some form of it for sale. It’s no longer a product that is only sold at a dispensary. This makes it so nearly anyone can try CBD if they so choose. With all of its medical effects, its the perfect place to start if you are curious about marijuana or hemp. Now with possessing this new information and what may best be for you, you are bound to experience a positive effect from these products. From water to gummies to chocolate. If you can think of something, then there is a large chance it’s made with CBD in it!

For those wanting to start out today, please check out these recommended brands that will most certainly help you step in the right direction for your marijuana and hemp journey. If you still feel uneasy or have any concerns many medical professionals are becoming more and more aware of the positive effects of THC and CBD so please reach out to one to discuss your particular situation with them.

Recommended CBD Brands

There are so many trusted brands, but in my opinion, you should give places like Charlotte’s Web, Spartan, Gr8 Water, and Papa’s and Barkleys a chance. Of course, you need to check with your state’s cannabis laws to ensure you can enjoy these products legally. If you can, there is no going wrong with allowing these products to give you a brand new lease on life.

Have any specific questions to start your marijuana journey? Well please leave a comment below and check out our next topic in the Weedolgy series, “Different Ways To Enjoy Weed”.