What is THC
What is THC?
The most talked-about and some would say most notorious cannabinoid in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is the reason why so many cannabis growers have risked their livelihoods growing cannabis for consumers and patients.
There are over 100 different cannabinoids found in cannabis and THC is one of the few cannabinoids that have been proven to directly create a psychoactive high. Simply stated, THC is the cannabinoid in cannabis that provides the euphoric high and relaxation properties that keeps our consumers happy.
How THC Works?
THC is the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis and researchers have found that it binds to both the CB1 & CB2 receptors. When THC binds to our CB1 receptor it creates the well documented psychoactive high, but users also experience pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits. Arguably the two biggest benefits of THC are its ability to reduce stress and relieve pain. THC has also become a popular choice for complementary therapy when fighting cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Stress Reliever
Studies have confirmed that laughter is the best medicine and THC users have a tendency to relax and enjoy the comedic relief that comes with using THC rich cannabis. THC also stimulates the brain and releases dopamine and other feel-good hormones. It’s not a coincidence that societies that have the longest lifespans also have low stress levels. Both non-psychoactive and psychoactive cannabis has been shown to reduce stress levels and lower stress levels might be the most medicinal aspect of cannabis that is high in THC.
At ERB we believe that all cannabis consumption is medicinal in one way or another and THC is arguably one of the safest and most enjoyable stress relievers in the world. Outside of sex and maybe exercise or meditation, there isn’t a better stress reliever than THC rich cannabis. Sex, exercise, and meditation can also all be done while consuming THC. Everyone can benefit by reducing their overall stress levels and stress is the number one cause of chronic inflammation and premature death in America. THC is neuroprotective and a 2018 study done by Washington State University found that “smoking cannabis can significantly reduce short-term levels of depression, anxiety, and stress”. The study also reported that constant cannabis use may contribute to certain forms of depression and consumers should recognize that cannabis is often best in moderation. It is important to note that all mental health pharmaceutical products come with far worse side effects and are far more addictive. We all have to deal with stress, but one thing we shouldn’t have to be stressed out about is where to get legal THC.
Pain Reliever
Cannabis that is rich in THC is quickly becoming one of the most preferred methods for managing and alleviating chronic pain. Pain is also the most common reason why patients decide to acquire a medical cannabis card and it is estimated that around 80% of medical cannabis patients are using to deal with pain.
THC has extraordinary pain-relieving properties for patients and patients don’t have to worry about the side effects and addiction that is associated with traditional opioid drugs. Opiates and antidepressant drugs are turning out to be inadequate when it comes to managing pain that is associated with multiple sclerosis and other chronic pain diseases. When it comes to pain management, THC can be taken orally, topically or through a patch.
Complementary Therapy
THC is also famously known for giving us stoners the munchies and more importantly, it can stimulate the appetites of elderly or patients going through cancer therapies. One of the biggest benefits of THC is the ability to be safely used as a complementary therapy to customers going through cancer therapies or having to deal with chronic health care conditions. Many autoimmune disease patients have had tremendous results using medicinal cannabis that is high in THC and many elderly patients who struggle to get a good night’s sleep could benefit from adding THC to the bedtime routine.
Side Effects of THC
The majority of consumers will never experience side effects with consuming THC, but there are some issues that all cannabis consumers should become knowledgable about. The most talked-about side effect for the adult-use market is the munchies, but don’t frett, cannabis consumers as a group have a much lower body mass index (BMI) than non-cannabis users.
The more serious side effects are paranoia and anxiety that may be created from using cannabis. These two side effects are most common in users that are new to using THC and these side effects can be minimized by consuming THC products that also contain CBD. Similarly, many consumers are concerned about the possibility of overdosing with THC edibles or having a panic attack from smoking cannabis. The high that users experience from smoking THC will only last for 1-2 hours, but some edibles may cause drowsiness that may last 6-12 hours. We recommend new customers to ease their way into edible consumptions and start with 5-10 mg.
