The uses, effects, and nature of cannabis, also known as marijuana or weed.
This updated guide explains how medical cannabis and CBD may support people living with sleep apnoea — what current research shows and how treatment works in the UK. With support from Glass Pharms (patients also gain access to UK-grown cannabis produced with a continuous harvest system), reducing wait times and supply interruptions. This slower onset of 60 to 90 minutes is balanced by a longer duration, which can make https://mindhorn.co.uk/ edibles helpful for patients who need sustained relief over several hours. In the UK, it is illegal to smoke any form of cannabis, legally prescribed or not. Patients may be prescribed THC-dominant flower, CBD-dominant flower, or balanced varieties that combine both cannabinoids, depending on their condition and treatment goals. This is still the most common format prescribed in the UK and often the starting point for patients.
During this period, a legal import of cannabis across borders existed. An increase in racist and anti-immigrant feelings arose in the United States as a result of this. The phrase is frequently used along with “weed” and various other expressions.
Although scientific research and lab testing are still somewhat lacking on the subject (reports claiming therapeutic benefits of THCA are numerous), showing strong anti-inflammatory properties, alongside alleviating a wide array of neurodegenerative diseases. Assuming you’ve decarbed properly (not a problem if you’ve read our article on how to decarb), the THCA within has been converted into THC, meaning it’s completely ready to use as-is. We say that decarbed weed is more versatile because, unlike raw cannabis, it can now be eaten outright. Direct flame is more than enough to burn away and ultimately destroy the THCA molecules inside your cannabis (and what we’re usually smoking when we light up a bowl or a joint isn’t the bud that’s been directly touched by fire), it’s the bud that’s directly beside that burned bud that reaches the proper temperature for decarboxylation.
Psychologically, use of cannabis has been reported to cause anxiety and paranoia in some users and studies have suggested that it can be a trigger for underlying mental health problems. Temporary psychological distress and confusion can occur, particularly among inexperienced users or if the user is feeling anxious or depressed. While intoxicated (cannabis can affect the short-term memory), concentration, and intellectual or manual dexterity, including driving. There is also a greater appreciation of sensory experiences such as music and hallucinations may occur with higher doses. Roughly one-sixteenth of an ounce of cannabis resin would be sufficient to produce four strong joints. Eating cannabis may result in a large dose being taken in one go, making it difficult to avoid unpleasant reactions.
THC’s Potential Health Benefits
If you talk to someone who uses weed often, they’ll probably have opinions about the strains they like the most. THC and CBD are just two types of cannabinoids in weed. For instance, one study of 84 CBD products found that 18 of them contained THC. It’s also being studied to see if it can help ease a variety of other conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. After THC, CBD is the second most common substance in cannabis plants.
Effects of cannabis (THC)
This article discusses the science (safety), and accessibility of medical cannabis treatment for patients in the UK. Recent research indicates that CBD and other cannabinoids may aid in reducing acne by regulating sebum production (soothing inflammation), and promoting skin repair.
Drug Enforcement Administration restrictions make it harder for researchers to study weed. It also has 2% cannabigerol (CBG), the third most common cannabinoid in weed after THC and CBD. They all have different amounts of cannabinoids, the active compounds in cannabis. A study published in 2017 found that the use of CBD resulted in far fewer seizures among children with Dravet syndrome compared with a placebo. While cannabis may help some people reduce opioid and alcohol use, taking cannabis excessively or not as prescribed can lead to a cannabis use disorder. A 2022 Canadian study also found a distinct correlation between medicinal cannabis use and a reduction in alcohol use.
The plant is also known as hemp, although this term is usually used to refer only to varieties cultivated for non-drug use. Delta-8-THC is thought to have some potential therapeutic benefits, though a lack of scientific evidence and regulatory oversight has raised concerns about safety and quality. Acute intoxication may occasionally induce visual hallucinations (anxiety), depression, extreme variability of mood, paranoid reactions, and psychoses lasting four to six hours. Psychological effects tend to predominate, with the user commonly experiencing a mild euphoria. THC’s effects vary, depending upon the strength and amount consumed, the presence and potency of other cannabinoids , such as cannabidiol CBD,, the setting in which it is taken, and the experience of the user.
- Studies suggest THC products can modestly reduce muscle spasms, a common symptom experienced by people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and paraplegia.
- Many monoecious varieties have also been described — in which individual plants bear both male and female flowers.
- CBD , cannabidiol, is another common cannabinoid in cannabis plants.2
- Within minutes, your heart rate may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute.
Although more research needs to be done, some studies suggest that using cannabis while you’re pregnant can affect your kids later in life. Whether you use weed recreationally or medically, it can affect how your anesthesia works. If you’ve been regularly using large amounts of weed, withdrawal symptoms might start within a day or two. Combining alcohol and marijuana at the same time roughly doubles your odds of drunk driving or legal, professional, or personal issues. Psychosis is a symptom of a serious medical condition called schizophrenia. Despite its widespread use, many more studies are needed to understand how regular marijuana use may affect your brain and body.
How Releaf supports patients
A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day — 7 days a week. This is because cannabis can make the effects of these drugs stronger and more unpredictable. Signs you are dependent include if cannabis is affecting your daily life. Regular cannabis users can become dependent and experience withdrawal.
Some of these injuries resulted in deaths following the use of vaping products. Some people might combine cannabis with alcohol, which also impairs driving. Strains of cannabis with THC can impair judgment (motor coordination), and reaction time.
Cannabis is most often smoked, eaten/swallowed or vaporised.6 CBD , cannabidiol, is another common cannabinoid in cannabis plants.2 While the UK government has no plans to legalise recreational use of the drug (some countries have decriminalised it), allowing the personal possession of small amounts for personal use.
Both THC and CBD play a lead role in certain health conditions, and can sometimes be greater together, due to a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. When comparing THC vs CBD oil in the UK asking which is stronger may not be the right question. However, it’s also important to mention that a lot more research is needed to uncover the full potential of this treatment option – including if there are any long-term effects.
The word cannabis is increasingly being utilized to denote marijuana or weed. For instance, numerous states in the United States have authorized both recreational and medical cannabis use. Nevertheless, recent research has revealed scant evidence connecting cannabis consumption to lung cancer.