Medical Cannabis Card San Diego

4 Smokeless Methods of Cannabis Consumption You Should Try Today

According to the American Lung Association, marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens as tobacco smoke. Smoking cannabis is linked to lung damage and other severe health issues. Luckily, there are many smokeless methods of cannabis consumption. Thus, you can enjoy marijuana without damaging your lungs. However, before using marijuana for managing your condition, make sure you get an MMJ card from a 420 clinic.

Vaping

Vaporization is safer as compared to smoking. This is because cannabinoids vaporize at a much lower temperature, and the vapors are much easier on the lungs. Moreover, vaping prevents certain terpenes and other compounds from burning, thus delivering a flavorful cannabis consumption experience. Using portable vape pens, you can easily generate vapors and inhale them for immediate medicinal effects.

Dabbing is a popular vaping form with stronger hits. Cannabis concentrates contain higher levels of THC and CBD than those of flowers. Research says that the average potency of THC in concentrates is 40-80 percent while it’s around 20 percent in the case of flowers. You can opt for flowers or concentrates with the right cannabinoid profile to get customized medicinal effects.

Edibles

Edibles are available in the form of chocolate bars, brownies, pizzas, ice-creams, and other foods and beverages. So, you can eat marijuana to enjoy therapeutic effects. At medical dispensaries, a wide range of cannabis edibles with different concentrations of THC and CBD are available.

Edibles are safer than smoking because you don’t have to inhale cannabis smoke. So, you aren’t exposed to harmful chemicals. It’s important to note that cannabis-infused edibles take longer to get absorbed in the bloodstream and last longer. They reach a peak in around 20-180 minutes after ingestion. So, edibles are perfect for medical users looking for lasting relief. You can also make edibles at home.

However, the onset and duration of edibles depend on cannabinoid profile, dosage, body weight, and various other factors.

Topicals

Topicals are cannabis products that can be applied directly on the skin. They are usually preferred by patients to get localized relief from pain and inflammation. According to the recent Civilized Culture poll, the topical market is set to explode.

Cannabinoids in topicals bind to the receptors in the endocannabinoid system in the body. The majority of the topicals don’t reach the bloodstream. So, they usually don’t deliver high effects even if they have high-THC levels. However, transdermal patches can reach the bloodstream, thus there are some chances that you will experience psychoactive effects.

At medical dispensaries, you can find a wide range of balms, lotions, creams, etc., which have different cannabinoid profiles.

Tinctures

Tinctures are cannabis extracts, which come with dropper bottles. So, you can easily control the dosage. They contain the decarboxylated form of marijuana. Decarboxylation is a process of activating the important chemical compounds in the herb. Tinctures can be infused with alcohol or glycerine. Alcohol-based tinctures have a fast action. These cannabis products are absorbed sublingually. However, you can also mix them with food products.

Tinctures are available in a wide range of flavors, potencies, allowing medical users to choose what suits their personal preferences and medical needs. Medical experts say that when stored properly, tinctures can last years.

Talk to a Licensed Doctor

Cannabinoids delivered through vaping, edibles, topicals, or tinctures don’t work the same way for every patient. This is because not everyone has the same symptoms, body weight, tolerance to cannabis, etc. Also, the amount of cannabis you consume matters. If your friend gets relief with 10 mg of a cannabis-infused chocolate bar, it’s not necessary that you will experience the same effects.

So, choose your marijuana products wisely. Talk to a board-certified doctor to seek professional help for cannabis consumption methods, strains, dosage, etc.

To access state-licensed dispensaries, you need to apply for MMJ recs at a 420 clinic. However, you can see a licensed doctor online using telemedicine technology. Here’s the process-

Sign up an account
Talk to a doctor online
Receive an MMJ letter in PDF via email

Final Thoughts

Using smokeless methods, you can deliver cannabinoids into the body without inhaling the smoke. Vaporization converts cannabis into vapors, which can be inhaled through the lungs for immediate medicinal effects. Edibles are absorbed through the digestive system, thus have a slow onset and longer duration. Topicals are applied directly on the skin, and tinctures are absorbed sublingually. The effects of marijuana on the body and mind depend on factors such as strain, dosage, body chemistry, etc. So, work with a board-certified doctor to learn how to use cannabis.

Visit a 420 clinic to receive MMJ recs.

Understanding Terpenes: Can They Get You High?

Cannabis has become an extremely well-known plant all around the country; thanks to the long list of medical conditions it can treat. But do you know what’s the reason behind these amazing effects of the plant? I mean, how does the cannabis plant actually works?

If you know a little bit about the plant, you probably already have an idea that the effects of the cannabis plant are due to the presence of compounds we call cannabinoids. And there are two major cannabinoids- THC and CBD. However, what most people don’t know is that the terpenes of the plant also have a role to play here.

Though overlooked, terpenes, in general, have a myriad of benefits to offer you. Plus, they may also enhance the other effects of cannabis that are provided by the cannabinoids. Given all this, if you are thinking of applying for 420 evaluations in San Diego, it’s probably a very good idea to learn as much about terpenes as possible.

Don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry. Here is a basic guide to help you gather all the important information about cannabis terpenes. In this guide, we’ll try to learn almost everything about the terpenes, including what they are, how they affect you, and most importantly, do they get you high.

So, let’s begin.

What are Terpenes?

Have you ever encountered a refreshing smell of a lemon, a musk of pine, or a sweet scent of newly cut wood? If yes, then you already have an experience with terpenes.

We can describe terpenes as the chemical compounds that are responsible for the plant’s aroma and taste. These compounds are present in almost all plants, including pines, conifers, and the cannabis plant. And these are the reason why each plant is unique in itself.

Terpenes serve a very important function in plants. These are very helpful in keeping the predators at bay. Though the scent of rose, lavender, or other plants may be great for us, for many insects and other organisms, it may works as a repellent.

We may also find terpenes in various foods that we eat. And it may even surprise you that many cleaning products that we use in our homes also utilize these compounds in order to provide us a sweet and clean smell. You should note that terpenes have been marked safe for use by the US federal authorities, and we can find them in many products all around us.

Terpenes in Cannabis

As mentioned before, terpenes are found in almost all plants. And cannabis is also one of them. In fact, these compounds are the main reason behind that delightful aroma that makes your favorite strain irresistible to you.

In the cannabis plant, there are more than a hundred terpenes. However, only a few are present in abundance in most strains. And you should note that these compounds account for up to 5 percent of the weight of the cannabis plant.

Researchers define terpenes as unsaturated hydrocarbons. And they are usually found in resins (trichomes) that cover the female cannabis plant. Furthermore, experts say that these terpenes are the main source of the essential oils that we get from the cannabis plant.

As mentioned before, there are more than a hundred cannabis compounds in the cannabis plant. However, a few main types are:

Limonene
Myrcene
Linalool
Pinene
Humulene

The Functions of Terpenes

Let’s see what are the effects of these terpenes at an individual level.

Limonene

Limonene, as the name suggests, is usually present in the citrus plants, like limes, oranges, and lemons, etc. It is widely used in food, perfume, and cleaning industries. And it possesses many beneficial properties, such as anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects.

Myrcene

This particular terpene is one of the most commonly present terpenes in the cannabis plant. It’s been used as a medicine for various ailments, including hypertension and dysentery, in the past. And now too, it is quite famous for its relaxing effects and anti-inflammatory properties.

Linalool

With a very rugged aromatic profile, Linalool terpene is mostly the part of plants such as lavender. The scent is quite popular and is used in many products in the market. Plus, it also has many therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammation and anti-convulsion.

Pinene

Pinene, as you probably have already guessed, is the main reason behind the clean and fresh smell of pine. It has two different types: alpha and beta. And alpha is the type that we mostly find in marijuana.

As per the recent studies, the compound has been indicated as a bronchodilator, which means it can open up the lungs. And this is a great property for people who are suffering from some lung disease, such as bronchitis or asthma. Furthermore, it also has the ability to balance out the intoxicating effects of THC.

Humulene

While many terpenes increase your appetite, humulene has the ability to decrease it. This makes the compound a great remedy for weight loss. It is mostly available in the plants, such as clove and basil. And you can also use it as a pain reliever.

How Terpenes Work with Cannabinoids?

As we saw, terpenes, even on their own, have some amazing medicinal benefits to offer us. However, when we combine them with other compounds of cannabis, their effects are even more enhanced. When terpenes and other compounds work together, they produce the effects that can help you combat a myriad of ailments that they can’t battle effectively, individually. This is what we call “the entourage effect.”

Our body has many cannabinoid receptors throughout the body. And terpenes may help neurotransmitters respond and react to these receptors more readily. This increases the speed at which various signals travel from one place to another within the body. And given this, many experts say that cannabis becomes a lot more powerful in the presence of terpenes.

Experts also believe that terpene can tone down the cognitive effects of THC while strengthening the medicinal effects.

Can Terpenes Get You High?

This probably is one of the most important questions for you, especially if you thinking of applying for 420 evaluations in San Diego. “Can terpenes make you high?” Let’s find out.

Terpenes, no doubt, are very strong compounds that are present inside any plant, including cannabis. However, the “high” feeling, which is often accompanied by drowsiness, delusion, paranoia, is not what you may expect from them. Terpenes are rather more famous for their therapeutic properties only. Many terpenes are used to treat conditions such as depression, diabetes, and hypertension, etc.

The US federal authorities have also declared that terpenes are completely safe to use and have no ill effects. In fact, you can even feed them to the animals or disperse into the environment.

However, you should note that research on the plant is still growing. And every day the experts are coming up with something new. Until now, we do not have any proofs of terpenes having any intoxicating effects. But who knows what the future holds?

Consume Medical Cannabis. Relieve Chronic Pain

Cannabis is a natural medicine, which can help in treating a wide range of conditions, of which pain is one. Getting 420 evaluations San Diego isn’t enough, collecting knowledge about different cannabinoids is also necessary so that you can choose the right products for your condition.

Pain results from the activation of brain cells, which produce sensations and also responsible for modulating the strength of pain signals as well. In some cases, pain occurs from physical injury, and it’s called nociceptive pain.

Medical marijuana can help in treating different types of pain—nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, and central pain. Let’s discuss them one by one.

Cannabis for Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is associated with damage to the nervous system in the body. A 2014 research shows that this type of pain affects 7-10% of the population, and it occurs due to nerve damage by pinching, stabbing, injury, etc.

As neuropathic pain doesn’t result from inflammation, thus it’s difficult to treat. Cannabis can be useful in treating this type of pain no matter whether it’s caused by amputation, disease, etc. Strains that are high in CBD are effective in reducing chemotherapy-induced pain.

Cannabis helps in activating the CB1 receptors in the brain, weakening the strength of pain signals in the spinal cord, thus relieving chemotherapy and non-chemotherapy pain.

Cannabis for Nociceptive Pain

Also called inflammatory pain, nociceptive pain results from physical damage. Numerous inflammatory and immune cells work on repairing the damage, and these cells also release chemicals, which travel to the brain through the spinal cord and cause sensations of pain.

Also Read:- How Medical Marijuana in San Diego Helps Manage Your Condition

Cannabis’ cannabinoids have ultimate anti-inflammatory effects. THC activates CB2 receptors, thus reducing the pain-inducing response to injury. CBD provide anxiety-relieving effects by activating serotonin receptors. Since anxiety and depression are common among people suffering from chronic pain, CBD’s mood-improving effects can be helpful in pain therapy.

Cannabis for Central Pain

Central pain occurs as a result of dysfunction in the way to pain signals. Fibromyalgia is an example of this type of pain, and its origin is largely unknown.

Cannabis’ effectiveness in treating central pain is for fibromyalgia. In 2018, a study of 26 patients suffering from fibromyalgia reported positive results. After starting medical cannabis treatment, all the participants reported significant improvement in their conditions, and half of them stopped taking medications.

There’s a wide range of cannabis strains, which work differently on different people. To receive the maximum health benefits, make sure you choose the right strain.

Also Read :- Tips To Manage Cannabis Hangovers For Patients With Medical Marijuana Card in San Diego

The conclusion is—with scientific evidence that cannabis can help in treating chronic pain, more and more patients are turning to medical marijuana treatment. Currently, medical cannabis is legal in 33 US states, and many other states are putting efforts to legalize marijuana. Cannabinoids have ultimate pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties and can help in relieving neuropathic, nociceptive, and central pain.

When using cannabis as an alternative treatment for pain, dosage and strain play a vital role. Choose the strains with optimal levels of CBD/THC to get the right treatment for your condition.

Talk to a doctor online to get 420 evaluations San Diego.