Despite the negative stereotypes and stigmatization around cannabis, the pros far outweigh the cons.
Besides recreational purposes, cannabis undoubtedly possesses few well-documented therapeutic potentials. There may also be a few risks associated with cannabis, depending on the cannabis strain, products, and consumption mode. Purchasing from the right retailers lowers the odds of most health issues associated with using cannabis.
Personal research and asking for information about your cannabis are non-negotiable for a healthy cannabis routine. The same goes for choosing a mode of delivery that suits your lifestyle and existing health conditions. Ultimately, the best way to consume cannabis bores down to individual preferences. Let’s face it.
Many people only enjoy cannabis via smoking. Such individuals with an outdoor lifestyle and also care about how they smell are opting for vaping, considered to be generally healthier, classier, and a less messy alternative to smoking especially when shopping at the trustworthy online vape store. Regardless of how you want to use it, it is essential to reduce the risks to your health to the minimum.
Delay Using Cannabis As Late As Possible
Though the cannabis law varies from place to place, every authority agrees on one thing. Cannabis use should never be for kids and young people. The contention is when should be the safe, legal age for non-medical cannabis to avoid adverse outcomes.
Several countries that legalized cannabis restrict the purchase and use to people below the age of 18 and 21 in some cases. That seems logical. Many are old enough to make their own decisions.
But, researchers disagree. The human brain continues growing till 25. People that use cannabis with the brain still under construction stand a high risk of schizophrenia. Cognition issues such as inhibition in learning, attention, memory, and decision-making are also likely. Using cannabis is not advisable for preteens and teens, while those up to the legal age but still young can go easy on consuming cannabis.
Buy Only From Reputable Vendors
When it comes to purchasing cannabis, whether for recreational or therapeutic purposes, it is crucial to buy it only from reputable vendors. They prioritize quality control and ensure that their products meet specific standards. They also often work closely with licensed cultivators and manufacturers who adhere to strict guidelines in cultivating, processing, and packaging cannabis. This ensures that you are getting a product that is safe, potent, and free from contaminants. Purchasing cannabis from reputable vendors also ensures that you are obtaining it legally and in compliance with local regulations. Whether you are looking for cannabis delivery in Abbotsford or shopping at a local dispensary, purchasing cannabis from trusted and legal sources is crucial for mitigating potential risks. Illegally sourced cannabis may pose great risks, as it bypasses quality control measures and may expose you to legal consequences.
Tone Down On Smoking
Even with the relatively small risk of lung cancer compared to tobacco, smoking cannabis still carries risks of respiratory dysfunction plus throat and lung irritation. Smoking, in general, can aggravate conditions such as cough and chronic bronchitis.
Despite the availability of other options to use cannabis, heavy users might not be able to rule out smoking entirely. Whether using a bong, blunt, joint or even dabbing, keeping some risk reduction tips in mind might be worth tons, especially in the long run.
- There is no need to get greedy with the smoke. Inhale moderately and exhale faster to reduce the amount of tar per breath you subject your lung.
- Puff, Puff, Pass? Stoners sure love to share. But the only thing safe to share is your stash. Passing your blunt, joint, bong is not safe health-wise as infections also get passed that way.
- Roll your joint with only paper approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the relevant bodies when you’re beside.
- Use glass bongs and avoid plastic and homemade bongs containing BPA and phthalates that increase cancer risk.
- Keep smoking materials and surfaces clean.
Be Mindful Of Family History
No specific link is established between consuming cannabis and schizophrenia. The possibility of psychosis and schizophrenia when using cannabis is higher if there is a family connection with someone with those conditions like identical twins, parents, or siblings.
The best option for this category of people remains not to smoke cannabis. But those already deep into it can protect their mental health by taking some precautions.
To mitigate the risk, consider reducing the frequency or the dosage of the cannabis you take gradually. If you use every day or have three sessions in a day, skipping a day or session will be a good start. Another method of reducing the risk is to cut down on the THC intake. Substituting low CBD and high THC cannabis strains or products for ones with high CBD and low THC makes it less likely to have an episode of psychosis.
Protect The Babies
Smoking any substance is generally not safe for the health of the fetus or a baby. Smoking pregnant mothers risk spiking the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood, lowering the oxygen available for the baby. Some of the THC consumed, and other chemicals can pass through the placenta to the baby. These may result in fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, small length, small head circumference, or even stillbirth.
A mother may need to stay away from using cannabis from pregnancy to breastfeeding for the fetus and the baby’s health. In addition to lowering the quality of milk produced, a lactating mother may pass about 2.5% of THC consumed to the baby. Exposing the baby to that much chemical via secondhand smoking may affect its brain development with a cognitive deficiency with paying attention, memory, problem-solving, and depression.
Don’t Do Synthetic
For the uninitiated, it is hard to tell the difference between synthetic and natural cannabis. To be fair, it’s not easy to distinguish. The similarity between synthetic and natural weed does not end with the physical appearance. Synthetic THC was a replicate of THC made by a Harvard University-educated chemist, John Huffmanto.
The intention was to study how natural THC, a Federal controlled substance, interacts with the human brain. JWH-018 and other fake cannabinoids produced have a stronger affinity to the CB1 and are highly potent.
With such high psychoactive properties, synthetic compounds are more addictive and cause lasting damage by forcing new toxicants into the body. Immediate health risks are extreme paranoia and anxiety, psychosis, confusion, seizures, vomiting, etc. Zombie-like and respiratory issues are very likely results of long-term use. When it comes to synthetic cannabis, the key to avoiding health risks is not to start or quit as soon as possible.
Go Slow With Edibles
No better way to enjoy cannabis than as edibles. Who doesn’t love getting high eating their favorite snacks or food instead of inhaling smoke? However, with this mode of consuming cannabis, it is easier to throw caution to the wind. Since the psychoactive effect of THC in edibles takes about 2 hours to kick in, overdose is common with edibles.
Overdose can lead to symptoms like panic attacks, nausea, vomiting, high or low blood pressure, memory problems, hallucinations, etc.
Avoiding all these implications is simple, start slow and go slow. Since THC takes a couple of hours to kick in, ensure not to take more than 5 mg of a new cannabis strain. Stick to this dosage level for a few days to build tolerance before upping the intake reasonably.
Wrapping It Up
Like everything else, overusing cannabis can have adverse health effects on the body and the brain. Everyone’s endocannabinoid system and overall physiology are different. Microdosing and ingesting with caution help you find your tolerance level.
However, combining a good ratio of CBD and THC with the right combination of terpenes to discover your therapeutic range is equally important in reducing health risks. Creating a healthy routine with cannabis products from reliable retailers from the get-go lets you enjoy the therapeutic benefits of cannabis without risk to your health.