Today we are going to talk all about a question we get all the time…..How Does Cannabis make you feel?  We will address CBD and THC in terms of how it makes you feel as we want you to be informed about your options.  To understand how Cannabis makes you feel, we must first truly understand all the different options that users have with cannabis.

Cannabis is said by many to have a relaxing and soothing effect, but you’re not going to feel CBD the same way you would THC. To explain how cannabis truly feels, we need to look at how both THC and CBD interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

How Does Cannabis Make You Feel? – The Answer is in the ECS System

What is an Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?

This delicate network of cannabinoid receptors keeps the homeostasis or internal stability of all physiological functions. The system regulates metabolism, mood, digestion, sleep, immunity, heart function, and temperature.  Cannabinoid receptors are spread on cells around the body. Two main cannabinoid receptors are called CB1 and CB2. They occupy different areas.

CB1 receptors are made of G proteins and found mainly in the brain and the central nervous system. These are responsible for motor functions, stress response, pain perception, and memory. CB1 receptors are activated by endogenous neurotransmitters as well as naturally occurring ones, such as the phytocannabinoids.

CB2 receptors are concentrated mainly in the body organs, mainly on white blood cells, in the tonsils and the spleen, which are responsible for the cardiovascular, immune, and muscular systems.

The ECS is made up of endocannabinoids, receptors that cannabinoids bind to, and enzymes that break them down.

What is the difference between CBD and THC in the ECS?

CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most common chemicals found in cannabis plants. Each plant has more than 100 of these compounds called cannabinoids. THC and CBD are both derived from marijuana and hemp. Marijuana has much more THC than hemp, while hemp contains a lot of CBD.

CBD and THC are chemical twins; they have the same formula ― 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. The only difference is the atoms’ arrangement. The molecular structure gives each of them unique pharmacological properties. Once released into a body, they behave differently and travel in different directions.

While THC activates the CB1 receptors, CBD induces the opposite outcome and inhibits the CB1 receptors.

THC – How Does Cannabis Make You Feel

THC binds with both CB1 and CB2 receptors but has a tendency to seek out the CB1 receptors. Once THC gets into your body, it attaches to CB1 receptors and sorta takes over the endocannabinoid system as a whole.

Once THC begins working to control the ECS, it interferes with the chemical signals between neurons and your natural cannabinoids. THC activates CB1 receptors and increases blood flow to the prefrontal cortex of the brain.

You can read the full material here: Neuroimaging in cannabis use. It may activate cognitive changes such as decision-making, attention, and motor skills.

THC binds to CB1 receptors and activates the brain’s reward circuitry, which affects emotional and memory functions.

For further information, check the link: Marijuana and cannabinoid regulation of brain reward circuits. Remember what made you eat a pack of chips instead of salad? Now you know how it works.

THC is a psychoactive compound: it attaches to the receptors found within the brain along with CB1 receptors and activates them. The intoxication causes:

• euphoria sensation,
• relaxation
• potentially increased hunger
• possible sensitivity to light, color, touch, taste, and smell
• some experience creativity boosts
• Many feel amusement (laughter)

Some people do experience negative feelings while taking THC.  To avoid this it is ALWAYS BEST TO START LOW (mg dosage) and SLOW to find the perfect amount to achieve symptom-relief for the ailment you are using medical marijuana to help with.  Here are a few of the negative effects some have reported:

• short-term memory loss,
• high blood pressure.
• nausea/vomiting
• racing heartbeat
• anxiety/panic/paranoia
• confusion/delusions/hallucinations

It’s important to note that most people do not feel these negative effects of THC unless they have consumed too much for their bodies.  Take it slow and low and its reasonable to assume you can mostly avoid the negative feelings that the minority of users have reported.

CBD – How Does Cannabis Make You Feel

Depending on the treatment or therapeutic relief you seek, the effects of CBD can vary. Different CBD products may prove more beneficial than others. For instance, CBD-infused topicals have been reported to provide relief in pain-specific areas, while CBD oil may be better suited to help with an overall feeling of calm in the body.

Individual-specific characteristics such as your weight, diet, metabolism, other medications, genetics, and medical conditions, as well as the formulation and quality of the CBD product (3rd-Party Tested, Terpenes, etc.) could all influence the amount of therapeutic value that CBD will offer.  Not only does it depend on the individual, but also their ailment or condition. Depending on the therapeutic needs, different CBD products may prove more beneficial than others.  Source.

Hemp-derived CBD oil will not make you feel high or produce an intoxicating effect. In fact, it’s one of over 100 non-psychoactive (or non-intoxicating) chemical compounds found in cannabis. Instead of getting you high, CBD feels relaxing and calming without producing any mind-altering effects.

The difference with CBD is that it doesn’t activate CB1 receptors and therefore has no intoxicating effect. High concentrations of CBD in a consumed product such as CBD oil or taking more than recommended might cause an uplifting sensation. However, that’s not the same thing as being stoned. High doses of CBD could be a reason for some side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, or diarrhea, but this is not a feeling of a high.

As for how it actually makes you feel, it’s more of a subtle effect.

“If you have pain or anxiety, once the effects of CBD start setting in, it’s almost like it’s whisked away and it’s not there anymore.” —Drew Todd

CBD oil is more about what you don’t feel.  If you have pain or anxiety, once the effects of CBD start setting in, it’s almost like it’s whisked away and it’s not there anymore.  CBD is not about changing your current mental state or about getting high, its more about alleviating whatever it is that ails you so that you can live a more symptom-free life.  Source.

Here are some common feelings that CBD-users report:

• Better sleep
• Less pain/Pain Relief
• Less Stress
• Improved mental focus
• Reducing anxiety and depression
• relieving nausea and vomiting
• fighting acne
• reducing spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis
• treating epilepsy
• lowering blood pressure
• reducing inflammation

Summary

Ultimately the consumption decision is yours.  We have clients that enjoy all consumption methods for cannabis products with and without THC.  

Both CBD and THC have been reported to help with a long list of ailments for hundreds of thousands of people every year.  Whichever product or route of consumption is best for you, we always encourage our customers to try various routes and doses to find the perfect mix of medication and relief.  We often recommend a few things:

• Try CBD first to see if CBD can help alleviate your symptoms alone
• If CBD isn’t quite enough, try THC products
• If using THC products, we always recommend ALSO using CBD products so clients can realize the benefits of both along with the entourage effect.

Here at CalmEffect, we can help you with either Cannabis route.  We carry a wide variety of high-quality, 3rd party-tested CBD products that we can ship right to your door.  If THC is your preference, we can help you get your legal use card in your state.

How Long Does Cannabis Last?

Today we are going to talk all about a question we get all the time…..How Long Does Cannabis Last in the body and with its effects?  We will address CBD and THC in terms of how long it takes to take effect and also how long it stays in the body as we want you to be informed about your options.  To understand how long does cannabis last, we must first truly understand all the different options that users have with cannabis.

Methods of Intake to Help Understand How Long Does Cannabis Last

There are various forms of Cannabis products (with just CBD or including THC) so it is important to know how it is to be taken. There are basically five main methods of CBD intake available today.

Here are 5 main ways to take cannabis so we can better answer How Long Does Cannabis Last effectively.

ORAL METHODS OF CANNABIS CONSUMPTION

With this method, Cannabis is taken directly through the mouth (edibles, capsules, or anything immediately swallowed) where it makes its way through the digestive tract and then enters the bloodstream. Since the component becomes a part of the digestive system, it takes at least an hour or two to produce effects and this makes it the slowest form of cannabis effect onset. However, oral ingestion stays active in the body the longest. This method is ideal for neurological disorders and for pain relief.

SUBLINGUAL METHODS OF CANNABIS CONSUMPTION

Sublingual is a method for faster relief where capillary rich areas are targeted. Areas under the tongue, along the gums and cheeks, are capillary rich.  Given this, placing cannabis oil and/or tincture drops in these capillary rich areas allows fast absorption by the blood vessels within 15 minutes or so, cannabis gets going into the bloodstream.  It can take about 30-45 minutes to get the full effects going.

INHALATION METHODS OF CANNABIS CONSUMPTION

Cannabis absorbed through vapes or by smoking is hands-down the quickest ways to get cannabis going in the bloodstream. However, it inhaled cannabis remains active in the bloodstream for the shortest period of time. For instant relief from pain, depression, anxiety, or sleep issues, this is often the preferred method of consumption.

TOPICAL METHODS OF CANNABIS CONSUMPTION

Balms, lotions, creams, patches, and bath bombs with cannabis in them are used by applying them directly onto the skin (or soaking in a bath) gives cannabis access to muscles, pain-perceiving nerves, and inflammatory cells as it penetrates through the skin.

SUPPOSITORY METHOD OF CANNABIS CONSUMPTION

These cannabis products are inserted into the mucosal areas (such as the vagina or anus) where they are absorbed by the blood capillaries for local zones of pain relief.  The suppository method is a less preferred one but is mostly used in serious conditions. This method is especially helpful for menstrual cramps (vaginal suppository) or in cases where ingestion upsets a patient’s stomach (very uncommon).

How Long Does Cannabis Last – Feeling the Effects

The effect of Cannabis in the body will depend upon the method of intake.  These are averages in terms of how long it takes to start feeling the effects and how long the feelings will typically last.

ORAL CONSUMPTION

Being the slowest method of CBD absorption, the effects start within an hour on average and last for around 6-8 hours.

SUBLINGUAL CONSUMPTION

Being one of the quicker methods of intake, the effect begins within 15 minutes (full effects around 0-45 minutes) and typically last 3-4 hours.

INHALATION CONSUMPTION

This the fastest intake method and the effect begins within 2-10 minutes and lasts about 1-3 hours.

TOPICAL CONSUMPTION

This is a slower method of effectivity that begin quickly but often times takes multiple applications.  Its effects last for around 2-4 hours.

SUPPOSITORY CONSUMPTION

This method takes about 10-15 minutes to start feeling any effects, full effects can take up to an hour.  Effects can last as long as 8 hours (when using THC suppositories, many users report not feeling a “high” with this method, while still realizing the benefits).

How Long Does Cannabis Last – Detection in the Body

• For someone taking cannabis for the first time, tests may detect it for about 3 days.
• In someone who uses cannabis three or four times per week, the detection window is 5–7 days.
• For people who use cannabis once a day or more, tests may detect it in their system for 30 days or longer.

Detection windows also depend on the kind of test a person undertakes. People who only use CBD are less likely to show detection of THC as qualified CBD products have only trace amounts of THC in them.  General estimates for various marijuana cannabis tests are as follows:

• Urine tests can detect THC in the urine for approximately 3–30 days after use.
• Saliva tests can detect THC for approximately 24 hours after use. Some saliva tests have detected marijuana for up to 72 hours.
• Hair tests are the most sensitive tests, detecting THC for up to 90 days after use. However, these tests are testing the oil in skin that transfers to hair, and so they may occasionally show a false positive. A person who comes into contact with a THC user could, theoretically, test positive on a hair test.
• Blood tests can only detect THC for 3–4 hours.

Ultimately the consumption decision is yours.  We have clients that enjoy all consumption methods for cannabis products with and without THC.  

How Long Does Cannabis Last for You?

Both CBD and THC have been reported to help with a long list of ailments for hundreds of thousands of people every year.  Whichever product or route of consumption is best for you, we always encourage our customers to try various routes and doses to find the perfect mix of medication and relief.

Here at CalmEffect, we can help you with either Cannabis route.  We carry a wide variety of high-quality, 3rd party-tested CBD products that we can ship right to your door.  If THC is your preference, we can help you get your legal use card in your state.

Cannabis for Insomnia

Today we are going to talk all about Cannabis for Insomnia.  We will address CBD and THC separately as each of these components of cannabis can have different effects on treating insomnia and we want you to be informed about your options.  To understand cannabis for insomnia, we must first truly understand what insomnia is.

What is Insomnia?

According to guidelines from a physician group, insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so.  Racing-thoughts, pain and tossing and turning can keep people awake for hours on end.  People with insomnia can feel frustrated with their sleep and usually experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• fatigue,
• low energy,
• difficulty concentrating,
• mood disturbances,
• and decreased performance at work or at school.

One in four Americans experiences insomnia each year and out of those people, about 25% of them report it to be acute or chronic.

30 to 35% have brief symptoms of insomnia. 15 to 20% have a short-term insomnia disorder, which lasts less than three months. 10%-25% have a chronic insomnia disorder, which occurs at least three times per week for at least three months.

THE CBD ROUTE – Cannabis for Insomnia

Cannabidiol — also known as CBD — is one of the main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids interact with your endocannabinoid system, which helps your body maintain a state of balance and stability or homeostasis.

Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD isn’t psychoactive, meaning it won’t get you “high.” Instead, it has a range of health applications and there is some research and anecdotal evidence that suggests that CBD can also help you get a good night’s sleep. Here’s what you need to know about using CBD for sleep.

If your insomnia is caused by external factors or related conditions, CBD may help by treating the causes of sleeplessness.

Research published in 2019 looked at whether CBD could improve sleep and or reduce anxiety. The study involved 72 subjects, with 47 experiencing anxiety and 25 experiencing poor sleep. The subjects were each given 25 milligrams (mg) of CBD in capsule form each day. In the first month, 79.2 percent of the patients reported lower anxiety levels and 66.7 percent reported better sleep.

Pain, which may also cause sleep problems, can be helped by CBD as well. A 2018 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology noted that there’s a fair amount of evidence to support the claim that CBD soothes pain. The authors note that by reducing chronic pain, CBD can improve sleep.

Other research tells us that CBD affects the sleep cycle. Research from 2014 looked at four patients with Parkinson’s disease. It found that CBD improved the symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a disorder in which a person acts out their dreams. RBD is associated with poor sleep and nightmares.

Even studies that conclude that CBD can improve sleep aren’t always able to say why. Most studies emphasize that we need more research on CBD before we fully understand how it affects our sleep.

However, as mentioned above, many researchers say that CBD improves sleep because it tackles the root causes of insomnia.  As more research is done on CBD, we’ll learn more and more about why and how it can help us sleep.  Original Article.

THE THC ROUTE – Cannabis for Insomnia

The cannabis plant has been used for centuries as a sleep aid. Contemporary scientific research has measured what people have known and experienced since ancient times: cannabis has relaxing and sedative effects. In particular, cannabis makes falling asleep easier. One recent study found that cannabis shortens the time it takes to fall asleep, both for people with sleep problems and people who fall asleep without trouble. Among people with active difficulty falling asleep, cannabis use resulted in an average of 30 minutes less time in falling asleep. The study also included a group of people who were able to fall asleep without difficulty. Among this group of strong sleepers, cannabis helped them fall asleep even faster, by 15 minutes.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the main psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis. THC is what gives the high that’s associated with cannabis use. THC can provide pain relief, and is also useful in reducing nausea. Research shows THC has sedative effects, and can make it easier to fall asleep. There’s also emerging evidence suggesting that THC may improve breathing during sleep, which makes THC a potential therapy in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

THC appears to alter time spent in stages of sleep. Specifically, THC has been found to reduce time spent in REM sleep and increase time spent in slow-wave sleep.

Because of this diminished time in REM, THC reduces dreaming. That can be helpful to people who have conditions such as PTSD that involve frequent, disturbing dreams and nightmares. People may experience fewer dreams when using cannabis regularly. After stopping, its common to experience a burst of dreaming. That’s part of what’s known as REM rebound—an increase in REM that happens after REM has been suppressed.

Changes to sleep cycles are one factor to consider when evaluating whether, and how long, to use cannabis. All sleep cycles are important for healthy rest and functioning. Alterations to our nightly sleep architecture, especially over the long-term, can deprive us of the full restorative effects a night of sleep is biologically designed to provide.  Oringial Article.

Your Journey with Cannabis for Insomnia

Ultimately the decision is yours.  We have clients who prefer to use CBD because they specifically do not want the “high” associated with THC, and just as many clients who prefer the feeling of euphoria as they drift off to sleep.

Of special note:  if you do elect to use THC for insomnia, always select an INDICA strain of marijuana.

Here at CalmEffect, we can help you with either Cannabis route.  We carry a wide variety of high-quality, 3rd party-tested CBD products that we can ship right to your door.  If THC is your preference, we can help you get your legal use card in your state.