Cannabis By Any Other Name
Cannabis by Any Other Name
Part 1
You want to try CBD oil but are confused by all the hype and product varieties. What works? That depends on a) what you’re using it for: anxiety, sleep, pain, etc. and b) the cannabis strain including the amount of CBC, THC and terpenes. This 2-part series covers the basics about the current craze and provides a different perspective on this powerful plant that could be your potential ally. First, let’s get clear about the words.
Hemp and Marijuana: A Rose by Any Other Name
Hemp/industrial hemp and marijuana are wording the government devised to separate out the strains of cannabis (Cannabis sativa/indica (afghanica), ruderalis). Hemp is a less charged code word for cannabis. Certain strains contain high levels of THC (the psychoactive substance and medicinal in specific amounts) and other strains contain high levels of CBD (not psychoactive and highly medicinal) and both contain different terpenes.
True Cannabis medicine uses the whole plant, not just a single constituent. It works as a cumulative additive effect. Numerous studies have shown whole plant cannabis medicine to be superior to isolated components. It’s been referred to as “Nettles with benefits” because the whole plant is used to make medicine and it’s as easy to grow as Nettles.
Three Main Medicinal Components of Cannabis
The main difference with the various strains of cannabis is not just the amount and type of CBDs and THC, but the terpenes (the “smelly parts” i.e., essential oils). The terpenes make up to 10% of the flower and have various functions such as binding with receptors, acting as neurotransmitters, modulate THC, increases serotonin, etc. Not all terpenes do all of these as it varies by strain and the processing method (heat vs no heat).
For those of you who admit to smoking cannabis either in the past or now, have you experienced anxiety/paranoia? Or couchlock (just cannot get off the couch)? Or just feelin’ energized? Those reactions are due to the specific strain you were using. In my youth I experienced all those varieties of actions and figured it was due to a batch that was bad. In reality, it was the specific plant strain I was using. That’s why making single standardized extracts that serves all conditions isn’t going to work. The ratio of CBD:THC and the terpene profile all work together to create specific actions. As an herbalist, I can blend strains with varying ratios to cover a wide variety of conditions.
More details about why and how these work and which conditions benefit best will be covered in Part 2.
Cannabis is Calling Us to Pay Attention
Why is there a focus on Cannabis now? Cannabis is all about generosity vs greed. In the Shamanic world it’s considered a Master Plant (along with Ayahuasca, Peyote, etc.).
Master Plants can change consciousness and she’s (Cannabis) here to help us with the next shift in global consciousness. Tammi Sweet, Herbalist
You need to be in a respectful relationship when working with these plants. The consequence of not having respect for the plant is abuse and addiction. Look no further than tobacco, poppy, coca, etc. to see how those plants have been abused.
Because of the illegal history of cannabis in the US, corporations couldn’t get a foothold. When cannabis was made legal, there was hope that it would allow us to nurture a right relationship with cannabis and enable us to make our own medicine.
So now, several corporations and pharmaceutical companies are working to isolate and create different compounds and establish patents. Wouldn’t it be great instead to grow your own supply and develop your own relationship with the plant? If you can make an oil or an extract, you can create Cannabis medicine. This plant belongs in the hands of herbalists and those who make medicine. The best medicine is what you make yourself or by someone who really loves the plant. Part 2 of this blog will review how to grow this yourself.
Currently the market is being flooded with all sorts of CBD products. Oftentimes they strip components deemed “unworthy” or not desirable such as getting grid of the odor (terpenes) and the green color (chlorophyll, oils and waxes that contain some of the medicine) at the cost of lessening the medicinal qualities and selling the stripped-down version as a supplement. News flash: that iced tea product that now has added CBD? Unless they’ve added some fat, it’s not bioavailable, so save your money.
In the beginning, there was cannabis…
It grows in moderate climate all over the world. The Greeks used cannabis for its calming effects. In China, it was used to make rope, cloth and medicine. Known for its effects on pain, sleep and anxiety, it was considered part of a good dispensary. Both hemp seed and vegetation were used for food (the leaves are nutrient dense but bitter).
Cannabis in the US: From Friend and Supporter to Drug-Crazed Zombie
In the US, it was grown mostly for its strong fiber (George Washington grew it at Mount Vernon) until the early 1900s when people began using it as a recreational drug. It became especially popular with jazz musicians and counties along the Mexican border. With the end of Prohibition in 1933, government agencies looked to justify their existence with a new prohibition. The fact that Cannabis was popular with Hispanics and Afro-Americans made it a particularly ripe target for banning, fueled by long-standing racial antagonism. The government used the word marijuana for propaganda purposes (remember the film “Reefer Madness”?) In 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act made it illegal to grow, possess and distribute cannabis. This hit the communities of color especially hard.
During WWII the demand for strong cloth and rope resulted in a surge of growing low-THC cannabis. Once the war was over, the processing plants quietly shut down. By then, the recreational use of high-THC cannabis crossed into the white community and a renewed interest in its benefits became popular. Because it was (and still is) listed as a Class 1 drug, funding for experiments was limited, making it difficult to get past the bad reputation.
The Farm Bill Act of 2014
The Farm Bill Act of 2014 changed some of that. This made growing both low and high-THC cannabis semi-legal and opened multiple ways to partake of CBD/THC. In 2018, Virginia passed HB 1839 Industrial Hemp allowing Virginians to grow low (<.3%) THC cannabis with permits. There are still states that don’t allow for the growing and processing of low THC cannabis. No state allows high-level (>.3%) THC to be transported across state lines.
At the Federal level it’s still considered illegal and the Dept. of Agriculture is struggling to better define the perimeters of growing, selling and processing. However, since there’s currently only an acting head of the Dept. of Agriculture, there’s hesitation to make major policy changes because no one wants to be held accountable for the fallout from a decision.
Part 2 will cover a brief overview of your endocannabinoid system; the 3 main types of medicine in the flower; dosing; indications for use; contraindications; how to be a savvy CBD oil buyer; and how to legally grow your own plants in Virginia.