Cannabis Sativa, Koehler Drawing
Cannabis
is a flowering plant that has been cultivated for various uses for thousands of years. Indigenous to Central and South Asia, the three species of Cannabis are Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis.
The plant is most notably known today for its ability to produce CBD, CBN, and THC, a psychoactive molecule associated with euphoric effects and medicinal potential.
The fibrous hemp of the plant also has great industrial use in clothing, cordage, rope, and paper. The hemp seed also has some nutritional value as a health food, containing amino acids and essential fatty acids.
As Medicine
Cannabis has been used medicinally throughout human history, possibly even dating back to 2,737 B.C.E. The subject of its use has been debated and argued for equally as long.
A rough list of the beneficial effects of cannabis are as follows: muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant, appetite stimulant, relieves nausea, general analgesic, relieves eye pressure caused by glaucoma, and many more therapeutic uses.
- Medical cannabis – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- ASA: Cancer and Medical Marijuana
- ASA: HIV/AIDS and Medical Marijuana
- ASA: Chronic Pain and Medical Marijuana
- ASA: Arthritis and Medical Marijuana
- ASA: Multiple Sclerosis and Medical Cannabis
- Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Induced Apoptosis in Jurkat Leukemia T Cells Is Regulated by Translocation of Bad to Mitochondria
- Medicinal Cannabis in Oncology Practice: Still a Bridge Too Far?
Cannabis Safety/ Risks
Like any other medication or drug, there are safety guidelines to follow and risks involved when using Medical Cannabis. Impaired thinking, short term memory, uneasiness, hunger/thirst, dry, red eyes, and increased chance of heart attack are just a few adverse side effects. However, cannabis remains one of the safest medicines available, as it is virtually impossible to consume enough to have a toxic effect.
When used responsibly by adults, medical cannabis can improve one’s quality of life. Depending on the method of consumption, be it smoking, vaporizing, eating, or application of tinctures, the effect of cannabis can have subtle yet significant effects on the human body.
Today, there also exists the dangerous risks and threats that are a results of poor quality control during the grow cycle. Mold, bacteria, pesticides and other unwanted toxic adulterants could all be present in medical cannabis if not properly observed and analyzed.
Steep Hill Lab strives to keep mother nature’s safest medicine as safe as possible.
Compounds in Cannabis
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)
THC is the main psychoactive substance in medical cannabis and marijuana. It is most associated with the high and euphoria often experienced when cannabis is consumed. The compound has mild to moderate analgesic effects used to treat pain. Other effects include relaxation, euphoria, altered space-time perception; alteration of visual, auditory and olfactory senses, anxiety, disorientation, fatique and appetite stimulation.
CBD (Cannabidiol)
CBD is a cannabinoid found in Cannabis. CBD alone is not intoxicating. Medically it has been shown to relieve convulsion, inflammation, anxiety, nausea, and to inhibit cancer cell growth. Recent studies have shown cannabidiol to be as effective as atypical anti-psychotics in treating schizophrenia.
CBN (Cannabinol)
Another of the main cannabinoids found is cannabinol. CBN acts as a weak agonist of the cannabinoid receptors. High CBN levels in a sample can indicate its age. The longer cannabis is exposed to light and air, the more the other cannabinoids will degrade into CBN.
