overlord
Well-Known Member
These are everyday around the house helpful, thanks for posting.
SweetSue's Class Notes
- Thread starter SweetSue
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #282
All of the juicing information is from Medical Jane.
Introduction to Juicing Cannabis
Pressed vegetable juices are growing in popularity on a global level, so it should be no surprise that medical marijuana patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals are now looking into the health benefits of juicing the Cannabis plant as well.
Vegetables are typically defined as a “herbaceous plant grown for an edible part, usually eaten as part of a meal.” This typically refers to the leaf, stem, flower, or root of a plant. In 1967, the meaning of vegetables changed to, “any plant cultivated for food, edible herb or root.” Some vegetables may be eaten raw, while others must be cooked in order to be edible. When certain fruits and vegetables are heated, they lose a majority of their beneficial enzymes and nutrients. Cannabis is much the same. Aside from the fact that cannabis is technically a vegetable with many of the same nutrients as other leafy greens (like fiber, iron and calcium), it is jam-packed with beneficial cannabinoids that are unique to the Cannabis plant. Juiced cannabis is a nutritionally-dense, very potent medicinal compound, without the psychoactive components normally activated when heating the plant.
The high concentration of raw cannabinoid acids in juiced cannabis, coupled with the perfect balance of fatty acids, could help improve cell function and reduce damage caused by free radicals. Additional benefits of raw, juiced cannabis include reduced inflammation and the facilitation of two-way cellular communication. Many cannabinoids also have anti-tumor properties which are readily available through the consumption of raw marijuana.
Juicing Health Benefits
While smoked or vaporized cannabis can in fact be used as a medicinal therapy, juicing raw cannabis can help prevent health issues before they even arise. Coined the “most important vegetable on the planet” by some, mainly because it can assist with immune system function, provide anti-inflammatory benefits, and improve bone metabolism and neural function. In fact, research has shown medical marijuana may even help inhibit cancer cell growth.
Only when you decarboxylate THCA, turning it into THC, does it cause psychoactive effects or “the high” most associated with smoking cannabis.
According to Dr. William Courtney, a dietary raw cannabis specialist and a strong believer in the plants healing powers, “you are actually walking away from 99% of the benefits cannabis provides when you cook or smoke cannabis.” However, in its raw form, the cannabis plant contains both THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic-acid) and CBDA (Cannabidiolic-acid), two cannabinoids known for their medicinal benefits; each of which must be heated in order to produce THC and CBD, respectively. Only when you decarboxylate THCA, turning it into THC, does it cause psychoactive effects or “the high” most associated with smoking cannabis.
Additionally, the body is able to tolerate larger dosages of cannabinoids when cannabis is consumed in the raw form. This is because when you smoke cannabis, the THC actually acts as a CB1 receptor agonist and your body can only absorb ~10 mg at a time. is this true?
According to Dr. William Courtney, “If you don’t heat marijuana, you can go up to five or six hundred milligrams and use the plant strictly as a dietary supplement by upping the anti-oxidant and neuro-protective levels which come into play at hundreds of milligrams of CBDA and THCA. It is this dramatic increase in dose from 10 mg of psychoactive THC to the 500 mg – 1,000 mg of non-psychoactive THCA, CBDA, and CBGA that comprises the primary difference between traditional medical marijuana treatments and using cannabis as a dietary supplement.”
The FDA has actually approved a tolerable CBD dose of 600 mg/day as a new investigative drug. This makes the medical potential of drinking the juice containing 600 mg of CBDA, far greater than when you heat the cannabis. Considering CBD percentages are typically below 1% in most strains available in dispensaries across the nation, it is nearly impossible to smoke enough in one day to ingest a 600 mg dosage of CBD.
The Science of Juicing Cannabis
Two-Way Communication With Nerve Cells
2wayOne-way traffic to nerves is the main cause of inflammation in the body. Under this scenario, immune cells are being continuously attacked and nothing is communicating with the nerves to tell them to calm down. However, studies show that when you add cannabinoids to the equation, a two-way communication is made possible, resulting in reduced inflammation. The cannabinoids work to prevent and fight symptoms by providing nerves with this two-way communication.
We all have cannabinoids in our bodies; these are known as endocannabinoids.
These endocannabinoids bind to different receptors throughout our bodies and are very effective at regulating immune functions, nerve functions, and even bone functions. The endocannabinoid system acts as a modulator in fine-tuning a lot of these systems. Supplementing an impaired ECS with plant cannabinoids will bring it back to optimum function, thus provoking an improvement in any associated conditions.
How to Juice Raw Cannabis
BE REALISTIC.You can’t just get some dried flower and throw the cannabis into a juicer, expecting it to turn into a magic healing potion. Juicing requires raw, freshly-picked and properly grown cannabis, taking extra caution to avoid any plant material that may have been exposed to pesticides or other microbiological contaminants.
Here are a few key recommendations to consider when juicing raw cannabis:
* When it comes to juicing, fresher is better (like most vegetables).
* Cannabis that has been dried and prepared for smoking is not suitable for juicing.
* Do not be surprised if your local dispensary does not have a fresh supply of raw cannabis available. Many patients and caregivers are required to grow their own medicine to get access to quality starting material.
* Dr. William Courtney recommends that patients juice 15 leaves, and 2 large (2 to 4 inches long) raw buds per day.
* Raw buds are flowers harvested when the THC glands are clear (rather than amber).
* It is recommended that you mix in another vegetable juice to cut down on the bitterness of the raw cannabis. A popular choice is carrot juice, and a ratio of 1 part cannabis juice to 10 parts carrot juice is a good rule of thumb.
* Split the juice drink into 3 parts and drink with each meal, or store for up to 3 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
Introduction to Juicing Cannabis
Pressed vegetable juices are growing in popularity on a global level, so it should be no surprise that medical marijuana patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals are now looking into the health benefits of juicing the Cannabis plant as well.
Vegetables are typically defined as a “herbaceous plant grown for an edible part, usually eaten as part of a meal.” This typically refers to the leaf, stem, flower, or root of a plant. In 1967, the meaning of vegetables changed to, “any plant cultivated for food, edible herb or root.” Some vegetables may be eaten raw, while others must be cooked in order to be edible. When certain fruits and vegetables are heated, they lose a majority of their beneficial enzymes and nutrients. Cannabis is much the same. Aside from the fact that cannabis is technically a vegetable with many of the same nutrients as other leafy greens (like fiber, iron and calcium), it is jam-packed with beneficial cannabinoids that are unique to the Cannabis plant. Juiced cannabis is a nutritionally-dense, very potent medicinal compound, without the psychoactive components normally activated when heating the plant.
The high concentration of raw cannabinoid acids in juiced cannabis, coupled with the perfect balance of fatty acids, could help improve cell function and reduce damage caused by free radicals. Additional benefits of raw, juiced cannabis include reduced inflammation and the facilitation of two-way cellular communication. Many cannabinoids also have anti-tumor properties which are readily available through the consumption of raw marijuana.
Juicing Health Benefits
While smoked or vaporized cannabis can in fact be used as a medicinal therapy, juicing raw cannabis can help prevent health issues before they even arise. Coined the “most important vegetable on the planet” by some, mainly because it can assist with immune system function, provide anti-inflammatory benefits, and improve bone metabolism and neural function. In fact, research has shown medical marijuana may even help inhibit cancer cell growth.
Only when you decarboxylate THCA, turning it into THC, does it cause psychoactive effects or “the high” most associated with smoking cannabis.
According to Dr. William Courtney, a dietary raw cannabis specialist and a strong believer in the plants healing powers, “you are actually walking away from 99% of the benefits cannabis provides when you cook or smoke cannabis.” However, in its raw form, the cannabis plant contains both THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic-acid) and CBDA (Cannabidiolic-acid), two cannabinoids known for their medicinal benefits; each of which must be heated in order to produce THC and CBD, respectively. Only when you decarboxylate THCA, turning it into THC, does it cause psychoactive effects or “the high” most associated with smoking cannabis.
Additionally, the body is able to tolerate larger dosages of cannabinoids when cannabis is consumed in the raw form. This is because when you smoke cannabis, the THC actually acts as a CB1 receptor agonist and your body can only absorb ~10 mg at a time. is this true?
According to Dr. William Courtney, “If you don’t heat marijuana, you can go up to five or six hundred milligrams and use the plant strictly as a dietary supplement by upping the anti-oxidant and neuro-protective levels which come into play at hundreds of milligrams of CBDA and THCA. It is this dramatic increase in dose from 10 mg of psychoactive THC to the 500 mg – 1,000 mg of non-psychoactive THCA, CBDA, and CBGA that comprises the primary difference between traditional medical marijuana treatments and using cannabis as a dietary supplement.”
The FDA has actually approved a tolerable CBD dose of 600 mg/day as a new investigative drug. This makes the medical potential of drinking the juice containing 600 mg of CBDA, far greater than when you heat the cannabis. Considering CBD percentages are typically below 1% in most strains available in dispensaries across the nation, it is nearly impossible to smoke enough in one day to ingest a 600 mg dosage of CBD.
The Science of Juicing Cannabis
Two-Way Communication With Nerve Cells
2wayOne-way traffic to nerves is the main cause of inflammation in the body. Under this scenario, immune cells are being continuously attacked and nothing is communicating with the nerves to tell them to calm down. However, studies show that when you add cannabinoids to the equation, a two-way communication is made possible, resulting in reduced inflammation. The cannabinoids work to prevent and fight symptoms by providing nerves with this two-way communication.
We all have cannabinoids in our bodies; these are known as endocannabinoids.
These endocannabinoids bind to different receptors throughout our bodies and are very effective at regulating immune functions, nerve functions, and even bone functions. The endocannabinoid system acts as a modulator in fine-tuning a lot of these systems. Supplementing an impaired ECS with plant cannabinoids will bring it back to optimum function, thus provoking an improvement in any associated conditions.
How to Juice Raw Cannabis
BE REALISTIC.You can’t just get some dried flower and throw the cannabis into a juicer, expecting it to turn into a magic healing potion. Juicing requires raw, freshly-picked and properly grown cannabis, taking extra caution to avoid any plant material that may have been exposed to pesticides or other microbiological contaminants.
Here are a few key recommendations to consider when juicing raw cannabis:
* When it comes to juicing, fresher is better (like most vegetables).
* Cannabis that has been dried and prepared for smoking is not suitable for juicing.
* Do not be surprised if your local dispensary does not have a fresh supply of raw cannabis available. Many patients and caregivers are required to grow their own medicine to get access to quality starting material.
* Dr. William Courtney recommends that patients juice 15 leaves, and 2 large (2 to 4 inches long) raw buds per day.
* Raw buds are flowers harvested when the THC glands are clear (rather than amber).
* It is recommended that you mix in another vegetable juice to cut down on the bitterness of the raw cannabis. A popular choice is carrot juice, and a ratio of 1 part cannabis juice to 10 parts carrot juice is a good rule of thumb.
* Split the juice drink into 3 parts and drink with each meal, or store for up to 3 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
- Thread starter
- #283
You are so welcome m’lord.
The daughter and I have determined that daily juicing is the way to bring her body back to homeostasis and heal the damaged liver. I’m going to start harvesting and freezing.
They don’t recommend freezing, but for the life of me I can’t think of a good reason not to. We can harvest and store them frozen and she can have a daily drink of a canna smoothie.
The good doctor charges $400 an hour to share his expertise. I’ll get this down and share it openly.
- Thread starter
- #284
The standard dose is 15 leaves and 2-4 buds at ~ 2” in size, per day. I have that on hand already. I’ve been freezing leaves for a good while.
And.... I typically harvest when the trichomes show the first hint of amber. This is right up my alley.
The trick is to make it tasty enough that she’ll enjoy it.
And.... I typically harvest when the trichomes show the first hint of amber. This is right up my alley.
The trick is to make it tasty enough that she’ll enjoy it.
overlord
Well-Known Member
You are so welcome m’lord.
The daughter and I have determined that daily juicing is the way to bring her body back to homeostasis and heal the damaged liver. I’m going to start harvesting and freezing.
They don’t recommend freezing, but for the life of me I can’t think of a good reason not to. We can harvest and store them frozen and she can have a daily drink of a canna smoothie.
The good doctor charges $400 an hour to share his expertise. I’ll get this down and share it openly.
I do not recall where, but I saw where someone was juicing their cannabis and pouring the juice into ice trays, making cannabis ice cubes.
They just added some ice cubes to their smoothies!
EDIT: I guess I should make it clear that they blended the ice cubes into their smoothies.
- Thread starter
- #286
overlord
Well-Known Member
Thank you for that excellent idea m'lord.
Your Welcome, but it is not my own. I think I may have seen it in a cannabis juicing video somewhere
- Thread starter
- #288
The daughter’s getting ready to try her first drink with fresh buds and leaves. She went with tomato juice. The Jamaican she’ll be blending in will be peppery. I know this from trying the cob. 
Fingers and toes crossed.
I stumbled upon a new E-book from Green Flower Media. I support their work through my monthly subscription. Reading over this description of the book’s contents I’m pretty sure we have this and more available for free.
One of my goals is to bundle up our info into a one-stop,
.......kinda like the Basic Links for Patients, huh? Lol! Ok, I’ve already done what I set out to do. Lol!
I’m out walking. When I stop I’ll take a closer look.
can do this in our own way, and for free.
I don’t begrudge them the money. They do an exemplary work. I just want this available openly, honestly, easy to access and understand.
Fingers and toes crossed.
I stumbled upon a new E-book from Green Flower Media. I support their work through my monthly subscription. Reading over this description of the book’s contents I’m pretty sure we have this and more available for free.
One of my goals is to bundle up our info into a one-stop,
.......kinda like the Basic Links for Patients, huh? Lol! Ok, I’ve already done what I set out to do. Lol!
I’m out walking. When I stop I’ll take a closer look.
can do this in our own way, and for free. I don’t begrudge them the money. They do an exemplary work. I just want this available openly, honestly, easy to access and understand.
- Thread starter
- #289
From MassRoots. Highlighting is mine.
Cannabis Juicing: The Reality of Whole Plant Therapy
PUBLISHED ON MAY 21, 2015, BY GOOEY RABINSKI
Juicing vegetables is nothing new for health-conscious consumers seeking to gain the benefits of phytonutrients and vitamins. Some patients, however, have gained significant benefit from juicing the fan leaves and flowers of raw, undried cannabis.
This is obviously a very different approach than traditional smoking or vaporizing, both of which employ heat to cause chemical changes in the cannabinoids found in the plant. Cannabinoids are stored in the plant in the form of acids and denoted as THC-A, CBD-A, CBG-A, etc. It is only during the application of heat (a process called decarboxylation) that these acids are converted to the cannabinoids with which many cannabis consumers are familiar: THC, CBD, CBG, etc.
When juicing raw plant material, no psychoactive THC is consumed because the molecule simply is not present in the plant. Thus, patients who juice experience no euphoria.
Exemplary Patient Recovery
Dr. William Courtney, a physician in Mendocino County, California, is one of the foremost advocates for cannabis juicing. Courtney gained notoriety after helping his wife, Kristen, overcome a collection of debilitating ailments, including systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, and autoimmune disease — using only cannabis juice. After many weeks of drinking the juice of THC-A-dominant plants, Courtney was able to wean herself off more than 40 different pharmaceutical drugs, many of which delivered negative side effects.
Dr. Courtney focuses on the possible therapeutic value that is lost when cannabinoids are decarboxylated. He claims that 99 percent of the value of cannabis is lost when it is burned or vaporized. In the documentary Leaf, he explains that a given amount of cannabis leaf will, when juiced, provide 500-600 mg of THC-A (the non-psychoactive precursor to THC). Courtney considers this to be a good daily dose. If smoked, this same amount of cannabis would deliver only 10 mg of THC (a standard dose). Based on his work with his patients in Mendocino County, Courtney believes that 500-1000 mg of THC-A is necessary to provide proper efficacy.
Thus, the question becomes one of the medical efficacy of the raw, acidic form of cannabinoids versus their heated, non-acidic siblings. Unfortunately, not enough is known about phytocannabinoids (those derived from plants like cannabis) and their interaction with the endocannabinoid system of the human body.
While completely anecdotal, the story of Kristen Courtney’s miraculous recovery using only raw cannabis juice is both unusual and inspiring. Her case should be taken seriously by the medical establishment in an effort to deliver similar results for other patients.
Is Cannabis Juicing Practical?
The biggest disadvantage of juicing is the inability of patients to find enough raw plant material to juice on a daily basis. Those living in states that have legalized medical marijuana and allow commercial or home cultivation will find it easiest to obtain enough fresh trim to experiment with juicing. Also, because plant material must be fresh, leaves that have dried or been stored for extended periods are not recommended.
Unfortunately, the volume of plant matter that is recommended by Dr. Courtney — 15-20 large fan leaves and a couple of buds per day — will be difficult or impossible for most patients to obtain on a regular basis. Even in states with legal medical marijuana that permit home cultivation, a garden of three to six plants simply can’t provide this amount of leaf material. Typically, only patients that are able to purchase large quantities of trim from commercial growers or community gardens will be capable of juicing on a daily basis.
Some have questioned the validity of Courtney’s approach. To obtain more credible numbers, one patient sent 30 fan leaves for analysis to a lab in Los Angeles. The lab found the leaves to contain 11.5 mg of cannabinoid acids. However, to satisfy the goal of 600 mg of cannabinoid acids, a patient would have to obtain and juice 1,500 leaves per day.
We underestimate the ability of the body to use cannabinoids. Obviously, it takes much smaller doses. It’s probably all about absorption. All cannabinoids, be they raw or natural, are useful for the healing body. Just my opinion.
Even for the few patients who can obtain enough fresh, raw plant material, will they be willing to forego the euphoria associated with smoking, vaping, or consuming edibles? With so much medical benefit delivered by the plant when smoked or vaped, is juicing really practical or even recommended for the average patient (especially those who live in states where cannabis is illegal)? This imperative question may only be answered after scientists have more access to the plant for research. Perhaps it will depend on the specific medical condition being treated.
Instructions for Cannabis Juicing
Dr. Courtney recommends the following guidelines for obtaining and juicing raw cannabis.
Harvest leaves prior to the trichomes turning cloudy, or amber. Trichomes should be clear when leaves or buds are used for juicing.
This speeds up access and harvest windows.
Use a juicer or blender. A blender is preferred because it is easier to clean.
Store a single batch of raw cannabis juice, refrigerated, for up to three days.
Mix raw cannabis leaves with another vegetable to decrease the bitterness. Many patients who juice recommend a 10:1 ratio of carrots to cannabis.
Consume cannabis juice with each meal, roughly three times per day.
Use 15-20 large fan leaves in a blender for a typical batch (three servings, or one day).
This post was originally published on May 21, 2015, it was updated on October 5, 2017.
Cannabis Juicing: The Reality of Whole Plant Therapy
PUBLISHED ON MAY 21, 2015, BY GOOEY RABINSKI
Juicing vegetables is nothing new for health-conscious consumers seeking to gain the benefits of phytonutrients and vitamins. Some patients, however, have gained significant benefit from juicing the fan leaves and flowers of raw, undried cannabis.
This is obviously a very different approach than traditional smoking or vaporizing, both of which employ heat to cause chemical changes in the cannabinoids found in the plant. Cannabinoids are stored in the plant in the form of acids and denoted as THC-A, CBD-A, CBG-A, etc. It is only during the application of heat (a process called decarboxylation) that these acids are converted to the cannabinoids with which many cannabis consumers are familiar: THC, CBD, CBG, etc.
When juicing raw plant material, no psychoactive THC is consumed because the molecule simply is not present in the plant. Thus, patients who juice experience no euphoria.
Exemplary Patient Recovery
Dr. William Courtney, a physician in Mendocino County, California, is one of the foremost advocates for cannabis juicing. Courtney gained notoriety after helping his wife, Kristen, overcome a collection of debilitating ailments, including systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, and autoimmune disease — using only cannabis juice. After many weeks of drinking the juice of THC-A-dominant plants, Courtney was able to wean herself off more than 40 different pharmaceutical drugs, many of which delivered negative side effects.
Dr. Courtney focuses on the possible therapeutic value that is lost when cannabinoids are decarboxylated. He claims that 99 percent of the value of cannabis is lost when it is burned or vaporized. In the documentary Leaf, he explains that a given amount of cannabis leaf will, when juiced, provide 500-600 mg of THC-A (the non-psychoactive precursor to THC). Courtney considers this to be a good daily dose. If smoked, this same amount of cannabis would deliver only 10 mg of THC (a standard dose). Based on his work with his patients in Mendocino County, Courtney believes that 500-1000 mg of THC-A is necessary to provide proper efficacy.
Thus, the question becomes one of the medical efficacy of the raw, acidic form of cannabinoids versus their heated, non-acidic siblings. Unfortunately, not enough is known about phytocannabinoids (those derived from plants like cannabis) and their interaction with the endocannabinoid system of the human body.
While completely anecdotal, the story of Kristen Courtney’s miraculous recovery using only raw cannabis juice is both unusual and inspiring. Her case should be taken seriously by the medical establishment in an effort to deliver similar results for other patients.
Is Cannabis Juicing Practical?
The biggest disadvantage of juicing is the inability of patients to find enough raw plant material to juice on a daily basis. Those living in states that have legalized medical marijuana and allow commercial or home cultivation will find it easiest to obtain enough fresh trim to experiment with juicing. Also, because plant material must be fresh, leaves that have dried or been stored for extended periods are not recommended.
Unfortunately, the volume of plant matter that is recommended by Dr. Courtney — 15-20 large fan leaves and a couple of buds per day — will be difficult or impossible for most patients to obtain on a regular basis. Even in states with legal medical marijuana that permit home cultivation, a garden of three to six plants simply can’t provide this amount of leaf material. Typically, only patients that are able to purchase large quantities of trim from commercial growers or community gardens will be capable of juicing on a daily basis.
Some have questioned the validity of Courtney’s approach. To obtain more credible numbers, one patient sent 30 fan leaves for analysis to a lab in Los Angeles. The lab found the leaves to contain 11.5 mg of cannabinoid acids. However, to satisfy the goal of 600 mg of cannabinoid acids, a patient would have to obtain and juice 1,500 leaves per day.
We underestimate the ability of the body to use cannabinoids. Obviously, it takes much smaller doses. It’s probably all about absorption. All cannabinoids, be they raw or natural, are useful for the healing body. Just my opinion.
Even for the few patients who can obtain enough fresh, raw plant material, will they be willing to forego the euphoria associated with smoking, vaping, or consuming edibles? With so much medical benefit delivered by the plant when smoked or vaped, is juicing really practical or even recommended for the average patient (especially those who live in states where cannabis is illegal)? This imperative question may only be answered after scientists have more access to the plant for research. Perhaps it will depend on the specific medical condition being treated.
Instructions for Cannabis Juicing
Dr. Courtney recommends the following guidelines for obtaining and juicing raw cannabis.
Harvest leaves prior to the trichomes turning cloudy, or amber. Trichomes should be clear when leaves or buds are used for juicing.
This speeds up access and harvest windows.
Use a juicer or blender. A blender is preferred because it is easier to clean.
Store a single batch of raw cannabis juice, refrigerated, for up to three days.
Mix raw cannabis leaves with another vegetable to decrease the bitterness. Many patients who juice recommend a 10:1 ratio of carrots to cannabis.
Consume cannabis juice with each meal, roughly three times per day.
Use 15-20 large fan leaves in a blender for a typical batch (three servings, or one day).
This post was originally published on May 21, 2015, it was updated on October 5, 2017.
- Thread starter
- #290
The contention in the article that a patient would need an exorbitant number of fresh fans overlooks the addition of the raw bud. The assumption should be that the bud has far more cannabinoids to offer than the fans.
overlord
Well-Known Member
I wish they would be more specific, do they take buds when mature? If not they are wasting the plant I would think, as most strains pack on weight in the last 2 weeks.
Even still it takes a couple of months to get them to that point and I could easily juice my entire garden quickly at the rate of consumption recommended.
We need higher plant counts!!!
- Thread starter
- #292
Yes we do m’lord. If 30 fans only supply 12.5 mg they become negligible, IMO, and they’re a significant reason the juice is not as easy to ingest.
We’ll be eliminating the fans from now on and just use the smaller ones attached to the bud.
I think I’d like to see some proof that it takes that level of cannabinoids a day. I suspect it’s overinflated as a dose goal. We’re using one bud a day, about 2-3” long, or the equivalent. Tomorrow I’ll get a weight to use as a guide for when we get to lower buds.
Also m’lord, can you think of a good reason to harvest that early? Why not get a more diversified cannabinoid count by not worrying about it?
We’ll freeze in a vacuum for future use. I’ll pick up a container and use parchment paper between the layers. I don’t buy that frozen is somehow less useful than fresh. This is a vegetable. There are ways to preserve.
I also wouldn’t hesitate to use low and slow dried buds. We do that to preserve terpenes and it does that. It’s the terpenes you lose with traditional drying. Dr. Courtney doesn’t know about low and slo the same way Mara doesn’t know about biobombs.
We’re cutting edge m’lord. How’s it feel?
- Thread starter
- #293
M’lord.... the plants are supposed to be harvested when trichomes are still clear. I don’t agree with that. I don’t think that matters.
overlord
Well-Known Member
I agree but it would be nice to know more specifics, like maybe mixing buds from different stages of development. Is it better due to different cannabinoid profiles, or maybe certain stages for certain ailments.
Too bad forums are the USA's leading scientific research into cannabis. LOL
Too bad forums are the USA's leading scientific research into cannabis. LOL
- Thread starter
- #295
Do you think the advice to use fresh has something to do with curing? As the buds cure they begin to decarb naturally, so the longer the cure the more possibility that you’re consuming something psychoactive.
Why, oh why are doctors so afraid of us feeling good?
Why, oh why are doctors so afraid of us feeling good?
- Thread starter
- #296
This particular forum likes to test.
The daughter and I agree that buds from different stages would be beneficial. What we settled on was to let her nose decide what bud to clip from whatever’s blooming at the time.
I think we’ll hit all the bases that way. We grow a wide variety of indicas, sativas, and hybrids, with varied cannabinoid ratios. Diversity is a good thing IMO.
The daughter and I agree that buds from different stages would be beneficial. What we settled on was to let her nose decide what bud to clip from whatever’s blooming at the time.
I think we’ll hit all the bases that way. We grow a wide variety of indicas, sativas, and hybrids, with varied cannabinoid ratios. Diversity is a good thing IMO.
- Thread starter
- #297
From Project CBD:
Clinical experience is the best place to start. Dr. Dustin Sulak and Dr. Bonni Goldstein have both reported on the use of THCA in the treatment of patients. In a recent publication, Sulak, Goldstein, and Dr. Russel Saneto describe four case reports of patients using THCA along with other treatments (conventional antiepileptic drugs as well as cannabis). Among these patients, small doses—around 0.1-1 mg/kg/day THCA1—were used, corresponding to 0.01 to 0.1% of the patient’s body weight in THCA. For a child weighing 50 pounds, this entails between 2-23 milligrams of THCA in a day.
By contrast, studies with Epidiolex, a pure (99.5 percent) CBD sublingual spray, start at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day and usually increase to 25 mg/kg/day. The aforementioned doses of THCA are 10-100 times lower.2
THCA is typically administered along with other components of cannabis in a tincture via an under-the-tongue dropper or spray. Sulak’s article indicates that higher doses of THCA did not generally improve the response, with one patient getting worse after increasing the dose of THCA. Sulak also found that specific terpenes along with THCA in a given cannabis strain can contribute significantly to the antiepileptic effect. ***(Linalool, in this case, was necessary for the antiepileptic effect.)***
Dr. Goldstein told Project CBD that daily consumption of 10-20 mg of THCA was effective in reducing pain in some of her patients with arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome. For one patient with Alzheimer’s disease, THCA improved cognitive symptoms and allowed the patient to reduce the use of other drugs.
Dr. Sulak also spoke with Project CBD, saying that a higher dose of 2 mg/kg of THCA combined with THC is sometimes effective for seizures, pain, and arthritis. For neurological issues, about 1 mg of THCA and THC used 2-3 times a day has helped some of his adult patients. In one teenager, a very low dose of THCA prevented severe refractory migraines.
Anecdotal reports from other sources indicate that a 10:1 CBD:THCA ratio can be effective for some epileptic children when a high CBD/low THC cannabis oil preparation does not deliver satisfactory results. One seven-year-old patient, weighing 42 pounds, has been seizure free for the past two-and-a-half years since he’s been on a dosage regimen of 50 mg/day of CBD and 10 mg/day of THCA.
So why does Dr. Courtney suggest an almost unattainable dose of 500-1000 mg of acid cannabinoids a day? I grow and process these plants. I know how powerful they are just to be in the vicinity of one in flower. This doesn't make sense to me.
If I converted the plants to an acid FHO, working at low temps after the water is boiled off I could get low doses easily. That would simplify everything - take the production pressures off, make dosing easier and more controllable.
Question is, what if heating it at all does make a difference?
Ok....... think it through without all the pressure of being a mom. Take a hit. Do it now.
Oooohhhhh...... Smoking the gypsy's Dark Slide, grown by Hash Hound. Those sweet men spoil the hell out of me, and this is some incredible cannabis. I'll have to do a smoke report. Damn....tastes of PineSol and lemon, almost simultaneously. There aren't many chemovars that leave such a pronounced aftertaste.
Where was I? Lol? Oh yeah, The daughter weighs 290 pounds. At the moment she takes 8 capsules of CBD CC oil a day, and that dose keeps anxiety under control. We haven't been able to vary it without having repercussions. If I'm gonna add in more capsules it'll be worth it to make the CBD CC oil triple-strength and drop the capsule count down a few.
I have a recipe for making a THCa infused oil, that can be done in a crockpot, so I could dry low and slo and make oil that way. It's in my blog. *sigh*.
It may also be in the study hall, and I may even have it linked.......nope.
Bedtime.
Clinical experience is the best place to start. Dr. Dustin Sulak and Dr. Bonni Goldstein have both reported on the use of THCA in the treatment of patients. In a recent publication, Sulak, Goldstein, and Dr. Russel Saneto describe four case reports of patients using THCA along with other treatments (conventional antiepileptic drugs as well as cannabis). Among these patients, small doses—around 0.1-1 mg/kg/day THCA1—were used, corresponding to 0.01 to 0.1% of the patient’s body weight in THCA. For a child weighing 50 pounds, this entails between 2-23 milligrams of THCA in a day.
By contrast, studies with Epidiolex, a pure (99.5 percent) CBD sublingual spray, start at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day and usually increase to 25 mg/kg/day. The aforementioned doses of THCA are 10-100 times lower.2
THCA is typically administered along with other components of cannabis in a tincture via an under-the-tongue dropper or spray. Sulak’s article indicates that higher doses of THCA did not generally improve the response, with one patient getting worse after increasing the dose of THCA. Sulak also found that specific terpenes along with THCA in a given cannabis strain can contribute significantly to the antiepileptic effect. ***(Linalool, in this case, was necessary for the antiepileptic effect.)***
Dr. Goldstein told Project CBD that daily consumption of 10-20 mg of THCA was effective in reducing pain in some of her patients with arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome. For one patient with Alzheimer’s disease, THCA improved cognitive symptoms and allowed the patient to reduce the use of other drugs.
Dr. Sulak also spoke with Project CBD, saying that a higher dose of 2 mg/kg of THCA combined with THC is sometimes effective for seizures, pain, and arthritis. For neurological issues, about 1 mg of THCA and THC used 2-3 times a day has helped some of his adult patients. In one teenager, a very low dose of THCA prevented severe refractory migraines.
Anecdotal reports from other sources indicate that a 10:1 CBD:THCA ratio can be effective for some epileptic children when a high CBD/low THC cannabis oil preparation does not deliver satisfactory results. One seven-year-old patient, weighing 42 pounds, has been seizure free for the past two-and-a-half years since he’s been on a dosage regimen of 50 mg/day of CBD and 10 mg/day of THCA.
So why does Dr. Courtney suggest an almost unattainable dose of 500-1000 mg of acid cannabinoids a day? I grow and process these plants. I know how powerful they are just to be in the vicinity of one in flower. This doesn't make sense to me.
If I converted the plants to an acid FHO, working at low temps after the water is boiled off I could get low doses easily. That would simplify everything - take the production pressures off, make dosing easier and more controllable.
Question is, what if heating it at all does make a difference?
Ok....... think it through without all the pressure of being a mom. Take a hit. Do it now.
Oooohhhhh...... Smoking the gypsy's Dark Slide, grown by Hash Hound. Those sweet men spoil the hell out of me, and this is some incredible cannabis. I'll have to do a smoke report. Damn....tastes of PineSol and lemon, almost simultaneously. There aren't many chemovars that leave such a pronounced aftertaste.
Where was I? Lol? Oh yeah, The daughter weighs 290 pounds. At the moment she takes 8 capsules of CBD CC oil a day, and that dose keeps anxiety under control. We haven't been able to vary it without having repercussions. If I'm gonna add in more capsules it'll be worth it to make the CBD CC oil triple-strength and drop the capsule count down a few.
I have a recipe for making a THCa infused oil, that can be done in a crockpot, so I could dry low and slo and make oil that way. It's in my blog. *sigh*.
It may also be in the study hall, and I may even have it linked.......nope.
Bedtime.
- Thread starter
- #298
WooHoo! I found it and figured out how to grab it from the galler.
Damn! When I want it I don't let up for anything.
- Thread starter
- #299
Basic steps to the infused acid cannabinoid tincture.
* Dismember buds and add to oil in crockpot (an immersion blender would make quick work of any buds, dismembered or not)
* Keep the temperature at 140 degrees F for 4 hours with occasional agitation
* Closely monitor the temperature.
* Strain and store.
Don't press the oil out of the plant material. Let it strain on its own and let the rest be used so where else.
- Could squeeze it out, decarb and use as meds in capsules.
I think I can sleep now. The eyes are watering and I keep yawning. Lol!
* Dismember buds and add to oil in crockpot (an immersion blender would make quick work of any buds, dismembered or not)
* Keep the temperature at 140 degrees F for 4 hours with occasional agitation
* Closely monitor the temperature.
* Strain and store.
Don't press the oil out of the plant material. Let it strain on its own and let the rest be used so where else.
- Could squeeze it out, decarb and use as meds in capsules.
I think I can sleep now. The eyes are watering and I keep yawning. Lol!
- Thread starter
- #300
continuing.....
Notes: CBD 101 with Martin Lee of Project CBD
A Green Flower Media class
Cannabis has been a friend to man since before the written word.
Cannabis has a rich history as a medicine, going back thousands of years, including the U.S.
- In the latter part of the 19th century cannabis tinctures were and important, essential part of the medicine cabinet.
- Prohibition forced cannabis underground where it turned into a recreational drug.
- We're relearning ancient methods for using cannabis therapeutically.
Today it's not as simple as lighting up a joint.
- We have potent cannabis oils of every conceivable formulation.
- Many people are confused about what to do with all this choice.
How can we best use cannabis oils with varied ratios for maximum therapeutic benefit?
About CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a plant cannabinoid.
This is not technically true. In the growing plant you have CBDa. CBD is a decarbed molecule, either by natural or man-made forces of time and temperature.
CBD is not psychoactive in the way THC is. You'll get a sense of well-being, but no euphoria commonly associated with THC.
Discovered in 1940 by Roger Adams, an American scientist.
- The molecular structure wasn't known until Raphael Meschoulem elucidated it in 1963.
- The following year he did the same for THC.
Interest in CBD didn't take off for years, because the focus was on THC.
- All the research money in the 1960s spent on cannabis research was with the intent to prove it was a dangerous drug, and it was that evil THC that got people stoned.
In 1980 there was a study in Brazil that demonstrated the dramatic therapeutic results available using CBD to treat seizures.
- The study was about a dozen patients, and was wildly successful.
- Nothing came of it for decades.
In 1988 NIH funded a study identified THC and CBD as potent neuroprotectors and anti-oxidants.
- The Federal government holds a patent on plant cannabinoids as neural protectors, filed in 2003.
Both THC and CBD are known to induce neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells, in adult mammals.
- As close as 30 years ago the idea of neurogenesis in adult mammals was heresy. We knew better.
CBD has been studied as a molecule fairly extensively around the world.
Properties of single-molecule CBD
- Anti-tumor
- Anti-spasmodic
- Anti-convulsant
- Antidepressant
- Antipsychotic
- Anti-addictive
- Anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing)
- Antibiotic
- Analgesic (pain reliever)
Whole plant CBD is different in many ways from single-molecule CBD.
CBD and THC work best together.
- To gain the greatest therapeutic benefit of both molecules, use them in combination.
Benefits of whole-plant cannabinoid medicines
- CBD potentiates THC's pain modulation abilities.
- CBD enhances cannabis's efficacy for neuropathic pain, auto-immune diseases, cancer, and other conditions. These conditions respond better with CBD in the formulation.
Once CBD gained recognition and appreciation (starting in 2009 in N. Cali) it became obvious that CBD broadened the range of conditions treatable with cannabis.
- Conditions that didn't necessarily respond positively to high-THC formulations.
- Liver, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders now currently treated with CBD wouldn't be possible without THC.
In a study published in 2010 by the California Pacific Medical Center it was shown that CBD will magnify THC's inhibitory effect on brain cancer.
- The study showed that THC and CBD alone have individual anti-cancer properties, but combined they had a synergistic effect on glioblastomas.
CBD doesn't get you high the way THC does.
- Though many enjoy euphoria, many others don't.
A greater ratio of CBD to THC will lessen and eliminate the euphoric effects of THC.
- You can now customize to your level of comfort with THC.
-There's no single ratio, dose, or product that'll work for everyone. Cannabis insists on being an individualized medication.
- Cannabis patients have the option of using cannabis without the euphoria.
- However, THC is a necessary component for a complete and effective canna med.
- A low-THC medicine won't get you high, but it also might not be effective medically.
- A medicine with both major Cannabinoids will be the most effective.
Determining the ratio that suits you.
- How sensitive are you to both compounds, in particular THC.
- How experienced are you with cannabis?
You control euphoria with ratio and dose.
- Always start with low dose THC when starting new patients with little or no experience.
The starting goal of a new cannabinoid therapy with a cannabis naive patient is to administer consistent, measurable doses of a CBD-rich medicine with as much THC in the formulation as the patient can comfortably handle.
"Dosage is everything." - Paracelsus
A personalized medicine focuses on the person, not the condition, because you're treating a person, not a condition.
- It's not so much finding the perfect ratio or dose for the disease state being treated, but rather finding what's appropriate and comfortable for this patient.
- Some will do well with a balanced ratio, others will find it too euphoric.
- Instead of gearing the medicine for the disease, make it reflect the patient.
What's the patient history with cannabis? How comfortable is the patient with cannabis, and in particular, THC?
The emerging patterns
At Project CBD they've begun to see patterns arising with cannabis therapeutics.
- Anxiety is treated best with higher CBD with low THC.
- Depression, spasms, pediatric seizure disorders respond best, at least initially, to low THC, high CBD products.
- Cancer, neurological disease, and gut issues do best with a 1:1 ratio.
- Chronic pain, neuropathic pain is best managed by a 1:1 ratio.
GW Pharmaceuticals proved that a balanced ratio manages chronic pain best.
- Chronic pain, neuropathic pain... the type of pain opioids don't treat well at all.
- Extensive clinical trials in Europe have proven that a balanced ratio can help someone struggling with chronic pain to live a better life, if they're comfortable with the euphoria that may occur with a 1:1
- Any chemovar will potentially help with auto-immune diseases (when your immune system attacks your cells inappropriately)
- THC activation or eCB2 receptors can regulate (dial down) an overactive immune response.
There are now CBD-rich products available in all the ways you can find THC-rich products.
What to look for in a CBD product
- clear labeling of quantity, ratio of major cannabinoids, and dose
- evidence and documentation of lab testing to be free of pollutants (molds, solvent residues, other contaminants)
- purity (no artificial additives) *be alert to thinning agents*
- look for sustainably-grown, high-resin content plants instead of industrial hemp
- avoid products extracted with solvents (butane, hexane, hydrocarbons)
- look for super-critical CO2 extractions or high-grade ethanol extractions
In the wild cannabis expresses close to an even ratio of the major cannabinoids.
- When prohibition percerted the market breeders went for high THC, overlooking CBD.
- Most plants available have high THC, and minimal CBD. That's quickly changing.
Low-resin industrial hemp has about 3.2% CBD by dry weight. By contrast, you can now find cannabis with levels up to 20%.
You can get CBD from industrial hemp but
- You need huge amounts of hemp to extract a little bit of CBD.
- Cannabis is a bioaccumulator, a florid way of saying that it'll suck toxins and heavy metals out of the soil it grows in.
- Although this makes hemp a valuable plant to clean polluted lands, it's not so cool when you're extracting oils for medicine. You end up with concentrations that can become problematic.
Hemp is defined as a cannabis sativa having 0.3% or less THC value.
- Martin believes, and I agree, that this definition exists solely to perpetuate prohibition.
- Grow a CBD-rich plant with a higher than 0.3% THC value and you're now breaking the law and dealing in a federally-controlled substance.
***When this class was originally broadcast CBD was federally illegal and not permitted to be shipped across state lines. Has this changed? I don't believe it has. ***
There are still problems with quality control, a consequence of prohibition.
- Since this class originally aired there's been an increase in quality control on the producer level as more states become legal, but there's still much to be done.
Of concern is the use of polypropylene glycol being used in vape pens.
- It's been approved for ingestion, but not for inhallation, yet everyone acts like this isn't an issue.
- When overheated - as would be done in a vaporizer - polypropylene glycol breaks down into a carcinogen.
- People reaching for a CBD pen are sick, and don't need carcinogens added to the formula.
- Many come flavored as well. No one tested those flavors as inhaled meds.
- The few things that have been tested turned out to be nasty.
Avoid flavored vape pens unless there's evidence that the flavoring agents were tested for inhalation.
It's not likely that they were tested. What was tested wasn't pretty. Be safe and avoid them.
Pick up at 28:55.
Pharmaceutical CBD products will be legal (I believe they are already???)
- Epidialex has been clinically tested.
- CBD isolate will be legal, but the effectiveness of isolates lacks the synergy of whole-plant CBD products.
An isolate has a very limited therapeutic window.
- You need precise doses, and high doses to be effective.
- Get the dose a little too high or low with an isolate and you get no effect.
- Whole plant meds are more effective for longer times with smaller doses. No exact dose is necessary for effectiveness.
CBD will interact with over 60% of prescribed pharma drugs.
- The interactions problems aren't a concern with whole plant extractions.
- Isolates are another matter. High doses of an isolate will cause some drugs to build up in the body, sometimes to dangerous levels.
- CBD interfere with the metabolism of these drugs.
- If your drugs say "avoid grapefruit juice" you want to have this levels checked more frequently if you're using a CBD isolate.
The take home message:
Cannabis is personalized medicine. At least initially it's about the person, not the condition. You're treating a person.
There's no single ratio, dosage, strength, or product that's right for everyone.
THC and CBD are the "Power Couple" of cannabinoid medicine, working best together.
Whole plant CBD is superior medicine, safer and more effective than single-molecule CBD.
Q & A Session
1. When would you suggest someone start with a CBD-dominant medication?
Without generalizing too much - cannabis is individualized medicine - what they're seeing in California is that the determining factor is experience with cannabis.
- A good starting point is a low-dose THC, high-CBD medicine. This will be tolerated by just about anyone.
- This works well for those with bad experiences in their history or patients with no experience
What kind of health challenge are you dealing with?
- Many disease states benefit from THC in the mix. You start low and slowly increase.
- As a patient becomes more relaxed with euphoria they may discover that they prefer a little THC for the experience.
- Some patients will always be more comfortable without any euphoric experience, and for them, low THC, high CBD will be the preferred formulation.
2. Are there conditions you're seeing that respond better to high CBD medications?
That's a tricky one. Take epilepsy, for instance.
- There's been dramatic footage of children responding well to CBD and having their seizures stop or lessen in frequency and power.
- That doesn't mean all children with seizure disorder can use a CBD-only medication and get these results. Some need THC.
- It's not the seizure that's the focus, but what's the underlying cause? With epilepsy you treat the cause, and some causes require THC.
- Genetic testing by Medicinal Genomics shows that there's a coding problem with the sodium channels in the bodies of children with certain types of seizure disorders. These conditions respond to CBD.
- The genetic mechanism is key to the treatment of seizure disorders with cannabis.
- Genetic testing can tell if a child will respond to CBD medications.
- Some children can have an adverse effect from CBD. Start low, go slow.
3. Are there other ailments where CBD-dominant medicines are working as well as other options?
There's a wide tableau of conditions that can be treated with CBD.
- CBD interacts with the EVS, which regulates all other body systems.
It comes down to what the patient is comfortable with.
- During the day many are most comfortable with a high CBD medicine that doesn't interfer with social functionality.
- At night many switch to a higher THC value
A person might be using differently formulated medications at different parts of the day.
Glioblastoma seems to respond best to high THC medicine.
Neuroblastoma - more common in children - seems to respond best to a high CBD medicine.
4. What's the best way to find the right ratios and profiles to make cannabis a personalized medicine?
First off, it depends on where you are. Is it even available to you, and if so, in what forms and products?
- You have to make due with what you can access.
- Flower is accessible in most of the country.
- You can smoke it or make cannabis flowers into edibles with little effort.
- The medical cannabis movement started with high THC meds.
Where are you psychologically?
- How experienced and comfortable with cannabis are you?
- What kind of guidance do you have?
- What's your support group look like?
- How open is your community?
You can start with a CBD-dominant product at low doses, slowly increasing.
- Begin to add in other products to get a more varied cannabinoid profile, as more options present themselves.
The industrial hemp archetype is high CBD, very low THC.
- There's nothing inherently wrong with that, it's simply limited.
- it's a good starting point for people, but it's a sliver of the available spectrum of cannabinoid therapeutics.
- Patients deserve more options.
THCa, in very small doses, has demonstrated remarkable synergy with other cannabinoids, and with CBD in particular.
- For some children with seizure disorder there's not the dramatic results they were expecting with CBD only.
- Parents began experimenting in their kitchens with new oils and discovered that THC and THCa made the oils more effective for their children.
5. How do you determine a quality CBD medicine?
- Learn to read the labels and then do that.
There was no regulation in the underground market, and corporate regulation leans further towards making a profit than ease of use.
-There aren't necessarily the best examples of how to do it in the current marketplace.
- You take the best of the situation by being informed.
You should be able to tell from the label what's in there.
When someone gets a product that isn't what the label says and gets too high, resulting in a bad experience, it can scare them away from something that could potentially improve their lives in a way nothing else can.
You don't want things like trans-fats or corn syrup in your cannabis medicines. You want clean, safe medicine.
6. How do you determine the quality of a cannabis product in the current market?
There are generally two kinds of products being sold:
1. Single-molecule CBD
2. Whole plant extracts
The single-molecule is being marketed as "pure CBD", the implication being that it's better. It's not.
- When given a choice, go for the whole-plant extractions, whether hemp or regular cannabis oils
When this class aired quality determination was a bit of a crap shoot.
- Things have gotten a little better, but it's still buyer beware.
And this is why we encourage people to grow and process their own.
If you're in a state with a robust medical cannabis program you stand a better chance of getting quality control.
- You can visit a dispensary and ask around for advice.
- Get some cannabis and experiment.
- If you don't get the results advertised on the label you can return it to a dispensary. Good luck with that over the Internet.
Project CBD does a lot of training of dispensary staff.
- Most people come in saying something like "I have this disease I want to treat. What do you recommend?"
Turn the focus of the questions from what product to take to treat a condition to the patient being treated
- Have you ever used cannabis?
- Tell me about your experience?
You're dealing with a person, not a condition.
The person behind the counter at a dispensary likely isn't schooled in medical sciences, doesn't hold a medical degree, and is pushing a product line to increase the bottom line.
- They're not professionally qualified to tell you how to treat your disease with cannabis.
Let's give a shout out to those bud tenders who take their jobs seriously enough to get educated in cannabis therapeutics. Let's not get too caught up in the medical professionals being so much more qualified. It's medical professionals who got us into this mess.
pick up at 52:29
Notes: CBD 101 with Martin Lee of Project CBD
A Green Flower Media class
Cannabis has been a friend to man since before the written word.
Cannabis has a rich history as a medicine, going back thousands of years, including the U.S.
- In the latter part of the 19th century cannabis tinctures were and important, essential part of the medicine cabinet.
- Prohibition forced cannabis underground where it turned into a recreational drug.
- We're relearning ancient methods for using cannabis therapeutically.
Today it's not as simple as lighting up a joint.
- We have potent cannabis oils of every conceivable formulation.
- Many people are confused about what to do with all this choice.
How can we best use cannabis oils with varied ratios for maximum therapeutic benefit?
About CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a plant cannabinoid.
This is not technically true. In the growing plant you have CBDa. CBD is a decarbed molecule, either by natural or man-made forces of time and temperature.
CBD is not psychoactive in the way THC is. You'll get a sense of well-being, but no euphoria commonly associated with THC.
Discovered in 1940 by Roger Adams, an American scientist.
- The molecular structure wasn't known until Raphael Meschoulem elucidated it in 1963.
- The following year he did the same for THC.
Interest in CBD didn't take off for years, because the focus was on THC.
- All the research money in the 1960s spent on cannabis research was with the intent to prove it was a dangerous drug, and it was that evil THC that got people stoned.
In 1980 there was a study in Brazil that demonstrated the dramatic therapeutic results available using CBD to treat seizures.
- The study was about a dozen patients, and was wildly successful.
- Nothing came of it for decades.
In 1988 NIH funded a study identified THC and CBD as potent neuroprotectors and anti-oxidants.
- The Federal government holds a patent on plant cannabinoids as neural protectors, filed in 2003.
Both THC and CBD are known to induce neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells, in adult mammals.
- As close as 30 years ago the idea of neurogenesis in adult mammals was heresy. We knew better.
CBD has been studied as a molecule fairly extensively around the world.
Properties of single-molecule CBD
- Anti-tumor
- Anti-spasmodic
- Anti-convulsant
- Antidepressant
- Antipsychotic
- Anti-addictive
- Anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing)
- Antibiotic
- Analgesic (pain reliever)
Whole plant CBD is different in many ways from single-molecule CBD.
CBD and THC work best together.
- To gain the greatest therapeutic benefit of both molecules, use them in combination.
Benefits of whole-plant cannabinoid medicines
- CBD potentiates THC's pain modulation abilities.
- CBD enhances cannabis's efficacy for neuropathic pain, auto-immune diseases, cancer, and other conditions. These conditions respond better with CBD in the formulation.
Once CBD gained recognition and appreciation (starting in 2009 in N. Cali) it became obvious that CBD broadened the range of conditions treatable with cannabis.
- Conditions that didn't necessarily respond positively to high-THC formulations.
- Liver, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders now currently treated with CBD wouldn't be possible without THC.
In a study published in 2010 by the California Pacific Medical Center it was shown that CBD will magnify THC's inhibitory effect on brain cancer.
- The study showed that THC and CBD alone have individual anti-cancer properties, but combined they had a synergistic effect on glioblastomas.
CBD doesn't get you high the way THC does.
- Though many enjoy euphoria, many others don't.
A greater ratio of CBD to THC will lessen and eliminate the euphoric effects of THC.
- You can now customize to your level of comfort with THC.
-There's no single ratio, dose, or product that'll work for everyone. Cannabis insists on being an individualized medication.
- Cannabis patients have the option of using cannabis without the euphoria.
- However, THC is a necessary component for a complete and effective canna med.
- A low-THC medicine won't get you high, but it also might not be effective medically.
- A medicine with both major Cannabinoids will be the most effective.
Determining the ratio that suits you.
- How sensitive are you to both compounds, in particular THC.
- How experienced are you with cannabis?
You control euphoria with ratio and dose.
- Always start with low dose THC when starting new patients with little or no experience.
The starting goal of a new cannabinoid therapy with a cannabis naive patient is to administer consistent, measurable doses of a CBD-rich medicine with as much THC in the formulation as the patient can comfortably handle.
"Dosage is everything." - Paracelsus
A personalized medicine focuses on the person, not the condition, because you're treating a person, not a condition.
- It's not so much finding the perfect ratio or dose for the disease state being treated, but rather finding what's appropriate and comfortable for this patient.
- Some will do well with a balanced ratio, others will find it too euphoric.
- Instead of gearing the medicine for the disease, make it reflect the patient.
What's the patient history with cannabis? How comfortable is the patient with cannabis, and in particular, THC?
The emerging patterns
At Project CBD they've begun to see patterns arising with cannabis therapeutics.
- Anxiety is treated best with higher CBD with low THC.
- Depression, spasms, pediatric seizure disorders respond best, at least initially, to low THC, high CBD products.
- Cancer, neurological disease, and gut issues do best with a 1:1 ratio.
- Chronic pain, neuropathic pain is best managed by a 1:1 ratio.
GW Pharmaceuticals proved that a balanced ratio manages chronic pain best.
- Chronic pain, neuropathic pain... the type of pain opioids don't treat well at all.
- Extensive clinical trials in Europe have proven that a balanced ratio can help someone struggling with chronic pain to live a better life, if they're comfortable with the euphoria that may occur with a 1:1
- Any chemovar will potentially help with auto-immune diseases (when your immune system attacks your cells inappropriately)
- THC activation or eCB2 receptors can regulate (dial down) an overactive immune response.
There are now CBD-rich products available in all the ways you can find THC-rich products.
What to look for in a CBD product
- clear labeling of quantity, ratio of major cannabinoids, and dose
- evidence and documentation of lab testing to be free of pollutants (molds, solvent residues, other contaminants)
- purity (no artificial additives) *be alert to thinning agents*
- look for sustainably-grown, high-resin content plants instead of industrial hemp
- avoid products extracted with solvents (butane, hexane, hydrocarbons)
- look for super-critical CO2 extractions or high-grade ethanol extractions
In the wild cannabis expresses close to an even ratio of the major cannabinoids.
- When prohibition percerted the market breeders went for high THC, overlooking CBD.
- Most plants available have high THC, and minimal CBD. That's quickly changing.
Low-resin industrial hemp has about 3.2% CBD by dry weight. By contrast, you can now find cannabis with levels up to 20%.
You can get CBD from industrial hemp but
- You need huge amounts of hemp to extract a little bit of CBD.
- Cannabis is a bioaccumulator, a florid way of saying that it'll suck toxins and heavy metals out of the soil it grows in.
- Although this makes hemp a valuable plant to clean polluted lands, it's not so cool when you're extracting oils for medicine. You end up with concentrations that can become problematic.
Hemp is defined as a cannabis sativa having 0.3% or less THC value.
- Martin believes, and I agree, that this definition exists solely to perpetuate prohibition.
- Grow a CBD-rich plant with a higher than 0.3% THC value and you're now breaking the law and dealing in a federally-controlled substance.
***When this class was originally broadcast CBD was federally illegal and not permitted to be shipped across state lines. Has this changed? I don't believe it has. ***
There are still problems with quality control, a consequence of prohibition.
- Since this class originally aired there's been an increase in quality control on the producer level as more states become legal, but there's still much to be done.
Of concern is the use of polypropylene glycol being used in vape pens.
- It's been approved for ingestion, but not for inhallation, yet everyone acts like this isn't an issue.
- When overheated - as would be done in a vaporizer - polypropylene glycol breaks down into a carcinogen.
- People reaching for a CBD pen are sick, and don't need carcinogens added to the formula.
- Many come flavored as well. No one tested those flavors as inhaled meds.
- The few things that have been tested turned out to be nasty.
Avoid flavored vape pens unless there's evidence that the flavoring agents were tested for inhalation.
It's not likely that they were tested. What was tested wasn't pretty. Be safe and avoid them.
Pick up at 28:55.
Pharmaceutical CBD products will be legal (I believe they are already???)
- Epidialex has been clinically tested.
- CBD isolate will be legal, but the effectiveness of isolates lacks the synergy of whole-plant CBD products.
An isolate has a very limited therapeutic window.
- You need precise doses, and high doses to be effective.
- Get the dose a little too high or low with an isolate and you get no effect.
- Whole plant meds are more effective for longer times with smaller doses. No exact dose is necessary for effectiveness.
CBD will interact with over 60% of prescribed pharma drugs.
- The interactions problems aren't a concern with whole plant extractions.
- Isolates are another matter. High doses of an isolate will cause some drugs to build up in the body, sometimes to dangerous levels.
- CBD interfere with the metabolism of these drugs.
- If your drugs say "avoid grapefruit juice" you want to have this levels checked more frequently if you're using a CBD isolate.
The take home message:
Cannabis is personalized medicine. At least initially it's about the person, not the condition. You're treating a person.
There's no single ratio, dosage, strength, or product that's right for everyone.
THC and CBD are the "Power Couple" of cannabinoid medicine, working best together.
Whole plant CBD is superior medicine, safer and more effective than single-molecule CBD.
Q & A Session
1. When would you suggest someone start with a CBD-dominant medication?
Without generalizing too much - cannabis is individualized medicine - what they're seeing in California is that the determining factor is experience with cannabis.
- A good starting point is a low-dose THC, high-CBD medicine. This will be tolerated by just about anyone.
- This works well for those with bad experiences in their history or patients with no experience
What kind of health challenge are you dealing with?
- Many disease states benefit from THC in the mix. You start low and slowly increase.
- As a patient becomes more relaxed with euphoria they may discover that they prefer a little THC for the experience.
- Some patients will always be more comfortable without any euphoric experience, and for them, low THC, high CBD will be the preferred formulation.
2. Are there conditions you're seeing that respond better to high CBD medications?
That's a tricky one. Take epilepsy, for instance.
- There's been dramatic footage of children responding well to CBD and having their seizures stop or lessen in frequency and power.
- That doesn't mean all children with seizure disorder can use a CBD-only medication and get these results. Some need THC.
- It's not the seizure that's the focus, but what's the underlying cause? With epilepsy you treat the cause, and some causes require THC.
- Genetic testing by Medicinal Genomics shows that there's a coding problem with the sodium channels in the bodies of children with certain types of seizure disorders. These conditions respond to CBD.
- The genetic mechanism is key to the treatment of seizure disorders with cannabis.
- Genetic testing can tell if a child will respond to CBD medications.
- Some children can have an adverse effect from CBD. Start low, go slow.
3. Are there other ailments where CBD-dominant medicines are working as well as other options?
There's a wide tableau of conditions that can be treated with CBD.
- CBD interacts with the EVS, which regulates all other body systems.
It comes down to what the patient is comfortable with.
- During the day many are most comfortable with a high CBD medicine that doesn't interfer with social functionality.
- At night many switch to a higher THC value
A person might be using differently formulated medications at different parts of the day.
Glioblastoma seems to respond best to high THC medicine.
Neuroblastoma - more common in children - seems to respond best to a high CBD medicine.
4. What's the best way to find the right ratios and profiles to make cannabis a personalized medicine?
First off, it depends on where you are. Is it even available to you, and if so, in what forms and products?
- You have to make due with what you can access.
- Flower is accessible in most of the country.
- You can smoke it or make cannabis flowers into edibles with little effort.
- The medical cannabis movement started with high THC meds.
Where are you psychologically?
- How experienced and comfortable with cannabis are you?
- What kind of guidance do you have?
- What's your support group look like?
- How open is your community?
You can start with a CBD-dominant product at low doses, slowly increasing.
- Begin to add in other products to get a more varied cannabinoid profile, as more options present themselves.
The industrial hemp archetype is high CBD, very low THC.
- There's nothing inherently wrong with that, it's simply limited.
- it's a good starting point for people, but it's a sliver of the available spectrum of cannabinoid therapeutics.
- Patients deserve more options.
THCa, in very small doses, has demonstrated remarkable synergy with other cannabinoids, and with CBD in particular.
- For some children with seizure disorder there's not the dramatic results they were expecting with CBD only.
- Parents began experimenting in their kitchens with new oils and discovered that THC and THCa made the oils more effective for their children.
5. How do you determine a quality CBD medicine?
- Learn to read the labels and then do that.
There was no regulation in the underground market, and corporate regulation leans further towards making a profit than ease of use.
-There aren't necessarily the best examples of how to do it in the current marketplace.
- You take the best of the situation by being informed.
You should be able to tell from the label what's in there.
When someone gets a product that isn't what the label says and gets too high, resulting in a bad experience, it can scare them away from something that could potentially improve their lives in a way nothing else can.
You don't want things like trans-fats or corn syrup in your cannabis medicines. You want clean, safe medicine.
6. How do you determine the quality of a cannabis product in the current market?
There are generally two kinds of products being sold:
1. Single-molecule CBD
2. Whole plant extracts
The single-molecule is being marketed as "pure CBD", the implication being that it's better. It's not.
- When given a choice, go for the whole-plant extractions, whether hemp or regular cannabis oils
When this class aired quality determination was a bit of a crap shoot.
- Things have gotten a little better, but it's still buyer beware.
And this is why we encourage people to grow and process their own.
If you're in a state with a robust medical cannabis program you stand a better chance of getting quality control.
- You can visit a dispensary and ask around for advice.
- Get some cannabis and experiment.
- If you don't get the results advertised on the label you can return it to a dispensary. Good luck with that over the Internet.
Project CBD does a lot of training of dispensary staff.
- Most people come in saying something like "I have this disease I want to treat. What do you recommend?"
Turn the focus of the questions from what product to take to treat a condition to the patient being treated
- Have you ever used cannabis?
- Tell me about your experience?
You're dealing with a person, not a condition.
The person behind the counter at a dispensary likely isn't schooled in medical sciences, doesn't hold a medical degree, and is pushing a product line to increase the bottom line.
- They're not professionally qualified to tell you how to treat your disease with cannabis.
Let's give a shout out to those bud tenders who take their jobs seriously enough to get educated in cannabis therapeutics. Let's not get too caught up in the medical professionals being so much more qualified. It's medical professionals who got us into this mess.
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