How Weed Improve Athletic Recovery

Weed users were once stigmatized as slackers and underachievers. But the stereotype is no longer there. Cannabis has steadily achieved mass recognition, including in sports arenas, and for good cause.

Athletes in different sports, at all levels, are constantly searching at opportunities to shorten their training turnaround period. This is why they are always playing with innovative approaches to see what will help them develop this essential aspect of their training cycle. Cannabis has a lot to offer athletes striving to boost their recovery in a variety of ways. 

Pain Reliever

Marijuana is without a doubt one of the most effective pain relievers available. Marijuana's medical effects have been claimed for centuries, as the plant aids in the treatment of pain in individuals suffering from Crohn’s disease, inflammation, degenerative disease, and other illnesses. The arduous training exercises, which are repeated many times a day, will take a toll on the body. You can expect that if you train three times a day to prepare for tournaments, you will experience pain and discomfort. I'm not referring to discomfort that happens during the workout, such as muscle burn from a drop set. I'm speaking to two different forms of suffering that all athletes must struggle with.

The first type is delayed-onset muscle soreness. This will affect an athlete two days after an especially demanding exercise. This is a pleasant pain, but it is still pain. An athlete will limp for a few days following a strenuous leg exercise, and this is the routine day after day, week after week. It is time for a further leg session by the time they've recovered, which leaves them in a perpetual state of soreness.

The second type is the classic wear and tear. If you've ever competed in a sport for a long time, you know that injuring your body year after year won't make it as tolerant as it once was. When it rains, a knee's cartilage can break off, or an old shoulder injury can flare up. In this case, the damage you place on your body will present itself in multiple ways, which is why many athletes resort to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory or opiate-based medicines to help them deal with pain. Yet, as we've learned time and time again, weed is a much better option to help athletes cope with the discomfort they experience on a regular basis. 

Sleep Quality

The two most significant factors of recovery are adequate sleep and the current dietary regimen. Most people who avail weed delivery Santa Monica use weed to aid sleep. Cannabis has the potential to significantly increase the quality of sleep for athletes. During the sleep period, muscle damage from an exercise is repaired—the body's cells are replaced, and a series of hormones is triggered to stimulate muscle development. Your rate of healing would be significantly slowed if your sleep time or consistency is compromised. In addition to nutrient shortages, many athletes suffer from insomnia as a result of the high pressures they place on their central nervous system.

When an athlete is on a caloric-restriction phase, their sleep will be disrupted. And, when they eventually get to bed, they wake up fully awake just a couple hours later. Marijuana has been shown time and time again to increase sleep length and efficiency. Athletes' success improves significantly when they get a full night's sleep.

Improve Appetite

The second aspect of recovery to address is good diet. Some athletes have trouble eating sufficient meals a day to refill the calories they have missed during their workout sessions. Your regeneration would be sub-optimal if you do not consume the proper amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to aid this phase. Cannabis can be useful to athletes who are unable to fulfill their calorie needs in order to compete at their best. 

The distinction between an athlete eating all of their daily meals and skipping the last proper meal due to a lack of appetite is significant. It has an effect on not just their recovery but also their success in the subsequent training session. Another factor that cannabis is a valuable ergogenic boost is that it allows athletes to absorb the right foods for optimum results.

Inflammation and Swelling

Inflammation of the muscles, joints, and tendons is another challenge that all athletes face on a daily basis. If you compete in action sports such as rugby or mixed martial arts, you will feel much more swelling. It is the nature of the game that if you practice hard enough, you'll get damaged. No matter how hard you work to stay healthy, or how well your method is planned, injuries always happen. 

Cannabis consumption on a daily basis will aid in the reduction of inflammation, particularly when combined with a proper diet.  Cannabis can yield impressive effects in certain facets of an athlete's life on its own. It will, though, be life-changing when correctly paired with the right holistic approach.

Neurological Damage

Cannabis has long been known to show potential in treating effects of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. THC and CBD have been discovered to suppress not only inflammation but also excitotoxicity in the brain. This explains why, in order to recover from brain injuries, an increasing number of NFL players are turning to weed.

As you can see, weed has a lot of benefits for elite athletes in terms of strength recovery. It will help athletes address not just one, but many areas where they need support in order to truly optimize their recovery rate. If you’re an athlete and you decided to try weed as your additional recovery supplement, ask for strain recommendations from your nearest weed delivery in Los Angeles or dispensaries. 

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Amazing Benefits of Cannabis For Pets

It has become common knowledge that CBD is beneficial in the world of healthcare, not only for humans but also for pets. Dispensaries and weed delivery services have a wide array of CBD products available not only for humans but for animals as well. Pets and humans have something in common. Both of us have an endocannabinoid system that plays a major role in our brain, heart, eyes, stomach, and even in our mood. 

A study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology in 1997 showed that the ECS system is deeply connected in our ability to manage pain. Just as cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant, our bodies make our own cannabinoids too. One of the best-known cannabinoids helpful to humans and pets is the CBD (cannabidiol). Studies have shown that CBD can temporarily increase the absorption of anandamide. This is a chemical that helps lessen pain signals to the brain. 

Many old and recent studies have proven that CBD is beneficial for pets, especially cats and dogs. It can reduce anxiety, pain, seizures, inflammation and also heal skin conditions just as it can help treat human’s depression, stress, insomnia, appetite problems, glaucoma, seizures and more. To date, more research is conducted on the benefits of CBD to pets. Hopefully, in the future, science will show the full potential of CBD to humans and pets.

Heal Pain and Inflammation

Although more research is needed in this claim, it has been shown that pets who have CBD in their system tend to have less pain caused by certain inflammation in the cells. CBD has anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties that are helpful in healing pain, especially for elderly pets. The Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy in the University of London, England suggested that cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help manage severe pain, nerve-related pains, and arthritis. CBD can accelerate the healing process of cuts and bruises by lessening inflammation.

Lowering Stress and Reducing Anxiety

If your pet is frequently anxious or afraid, CBD can help reduce these stress levels and induce calmness and relaxation during these times of unease. Much like humans, some pets get anxiety from separation, phobias, traveling, and get afraid of loud noises coming from fireworks or heavy storms. CBD is a natural product to help alleviate their fright and anxiety compared to prescription medication.

Improves Appetite and Lesser Nausea 

CBD has been shown to help improve the pet’s appetite problems and keep them from feeling nauseous. Especially for sick and older pets, CBD can help stop nausea and vomiting due to its anti-emetic properties. CBD can help regulate the pet’s digestive system. 

Control Seizures and Minimize the Risk of Epilepsy

CBD is a natural anticonvulsant that can help reduce the occurrence of seizures. One of the best known therapeutic use of CBD is its ability to control seizures, spasms, tremors, and tics. For animals with existing seizures and epilepsy, prescribed medication is often used to manage but it can be harmful to other organs if ineffective. Some side effects for these medications can cause confusion, liver damage and lethargy.

Help Treat Skin Conditions

Some pets suffer certain skin conditions manifested through excessive scratching and licking, along with hair loss, rashes, and red skin. These suggest a possible skin allergy or infection. This can be too uncomfortable for our pets. To ease the discomfort, CBD can be used to help reduce the severity of skin conditions. Although it is not the cure alone. Make sure to consult with your vet for any new treatment you will do for your pets.

Other potential benefits:

• Reduce depression
• Possible treatment of glaucoma
• Improve sleep
• Help protect against colon cancer by stopping the development, growth, or spread of malignant tumors. 
• Promotes homeostasis
• Help with neurodegenerative diseases

The Right CBD Oil for Your Pet

There are some things to consider when choosing the best CBD products for your pets. Always make sure to give your pets CBD oil that is high in quality, organic, and free from impurities. When you search for dispensaries and cannabis delivery online, there are too many that sell CBD oils, but only a few have quality products. Read the labels and look for products that are tested independently. Look for the COA or the Certificate of Analysis. Also, check online reviews to have a background on the seller’s reputation.

There are certain types of CBD oil and the best one for your pet is the full-spectrum CBD oil. Compared to CBD isolate, full-spectrum CBD oil contains trace amounts of many cannabinoids beneficial to your pet. In fact, most vets recommend full-spectrum CBD oils than broad-spectrum or CBD Isolate. 

It is important to check the amount of milligrams of CBD in a bottle. You can see this in the product packaging. Also, the price varies greatly on the content of CBD. Aside from CBD oil, there are high-quality dog treats or edibles and capsules that have CBD.

Is it Safe?

Yes. Quite a few studies and research papers have proven that CBD is safe for your pets. The only real side effect is sleepiness, which isn’t really a bad thing. CBD cannot get your pets high, as it does not have the psychoactive effect of THC. However, while CBD oil and treats are safe for your pets, keep them away from the cannabis plant. 

It is also important that you give the right dose of CBD to your pets. Most CBD oil merchants can share a dose chart with you on their site. If in doubt, it is best to ask a pet doctor. Follow their prescriptions, should they give one. Make sure you discuss any supplement with your vet before starting CBD treatment, especially if your pet is under other medications. Generally, you should start with a small dose and gradually go up. Remember that the amount of CBD per drop depends on the content of the bottle. 

CBD is amazingly useful for pet owners all over the world. It truly gives fantastic benefits to our furry friends. Next time you call for marijuana delivery in Los Angeles, buy something that can be useful for your pets as well.

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Can Cannabis Improve Your Sleep Quality

Sleep is important for our health. Good quality sleep helps us maintain our mental and physical health. Lack of good quality sleep can pose risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, depression and many more diseases.

The National Sleep Foundation said that 50 to 70 million adults in the U.S have sleep disorder. Forty percent of the population experiences insomnia and 15% of those are chronic. 

Troubles with sleeping has become very common especially for adults. With this, many have opted to sleeping pills and other medications. And many have turned to cannabis. Cannabis has been effective in treating sleeping problems with little to no side effects. It has analgesic properties to relieve chronic pain, and also soothes a stressed mind and body. With the increasing popularity of marijuana for medical use around the United States, weed delivery in Hollywood has grown day to day.  

What Does The Research Say?

Dr. Matt Roman, a medical marijuana physician, said that “Marijuana is an effective sleep aid because it restores a person’s natural sleep cycle, which so often falls out of sync with our schedules in today’s modern lifestyles.”

An anecdotal research done in Australia suggested that cannabis could provide efficacious treatment to chronic insomnia. Funded by medical marijuana company Zelira Therapeutic, the University of Western Australia conducted this study including 23 chronic insomnia patients. The patients were given an active dose of placebo and an active dose of marijuana, both in the forms of tinctures. Scientists measured the patients’ quality of sleep through different channels. They used digital trackers, subjective responses, and ISI (Insomnia Severity Index). ISI is a clinical tool used for the registration of insomnia symptoms.

Those who have taken the marijuana tinctures dropped their insomnia symptoms by 26% compared to the placebo patients. They also fell asleep faster and longer. Upon waking up, they experienced feeling less tired, less stressed, less groggy and refreshed.

“This study addresses the most thorough clinical trial ever undertaken to assess the therapeutic potential of medicinal cannabis to treat the symptoms of chronic insomnia. The way that ZLT-101 treatment accomplished measurably critical, dose responsive improvements across a broad range of key insomnia indices is impressive, especially given the relatively short two-week dosing window,” said by the lead scientist Peter Eastwood. 

Another study was conducted in the Rambam Institute of Pain Medicine in Haifa, Israel. The study is titled “Medical cannabis and insomnia in older adults with chronic pain: a cross-sectional study.”

A 128-person study found that marijuana is useful for chronic pain sufferers that have trouble sleeping at night. The study includes patients with PTSD, anxiety, clinical dementia, cancer patients who received chemotherapy, sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury. Of the 128 patients included in the research, 62 were non-marijuana users and 66 were classified as users. When the two groups are compared, medical marijuana users are less likely to have disrupted sleep. Based on the results, scientists urged for more studies to examine the right dose for patients with high sleep issues. 

The Importance of Cannabis Strains

Cannabis has different strains. Some makes you active. Some will make you calm and sedated. What type of cannabinoids do you need to induce sleep? 

Marijuana contains two different cannabinoids:

Cannabidiol (CBD) – non-psychoactive (doesn’t give you the “high” effect), it gives you many health benefits

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – psychoactive (causes the “high” feeling)

The cannabinoid needed for inducing sleep is more THC than CBD. A 2008 study revealed that high level of THC cannabis reduces the amount of REM sleep and occurrence of nightmares specially for PTSD patients. THC reportedly promotes sleep through our CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. Our endocannabinoid system plays a big role in many of our biological function. These functions include hormonal functions and the regulation of our pain and appetite. You may notice that if we are not relaxed, it’s harder to sleep.

Cannabis also has different strains: indica, sativa and hybrid. If you’ve talked to your doctor and you’re on your way to try medical marijuana for your insomnia, it is time to choose the best strain. 

The three strains you will commonly encounter are:

Indica – soothing and relaxing strain

Sativa – this strain makes people happy, excited, active and energized

Hybrids – a combination of Indica and sativa 

It is vital to know the best strain suited for your needs before you call for a cannabis delivery. You can ask people at a local dispensary or do your research. 

A Harvard-trained physician and cannabis specialist, Dr. Jordan Tishler, advised a strain with less than 20% THC. Anything more than twenty percent can make you feel muzzy and sleepy the next day. He also recommends the Indica strain for inducing sleep. 

How to Consume Cannabis For a Good Night’s Sleep?

Generally, people consume cannabis by smoking a pipe or a joint. If you don’t like smoking and wanted to ingest in a healthier way, you can try vaporizers or tinctures. Timing is also important to effectively get the best out of cannabis. Doctors would advise to ingest cannabis at least an hour before bedtime. 

Conclusion

Smoking in general is a known health risk and should be done with caution. It is essential to talk to your physician about your sleep cycles. Of course it’s not the same for everyone, what works for others may not work for you. It might take some time to determine the right dosage for you. So it’s best to not try it on a work week! Make sure to observe how you feel after each ingestion. It is also important to choose a method that is most comforting. These methods can vary form person to person. 

While it’s good to seek aid to cannabis for inducing sleep, nothing beats practicing good sleep hygiene and healthy lifestyle that promotes healthy sleep. Apart from going to a marijuana delivery service for cannabis relief, it’s good to practice long-term solutions to sleeping problems. It can be focusing on a good sleeping pattern, avoiding consumption of large meals before bed, exercising regularly and avoiding caffeine. 

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Can Marijuana Help in Hair Growth

There are about 5 million hair follicles in our body, and 100,000 is located in our head. We are born with this amount of follicles that we will ever have in our lifetime. As we grow older, some follicles halt producing hair, and that is when hair thinning or baldness occur. How fast your hair grows depend on your specific hair type, overall health, age, and other health conditions.

Losing hair everyday is normal. Humans unnoticeably lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day. It is not something to be worried about, but too much of it certainly implies a medical condition. These medical conditions are either menopausal, chronic stress, alopecia, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, chemotherapy, and malnutrition.  On the other hand, what we call male-pattern baldness can be completely natural and simply due to age and genetics.

Marijuana has become so popular today for its medicinal benefits, that’s why many people are becoming accustomed to using marijuana delivery service everyday. Some medical experts have pondered whether it can also be beneficial to preventing hair loss and help hair growth. Some marijuana consumers who use cannabis 3 to 5 times a week have reported spotting their hairs grow faster than normal. Can it be imaginary?

The only medical research conducted for cannabis and its connection to hair growth is dated back to 1980. In the September issue of Endocrinology, a study was observed that “marijuana inhibits dihydrotestosterone binding to the androgen receptor.” DHT didn’t bind to hormone receptors in rodents treated with THC and CBD. Lowering the amount of DHT is a big part of traditional hair loss treatment. Sad to say, there are no follow-up studies since.

Hormonal Imbalances

One of the significant causes of hair loss for women is caused by hormonal imbalance. Hormonal changes mostly happen during pregnancy and menopause. Especially after childbirth, women significantly experience hair loss due to low estrogen levels in the body. And menopausal also changes the body’s hormonal composition. For men, unregulated production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone androgen) in the body is one reason that causes hair loss and baldness. People who are sensitive to DHT hormone suffers androgenic alopecia and generally become bald.

Marijuana can help balance hormonal imbalances by binding different endocannabinoid receptors in the head and body. These endocannabinoid receptors in our endocannabinoid system is in charge of the different functionalities. This includes personal immunity, good metabolism and better function of the nervous system. CBD compounds from marijuana can help fight the symptoms of menopause by balancing the women’s hormones.

Hair Growth and Vitamins

It is a known fact that our daily intake and diet impacts the overall health of our hair. The more vitamins and nutrients intake, the more our hair will be healthier and less prone to hair loss. Baldness is sometimes caused by nutritional deficiencies especially for children.

CBD-based cannabidiol gives the body important nutritional components to help keep up healthy hair. Medicinal CBD oils contain the significant amount of vitamins and omega fatty acids including omega 3,6 and 9. These oils from CBD keep your scalp healthy by preserving its moisture content while stimulating hair growth. CBD helps nourish hair strands through its high protein content. It also boosts the production of collagen and elastin, which are the basic foundation of a strong and luster hair. The vitamins and antioxidants that CBD contain such as E, A, and C also protect hair damage by fending off too much dryness and hair breakage.

Marijuana and the Side Effects of Prescription Medication

Cancer patients suffer massive hair loss due to chemotherapy treatment. The treatment’ side effect prevents hair growth and causes baldness. Some prescription medication for acne, depression or anxiety can also result to losing hair.

Cannabis-based CBD help patients and people undergoing medications combat stressful situations through its calming and relaxing properties. It also helps people sleep and find relief from the shock that comes from stressful events. It also boosts your appetite and fight inflammation which will result to hair growth in the long run.

Healthy Metabolism

Cannabis speeds up metabolism in our body which is essential for hair growth. A faster metabolism digests food faster and burns calories faster. Just make sure to not take it to the extreme, as too much fast metabolism can make you age faster as well.

Marijuana and Stress Relief

It is not a new fact that stress is a big cause of hair loss. And it is not a new fact that marijuana is a great remedy for stress. A big manifestation of stress is hair loss and this can possibly be avoided through using marijuana. Marijuana is commonly used to relieve bad mood, depression, stress, and insomnia. While it cannot help eradicate depression completely, marijuana helps many people cope with stress through its powerful anti-depressant properties which helps stabilize stress levels in the body. 

So while there’s many testimony and evidence to show marijuana’s benefits to hair growth, using it for this purpose may probably not the best and only option. Though, if you’re using cannabis to manage stress, hair loss prevention might just be a bonus side effect.  Less stress leads to healthier hair!

Summary

In general, marijuana promotes hair growth and supports hair health by supplying nutrients, improving scalp health, moisturizing and strengthening hair shaft, and stimulating blood flow. Even if your medically skeptic and only want to consume cannabis recreationally, the usage can still improve hair health by boosting your metabolism and reducing stress. If you would like to add topical marijuana to your beauty regimen, you can buy commercial products that include herb as an ingredient. These can be purchased easily in many weed dispensaries or you can avail a fast and discreet weed delivery in Santa Monica service for free.

Of course, our bodies do not all react to substances and medications in the same way. So it is also possible to consume without noticeably seeing the possible side effects. Hopefully, one day in the future we’ll have substantial evidence on how marijuana can really help hair growth. Until then, let us know if any of these approach have worked for you.

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Can Marijuana Help Arthritis Pain?

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis means swelling and inflammation of a joint. The symptoms associated of arthritis are stiffness and pain in the surrounding tissues and the joint. There are two types of arthritis that have different causes and different symptoms, which also need different treatments.

The most common type of arthritis is the Osteoarthritis. It affects more than 30 million U.S adults. It is the usual form of disease in which the protective cartilage of the bones slowly whittles away. A wear and tear situation.

The second type is the Rheumatoid arthritis. It affects 1.3 million people in the U.S. Unlike the Osteoarthritis, this is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system misfires and attacks the joints. It generally affects women, more often than men, with ages between 30 and 50.

Treatments will depend on what type of arthritis you have. These might include prescription medicines, physical therapy, changes in diet and lifestyle, and in the worst case, surgery. 

Cannabis and Arthritis Pain Relief

In a Gallup poll in August 2019, 14% of Americans use cannabis products for pain. No wonder marijuana delivery is common around the states where marijuana is legal.

The Arthritis Foundation conducted its own poll and supported the use of cannabidiol from the cannabis plant to relieve arthritis pain, improve sleep, and reduce anxiety. They found that nearly 80% of the respondents either used cannabis, had used cannabis in the past, or were considering using cannabis in the future. Though there is “no rigorous clinical human studies”, the foundation urged FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to study and regulate CBD products for arthritis. 

Several studies (mostly animals) have conducted on how CBD can help relieve the inflammatory pain associated with arthritis. These are the following:

1. CBD can be a safe and useful treatment option for osteoarthritis' debilitating joint pain, according to a 2017 study.

2. The topical application of CBD can help relieve pain and inflammation, according to a 2016 study.

3. An anecdotal evidence of animals with osteoarthritis shows that CBD can be an effective treatment, according to a 2014 study.

4. CBD helped reduce inflammation pain in rats by targeting pain receptors, according to a 2011 study.

5. A May 2014 study by the Arthritis Care & Research concluded that the risk/benefit of marijuana “is inferior to all other analgesic classes other than opioids.”

6. In the September-October 2009 issue of the Journal of Opioid Management, “80 percent of medical marijuana users in a U.S. pain clinic were using cannabis to treat myofascial pain.” This is a pain that affects tissues and muscles. In Canada, 65 percent arthritis patients use marijuana to treat severe pain.

Although these findings are encouraging, it still needs conclusive evidence and more scientific research between CBD and arthritis.

Jahan Marcu, PhD, chief scientific officer of Americans for Safe Access, an organization that aims to ensure legal and safe access of marijuana for therapeutic research, advocates that “Chronic pain is a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, and when it comes to chronic pain, we have 9,000 patient years of data showing that THC effectively treats it. Cannabinoids stop the transmission of pain and decrease inflammation, and that’s very important for people with joint issues.”

A cannabis-based mouth spray named Sativex is found to help ease arthritis pain, according to a study in 2006. However, the spray contains both CBD and psychoactive substance THC.

CBD Usage and Some Guidelines

There are many ways to ingest CBD into the body. It is in the form of an oil, topical cream, gel, oral spray or capsule. It is important to talk to your doctor before using any treatments. Should you decide to use CBD for your arthritis pain, educate yourself on the local laws about cannabis. Marijuana is legal in 33 states in the United States. You can contact local dispensaries and weed delivery in Santa Barbara service for your cannabis needs. However, the effectiveness of treatment also varies from person to person. It is vital to determine the right balance of CBD and other medications. It may take some time to find the right combination of different cannabis strains in different proportions to help you with your symptoms.

Below are the do’s and don’ts recommended by the Arthritis Foundation when considering marijuana for chronic arthritis pain:

Dos:

Choose a CBD product that has been independently tested for purity, potency and safety. A good example is to find a “Good Manufacturing Practices” or GMP certification.

CBD should be a part of an overall pain management plan. This should include non medication option such as exercise, diet, and therapy.

Start with a low dose in the evening, preferably oral treatment.

Establish treatment goals realistically.

Always consult your doctor about your planned CBD treatment options.

Monitor your pain results and medications.

Don’ts:

Don’t make CBD your first choice of treatment. It is good to consider other treatments then turn to CBD if others are not effective enough.

Pain management should be between you and your health practitioner. Do not rely on non medical practitioners such as CBD sellers to recommend you on pain medications.

Do not stop prescribed medications given by your doctor unless otherwise discussed.

What are the Downsides?

There are downsides, as with any other treatments. In general, CBD is considered safe, but it can still cause light-headedness, dry mouth and sleepiness. Owing to its unregulated industry, there may be uncertainties on the potency and purity of CBD. Patients and users’ due diligence is required. It is also not advisable for pregnant women. 

Summary

Although the evidence of human research is limited, the researches have achieved promising results. Researchers believe that marijuana in the form of CBD oil and topical, promises treatment for arthritis pain by affecting receptors in the brain and immune system. It is also a great help in reducing inflammation and chronic pain. Currently we may not have all the evidence we want, but if CBD can safely and effectively improve the chronic symptoms of arthritis, then order weed delivery in Los Angeles and it will be worth it.

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Things to Know while Traveling with Marijuana

Uncle Sam’s relationship with marijuana is evolving. In 2014, Colorado became the first U.S state to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes. Other states have followed after, making it to 33 states across the country today. Illinois is one of the latest to legalize marijuana for recreational use. As a result, O’Hare International and Midway now have pot amnesty boxes at the end of every security checkpoint for travelers who may arrive with cannabis and don’t want to break the law by flying with it.

In the US, adults 21 and over can easily buy cannabis of any form for either medicinal and recreational. Using marijuana has become a norm especially for people using it for relief. Designated marijuana dispensaries are everywhere and availing weed delivery in Culver City is now easy and hassle-free.

It has also opened doors for a thriving market for tourism. Now, wine and weed tours are booming in California, and more restaurants and dine in places incorporate cannabis in their plates. But, though marijuana tourism sector is likely to flourish, travelers with marijuana across state lines or international borders still need to be extra careful.

The Federal Law

A U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent explained that an American citizen returning home from Canada (where cannabis is also legal) will be allowed back in the U.S after consuming cannabis, though “he or she may face a couple extra questions.’’

The agent said that “if it’s obvious that someone in the car has smoked or we smell it, you may be subject to search at that point, but barring [possession, they] would be allowed to continue.’’

It means - once you enter a security checkpoint, federal law enforcement will take charge. And marijuana is illegal under federal law, although the authorities exhibit more lenient stance than in earlier years. So basically, crossing a border with a joint could still land you in serious trouble. The laws and guidance for travelers returning a visit to Canada are the same as those who traveled across state lines – even if you’re flying to a state where marijuana is legal.

Michael McCarthy – former TSA spokesperson and current spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - explained that regardless of the passenger’s destination, origin, amount of substance carried or having a medical marijuana card, TSA are still required to tell the police of any discovery during the screening. It’s up to the local police department to decide on the next steps.

Repercussions

Repercussions for travelers caught with marijuana will vary depending on the specific policies of the state. Law enforcement in Oregon let the passengers carrying marijuana to fly to other destination within the state without them having the substance disposed. Though this is not always the case. Some officers may allow you to pass through security with a bit of pot in your pocket. But beware in Idaho, Kansas, and South Dakota if you don’t want your hands cuffed behind your back!

Rob Pedregon, a public information officer at Los Angeles International (LAX) – one of the biggest weed-friendly cities with a busy airport – said that they wanted to focus on educating the public, and not put them in cuffs and write citations. They aim to explain the law to marijuana possessing travelers and aid them out of screening and try to accommodate them the best they can. He added that possessing and trying to transport a large quantity of marijuana than what’s allowed in California (1 ounce) is what makes them get into a big trouble.

Paraphernalia

Marijuana paraphernalia, such as pipe or bowl, is allowed in security. Specifically, at LAX, there is no issue even if something has a resin – given that it’s not usable. Nonetheless, TSA officials are not trained to differentiate between the types of products and paraphernalia so if they see something suspicious, it will likely be reported.

Substances with THC (responsible for high) such as edibles, oils, or joints are illegal under federal law and not allowed during air travel. But not all cannabis-derived substances contain THC, such as hemp-based products or pure CBD. Under the 2018 Farm Bill signed at the end of December 2018, CBD oil from hemp is considered legal. It means police officials can allow a hemp-based CBD gummy but cannot for cannabis extracted CBD. Though things have changed in May, when the TSA have updated their rules for travelers with medical cannabidiol or CBD. CBD medicinal approved by FDA can be allowed for check in or carry-on as long as it does not contain more than 0.3 percent THC.

“We tell patients to bring their doctor recommendation with them, just in case law enforcement stops them. We also tell them to keep their medical recommendation and their medical I.D card with them, and know their physician’s number and maybe their lawyer’s number – just in case,” said Debbie Churgai, the interim director of Americans for Safe Access.

Bottom Line

Sure you may get on the plane with whatever is in your bag, but you may have to expect a little (or longer) delay. When traveling with marijuana or marijuana-related products, it is vital to know and understand the state and federal laws, especially on the possible repercussions. Looking up for airline’s rules and regulations is also helpful. Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are some of the airlines that have created policies that ban marijuana from their aircraft, even if you have a medical card. 

So, to be clear, can I legally fly with weed from Point A to Point B? The answer is No. Carrying marijuana onto a plane is a federal crime as it is illegal under federal law. Federal law governs airplane travel as the airspace you’ll be traveling through is considered a federal territory. You can check for an updated state laws and regulations about marijuana in legal sites as many laws are ever-changing from time to time. If you are going to a state where marijuana is legal, why not buy or get weed delivery soon as you arrive. As always, it is best to consider safety as the main priority. 

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How Marijuana Helps in Treating Depression?

What is Depression?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression makes the planet’s no. 1 source of disability, affecting 4% of us or 300 million people. That count is possibly understated given the stigma that comes with the illness. It probably comes from people lacking knowledge about the illness or lacking understanding of what it means to struggle with such.

 

Clinical depression or major depressive disorder is a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects how you think, behave, and feel in a normal day-to-day activity that will eventually lead to emotional and physical problems. Symptoms noted for depression include feelings of emptiness, irritability, sleep disturbed, lack of energy, loss of appetite, anxiety, guilt, and suicidal thoughts. It is unknown exactly the causes of depression but many factors can be involved. It can be biological differences, brain chemistry, hormones, or inherited traits. Treatment of depression is unique to each person and the severity of the illness. The cases can either be mild, moderate, and severe.

On Marijuana & Depression

 

As with anxiety disorders and depression, marijuana CBD has become a spring of hope. Though still in its early stages, studies show some potential anti-depressant like effects of the plant compounds – and a connection between low endocannabinoid levels and depression. Research showed that CBD can raise levels of the body’s natural “bliss” molecule anandamide. It is also connected to the higher level of serotonin in the brain which is an enzyme known for its anti-depressant effect. CBD is noted to have positive impacts on mood improvement in the hippocampus and to reduce neuron damage and inflammation in the brain. In clinical trials, informal evidence suggests that it can be effective either in place or in conjunction with traditional antidepressants.

At the University of Buffalo, scientists at the school’s (RIA) Research Institute on Addictions have started looking into medicinal marijuana as a possible treatment for depression. They have focused specifically on brain chemicals called endocannabinoids - naturally produced compounds that play a role in cognition, motor control, emotions, and behavior and a compound similar to that of cannabis. Though the experiment was conducted on animals, scientists have found that chronic stress suppresses the brain’s production of endocannabinoids which then will lead to depression-like behavior. Introducing cannabis’ cannabinoids into the system may restore normal levels and function which helps alleviate the symptoms of depression. To date, the researchers are figuring out how the certain amount of extract could give that mood-boosting effect without leading to drug dependency.

Washington State University published a journal called the Journal of Affective Disorders. The authors cited that THC and CBD (marijuana cannabinoids) have antidepressant-like effects in animal models and reported that “medical cannabis users perceived a 50% reduction in depression and a 58% reduction in anxiety and stress following cannabis use.” They also concluded that cannabis significantly reduced ratings of anxiety and stress especially for women and the low THC/high CBD is best for reducing perceived symptoms of stress. However, they also noted that the usage of cannabis for treating depression may make a problem over time in case of dependency. They wrote in the journal that “the results from the present study be further investigated under double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions.” So just like any other researchers would note, more study on different variables involved in treatment is definitely needed.

 

The Bottom Line

 

Although there are pieces of evidence pointing to marijuana and its antidepressant effects, many argue that there are also some important risks that need to be addressed when using the drug for treating the illness. It is not advisable for people with predisposed mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as this may trigger the diseases’ expression.

 

If you’re interested in this potential therapy and live in an area where medicinal marijuana is legal, consider discussing this with your doctor to weigh in on the pros and cons. They can work with you to decide if this is a great option for your treatment. Today, you can find many marijuana delivery service and dispensaries around the Santa Monica area of Los Angeles, or you can simply google “weed delivery near me” and various companies will appear.

So, can medical marijuana help relieve the symptoms of depression? Equal parts of yes, maybe, maybe not, and more research is needed - based on many surveys, experiences, and clinical studies conducted. While many data are promising, they can’t be taken as anything next to proof and cure. After all, depression is tremendously a complex illness, and much more legitimate studies and scientific research are needed to prove or disprove. If you feel any of the symptoms of depression, seek help from a doctor or a mental health professional or reach out to family and friends as soon as possible.

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