Category: Star Buds

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday, everybody!

Let’s take a quick trip into some brain science today! No, I’m not a brain scientist or anything like that, but it sure is fascinating to know about. So here we go!

I hear at least everyday a question about overdosing and dying in relationship to cannabis. And of course, there are a lot of misinformed people out there so I thought I would write about this for this issue.

I have watched the opioid crisis spread like the plague. People drink and die and kill others over alcohol consumption and street drugs. People overdose on pharmaceutical pills, as well. There is a lot of stuff people can overdose and die from.

But cannabis acts on the body and mind in a way that’s very different than opioids or alcohol and all this other stuff.

I’m sure in the course of your life heard, as I have in mine, the tragic phrase, “so-and-so died of an overdose.†But when opioids like fentanyl, OxyContin or heroin are the cause, there’s a specific mechanism that causes that death.

As Oxford University anesthesiology professor K.T.S. Pattinson has observed, “In drug addicts, respiratory depression is the major cause of death.†In other words, during an opioid overdose the victim falls unconscious and the body forgets to breathe.

The body forgets to breathe!

So these opioids that are in heroin, fentanyl and the oxys don’t just suppress pain and increase feelings of pleasure, they also depress something in the brain called the pre-Bötzinger complex. This is where many opioid receptors are found and this is a major reason why opioid overdoses are so deadly.

In an overdose, this complex is flooded with opioids and they attach to these receptors, which causes the breathing to become slow and irregular. Eventually, without intervention, breathing shuts down completely and death occurs due to lack of oxygen. That’s it.

Also, an opioid overdose can depress the brain’s mechanism that regulates the heart and blood circulation, leading to a drop in blood pressure and heart failure. Hence, a heart attack and death.

It’s a sad way to go, really. It’s a tragic spot to be in in life, especially when cannabis can help so much.

Now, regarding alcohol. Alcohol poisoning can become lethal when the alcohol overwhelms the liver’s ability to clear it, and alcohol in the blood anesthetizes those same brain systems that regulate breathing and blood pressure. They shut down, which leads to death.

Cannabis, however, is not one of those things you can die from.

Cannabis still has caused zero deaths. Yes, that’s right. Zero. Cannabis does not affect the body in the same manner as anything else you put in your body. It lacks the ability to kill you.

Here is why it’s impossible for cannabis to kill you. The cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant act on specific receptors that are not concentrated in the brain stem, where breathing and the heart rate are controlled.

Cannabinoid receptors are most highly concentrated in the basal ganglia, hippocampus and cerebellum, which is where cognition and movement are controlled.

Those same receptors appear in scant numbers in brain stem areas like the pre-Bötzinger complex. Cannabis does not affect the pre-Bötzinger complex as opioids and alcohol and other drugs do. There are virtually so few cannabinoid receptors there it isn’t physically possible to effect it enough to make a difference, much less cause a death.

In a 1990 study of cannabinoid receptors, researchers with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that “sparse densities (of cannabinoid receptors) in lower brain stem areas controlling cardiovascular and respiratory functions may explain why high doses of THC are not lethal.â€

So rest easy, my friends. Cannabis doesn’t kill.

K.T. Pattinson, “Opioids and the control of respiration.†Br. J. Anaesth. 2008; 100(6): 747-58.

Herkenham, A. B. Lynn, M. D. Little, et al. “Cannabinoid receptor localization in brain.†Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.1990; 87(5): 1932-6.

Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at GanjaGrrl420, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420.

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday, everyone!

Now that the elections are over, we probably still have to fight for our freedoms to medicate with cannabis, so let me tell you about something new I learned. I have such an exciting time learning all about this amazingly versatile plant and I hope you do too! So here goes!

A little time ago, I introduced y’all to terpenes. These little things are so fascinating and they do so much that I wasn’t even aware of. Today I want to introduce you to a very unique one. You may even recognize this one even if you don’t consume cannabis because it’s the primary chemical compound that gives black pepper its spicy scent. It is found in spices like cinnamon and cloves. Additionally, it is also present in basil, hops, rosemary and oregano. It is called caryophyllene.

Caryophyllene is a sesquiterpene. What this means is that it is a terpene made of three isoprene units. It was synthesized the first time by world-renowned organic chemist Elias James “E.J.†Corey in 1964. Since then his discovery created a lot of interest for a variety of reasons in many fields.

I, myself, am not a much of a user of alcohol, so I was fascinated to find that this particular terpene is most and best known for prospects that lie in its ability to effectively stop cravings for alcohol. A 2014 issue of the journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior included a report on a study that used β-caryophyllene to activate CB2 receptors and decrease the desire for alcohol in mice.

So, if that is true, it could legitimately help those that are suffering with alcoholism. Such strains of cannabis that this terpene is found in as well are the infamous Bubba Kush, Chemdawg and Sour Diesel. I say less alcoholism is a wonderful thing!

Another study conducted by Kyung Hee University in the Republic of Korea in 2014 found β-caryophyllene suppresses tumor grown and stimulate death in cancer cells.

Did y’all just read that? This terpene can kill cancer cells! It is scientifically proven! Now, if that isn’t promising, I don’t know what is!

Another unique feature of this terpene is the fact that it is the only terpene known to actually act as a cannabinoid by binding to the Endocannabinoid system via the C2 receptors. This terpene does not however, bind to the C1 receptors which would be the psychoactive component responsible for the “high effect†(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5412277/).

This terpene has many beneficial properties which can be found outside of cannabis, as well. It is itself therapeutic in many applications including usage as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It is also an anti-fungal, antibacterial, anesthetic and has analgesic effects. It is additionally known that caryophyllene is useful in treating anxiety, stress, depression, ulcers, autoimmune disorders, muscle tension and chronic body pain.

Mother Nature proves over and over again that she has the answer to what ails us — if we only listen to her and heed what she says.

Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at GanjaGrrl420, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420.

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday! I hope today finds you doing well.

Election time is almost here and its almost time to vote, y’all! As you may or may not know, I am a Libertarian and I support our Libertarian candidates that are currently running for an assortment of offices across Texas. Every candidate I have spoken to that is running has a cannabis platform, believes it should be legal and is willing to do what it takes to make this happen.

I have personally met with and spoken to each candidate and they understand the importance of cannabis legalization in our society. Texas needs cannabis to be legal because it’s time to stop the failed drug war. It’s time to stop denying its medical benefits. It’s time to stop lying to a society about why it’s illegal to begin with. It’s time to start correcting the damage that has been done to communities across the nation by the greed and profiteering of major corporations, the pharma industry and our government by denying access to this plant.

The candidates listed here support legalization and will help fight for this cause. This is not a complete list. There are other libertarian candidates running that I failed to mention, mostly because there are too many to list here.

I encourage every one of you to do your homework and make educated decisions before voting.

Nature is wondrous!

Kerry McKennon, running for Texas Lieutenant Governor Facebook.com/kdouglasmckennon

Mark Tippits, running for Texas Governor Facebook.com/mark4gov/

Clayton Hunt, running for Texas House, District 145 Facebook.com/ClaytonHuntLibertarian/?ref=br_rs

Mark Ash, running for Texas Criminal Court of Appeals Facebook.com/markashfortexascourtofcriminalappeals/

Peter Churchman, running for U.S. Representative for Texas, District 17 Facebook.com/ElectPeterChurchman/

Brian Ellison, running for U.S. Representative for Texas, District 8 Facebook.com/Ellison4Congress/

Anthony Cristo, running for U.S. Representative for Texas, District 15 Facebook.com/CristoForCongress2018/

[Editor’s note: Publication does not necessarily endorsement by MONTROSE STAR.]

Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at Rena McCain, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420.

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday, everyone!

In previous articles we have touched on what is called the “Entourage Effect†and why it is useful for people who use cannabis. We have discussed some of the cannabinoids present in cannabis. But do you know what terpenes are?

Terpenes are found in a variety of plants, insects and even some animals around the globe. The biggest collection of terpenes in nature are found in various strains of cannabis, which gives the plant powerful medicinal value.

There are hundreds of terpenes in cannabis. Each terpene contributes to the plant’s aroma, texture and flavor, albeit some more than others. Each strain contains its own specific range of terpenes, which add their own unique properties. Certain “terps†are more dominate in some strains than others which contribute to what strain is most appropriate for certain medical relief.

Some of the most commonly found terps in cannabis are pinene, myrcene, linalool, caryophyllene, humulene and limonene. This list of terpines is by no means exhaustive. There are hundreds of them. They all do different things and they are found throughout nature.

Myrcene is the smallest of all terpenes but it is the most abundant in cannabis. Myrcene can also be found in mangoes, hops and thyme. It produces a spicy, balsamic flavor and aroma.

Myrcene’s effects and benefits are numerous. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, an analgesic or pain reliever, an antibiotic, a sedative that promotes relaxation and an antimutagenic, which reduces the frequency of mutation.

Pinene is a terp found primarily in cannabis and conifers. It puts off a strong scent of pine. Conifers are a tree that bears cones and evergreen needlelike or scale-like leaves.

Pinene’s known benefits are also numerous. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and a bronchodilator that helps improve airflow to lungs. Pinene also helps counter short-term memory loss associated with THC, and promotes alertness

Linalool is a lovely terpene that is found in many flowers and spice plants, such as lavender, coriander, and basil. People have used smells for therapeutic value, including many containing linalool, since ancient times to help lower stress levels, fight inflammation, and combat depression.

Linalool also relieves anxiety and symptoms of depression, promotes relaxation, reduces inflammation systemically, prevents and or stops epileptic seizures and relieves pain.

Caryophyllene is a terp that is common in two main forms, beta caryophyllene (also commonly seen as β-Caryophyllene or abbreviated to BCP), and trans-caryophyllene or TC.  Aside from cannabis, this terpene can be found in clove, black pepper and cotton.

Caryophyllene relieves pain, slows bacterial growth, relieves symptoms of depression, reduces inflammation systemically, inhibits cancer cell growth, prevents oxidation damage to other molecules in the body, helps relieve anxiety and slows damage to the nervous system and brain.

Humulene is found  naturally in ginger, hops and sage. This terpene is known for its earthy, woody aroma and flavor. Humulene acts as an antibacterial agent and has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. In small quantities, it has been shown to kill the S.aureus bacteria. A 2003 study showed that humulene, especially when acting in concert with other terpenes and cannabinoids, killed cancer cells.

Limonene is a terp that is known for its citrus aroma and flavor. It is found in high concentrations in citrus fruit rinds, juniper, and rosemary. Limonene is used to prevent and treat cancer, treat bronchitis and aid in weight loss.

Nature is wondrous!

Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at Rena McCain, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420.

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday, everyone! I hope today finds you doing well.

So just about everyone on the planet knows what Cannabis is, right? Many people know that it helps make a person feel better for a variety of reasons and ways. Cannabis helps make depression and anxiety bearable for some and helps others to relax. Cannabis helps with chronic pain and nerve pains, too, for a good portion of the population. This has been experienced and proven time and time again.

But how many of you know why Cannabis helps with all these symptoms and so much more? What is it about your body and Cannabis that can make an epileptic seizure stop in its tracks? How many of you out there have seen the videos of this happening?

If you have not seen these videos, I encourage you to Google using the search words “Cannabis†and “stop seizure†and watch them! It is enough to give hope to mankind when you can see a little child or any other human being suddenly find the relief they have needed in their life from a simple yet complex plant that grows as wild as a weed.

The reason this plant works for people is because of a system in the body called the endocannabinoid system that is present in each and every one of us — no exceptions!

This system was discovered to be a biological system composed of endocannabinoids, which are endogenous lipid-based retrograde neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors and cannabinoid receptor proteins that are expressed throughout the mammalian central nervous system (including the brain) and peripheral nervous system.

The endocannabinoid system is involved in regulating a variety of physiological and cognitive processes including fertility, pregnancy, during pre- and postnatal development, appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory and other functions in the body. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoid_system)

That, to me, is fascinating. We have all these little receptors all over the insides of our bodies that regulate what the other parts of our bodies do, right? So if your body is starved of the Cannabinoids it needs in order to be healthy, it seems to me we would have a total body deficiency that could potentially affect the whole body.

Is the deficiency enough to cause a lot of the current weird diseases we have out there that have no cures or explanations for healing? I feel it’s a possibility! Look at such cases of people out there where their tumors have disappeared altogether? Or Alexis Bortell and some of the other children out there not suffering anymore because of Cannabis in their life?

I am not saying Cannabis is the cure-all, but it sure does better work that most of Big Pharma does! For all these conditions out there that have no cure or treatment, I would love to know if they have been treated by Cannabis and has it been successful!

If you have a Cannabis story you would like published or if you would just like for me to know your story, please reach out. Let’s connect.

Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at Rena McCain, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420.

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday! I hope today finds all of you doing fine. If you’re not, keep your chin up and change perspective…you may find your outlook clearer!

Today I want to tell you of my young hero. Her name is Alexis Bortell.

Alexis was born in Rowlett, Texas in 2005 to her parents Dean and Analiza Bortell, who are both disabled veterans. She also has a beautiful younger sister named Avery.

In July of 2013, Alexis had her first epileptic seizure. Alexis was diagnosed with life-threatening epileptic seizures, which is a disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain of unknown origins. This is generalized epilepsy.

To treat the epilepsy, the doctors gave her a regimen of the drug Carbatrol extended release 200mg tablets to be given twice a day. In Dean’s own words, “It was like throwing gasoline on a fire.â€

With the introduction of this drug, Alexis’s seizures increased in frequency. Obviously, there needed to be a change of some sort with the medication. At the request of the parents, the medication was evaluated. After evaluation the doctors then decided to increase the dosage for the Carbatrol. This caused some catastrophic results. With the increase of the medication, Alexis began having even more seizures. Additionally, she was having more than one type of seizure. Although the symptoms of the epilepsy were worse and the seizures were worse, they were advised to stay the course and let the medication do its work.

After about a month of “letting the medication†work into her system, Dean and Analiza took Alexis to their primary care provider for a second opinion. The primary care provider immediately recommends a new neurologist whose first action was to put Alexis back in the hospital for monitoring. After this evaluation, the doctors then put Alexis on 250mg of Depakote twice a day and returned her back to the original dose of Carbatrol, 200mg twice a day.

With these medication changes, this is what her family had to say: “We have also seen drastic changes in Alexis’s personality. Every day at about the time of each medicating, she goes through periods of euphoria or depression. It is as if we have traded the problems of epilepsy for the problems of the drugs given to combat it. Either way, this quality of life is not satisfactory or sustainable.â€

Now, I don’t know about a lot of things, but I do know that Depakote is not recommended for children under the age of 18. Have you ever looked at the side effects of Depakote? Some of these include (but are certainly not limited to) hepatic failure, birth defects, pancreatitis hyperammonemic encephalopathy, suicidal behavior and ideation, bleeding and other hematopoietic disorders, hypothermia, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), multiorgan hypersensitivity reactions and many, many other side effects.

As a parent, I can understand the desperation of wanting your child to not have to go through so much of this. I would try anything to make things better!

So, one night Dean and his wife found Dr. Sanjay Gupta on a CNN special about medical marijuana. Learning how cannabis might help their daughter, they took her to a neurologist in Colorado where the plant is legal. There, they were told that it was the best medication for their daughter. Alexis obtained her “red card†in Colorado and now is a legal cannabis patient. But that is in Colorado. In Texas, where she lives, cannabis is still illegal. This is how Alexis and her family became medical refugees. Alexis and her family had to literally move their entire life to another state so that Alexis could get the medical treatment she deserves.

No child or family should have to pack up everything they know — their whole life — because there is a plant that heals people that is not legal in one area or another. Since Alexis and her family moved to Colorado from Texas, Alexis has actually been seizure-free for a good amount of time now. She has adjusted to Colorado life. I am sure however, I know she would love to see her grandparents who are too elderly to travel. How can she, though? If she comes to Texas, her medicine is not legal here. Child Protective Services or officers of the law would surely take her. It’s a real shame and heartbreaker when there is this forced divide between families. It’s one that should never happen.

It personally makes me angry that there is this plant out here that does so much good, but laws are in place to benefit the ones that make money off sicknesses.

In February 2018, Alexis sued Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding the constitutionality of her right to medicate with cannabis. In this particular interaction with the federal courts, a federal judge admitted that cannabis has medicinal properties. This is historic in every way.

Make sure to tune in to Alexis as she has a new date with the courts in her Cannabis fight (Washington v. Sessions) on October 29, 2018. It will be at 40 Foley Square (2^nd Circuit) Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, in New York City.

Thank you, Alexis Bortell. You are my hero.

#FreeTheWeed

 Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at Rena McCain, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420.

 

 

 

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday to all of you awesome people out there!

How many of you beautiful people know what trigeminal neuralgia is?

Well, I do. I don’t have it, thankfully, but my very good friend Latonya Whittington does. She has explained to me how excruciating the pain is in your face from it and the effects it has on the body.

I had never heard of if until I met Latonya. I can’t honestly imagine going through my day feeling that pain and the fatigue that surely must come along with it. How does one even cope?

How is it even fair to someone like Latonya Whittington, Alexis Bortell, Rick Simpson and others in society that the option to treat yourself with man’s oldest medicine is banned in this country. Not even is it just banned, but because it is banned, it stunts any real progress in researching exactly how much cannabis could help out a person such as Latonya.

So here it is, in a kind of nutshell along with the opinion that cannabinoids can be helpful in treating trigeminal neuralgia:

Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder of paroxysmal and severely disabling facial pain and continues to be a real therapeutic challenge to the clinicians. While the exact cause and pathology of this disorder is uncertain, it is thought that trigeminal neuralgia caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve. This irritation results from damage due to the change in the blood vessels, the presence of a tumor or other lesions that cause the compression of the trigeminal root.

The pain of trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by unilateral pain attacks that start abruptly and last for varying periods of time from minutes to hours. The quality of pain is usually sharp, stabbing, lancinating, and burning.

The attacks are initiated by mild stimuli such as light touch of the skin, eating, chewing, washing the face, brushing the teeth, and exposure to wind.

Although anti-epileptic drug therapy may be beneficial in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, up to one-half of the patients become refractory or intolerant to these medications. At present there are few other effective drugs. In cases of lacking effect after pharmacotherapy, surgical options may be considered.

Currently, there is a growing amount of evidence to suggest that the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis and individual cannabinoids may be effective in alleviating neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia. Evidence suggests that cannabinoids may prove useful in pain modulation by inhibiting neuronal transmission in pain pathways. Considering the pronounced antinociceptive effects produced by cannabinoids, they may be a promising therapeutic approach for the clinical management of trigeminal neuralgia. (Liang YC1, Huang CC, Hsu KS, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan).

There are a lot of nerves in your face! And to think of them hurting all at once? That makes my face hurt and I don’t even have it!

It also makes me think of how hard one’s life must be to carry on normally with that much pain all the time. It also makes me think of how much it must suck to have pain pills or other medications that do not help alleviate the pain, either.

Now, for me, this is something worth fighting for! People deserve access to medicine that works for them, be it cannabis, or aloe — or ’shrooms. #illegallyhealed

Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at Rena McCain, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420.

 

 

 

 

 

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday, all you beautiful people! I hope today finds you doing fine!

This year, July 29, was not like every other day. I would like to tell you why!

It was a surreal day. Just eight short months ago Cannabis Open Carry Walks (COCW) started with an idea. It was an idea that we would march across Texas spreading awareness in every city and town possible! No permits! No permission! Just our First Amendment rights and a whole lot of consistency in action.

We wanted to make it known everywhere what we are trying to do, especially those who are running for various offices that represent the people of Texas. Really, it started with a bunch of people who had a common goal and a common focus and that was to educate the uneducated and misinformed about the benefits of Cannabis, medically and economically. That is where we started, and we have come so far already, with a ways to go yet.

However, we don’t give up. We do this every weekend! We get out all over Texas to educate on any and every street corner and pretty much to anyone who will listen. No, we are not conventional and never intended to be. We see where conventional has gotten us — a big bunch of nowhere! If you want different results, you can’t keep doing the same old thing. So we don’t.

While Facebook and Instagram are great tools, it comes with censorship and algorithms that are hard to overcome at times. Our solution was to be unconventional and do activities that others do not typically engage in. It’s been successful, to say the least, if you support Cannabis, no matter what form it is in.

No, it’s not all about smoking! It’s also about the fact that Cannabis is actually good for your body, and is medicine.

Then, there is also hemp. There are endless possibilities with the use of hemp in our culture and society.

We need you, though! Come out and find an event to attend. Help us spread the word. Help us free the weed!

The billboard idea finally came to fruition and July 29 was my first time to see it up close and personal! COCW, with the help of other like-minded Cannabis supporters, decided to erect a billboard and keep it up for a while.

It was so amazing to stand there and gaze at the huge 40-foot sign that so many people contributed to and some probably even dreamed about (I know I have)! It tells me that there are a lot of people here in Texas that want this plant to be legal.

I feel that the direction that Cannabis legalization is going in Texas isn’t going fast enough. There are way too many people suffering unnecessarily. We need your help, too. Unity is key and unconventional is in style.

Please find us on 420OpenCarry.com for event details in a city or town near you. If there isn’t one, create one! All it takes is for you to have the passion and the drive. If you build it, they will come!

Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks (420OpenCarry.com). Find her on Facebook at Rena McCain, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420. #freetheweed

By Rena McCain

Happy Weedsday everyone! I hope everyone is having an amazing day!

During the average course of my day, I talk to just about anyone that will converse with me about cannabis. And I love it! I have some of the most interesting discussions, for sure.

In this issue, I want to talk about the Entourage Effect regarding cannabis. Since the 1960s when scientists first discovered we humans have an endocannabinoid system in our bodies, there have been tons of discoveries like terpenes, cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors.

But what are cannabinoids, exactly? To answer that you need to know that endocannabinoids are cannabinoids that are produced naturally by the human body. “Endo†stands for endogenous, which means originating within the body.

In contrast, exogenous cannabinoids come from plants such as cannabis. They are also known as phytocannabinoids. The Greek root “phyto†means plant.

Cannabinoids are the chemicals that give the cannabis plant its medical and recreational properties.

Most people who are familiar with cannabis know what THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are, but there are so many others. THC and CBD are just the tip of the iceberg!

CBD is known to ease anxiety and depression. It has been instrumental in easing seizures and is also excellent for pain relief and many other problems. It’s safe enough to even use for your pets, as well, in lower doses.

THC combats some serious nausea and vomiting problems, and many others. THC also combats some situations of pain, as well. THC has been used in “big pharma†medications such as marinol.

CBC (cannabichromene) is another beneficial cannabinoid that gets overlooked a lot in the discussion of cannabis. CBC does not effect the C1 receptor in the brain so it does not cause the high that THC does, but it’s good for killing pain. CBD also has some antibacterial and possible antifungal properties, as well as possible antidepressant effects. Imagine getting rid of acne with cannabis! This would be the cannabinoid to use!

THC cannabinoid compound

So that was a really small explanation of a few cannabinoids off the top of my head to illustrate the Entourage Effect. Now, in my opinion (and mine only, although I happen to agree with Dr. Sanjay Gupta), It seems to me that a combination of all the cannabinoids is the way to go! The whole plant!

I agree that isolating certain cannabinoids and using them for what they are good for can definitely help a person’s health, but I believe in allowing the plant to do its whole work, in concert, if you will.

If you take the drummer out of a really good band and leave only the singer and bass player and the electric guitar, some back up singers, in my opinion it’s not really a good band anymore because its lacking something.

To separate cannabinoids seems like it would take away from its whole helpfulness. Legalize cannabis — the whole plant!

 

 

 

Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at Rena McCain, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420.