Can You Use Medical Marijuana to Treat Depression?

Mental health in the United States is really no laughing matter. That is why it is becoming more common for state medical marijuana programs to include mental health disorders as one of the qualifying conditions to apply for and obtain a medical marijuana card. 

It is safe to say that there are a lot of mental health problems in the United States - in fact, there are an estimated 16 million adults in the United States that suffer from some type of depression. There are actually different forms of depression that one can struggle with, but each one is very serious and real. Depression, stress, and anxiety are running rampant in the United States. 

While some people may not completely understand these sorts of mental health disorders, if you or someone you know struggles with depression, I am sure you know just how debilitating it can be. It’s true that medical marijuana can be used to treat and manage a variety of physical health conditions like cancer, glaucoma, MS, and many more. However, what about conditions of the brain, like mental health disorders? Can medical marijuana be used to effectively treat these conditions as well? We are going to be talking about that today, so buckle up and get ready to learn some more about cannabis. 

The sad truth about medical marijuana in the United States is that there is a lack of research available for us to answer some of these harder questions. Since cannabis was considered a controlled substance for so long, there was never funding available for organizations to research its uses, benefits, and effects. However, with that being said there are still some clinical studies that have been done into the effectiveness of cannabis for treating mental health disorders. If you know much about depression, then I am sure you are aware of the terrible side effects that can come from using prescription antidepressants. 

While some of these medications can be helpful, antidepressants are notorious for causing harmful side effects and can even worsen a patients mental health, sometimes leading to higher risk for suicide and self injury. In contrast, there is emerging research that suggests marijuana may have a similar impact on depression compared to these prescription medications without the other harmful side effects. 

We all know that cannabis is used to treat mental health conditions like anxiety - but what about depression? Well, oftentimes anxiety and depression go hand in hand. In fact, it is very likely that a patient diagnosed with anxiety may also be diagnosed with depression as well. Many people have begun to use medical marijuana to treat their anxiety alongside their depression and have found great results. However, there still is not conclusive evidence into its effectiveness that suggests it should be used in every case of depression.

While marijuana is very natural and generally considered risk free, it is definitely necessary to get advice from a doctor when it comes to using cannabis to treat depression. Mental health disorders can be very dangerous and volatile, so you want to make sure that you are talking to your doctor about your options and if marijuana could be right for you. 

If you are new to the world of cannabis and want to dip your toe in the marijauna pool, so to speak, I would recommend using CBD. CBD is still cannabis, but it does not produce that intoxicating high that many people associate with cannabis. This can be a great option for people wanting to try cannabis but also want to be careful of its effects. CBD can be ingested orally, topically, and in many other forms as well. 

The Best Heat-Resistant Weed Strains

One thing that can ruin some cannabis strains is well, heat.  This plant, although adaptive, is something that can sometimes struggle in super warm climates. That’s why many growers want to choose one that fits this area. Luckily, we’ve got it covered, with the top strains to grow in warm climates, why that is, and what they are. 

What needs to be in a Heat-Resistant strain 

Not every single strain has the ability to survive in super warm climates.  The heatwaves, UV light, and droughts do make this a challenge, which is why, if you want to grow something that’s made or this climate you need something with long flowering times. You also will notice tat with most of these they’re haze variants. That’s because the Haze variant was actually bred to be made in these climates, and you can, through all of this as well get the full benefits of this regardless of the type. 

Shining Silver Haze 

First one is shining silver haze, which is a hybrid that’s sativa dominant, and it’s one that’s made through northern lights and skunk, which are two very popular strains for users. This is one that offers thick and very big colas to show off beautiful shades of green, orange and purple. It’s basically thriving off of the UV exposure to make the metabolite chemicals to create worthwhile wee. 

With over 21% THC, and a lot of CBD in it, it offers a clear head that helps elevate your mind while also not being super heavy on the body. due to the citrusy flavors, this offers effects which are pleasant as well. 

Chocolate Haze 

A unique sort of strain, this is one that’s good for those in warmer regions, since it’s one that’s pretty, has a lot of terpenes to offer deep, lush scents, and it also has a lot of artisan features. With 20% THC in it, and also sme great fruity and even chocolatey terpenes within it, it feels like you’re drinking a cup every single morning in this. It does handle sunlight that’s intense quite well, but you should go for drip irrigation to keep everything moist, and you should also consider using a cover crop to get a bit of shaved on this one. 

Haze Berry 

This is yet another popular haze one, and it’s one that helps create a potent, fruity flavor, combining shining silver haze and blueberry. It’s sativa-dominant, and it’s got a very relaxing, nice and long high to it too. It’s one that also has stronger terpenes as the sun starts to shine on it, so you will definitely get a ton of this from the sunlight. Be forewarned though, that just because it can thrive with lots of sun, doesn’t mean it can stand super heatwaves, so bear that in mind. 

Amnesia Haze 

This is one that’s great for those who want something with lots of trichomes, 22% THC, and it also offers a melting high that elevates your mind, and it lets you really have the potential to get the best results possible with this. If you are going to grow this, try to add some mycorrhizal fungi or rhizobacteria to this, as it can help prevent pathogens in the roots, improve the structure of the soil, and also offer layers to provide the ideal way to break down everything. 

These are some of the best strains to have out in the sunlight, and while it may require a few things on your end, you’ll definitely start to see the benefits from this as well when you grow these.

What is HHC?

With marijuana legalization still going on, there are some parts of the plant that aren’t’ addictive and can be helpful. With a lot of studies alluding to the benefits of marijuana, some discussions revolving around THC along with CBD is quite common. Each version and variant of the cannabis sativa plant has over 100 different cannabinoids, with further investigation revealing not just cool effects, but other benefits that come with this too, including delta-8, and delta-10 THC, which have been utilized as the alternative to delta -9 cannabis, which is basically marijuana. One part of course that is still in the legal gray area is HHC, or hexahydrocannabinol, which is basically hemp-derived, so it’s not THC, but it does have some intoxicating results as well. 

The History 

HHC is basically hydrogenated derivatives from HTC, where you have hydrogen added to delta-9 through a process that’s called hydrogenation, which creates this. This is similar to how vegetable oil becomes margarine. While it was over 70 years since he did this, there’s practically no research for this, but the hydrogen atoms do oversaturate the molecule, increasing its shelf life, and with over 10 different versions of this, there is a lot that this has to offer. 

This is basically a double bonded sort of chemical, and it’s basically the opposite of what CBN has, since this one is basically a double bond that doesn’t break down. This one has binding affinity to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body. This also is a type of chemical that has a lot longer potency, and a higher percentage, much more than what delta-9 may have, and it’s more resistant to breaking down over time. 

How it’s Made 

This is basically made from the THC that’s there, and a lot of them make it from hemp, which is something that also cause sit to sit in that weird legal gray area. The process of creating this begins with cannabidiol extraction methods directly from the hemp itself. With the CBD being isolated and distilled, this looks powdery in texture, and usually is separate from the CBD isolate that’s there and it depends on the manufacture that there. This is something is pretty proprietary in process, without focusing on the legal aspects of such. 

This also is made through lab methods, and it pretty much exposes THC in a concentrated form to hydrogen, and this is something that also has high pressure and metal acting as a catalyst, similar to nickel and palladium, and this is then removed as a catalyst, and it’s completed part of the task that’s there too. 

According to a study from 2007, this was found that you can convert CBD directly to HHC through the use of gastric juices. However, there is almost no other information on the method outlined to make this. It’s also possible to make HHC directly from citronellol as well, which is a terpene. How companies make this also does touch upon the legality that’s needed for this. 

So is it Legal? 

This is federally legal since it’s found in the hemp plant. You can make this pretty much on purpose, and you just need CBD or hemp. However, it does have some potency, even though it does have less than .3% THC, and it also contains a lot of other cannabinoids too. 

It is difficult to really figure out though if it’s the same potency as THC, since the ratios between active and inactive molecules do vary. While companies do try their best to increase the active compounds, they don’t have total control on potency.

Benefits of Marijuana for Veterans

Veterans can definitely benefit from cannabis for a lot of problems, including PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain. as the VA continues to struggle to help all of this, you may wonder how you can get support for this is there a solution to helping them with this? Could it be something that’ll help provide the proper relief for people. Medical cannabis does have a lot of benefits, and while the legality is still a bit dicey in certain areas, it could help. 

Is it Legal? 

The problem with marijuana legalization is that it’s left to the states, while it’s federally illegal. However, for those with chronic pain and other issues, they could benefit from it.  Right now, 33 states and Washington DC have approved it for medical uses. ALS, epilepsy, chronic pain, cancer, and so much more are definitely big things that you should definitely consider using this for. The problem is, because it’s not federally legal, it’s definitely a bit of a hurdle. 

How this can help veterans 

This can help veterans because it can manage a variety of symptoms.  This was first introduced as something for them to use with the marijuana safe harbor act, which got first introduced back in 2019, but then was reintroduced once more in 2021, and it allows physicians to prescribe marijuana to those veterans who are going to use this for a variety of options. The bill also encourages the VA as well to also look at the viability and medical cannabis for managing your chronic pain, helping with trauma and PTSD, along with the abuse of opioids. 

Those who were diagnosed with a PTSD condition discovered that cannabis does have a lot of potential to help manage these symptoms.  Research has demonstrated that it may reduce any chances of flashback by up to 50%, irritability by 67%, intrusive thoughts along with trauma by 62%, and anxiety by up to 57%.  The studies did show that there was some positive benefit on the long-time use of it. 

There is also marijuana which can be used for TBI, or traumatic brain injuries, and it’s something that is oftentimes very serious. The problem is, a lot of TBI instances are not fully recognized, and are oftentimes going unreported, which causes the symptoms to worsen.  Because it’s a condition that is valid medically, scientists have looked to find the correlation between cannabis and this condition, looking for all benefits of this. 

It does exhibit both psychotherapeutic and neuroprotective elements that come with this, and it can have some effects of marijuana on your brain. Then there is chronic pain, which is something a lot of veterans eek out.  There are studies which have found that marijuana is effective for relieving pain, while in most cases, it can manage it, and some even claim that it can work on the same level as a typical pain relief. 

That means, in most cases it can be used as a prescription medication for a lot of problems, and if you’re someone who doesn’t want to currently use pain relievers. The problem with current pain meds is while they’re effective, they oftentimes can be potentially dangerous for some people. That’s because, they can become highly additive as well, and it’s something that a lot of people do need to be mindful of. 

With that said, managing chronic pain, or any of these issues with marijuana, is something that a lot of people struggle with, and it can, with this help you not only feel better, but also give you relief from damaging conditions as well too.

Can Cannabis Help With Type 2 Diabetes?

Did you know that there are currently about 34.2 million Americans that have been diagnosed with diabetes? There is a reason that this disease is called the silent killer - the scary part is that it often does not get diagnosed until it is in its later stages of development. 

Also, it is true that diabetes mimics other diseases, so it is not uncommon for a patient with diabetes to be diagnosed with a different disease at first. The good news for patients with diabetes is that they may be able to use cannabis to help treat their condition and symptoms. Recently, there has been a greater push for the use of medical marijuana as an alternative method of treatment throughout the United States. 

Research has begun to show that cannabis can be a great health benefit for people undergoing certain conditions and ailments. If you have been struggling with type 2 diabetes, then it may be worth looking into using medical marijuana as a treatment option. There are currently about 39 states in the United States that have legalized the use of medical marijuana, and many of those (even the more restrictive ones) have diabetes listed as a qualifying condition on the program. 

This means that it is legal for a patient with that condition to apply for and obtain a medical marijuana card. This may be a great option for you if you have diabetes and feel like you are out of options when it comes to your treatment options. 

First, it is important to keep in mind the different types of diabetes that exist, and then we can talk about how medical marijuana can actually treat these conditions. There are three different types of diabetic conditions - gestational diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.

Of all of these disorders, type 2 diabetes is the most common according to a study done by the University of Iowa. Most distressingly, about 1 in 3 Americans in the United States have pre-diabetes. So what are the symptoms of diabetes, and how does cannabis actually help it? 

Well, one of the first symptoms that many people with diabetes notice is having a dry mouth and an unquenchable thirst. This happens when your body knows that your blood sugar levels are getting high, and its natural response is to drink water to try and flush some of it out. Isn’t it crazy the things that our bodies are capable of? 

Another common symptom of diabetes is chronic fatigue. Feeling tired from time to time is normal, but people struggling with diabetes experience exhaustion every second of the day, even if they are getting enough sleep at night. One of the ways that using medical marijuana can help diabetes patients is giving them a bigger burst of energy than something like caffeine.

Not only does cannabis help manage pain and discomfort, but it also can create an energy-inducing and uplifting high. This can make all the difference for someone who is struggling everyday with the symptoms of their diabetes. 

Another symptom that people with diabetes have to deal with is called neuropathy. If you have never heard of this before, basically just imagine a million little knives pricking your feet and legs all day. Neuropathy can be caused by lower temperatures and frequent urination, combined with low sleep quality.

Medical marijuana can be a great way for patients dealing with neuropathy to find relief from their pain. Many diabetes patients also experience worsening pain at night which makes it harder to sleep. Medical grade cannabis can mean all the difference to these people.