Debunking Myths About Potheads

Think of the term “pothead”. What type of person comes to mind? What are they doing? For a lot of people, the image of some guy wearing a beanie is smoking a bowl of cannabis on his couch in his basement. Maybe he’s playing video games or watching mindless cartoons, while he absentmindedly munches on hot cheetos and oreo cookies. For whatever reason, people have adopted the stereotype that people who smoke cannabis are all couch potatoes.

While I will admit that oftentimes, when one is smoking, it is definitely best to be seated on a nice comfy couch or bed. However, this does not mean that all people that smoke marijuana are inherently lazy - and far from it! I personally have always believed that people who use cannabis are some of the hardest working people out there; after all, weed is not cheap you know! Anyways, the truth about people who smoke weed is that they are just as active as everybody else, and possibly even more so. Do I have your attention yet?

According to a study done by doctors at a University, there is a link between higher intelligence and the likelihood of developing a generalized anxiety disorder. Simply put, people who are smarter tend to worry about things more often. It is also true that people with higher anxiety levels tend to be more physically active, whether it be a coping mechanism for stress or simply a byproduct of feeling anxious. So what does that say about people who use marijuana for dealing with stress and anxiety? 

According to a survey done recently, people who regularly use marijuana are actually more active than the average person in America. This is so true that most people who stop using cannabis are encouraged to remain physically active, and some even live a more sedentary lifestyle after they stopped using marijuana. This survey also stated that people who use marijuana are more likely to watch more TV (about two or more hours a day). But honestly, is that statistic really a big deal to anybody? Most Americans spend that much time in front of the TV anyways, so that statistic is not really earth shattering by any means. Another study was conducted to measure the level of activity between cannabis smokers and those who do not use cannabis.

What were the results, I wonder? Unsurprisingly, the report says that states who legalized the use of medical marijuana are more likely to see an increase in health lifestyle habits than states who do not (we are looking at you, Texas). It’s also worth mentioning that people who use marijuana are more motivated to work and stay healthy after they have had their time on the couch to destress. It’s no secret that mental health is a huge problem in the United States right now. Especially when pandemic swept through the nation and forced people to stay indoors, we saw a huge increase in mental health problems and physical health problems as well. Now that things have become a little less restrictive, people who were trapped inside are much more willing to get off the couch and really take care of their physical health. Meanwhile, they are able to properly deal with and manage their anxiety disorders or stress by using cannabis to feel its calming effects. 

So if you are on the fence about obtaining a medical marijuana card because you don’t want to become a lazy pothead, then I am happy to tell you that you don’t need to worry about it! According to these studies, you may even become healthier.

Debunking Myths About Cannabis and Sleep

If you have heard anything about cannabis, you have also probably heard extreme exaggerations about it’s effects or benefits in ways that make absolutely no sense. CBD fans are the worst when it comes to this - I’ve seen countless articles about CBD where people basically say that it cures anything. While I don’t dismiss the fact that CBD and other cannabidiol products have numerous and plentiful benefits, exaggerating these claims usually does more harm than good, especially with how controversial the topic of cannabis can be in the United States at the moment.

These false claims can also harm doctors and other medical professionals who can actually influence people with truth about treatment and use of cannabis. To start off this article, I want to speak some facts into your mind. Per recent studies done by scientific sources, cannabis has been proven to help people sleep 30 minutes faster on average with less disruptions, and is more effective and helps people feel well-rested. Now that marijuana is legal in 35 of 50 states, it is much easier for people to legally get their hands on cannabis when they want it. In fact, the legal market increased by 67% in the year 2020. This makes sense in regards to how many people were forced into stressful and depressing lives due to quaranting. Anyways, today I want to talk about the myths that have been circulating in the media about cannabis, and address why they are simply not true.

The first myth that I want to address is that there are no risks involved when using cannabis for sleep. Since marijuana is a natural drug that comes from a legally grown plant, people seem to assume that there could be no drawbacks to using cannabis night after night to aid with sleep. In reality, cannabis is a drug and, like any other type of medication, there are side effects and even drawbacks to continued use over time. One of these drawbacks is that THC can be a factor in sleep hangovers if it is consumed in a high dose.

This can create some sleeping problems for people who wake up during the night, and lead to some very tired mornings. Most doctors and medical professionals will prescribe smaller doses of cannabis at first in order to allow the patient to get used to the dose before increasing it. There are also some long-term risks associated with regular marijuana use as well, such as the disruption of REM sleep cycles. REM stands for rapid eye movement, and is the deepest and most energizing part of our sleep cycles. Disrupting the REM cycle is not a good thing, and can lead to not getting enough sleep even if you slept for a long time. 

Another Myth that I want to address is that marijuana is all the same and can all do the same things. Worldwide, there are over 700 different strains of cannabis. If you are expecting each strain of cannabis to have the same effects and behaviours, then you are completely off base. Not only do these strains range from indica to sativa to hybrid, but each strain of cannabis under those umbrellas serves a different purpose as well. It is important to know that you should not rush into consuming marjiuana. Since each strain is different, it is imperative that you do research on which strains are good for sleep versus energy, anxiety, stress, and so on. Make sure that you choose the cannabis strain that is right for you, especially because our brains and minds work differently as well!

How To Come Down From Cannabis

We’ve all been there - those long afternoons of smoking or those late nights taking dabs. Honestly, there’s no better way to chill out after a long day or get the party going with some cannabis. However, sometimes we can shoot ourselves in the foot when dealing with the later effects of smoking. Some people who are a bit newer to the world of cannabis may not really know when to stop.

We’ve all watched noobies hit their first bowl session, and we have witnessed the brutal aftermath of someone whose body was not prepared for the extremely large amount of weed that they smoked. Even some of us veterans like myself will find ourselves in that weird situation of smoking a bit more than we intended, and ending up getting way higher than we meant to. While this can be a problem if it is something that you are doing regularly, getting too high once in a while is not a huge deal.

However, it can be uncomfortable and can make the process of coming down a bit difficult. Have you ever gotten too high and were unable to come down from the cannabis for a while? Well, then we recommend using some of the tips listed below in this article for the next time you happen to experience this. After all, it can be really hard to tell if you are smoking too much while everyone is just hanging out and enjoying themselves.

Before we into some of our tips for coming down from your high, we would like to also point out that there is no way to rapidly detox from cannabis - so if you’re needing to head off to take an exam or have a job interview, you may want to think twice about how much weed you’re actually smoking. However, if you want to at least lessen the high that you are experiencing and perhaps function a little bit better, then we have some great tips for you. The first tip that we have is to eat something to reduce the high that you are experiencing.

What does eating do for your high? Well, it kind of correlates with some of the reasons why people who are high on marijuana experience the munchies. The THC found in cannabis lowers your blood glucose level. Eating food will actually raise your blood sugar and stop your high from escalating. Again, this is not an instant remedy from coming down from your high, but it will definitely help keep you from going over the top. If you have taken edibles, eating something is even more effective at treating your high. You won’t be completely sober after eating a meal, but maybe you can at least get off the couch now!

Another tip that we can give you for coming down from your high is to drink some water. Liquids are not only important for hydration, but they can help your body recover from the levels of THC. You can also drink things with caffeine as a good way of waking your body up and reducing your high. Coffee and other energy drinks are great for this exact reason. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that will help improve your brain function and boost energy, so it is definitely something that can help you come down from your high. I personally love drinking iced coffee and find it very refreshing; plus, you can kill two birds with one stone by hydrating (coffee has water in it) and getting your caffeine fix for the time being. I hope that these tips were helpful!

Types of Weed Pens

One popular way to consume cannabis is in a pen form. They offer quick consumption, and a bunch of options. What’s the best one for the job though? What can get you the cannabinoids that you want? Find out here. 

At the core 

They are all types of pens that usually use vaporizing to help you inhale cannabis.  They’re cylindrical, small, and usually look like a pen.  They are made with the intention to vaporize the contents, and usually, it’s simple to do.

They usually all are made with the same type of anatomy. A battery that makes it go to the vaporizer to heat this up, turning this into vapor, and then, you inhale this with the mouthpiece. Some of them even offer control of temperature, and a unique screen that shows all of the intricacies of this. 

Vape Pens 

These are usually the simplest. They contain cannabis oil, a battery, and they can be reused once you charge the battery up. Some of them do come with a single use, and then, you dispose of this, and usually, the battery lasts for the duration of the cartridge.

It’s important that, if you do get these, you get something that's high quality, so you’re not inhaling anything unsafe. 

Dab Pens 

These are basically called wax pens, but they’re made for dabs, which are doses of concentrates of cannabis, and they’re usually not specified.  Usually, they are similar to a vape pen, but you have to know a little more about the means to operate this one.

You do need to put the wax or the cannabis together into the chamber area, reassembling all of this together once more, and then you consume all of this.  There is a bit more work to be used with these, but they usually allow you to use a variety of different types of concentrate that’s there.

They are much more portable, and a whole lot safer, and they usually are better than normal dabbing too, since you don’t have to use a blowtorch for this. The dab pens typically reach much higher levels of temperature than a vape pen does, and you’ve got to clean this a little bit more in order to keep it there. 

Flower Pens 

These are basically pens that allow you to use cannabis flower in order to vape this. They usually are similar to a regular vape, and they allow you to vape without needing to pack bowls, or also roll joints. They are basically like smoking but without it. They do require a bit of maintenance, and you should make sure you do so in order to keep this working, and also to get rid of the old plant material that’s there. 

How to Figure out What’s Best 

The best thing to do is to look at the needs that you have. Some people don’t require a whole lot of work to get their experience, which is why a simple vape pen is the best way to do this.

If you’re someone who likes something stronger and more potent, then you might want to consider possibly using a dab pen, because that’s strong, and it’s delivered on the go without the complex equipment.

If you’re a fan  of flowers, then you’ll want to consider using the flower pen, in order to help you do this.  It’s pretty easy, and it also beats having to pack a bowl, rolling a joint, and also doesn’t involve inhaling any sorts of carcinogens.  It’s pretty cool, especially with all of the different variants that come with this, and what you can enjoy.

Cannabis and Your Emotions

Cannabis is great for a lot of reasons, and some may wonder if it’s good for emotions. It can help, but there are some conflicting results from this as well. It depends entirely on the physiology that you have, and how you approach the use of cannabis when you’re using it for this. 

Cannabis and the Brain’s Power 

How can weed make you feel certain emotions? First, let’s discuss the compounds within this. THC is, of course, affected by the structure of the brain, and the regulation of various neurotransmitters, including anandamide. This is the bliss molecule that’s associated with an improved mood, better energy, and this is something also can help with the euphoria that goes into this. 

THC does naturally affect the CB1 receptors within the endocannabinoid systems, which play a large role in the functioning of the nervous system. This can result in either good, or bad results from this. It can impact your hippocampus, which is responsible for the formation of memory. Long-term and heavy use for example, will help with decreasing the capabilities of the short-term memory systems. 

It can also improve the reward system too, releasing the dopamine that’s in there, and also make you more motivated, blissful, and kickstart your creativity. There is also the amygdala, which is a small part of the system that plays a role in the fight or flight sorts of responses, and it can impact anger, fear and pleasure.

It being overactive may lead to hypervigilance, along with chronic stress levels, and when it’s regulated, usually they result in relaxation and calmness. There is also the anti-anxiety properties that are there. it can cause the reactions to different threats to reduce, so if you have fears and the like, you can reduce them through this. The amygdala also can calm down the nerves that you have, so it may help with stress. 

How it can impact emotions 

This is known as the “bliss molecule” already. Anandamide can be impacted in a good way.  Having marijuana does impact the reward centers the same way that anandamide does, improving the dopamine and the pleasure levels, along with improving the motivation that’s there.

It’s uplifting, which is the reason why people use this for managing depression, anxiety, and will look for the plant to offer different benefits. Some people may also turn to this as a way to improve the quality of life, mood overall, and the perception of pain.

There are others with less chronic conditions that’ll use cannabis as a way to unwind from a day that’s long. This can reduce their stress, improve the chance that they have to sleep better, and it can help them feel a lot more in tune with the emotions that they have.

There is some research that’s been done on the way that cannabis can help with anxiety conditions and disorders. It’s now been recognized through this that cannabis products that are derived from the plant, might be the answer to a lot of mental health problems. 

However, there are also researchers that won't claim that cannabis fixes everything, and it doesn’t really apply to the use in the long term.

We’re still doing lots of research on the different benefits of what marijuana can do for you, and also what else they can offer as well. If you’re someone who is interested in the benefits of marijuana for your own personal health and wellness, and for mental health conditions, talk to a doctor about this before you use it, so you can have the best emotions possible, and improve your own wellness too.