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!

Finding The Right Dose of Marijuana For You

As human beings we are all just a little bit different. Our bodies and minds respond differently to all sorts of stimuli based on numerous and uncountable factors, so it is super important to keep this in mind when it comes to consuming marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. It can take some time to find the dose of marijuana that is just right for you; however, finding the right amount of cannabis to consume will allow you to enjoy the experience more and create a more positive outcome for you and your medical needs.

Doctors have their hands full when it comes to prescribing medical marijuana, mostly because cannabis is different from a lot of other prescriptions. Like I said before, each person's body responds to marijuana a little bit differently than others. This means that marijuana dosing is unique and should not be prescribed like other prescription medication. So how can you know what amount of cannabis is right for you? Well, the good news for you is that I am writing this article to help you out. I hope that you can learn some valuable information about marijuana consumption and how much is right for you.

To start, I want to say that all good marijuana and cannabis dosing starts with some solid planning. What do I mean by that? Well, it’s no secret that marijuana can have it’s risks when consumed. Like all other prescriptions, marijuana can have some adverse effects that not everyone loves to experience. One of the more common symptoms is dizziness, which many people report feeling after they have had a bit too much marijuana. However, other symptoms include sleepiness, dry mouth, dry eyes, anxiousness (from consuming too much or having marijuana with too high of a THC dose), and balance/coordination problems.

However, marijuana is actually a very safe thing to consume if you do it responsibility and with proper planning. The first thing to learn is how much marijuana you can tolerate, as well as the method that you are planning to consume the plant. This is because the side effects and benefits of cannabis can vary a bit depending on how you consume it. For example, you could consume it orally, sublingually, or even through a vape. 

Either way, all doctors and medical professionals recommend that you start consuming marijuana at a very low dose if it is your first time. It just so happens that many new users do not feel any effect from the first few times they use it. While this may sound disappointing to some, it is much better to not necessarily feel any effects of the marijuana rather than take too much and deal with unhealthy side effects. Just know that, if you are using marijuana for the first time, it can be completely normal to not even feel anything; and that’s okay! To start off with, I highly suggest planning about a week for the sensitization period (and this does not change depending on the consumption method you choose). Some experts even recommend that you partake in CBD consumption to get your body and mind more used to the effects of marijuana. CBD that has less than 0.3% THC is preferred.

After you have gotten used to consuming marijuana, it is important to find the dose that is therapeutic for you. In this stage, the method of consumption does have an impact on how long or how short you experience the effects for. It is also important to note that some methods will cause you to feel the effects in a few minutes, while others can take hours.

When to harvest an autoflower cannabis

Harvesting is a big part of cannabis consumption, but when you have auto-flowering strains, it can be hard to figure out whether or not you should harvest it.  If you harvest this too late or too early, it can impact the cannabinoids and terpenes, so that’s why, it’s important to make sure that you do this effectively. 

How to tell 

There are a few signs that’ll tell you whether or not it’s time for you to harvest it.  The first, is the trichome, pistil color, the eaves, and how long each of these have been in the ground. On average, the life cycle does vary in most cases. But knowing this is important since if you do wait too long, it can impact the flowers and harvest. You should look at the sheet that comes with the seeds to find this. Most of the time, the cultivar can be harvested around 8-9 weeks after germination. Keeping this in mind will help you with getting the best and most optimal time for harvest. 

Trichomes matter 

The color of the trichomes is one of the biggest indicators of this. The trichomes are tiny little glands that are mushroom-shaped and glistening. The structures that are made come with the terpenes and cannabinoids. Trichomes do become translucent during the stage of flowering, but the do eventually get clear and a bit amber, and it’s something that indicates not just the time to harvest, but also the changes within the trichomes as well. You can use a microscope or even a loupe jewelers use to help you figure this out. 

If the trichomes are clear, let them grow, since they’re not ready yet. If they’re cloudy or milky, this is a sign that there is a lot of THC in this, so it might be time to get them if you want something that’s high in THC. Amber is when it’s time for you to have less THC, but then also higher CBN, which is great for offering a strain that’s more stoning for you. 

The Pistils 

Another part of this, is the pistils, as they’re the reproductive organs for female plants. They usually seem white on flowers that are immature, but once they become a dark orange or red as they grow, you’ll definitely want to consider this. If you want to harvest them, you should wait for about 60-70% of them to turn for high THC strains, and then a bit more for those that are higher in CBN. 

Leaves 

Then there are the leaves. Leaves tell you a whole lot, as they can help you see the plant, along with the cultivar, helping you as well recognize those deficiencies n plants, and also any other problems, including high stress and deficiencies of nutrients and the like. 

If you notice that they’re a vibrant color, you’re definitely still good to go. They tend to get a bit yellow when it’s time to harvest. As long as they’ve stayed green during all of this, since most of the time, they’re just getting the nutrients for the flowers directly more than anything else. 

Smell 

This is another thing that’s important to look at. If they start to get more pungent, they tend to be ready to harvest. The smell that goes through the air does depend on the provider of terpenes, and strain choice, so be prepared for smelly buds, and you’ll definitely want to get those right away. These are the telltale signs, so make sur that you’re familiar with all of these before you begin planting too.

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!

Cannabis and Libido

When you’re looking for ways to improve attraction along with sex, libido is something that a lot of people don’t discuss. Some believe that only personality, appearances, and the like are the only influences. However, lots of people suffer from low sex drive without even actively realizing this. A lot of people are worried about this, and while there are prescription enhancements, those can be expensive. One of the ways that it can be fixed for some people though, is THC and CBD lube for their libido. 

Cannabinoids and the Sex Drive 

Sex drive is something that is not super easy. There are tons of factors, and different elements including depression, sleep, diet, the pain yore feeling, even anxiety can also alter the ability for someone to actively perform well. Marijuana can help with this, but the way this is desired depends on a few factors. The correct amounts can help in some cases, but the wrong one can play a part. 

Remember as well that CBD and THC can help with this by interacting with the receptors that work to regulate the brain and body, including sexual drive and the reproductive aspects. Marijuana also has different compounds that influence the responses and performances and it can actively interact with the female reproductive hormones and the sex organs. 

For men, the ECS is al over, and it can influence this.  It does play a good role in the development and muscle growth, and sex hormones also can impact the performance. Health issues and the way that the lifestyle occurs does mean less sex hormone manufacturing, and this can impact the libido. Cannabis, when taking this in moderate amounts, can help with the reproductive health and homeostasis, so it can provide some benefits to this. 

As for women, the cannabinoids can actually regulate almost every part of your ovarian cycle, ovarian endocrine secretions, the decidualization of the uterine area, foclliculogenesis, and also placentation, so it does get affected. CBD is on to the better ones for female sex hormones and the system, and it also balances the androgen and the estrogen production, so it can help with the sex drive that women have. 

So can cannabis help/ 

It can. 

If you have performance anxiety or are worried about something, cannabis comes in here and it can help with the proper regulation of this. It can also help with stress, by naturally calming down and helping the body relax. 

Marijuana is known to help enhance the mood too, with multiple studies that display that THC, one of the most psychoactive aspects of this, does impact the mood, and also reduces the negative feelings and thoughts that do occur. It also can dampen the libido in women and men, and it does impact the responses that are needed for the sexual performance in some cases. 

It also can help with a lot of anxiety disorders, and it can also help to manage the concerns that a person may have in terms of their anxiety, and there are ton so studies that actively look at this. 

When you’re looking at the studies and their results, both of these do offer therapeutic benefits that do make the pain a lot les obvious, reducing the inflammatory properties of this, especially when you apply this topically, or if you take it via smoking and vaping. 

So if it can help, it may help with calming down the body. while it isn’t a cure-all for many people and it shouldn’t be touted as such, this is something that can provide a lot of benefits for people who ae dealing with stress.

Growing Cannabis with Coco Coir

If you’ve been thinking about growing, or have grown cannabis, you may wonder if coco coir is a good way to grow this. It’s actually great for those who don’t want a full hydroponic system, and also is great because it offers some reuse after the main season as well. Plus, it’s very easy for you to put in and implement to get the benefits of as well.

What it Is 

This is basically a natural substrate that doesn't require soil and is typically used in gardening variants. Unlike the use of rockwool, this is definitely a better option as well.

It’s considered a fiber that’s naturally recycled through the usage of the husks of coconut, specifically in India, and in Sri Lanka. It’s loose, and usually comes in a bricked form too, and it’s an amazing way to grow marijuana. The cool thing about this, is that you can fully replace the soil that you’ve used with this, offering the best drainage and aeration possible for this, and it dramatically boosts the potential of the harvest too. 

Types of Growing for Coco Coir 

For some people, they may decide to use this directly, or with other kinds of substances. Here are a few ways to use coco coir to cultivate cannabis.  There is first and foremost pure coco coir, which is great for hydroponic types of growing. You can also usually pack this and offer a normal soil type of growing approach too. There are also mixes of coco coir and perlite that are there improving the drainage and the aeration, and since the perlite doesn’t break down either, so it further reduces the risk of the disease of the plant. There are also some mixes as well that include this with soil, offering a better water retention, and it’s good for those who are new to growing, and for those starting off with strains that are newbie-friendly, this is the best type of way to grow it.

The Benefits and Drawbacks 

Coco coir is definitely a medium that's pretty easy to work with, and here are the benefits and the drawbacks that go into this. First and foremost, it’s straightforward. You can grow this quite easily, and you can pretty much plant these, shower them with a water that's packed with nutrients, and it’s easier to do. 

It’s great for larger plants, and it’s great if you don't want to have plants that stick around in smaller spaces to be reduced by the size of the pot itself. The vegetative stage also is much shorter too, once the roots offer plenty of growth. It does offer a good cultivation that’s sustainable and can be used for a lot of seasons of growing.

Finally, it’s good for hydroponic types of soil. Unlike the rockwool, you can use this as an organic top dress too, and you can mix this directly with some soil for those who want a simple organic medium that doesn’t need a bunch of different nutrients.  They do require a bit of extra prep work since you’ve got to rehydrate. 

There is also a chance it may cause pests to actually show up, since it definitely isn’t as resistant.  It does require a bit more fertilization, since there aren't nutrients in this. It also may cause some shortages in both calcium and magnesium, so you may need to prepare accordingly. Overall, it’s a great growing medium, and it’s one that’s good for both the beginner growers who want to start using it, and for the longtime growers alike who want to make sure their plants are high-quality.