The cannabis plant has been used for many purposes by humans for many thousands of years. Evidence has been found that cannabis was cultivated 5000 years ago in today’s Romania. Likewise, 10 years ago cannabis was found in the Yanghai Tombs near Turpan in China. Here a shaman was buried with almost a kilo of cannabis 2,700 years ago, and additional studies showed that the cannabis was containing THC. One that the first evidence, which strongly suggests that cannabis has been used for medical purposes, dates back to 200 BC when found residues of THC in ash. In recent times, cannabis has also been used for medical purposes, and even the nobility used cannabis. In the 1890’s, Queen Victoria of England received cannabis by her physician against her menstrual pain. Cannabis has been used since the beginning of civilization and people have long been aware of the plant’s many good qualities and uses. We are fortunately in Denmark now so privileged that we again have the opportunity to use cannabis for medical purposes, and it is our clear belief that it will undoubtedly benefit thousands of people.
There are three different types of medical cannabis; Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis. Each has the three types of specific characteristics. In Organic Cannabis Care we only cultivate Sativa, Indica and hybrids, and therefore we will focus on the two types. Sativa has long thin leaves and the plant can grow above 2 meters tall. The effect of medical cannabis from the Sativa plant is uplifting and energetic. Indica plants here short thick leaves and have a short and bushy structure. By ingesting medical cannabis from an Indica dominant plant, the patient will feel more relaxed. Hybrids are crossings of Indica and Sativa, where through breeding you try to take specific characteristics of the two types and combine them.
Q&A
The two most commonly used methods of taking medical cannabis are ingestion by inhalation or by oral ingestion. These two methods have different effects because the active substances in the medical cannabis are absorbed into the body in two different ways.
By inhalation, the active substances in the medical cannabis, mainly THC and CBD, are absorbed into the blood through the lungs. In this way, the active substances are led to the brain after which the effect occurs. From the inhalation of the medical cannabis until the effect occurs, in some cases a soothing effect may be felt in less than one minute. By inhalation, the effect last for 2 to 4 hours.
By oral ingestion of food containing medical cannabis, the active substance THC is metabolized by the liver such that the Delta-9-THC molecule is converted to 11-hydroxy-THC that passes through the blood-brain barrier more easily and has a greater effect than normal THC. However, it may take between 1 to 2 hours before the effect occurs. Therefore, as a patient, be more careful when taking cannabis orally and do not dose again until you are sure that the full effect has occurred. For some, it may cause discomfort if the effect becomes too strong because you have been impatient and have taken more than the doctor’s dose. In oral ingestion, the cannabis cannabis may have effect for 6 to 10 hours. Therefore, this method would be perfect for patients with chronic pain to provide them with prolonged relief.