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Is It Safe To Send Flowers And Gifts For Mother’s Day During Coronavirus?

Special dates make it more challenging for people to celebrate and remain socially distanced.

Delivery services of all kinds have provided people with some normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic. Even if the process is mired by small stressors such as cleaning packages and trying to prevent them from interacting with surfaces in your home, we’ve all had things delivered during the pandemic, whether it was an impulse buy or much needed groceries.

Birthdays and other special dates have been impacted by the coronavirus as well, including Mother’s Day, where people are planning to have Zoom meetings and phone calls in order to celebrate (please, people, do not clog parks!). How safe is it to send flowers or presents to your mother during this era?

The Huffington Post spoke with several experts who gave out recommendations and their professional opinions.

Look for contactless delivery options

Is It Safe To Send Presents & Flowers For Mother's Day During Coronavirus?
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RELATED: How To Stop Yourself From Impulse Buying During Lockdown

Many businesses now have the option of contactless delivery, which means they can deliver your package without having physical contact with the recipient.

“The risk from any delivery comes from the contact with the person making the delivery. Touchless delivery, which minimizes contact with the person making the delivery, eliminates this risk, and this is very easy to do for floral deliveries,” says Brian Labus, professor of Public Health at the University of Nevada.

Leave instructions to the delivery service to drop off flowers or presents at the door or, if you have a car or live close to your mom, drop off the package yourself and ensure you keep proper distance.

Trust the business you’re buying from

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When it comes to practicing safe delivery options, what matters most is that you trust the business you’re ordering from. While the risk is contracting COVID-19 from a package is minimal, it’s still important to be safe and to be as sure as you can that the place you’re ordering from is doing their best to protect themselves and their customers from the virus.

Be extra careful

What Parents Should Know About Dabbing Vs Smoking Marijuana
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RELATED: Can You Donate Blood For Coronavirus If You Consume Marijuana?

It’s understandable to be exhausted by the pandemic and by social distancing measures, even feeling like the threat has passed a bit, which may cause us to slack on preventive measures. Although it’s exhausting to remain cooped up and isolated, it’s very important to know that we still remain in a precarious situation. Just because we’re sick of the coronavirus doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t monitor our health and the health of our loved ones, especially if our parents are over the age of 65.

Surgery and Marijuana Use

Before you consume marijuana to calm your nerves, here are three things you should know before undergoing surgery.

The Fresh Toast – It can a bit nerve-racking to go under the knife, so he is what you should know about surgery and marijuana use.

There are few life events as anxiety-inducing as going into surgery. From the fear of anesthesia to time spent in recuperation, the thought of being put under can cause even the most mellow to seek a way to lessen the stress that surgery can bring.

Managing stress and readying for surgery can seem arduous. Luckily, research isn’t suggesting patients need to quit cannabis all-together, but it does recommend leaving some time between consumption and surgery for better health effects.

Here are three things to know before surgery when you’ve smoked or ingested cannabis:

(1) Marijuana users could need more sedatives than non-users. Kaiser Health News reported that a small study in Colorado found that marijuana users required more than three times the amount of the sedation medicine Propofol. (2) Smoking cannabis seems to increase sputum, which may lead to an increase of mucus or fluid inside the mouth. More mucus than saliva, sputum can increase risks and complications during the procedure and after.

(3) While tempting, indulging in marijuana immediately before surgery can cause vasodilation, wherein blood pressure can fall, due to blood vessels relaxing.

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With all the variables of anesthesiology, having a candid conversation with your care team can ensure the best outcome. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) states that since marijuana has a sedative effect on the body, it’s always a wise idea to share with your care team if you’ve used edibles, smoked or ingested cannabis before surgery.

RELATED: Should You Tell Your Anesthesiologist About Your Marijuana Use?

Many providers ask patients to stop smoking marijuana 12-hours before and to refrain from ingesting edibles at least 4 hours before. New research is showing that cannabis use after surgery can help alleviate pain and bring better healing not only of the body but of the spirit as well.

“Using cannabis right before surgery may add strain to the heart, which can elevate the risk for heart attack or stroke. While we don’t know all the risk factors present with cannabis, we do know that great conversations can lead to better patient experiences.” – Michael Philbin, MD

Dr. Michael Philbin at Edina Plastic Surgery in Minnesota believes “Cannabis use is so common that many providers are no longer phased by its mention.” He supports dialog between doctor and patient that eliminates the stigma around discussing cannabis; to focus on the patient as a whole. Philbin also advocates strongly for open communication between patient and doctor explaining, “Having a conversation about the right waiting time for using marijuana before surgery (and after) can be determined during a pre-surgery check with your doctor.”

opioid abuse
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Cannabis over opioids: Better options are becoming available

One bright spot is that many recent studies are finding cannabis is a great alternative to opioids for long-term pain or those in rehabilitation after surgery. A recent study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health found that cannabis offered patients a better experience over opioids.

RELATED: Consumers Are Replacing Pharmaceuticals With Medical Marijuana

Published in 2017, the analysis found that, “Respondents overwhelmingly reported that cannabis provided relief on par with their other medications, but without the unwanted side effects. Ninety-seven percent of the sample “strongly agreed/agreed” that they can decrease the amount of opiates they consume when they also use cannabis, and 81% “strongly agreed/agreed” that taking cannabis by itself was more effective at treating their condition than taking cannabis with opioids. ”

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Another study found that harm-reduction was evident when marijuana was combined with opioids, lessening both doses of heavy narcotics, side effects, and the possibility for addition. Presented at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics annual meeting in 2019, Vanessa Minervini, Ph.D., found that not only did cannabis help enhance pain-relief aspects and that when combined, the participants had better healing.

When discussing cannabis with your doctor, keep in mind that many medical professionals are in-tune with the growing need for alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Having early and often discussions around how best to manage your care before surgery, and after can help you feel empowered and knowledgeable about your care.

5 Things You Can Do If You Have ‘Working From Home Fatigue’

A lot of people are completely drained working from home these days. Here’s what you can do to improve your productivity.

Common sense says that the more you do something, the better you become at it. By this time, most of us should be adept at working from home, managing to stay on track with our tasks and sticking to our routines. This isn’t the case.

Understandably, the pandemic has affected us in ways we’re not equipped to understand yet. Unlike other traumatic experiences, the coronavirus has no end in sight and there’s no way of knowing what’s coming next. Every stage is a new experience, with new mental challenges and stress to deal with. Your sleep, alcohol intake, and bingeing patterns may be fluctuating, taking a toll on your work productivity.

Work stability is important for us to feel like we have some control over our environment. Here are some things you can practice to get a hold of your productivity and keep fatigue at bay.

Take it easy on yourself

the 10 best tv shows movie to watch when high
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For starters, it’s important for you to be kind to yourself. In a way, lower your expectations with what you’re supposed to be doing, the goals you had for the year, and more. While you shouldn’t discard them or forget about them, you should also give yourself the to cope with the new stressors that are affecting your life. It’s important to continue to pursue hobbies and personal projects, but also to understand that measuring yourself up to your previous standards is not healthy nor realistic.

Relaxation techniques

Whether that’s yoga, meditation, pilates, reading, or trying your best to stay still and do nothing, now’s the time to get back to cultivating these habits. Even if you don’t feel like it, make the time for you to meditate and practice relaxation techniques. Schedule these moments throughout your days and weeks, using alarms as reminders, treating them as any other healthy task you commit to on a day to day basis, like showering and eating.

Find something that’ll help you start & end your work day

how to come down from a marijuana high quickly bath
Photo by Roberto Nickson via Unsplash

RELATED: 5 Ways To Schedule Your Day When Working From Home

One of the aspects that is affecting us the most right now is the fact that time has lost meaning. Now that we spend all of our days at home, it’s easy to have meals at weird times of the day and to go to bed much later than we’re used to. When it comes to work, the act of traveling to an office and traveling back home is really helpful, creating a “work” mode and a “home” mode for you. Now that we don’t have that, create something that does that job, whether it’s drinking your morning coffee by the window or taking a shower after work.

Create a new routine

If the routine you’ve built throughout quarantine has outgrown its effectiveness, create a new one. Shuffle your showers and workouts, providing a new structure to your days that might help reboot your productivity. Sometimes even a change as simple as switching the spot where you’re working from can help you feel different and better.

Try to complete basic healthy tasks

Pet sitting
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By now you’ve probably read a million different articles that explain how important it is to work out, eat healthy and stay on top of your hygiene. On days where you’re feeling down, it’s especially important to continue to practice these activities.

Did Marijuana Users Spend Their Stimulus Checks On Weed?

One cannabis intelligence firm declared April 15 “far and away the biggest Wednesday in the history of legal cannabis,” due to stimulus checks.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And when the federal government gifts you a free $1,200 check, buy marijuana. Previous data showed a marijuana sales bump coincided with the coronavirus pandemic in late March, as cannabis users stockpiled products in fear of dispensaries closing. More recent data elicits a new trend — using stimulus checks to celebrate 4/20.

Cannabis intelligence firms have reported an abnormal boost in sales for April 15, the first day Americans could receive stimulus checks, accounting for normal spending increases around 4/20.

Headset Analytics tracked data in several key U.S. cannabis markets prior to the week of 4/20 and compared sales to those in Canadian markets. Retailers typically expect a steady increase in the week prior to the marijuana holiday, with a bigger boost in sales on 4/20 itself. That didn’t happen this year. Instead, Headset saw dramatic sales jumps in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, California, and Colorado on April 15.

RELATED: Cory Booker: If Marijuana Is Essential Business, Legalize It Federally

Comparing weekday sales to the week prior, Colorado had a 51% increase in cannabis sales. Oregon and Washington saw sales climb 47% and 43%, respectively. In Canada’s Alberta province, there was only a 13% growth in sales.

The Truth About MMJ Card Protection In Employment
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“In [Alberta] we see sales in fact slightly elevated but not nearly in the same manner as in the US states leading us to conclude that at least a portion of the sales surge on 4/15 was due to stimulus check spending,” Headset analysts wrote.

RELATED: Marijuana Use Reaches All-Time High Under Coronavirus Pandemic

Akerna, a cannabis compliance provider and intelligence operator, declared April 15 “far and away the biggest Wednesday in the history of legal cannabis” in their business reports. Their data found that total revenue and ticket size (or, the number of products someone purchased) were up over 50% compared to a total Wednesday in 2020.

Online marijuana sales were up as well. Jane Technologies, which collected data from more than 1,300 cannabis retailers through its e-commerce platform, reported a 45% increase in sales on April 15 compared to average weekday sales during the pandemic. Springbig, an industry marketing platform with more than 16 million users, saw even higher numbers, with a 63% bump on that day.

Medical Marijuana Leads To Less Hospitalizations For IBS Patients

New data shows IBS patients who used marijuana experienced less hospitalizations and shorter visits compared to non-users.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a frustrating and isolating illness for many patients. One study estimates that up to 20% of Americans experience IBS, which is considered a chronic disease. Some patients have manageable symptoms and are able to proceed uninterrupted throughout their day. For others, the gastrointestinal disorder can lead to a poor quality of life. Research indicates those with IBS miss three times as many workdays as those without bowel symptoms.

Now, researchers at Rutgers University suggest in a new study that marijuana can help ease the suffering of patients with severe IBS symptoms. The study was presented online this week in an event organized by Digestive Disease Week — a conference to begin May 2 in Chicago but canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

RELATED: How Effective Is Marijuana In Treating IBS?

Researchers analyzed 2016 data of Nationwide Readmissions Database from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, comparing IBS patients who were cannabis users vs. non-cannabis users. Among non-cannabis users, all-cause 30-day readmission rates were 12.7%. In cannabis users, that figures was only 8.1%. The study also found cannabis use correlated with shorter hospital stays and overall lower hospitalization charges.

Medical Marijuana Is Booming Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic
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The study included 6,798 adult IBS patients, 357 of which were identified as cannabis users. The non-cannabis group had a mean age of about 53 years while marijuana users were about 36 years on average. Women were the primary gender in both cannabis users (62%) and non-users (81%)—which is expected, as IBS affects more women than men.

RELATED: Cannabis And The Gut: What You Should Know

There is no cure for IBS, but a 2005 report indicated that marijuana could provide future therapeutic potential for patients. Unfortunately, there aren’t many studies around how marijuana treats IBS. A 2015 medical survey found that 70% of IBS patients who used CBD experienced improved moods as a result. Before using CBD, participants reported an average pain score of seven. Following CBD use, the pain score dropped to four.

Can You Donate Blood For Coronavirus If You Consume Marijuana

Blood drives place limitations on a wide variety of conditions. Are marijuana consumers affected by these rules?

The coronavirus pandemic has affected our health system in different ways, overflowing hospitals and triggering a crisis for hospitals that shows no signs of abating any time soon. Stay at home and social distancing measures have also halted blood drives across the country, resulting in a severe blood shortage across the U.S. But can you donate blood for coronavirus if you consume marijuana.

Blood supplies are extremely important, especially in instances of a pandemic, keeping hospitals running and saving the lives of patients struggling with all sorts of conditions. “Blood donation is always important to help save lives—the need does not go away during a pandemic,” doctor Richard Seidman told Health magazine.

RELATED: Court Rules New Jersey Businesses Can’t Fire Medical Marijuana Users

Donating blood is also a more complex process than it should be, placing limitations on gay men and on people with piercings and tattoos.

Understanding New Rules Around Serological Testing
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According to The Active Times, marijuana users who don’t use synthetic marijuana should be fine as long as they’re over the age of 16, are in general good health and weigh over 110 pounds. According to the FDA, K2, an element present in many synthetic marijuana products, is the main reason why they don’t accept donations of people who use these products regularly.

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Synthetic marijuana, aside from preventing you from donating blood, is risky. These products contain many unnatural elements that can cause adverse reactions ranging from elevated moods to seizures and kidney damage. They’re sold since they are cheaper or claim to produce stronger highs than the ones produced by regular marijuana.

Mister Manners Do I Give A Gift If It’s A Virtual Wedding

Due to travel restrictions, a wedding I’m attending is now going to be held over Zoom. What’s the gift-giving etiquette in this type of situation?

Etiquette tips on how to interact in today’s world. Have a question for Mister Manners? Send your queries to info@whatmannersmost.com and look for replies in the coming weeks. 

VIDEO NUPTIALS

Q: I was supposed to be attending a friend’s destination wedding in Spain next month. Due to current travel bans, the ceremony won’t be happening overseas but in the couple’s living room, with guests attending on Zoom. Now that their reception is cancelled, do I still give a gift, and if so, how much should I spend?

A: The cost of a wedding present — during a pandemic or otherwise — is determined by two primary factors: How close are you to the couple and how much can you realistically afford.

In these unprecedented times, additional considerations include: have one or both members of the couple been furloughed from work or lost a job? Have you?

Providing you are financially able, your generosity should be no different than if you were sipping sangria and picking on paella under the stars in Valencia. Your gift represents your well wishes to the newlyweds as they begin their new lives together. It is not a quid pro quo based on how much they did or didn’t spend on a reception. As for what to give, money or an electronic gift card could be your best bet during this unsettling era, particularly if the couple is facing economic uncertainties.

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If you insist on giving the gravy boat they were crushing on when they set up their registry, order it as soon as possible. With many retailers experiencing shipping delays, the longer you wait, the longer it will be before the couple can stow your gift in their china cabinet.

Back to you, though you’re foregoing a dream trip to the Iberian Peninsula for a livestream at your kitchen peninsula, give what your heart tells you to give and save your travel credits for a trip to España once the coast is clear.

Ask Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley: 'Do I Give A Gift If It’s A Virtual Wedding?'
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FROM A DISTANCE

Q: Living three hours from my parents’ house, it’s always difficult for me to get home to see my mom for Mother’s Day. This year, of course, it’s out of the question: I don’t want to risk getting my parents sick. How can I show my mom I love her even though I legitimately can’t be near her?

A: Usually when someone says they can’t be in the same room as a parent — let alone the same house — it’s for entirely different reasons. This year, the concept takes on a new meaning. Due to distancing recommendations and travel restrictions, moms around the globe will be spending their special day minus the hugs and kisses of their offspring.

The downtime created by the pandemic provides an excellent opportunity to put pen to paper and write your mom an honest-to-goodness letter expressing how much you love her. Share some favorite memories. If you have children of your own, involve them by having them make drawings or write notes for their grandmother.

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Consider including a homemade gift certificate for a special experience the two of you can enjoy once it is safe for you to see one another again—perhaps lunch at her favorite local restaurant or a spa day. When Sunday rolls around, you’ll want to call her, of course, and if your parents are tech savvy enough, set up a video call.

And though none of this is a substitute for your family celebrating mom in-person, you can still ensure it is a celebration that makes her feel way more loved than a nicely wrapped “World’s Greatest Mom” coffee mug ever could.

Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley, is a nationally regarded expert who appears regularly in the media to discuss modern-day etiquette dilemmas — from how to split a check fairly to how to get a word in edgewise. Follow Thomas on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @MisterManners. And for more insights, listen to his brand-new podcast, “What Manners Most,” which will be focused exclusively on Coronavirus-related etiquette for the foreseeable future.

Tips To Cope With Your Partner During Lockdown

The coronavirus is taking a toll on people’s mental health and relationships. Here’s how you can work with your partner to make things easier for both of you.

The coronavirus pandemic has altered our relationship with time, drawing it out at times and constricting it at others. While some days may seem endless, you may find yourself surprised when a couple of weeks have passed without you noticing. For people who are spending their lockdown with a partner, it can get harder to ignore their quirks and habits as the days pile on. It can also get harder to avoid lashing out at them just because they’re the only other person you’ve had contact with over the past weeks.

A lot of couples report crises of relationships, where they wonder if they’re with the right partner or if they’re happy with their relationship. It’d be crazy if you weren’t having a crisis of some sort when faced with something as foreign and scary as a pandemic. Experts suggesting cutting yourself and your relationship some slack and avoiding rash decisions.

“It’s wholly unrealistic to think that a young couple is not going to have a moment of panic during coronavirus-induced isolation where they second-guess the entire relationship,”  psychologist Alexandra Solomon told Teen Vogue.

To ensure that you care for your relationship during these stressful times, it’s important to be kind and patient with your partner and yourself.

Take care of yourself

Now's The Time To Get High Alone And Do Weird Stuff
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Alone time is very important, for some more than others. Make daily slots of time for you to check in with yourself, whether that is journaling, working out, cooking by yourself or talking to some friends without your partner around. If you’re feeling sad or stressed out, allow yourself to feel this emotion and to try to understand where it’s coming from. Doing this will allow you to get over this feeling faster rather than avoiding it and allowing it to stew over days.

Work on your communication skills

How To Reduce Food Waste In Coronavirus
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For you and your partner to have the freedom to feel different emotions, open communication is very important. Make the time to check in with each other every day or every couple of days. Use these moments to inform your partner on whether you need some alone time or if you need someone to talk to. While it’s important to have an escape from what’s going on in the world, it’s important to stay connected to each other.

Expect some changes

guess which video games have caused the most divorce in 2018
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Couples report feeling increasingly on edge, experiencing fluctuations in their sex drives and more. Spending quarantine with someone you’re in a relationship with can make this more difficult, since you also have to cope with the other person’s feelings and moods. Communicate openly about your feelings and try to respect your partner’s emotions, even if they’re annoying you. While some people might be feeling more depressed and less likely to have fun, be that through sex or through other activities, it’s important for them to feel supported throughout this time.

Cities Have Ignored Marijuana Crimes To Prevent COVID-19 Spread

Local officials in Columbus and Baltimore announced they won’t pursue marijuana offenses in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

America’s relationship to marijuana is changing, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Governors openly lament their state didn’t legalize cannabis, marijuana retail is “essential business,” and scientists believe CBD could help treat COVID-19.

Now the coronavirus is impacting how cities approach criminal justice. Back in August, Columbus announced they would stop prosecuting low level marijuana offenses after state law legalized industrial hemp. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein stated the new law meant city prosecutors couldn’t prove individuals were in possession of marijuana beyond reasonable doubt without laboratory testing.

Last week, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office announced they now had equipment to differentiate between hemp and marijuana, which remains illegal for adult use in the state. In a response, Klein said Columbus would still decline to pursue misdemeanor marijuana cases despite the advance in testing. He later added testing was just one reason his office stopped pursuing cannabis offenses.

“Our city council’s decision to institute a low-dollar fine for violations, and overall disparities and inequities in the criminal justice system” also contributed, Klein said.

RELATED: Israel Researchers Believe CBD Could Play Crucial Role In COVID-19 Treatment

The coronavirus also played a part. Columbus doesn’t want to fill its prison population with non-violent offenders at this time. Multiple states, including Ohio, have released non-violent inmates from their jails as well. Media investigations show the coronavirus has spread rapidly within the tight confines of many prisons, with The Marshall Project’s projections showing more than 14,000 inmates testing positive for COVID-19 as of April 29.

the surprising effect marijuana legalization has on police traffic searches
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Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby told prosecutors in March to dismiss pending drug cases involving possession or distribution for this reason. Mosby also wrote a letter along with 30 prosecutors advocating for measures to decrease the number of incarcerated people in prisons to slow the spread of the coronavirus. She added several decarceral policies her office would personally enact as well.

RELATED: Can Marijuana Help Ease Coronavirus Anxiety?

“As prosecutors, we are committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our community, and that includes people who are currently in prison or jail,” Mosby said in a statement. “I firmly believe that we can promote public health and public safety at the same time, and that’s what these new policies will achieve.”

Sen. Cory Booker commended the action in a video livestream this week, stating that Mosby has “employed incredible tools in this crisis—that I’ve been advocating on a federal level frankly.” Booker last week called for federal legalization amid marijuana businesses being deemed “essential.”

Do I Really Need Both CBD And THC?

Like THC, CBD has many therapeutic properties which aid in the treatment of numerous conditions. But here’s how the two compounds differ.

By GoldLeaf‘s Alfonso Colasuonno, provided exclusively to Benzinga Cannabis.

CBD, THC, CBG, CBN, CBDa, CBDv, THCa, THCv, etc.. It’s easy to become confused by the veritable alphabet soup of cannabinoids.

All you need to know is that CBD is the cannabinoid that heals and THC is the cannabinoid that gets you high, right?

Well, kind of, but that’s only a starting point.

The Basics

While THC is perhaps most known for its psychoactive properties (i.e. it gets you high), it also offers numerous health benefits.

THC is effective at relieving pain, reducing nausea and vomiting, suppressing muscle spasms, slowing the deterioration of your nervous system, reducing eye pressure, and acting as an antidepressant. These are only a few of the symptoms THC is effective in treating.

Like THC, CBD has many therapeutic properties which aid in the treatment of numerous conditions.

CBD is effective at inhibiting cancer cell growth, reducing blood sugar, relieving anxiety, slowing bacterial growth, and reducing inflammation. These are only a few of the many conditions for which CBD has been proven effective.

The Entourage Effect

There are several medical conditions that can be treated with both CBD and THC. These include chronic pain, depression, muscle spasms, and nausea.

While you can choose to treat any of these conditions with only THC or CBD, the entourage effect occurs when they’re coupled together.

RELATED: Confused About How Much THC And CBD Is In Your Weed? You’re Not Alone

The entourage effect is when multiple cannabinoids or terpenes work together to enhance the therapeutic effects of each cannabinoid. This applies not only to CBD and THC, but also to all 120 known cannabinoids.

Key Point: CBD and THC compound their therapeutic effects when taken in combination. You can see this concept illustrated in the following infographic where purple showcases the enhanced ‘entourage’ effect.

CBD v. THC Comparison Chart

Reasons To Avoid THC

Of course, though THC has far more to offer than just a high, it is not for everybody. There are several reasons why you may choose to utilize a CBD-only treatment. These include:

  • You don’t enjoy the feeling of being ‘high.’ The psychoactive properties of THC can be powerful, especially when taken in large doses. Some people are averse to the perceived loss of control or just don’t like the sensation.
  • You have to focus on your work. Some people have the ability to perform at or above standard while high; however, most of us fall short. If you have a condition that’s treated by both CBD and THC, you may wish to opt for a CBD-only preparation during your workday.
  • You have to take drug tests. When applying for work, many jobs require drug tests. Additionally, some lines of employment frequently drug test employees because of the physically rigorous and/or protective nature of the position. Individuals with a history on the wrong side of the law may also face court-appointed drug testing while on parole. Many drug tests only screen for THC, although it’s a good idea to avoid all cannabinoids if you may potentially need to take a drug test. Even CBD preparations might have trace (or larger) amounts of THC or other cannabinoids like CBN that can make you fail a drug test.
  • Your condition is only treated by CBD. Of the most studied cannabinoids, including THC, there are a few medical symptoms in which CBD is the only cannabinoid to have medical efficacy. If intestinal contractions are your sole medical concern, for example, your body may not require any other cannabinoids besides CBD.

Key Point: Although there are several valid reasons why THC may not be a good choice for all cannabis patients and enthusiasts, it is perfectly acceptable for most.

A Caveat About CBD

With the increasing popularity and availability of CBD products throughout the United States, it should be noted that not all products work as advertised. Lack of regulation is a significant problem, one which Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a former FDA associate commissioner, described as “a maelstrom of false claims and shoddy quality standards.”

RELATED: How CBD Blocks The Paranoia And Anxiety From Marijuana’s THC

Although many CBD products are effective, some unscrupulous business owners have seized on the rising tide and brought poor quality products to market. We recommend that if you choose to obtain a CBD product that you make sure to do your homework prior to purchase.

Key Point: Utilizing reputable sources and the advice of trusted budtenders are some of the best ways to ensure you are purchasing a quality CBD product.

Conclusion

When it comes to cannabis, the whole is clearly greater than the sum of its parts.

Despite the fact that CBD and THC have many potent healing properties on their own, the combination of these two (and other) cannabinoids is the ideal course of therapy for many cannabis patients. CBD may have the widest known breadth of conditions treated among the cannabinoids, but THC is certainly no slouch in that regard either.

And, let’s not forget, the psychoactive properties of THC add a recreational overlay to your therapy. Not bad for a side benefit!

This article originally appeared on Benzinga.

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