Cannabis is an annual flowering plant, which has been used recreationally and as a herbal remedy for centuries.

Brewing as tea Capsules or suppositories
Eating it raw
Edibles such as cookies, candies, etc.
Inhalation such as vaping or smoking
Oils
Spreads (e.g on a cracker)
Tinctures / liquid extracts
Topical treatment such as lotions, transdermal patches, etc.

Smoking or inhaling will bring about the fastest onset of cannabis, which is useful for quick relief of symptoms. The effects will typically take place within minutes and last between 1-4 hours.

Tictures / extracts: by placing several drops in the mouth and holding it there for a short amount of time, the extract will get absorbed by the blood vessels and have an approximate onset time of 15min, with a duration of 2-6 hours.

Topical treatment by applying a cannabis lotion to the area directly. This method is excellent for treating local pain or inflammation, without the psychoactive effects of cannabis.

Ingesting: Consuming products containing cannabis by mouth, will have the slowest onset and can take up to two hours to begin feeling any effect (caution must be taken to avoid ingesting too much during this waiting period). Although edibles may have the slowest onset, they have the longest duration, ranging from approximately 4-10 hours (and in some cases even longer). The type of edible will also determine the time it takes to feel the effect, with hard candies acting quicker.

The most common group strains are: Pure (which are rare) or hybrid.

The two most common hybrids are Indica and Sativa.

The terms indica, sativa, and hybrid are commonly used when discussing cannabis strains. These three types primarily refer to the various plant shapes and their effects.

Typically, cannabis Indica plants are short, bushy plants with wide leaves, which produce higher CBD and lower THC levels.

Sativa strains grow tall and thin with narrow leaves, and typically have lower CBD and higher THC levels.

Indica and Sativa strains are known to have subjectively different effects on users.

Sativa is known for improving your mood, as well as uplifting, energizing and producing psychoactive effects, also known as a “high”.

Indica is known for being more relaxing and helps with pain. It is also used as a sedative.

Then there are hybrids of the two, which offer a balance of indica and sativa effects.

There are hundreds of chemical compounds that make up the cannabis plant, with cannabinoids being the more prominent ones. At the moment, there are over 140 cannabinoids known to researchers, which exhibit varied effects. Two of the best-known, most abundant and widely studied cannabinoids are THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), which are credited for the cannabis’ plant therapeutic effects.

Each cannabis product will contain varying amounts of THC and CBD, which will account for the differing therapeutic uses based on the ratio of one to the other.

THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis and produces a euphoric effect. It makes a person feel hungry, less anxious and produces a “high” sensation. It relieves symptoms such as pain and nausea, in addition to acting as a muscle relaxant and sleep aid.

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid known to alleviate anxiety, pain, inflammation, depression, and many other medical conditions. Some people prefer to use CBD because of the lack of side effects. However, in many treatments it is essential to incorporate various levels of both CBD and THC, to arrive at the desired therapeutic result.

The effects of cannabis on a user, are mainly attributed to the complex combinations of its cannabinoids (THC & CBD), flavonoids, and terpenes that take place in the plant’s trichomes.

Trichomes are the hairs found on the surface of plants. Cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes are all produced inside the trichome cells, which are therefore responsible for producing the known properties and effects of the cannabis plant.

Terpenes are organic compounds responsible for the flavors and aroma of cannabis (as well as in other plants). Research is currently underway testing terpene content, in order to better understand its role in various cannabis strains and its support of cannabinoids in producing desired therapeutic effects. Some of the most common terpenes in the cannabis plant produce distinctive flavors such as citrus, berry, mint, and pine. There are over 100 different types of terpenes in cannabis varieties, with some of the more common ones being: Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, Terpinolene, Pinene, Humulene, Ocimene and Linalool.

The primary function of flavonoids is to provide color pigmentation in plants and flowers. Flavonoids also work synergistically with terpenes to provide the aroma and flavor found in cannabis. Unfortunately, flavonoids aren’t as well-researched as their terpene and cannabinoid counterparts, therefore far more research is required to conclusively determine whether flavonoids enhance the properties of cannabinoids.

The endocannabinoid system also known as ECS, is a messenger and receptor system, integral to homeostasis in our bodies (the process of maintaining a stable and balanced internal environment in our body). It was discovered by researchers approximately 30 years ago. From embryonic development, just about every function in the human body is somehow influenced or modulated by the ECS.

The ECS interacts with endocannabinoids found in cannabis, which is the reason cannabis can provide medicinal benefits for so many symptoms. You can think of it as a switchboard functioning in physiological processes throughout the body, directing, correcting and overall managing our health.

“medical cannabis” is the term used to describe the use of the cannabis plant or chemicals within it, to relieve symptoms and treat various diseases and medical conditions.

Medical cannabis treatments can help with the following conditions:

• Alzheimer’s
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Anorexia
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Autism
• Cancer
• Cachexia
• Cerebral palsy
• Chronic pain
• Colitis
• Crohn’s
• Depression
• Epilepsy / Seizures
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• Huntington’s Disease
• Insomnia
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Migraine
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Neuropathy / Radiculopathy
• Parkinson’s Disease
• PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Spasticity
• Tourette Syndrome
• Tinnitus
& more…

The laws vary, depending on your location. Generally speaking, in most cases, you will need to consult with a doctor and receive a medical cannabis permit/certificate or ID card. You would then be able to purchase your recommended cannabis products at a store called a dispensary.

Genrally speaking, cannabis is considered safer than many other medications, and there are no recorded deaths due to an overdose of cannabis. Smoking cannabis could lead to breathing problems and entails similar health issues to that of smoking cigarettes. Therefore vaporizing (also called vaping) can serve as a safer alternative, as it is different from smoking. There is also an increased risk of having a road traffic accident when driving while under the influence of cannabis. Using cannabis while pregnant, may affect the baby’s health and development.

To reduce or prevent unwanted side effects your doctor may prescribe a low THC to CBD ratio, and increase slowly with time. Please consult with your doctor regarding the safe use of medical cannabis, and the possible side effects or risks involved. You are also welcome to book a consultation with one of Heeyl’s knowledgeable physicians to find out more.

At the turn of the 20th century, American medicine was heavily based on homeopathy and herbal medicine. U.S physicians prescribed cannabis routinely to their patients. Between 1840 and 1900 over a hundred medical journals were published by American and European researchers on cannabis and its beneficial use. However, everything changed in 1937, when the US Congress passed the first federal law restricting access to cannabis, by passing the Marijuana Tax Act. This act essentially outlawed the use of cannabis both for recreational and medical purposes, including research.

Cannabis was once one of the top three most prescribed medicines in the U.S, however within a very short amount of time it went out of use due to heavy taxation, and the prosecution of doctors who prescribed it. In 1942 it was written out of the American pharmacopeia (official book of medicinal drugs). Later on, in 1970, U.S federal law classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which makes it extremely difficult, if not almost impossible, for researchers to obtain cannabis for research purposes. It is for this main reason that research on cannabis remains vastly understudied today.

The current federal laws in the U.S are ironic, as in-order to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug, which would solve the access problems, research is necessary. However, the current laws constrain researchers’ ability to do the science necessary to determine cannabis’s medicinal benefits and their efficacy. Therefore, until federal laws in the U.S are not amended, research will continue to be lacking on cannabis and our knowledge and understanding of this complex plant will continue to be deficient. In the meantime, researchers in other countries where cannabis is legal, will continue to uncover the mysteries of this wondrous plant and its chemical profiling.