by Chris Conrad
We can all be inspired by the courageous example of patriots who risk everything to help patients in the darkest hours of prohibition. Just as slavery was the great injustice of nineteenth-century America, so the Drug War is the defining injustice of this century. Dennis Peron, Valerie Corral, Joanne McKee, Johann Moore, and hundreds of others who openly provide medical marijuana to patients today are the moral descendants of those who once operated the Underground Railroad to rescue African Americans from slavery. Society must learn to recognize the personal dignity and humanity not only of patients, but of all people.
It is no mere coincidence that this book ushers in a new wave of research at the state, federal, and private sectors. Interest in the medical uses of cannabis is expanding at a dizzying pace. Access to hashish, cannabindon (resin extract), tinctures, and other forms of cannabinoids will eventually open still more areas of research. However, the new must always be viewed in the context of what has gone before, so I offer this foundation in hopes that it will trigger further investigations into the therapeutic value of Cannabis sativa, true hemp. Perhaps you who read these words will make the next discovery that changes the history of cannabis medicine. The possibilities are wide open, and the future is being written one day at a time.
Hemp for health!
Overall Effects of Resinous Cannabis
The brain absorbs THC through unique receptor sites that affect different body systems, triggering a chain of temporary psychological and physiological effects. Initially it has a stimulant effect, followed by relaxation and overall reduction in stress. May cause drowsiness or anxiety. Analgesic effect. Blocks migraine and seizures. Enhances sense of well-being.
Appendix A:
Getting Started with Cannabis Therapy
Name: Hemp, cannabis, medical marijuana.
Scientific name: Cannabis sativa L.
Parts used: Flowering tops, resin, seeds, extracts and cannabinoid analogs.
Dosage: Use only as required to mitigate symptoms. Start very small and build up.
Synergistic effects: Combination with alcohol increases some effects of both drugs. One should not perform any hazardous activity when using cannabis and alcohol simultaneously. Coffee or caffeinated beverages help overcome the drowsiness that sometimes accompanies cannabis use. Calamus is smoked with cannabis in Ayurvedic medicine to add “clarity” and offset some of the effects on the memory, brain, and liver.
Contraindications: Exercise extreme caution if prone to schizophrenic episodes or epileptic seizures, or if suffering from heart conditions. Reduce dosage or discontinue use if excess drowsiness or sense of disorientation interferes with ability to function. Not recommended during pregnancy.
Effective doses: Dosage varies with personal tolerance, herb potency, and the condition being treated. In general, it is better to start with low doses and work your way up as needed. Clinically effective oral doses for the relief of nausea start at 5–10 mg THC. Quality marijuana typically ranges from 4 to 10 percent THC. A single cigarette is usually enough for several doses. At 4 percent THC, each one-gram joint contains 40 mg THC, up to half of which may be destroyed by heat or lost as escaping smoke. Not all THC that is inhaled will be absorbed by the lungs. Each dose lasts two to four hours. Eating cannabis releases the active compounds more slowly through the digestive process. This requires more cannabis to be consumed, with its effects lasting two or more times as long as smoked herb, depending on the rate of gastrointestinal absorption. About one-half to one gram of cannabis per oral dose is standard, but this varies widely according to herbal potency. No standard dose has been established for CBD or other non-marijuana cannabis compounds.
Toxicity: Occasionally, people may get too resinated for their personal comfort, but their bodies will still function fairly normally. Simply put, cannabis is nontoxic. The low toxicity of THC is evident in its widespread use by millions of people without a single death ever by overdose, and very few reports of anything even approaching lethal overdose. About one gram of THC per 1,000 grams of body weight is projected as being its potential LD-50, meaning a lethal dose for 50 percent of any group of organisms that consume this amount. This means that an aver-age-sized human being would have to consume 50–100 grams of pure THC in just a few hours to reach that level: anywhere from one and three-quarters to four U.S. ounces of the isolated compound. Since high-potency cannabis is only about 10 percent THC, a person would have to eat a minimum of one or two pounds of top-grade marijuana within a couple of hours to have even half a chance of dying from it. Accounting for heat and smoke loss, one would have to smoke at least twice that much. In short, a potentially lethal dose of THC is several thousand times more than its effective medical dose. For alcohol, the difference is only about twenty times, and other common nonprescription drugs, such as aspirin, have similarly narrow margins of safety.1 This is why cannabis has been determined to be “one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.”2
Additional warnings: 1) Smoke causes minor bronchial irritation that can lead to bronchitis in extreme cases. 2) Extra caution is recommended for novice users. 3) Avoid driving and operating heavy equipment. 4) Nonaddictive, but may be habit forming. 5) Current drug policy may result in arrest of patient and practitioner, criminal prosecution, asset seizure, separation from family, and longterm imprisonment.
HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR CANNABIS CONSUMERS
The herb should be in good condition. Remove all the seeds and as much stem as is practical. There are no medicinal compounds in either of these. Separate out the bigger leaves for cooking, and manicure the buds to your preferred condition. Store the herb in a sealed jar and keep cool and dark, if possible, to maximize shelf life. The buds should be cured and dried to a moisture content of 10 to 15 percent. Never store damp cannabis, because it can ferment, mold, or decompose. Herb should be kept dry enough to prevent fermentation and avoid the development of fungus. The most likely secondary health risk identified with smoking cannabis is that of aspergillus mold exposed to people with compromised immune systems. Suspect cannabis should be heated in an oven for three minutes or more at a temperature of 220°F (104°C). Alternatively, it can be microwaved at high power for at least a minute, as a precaution. This will kill the bacteria without affecting potency. It will also overdry the herb, which will make it burn hotter as a result, so don’t overdo it.
Eating resinous cannabis does not irritate the lungs like smoking does, but it has many of the same therapeutic benefits. The overall effect can be very different, sometimes making the patient feel more tired than smoking does. There are important differences between the two methods, in terms of gauging dosage, speed of onset of the benefits, and duration of the effects. During digestion, the liver hydroxylates THC, increasing the potency. So, when eating cannabis it’s possible to use lesser quality herb and higher quality cannabis leaf to gain added value from the garden. This also works for consuming CBD, which is more prevalent in less potent cannabis. However, because it’s easy for the patient to accidentally eat too much cannabis, always start with a smaller dose than you think, and wait at least two hours before taking in another small amount, if needed.
Don’t touch your lips to a shared joint or pipe. This is a definite way to transfer germs between individuals. Whenever possible, don’t share smoking utensils, particularly not with anyone whom you know is contagious. Always allow the glue on a joint to dry completely so that bacteria will not be transmitted. Each patient should have their own joint or smoking device, if possible. If you find yourself in a social setting where people pass a joint around in a group, hold it so that your lips only touch your own fingers, not directly on the paper which has been in contact with anyone else’s mouth. Also use your fingers like this to smoke a shared pipe. A relatively safe way to share a pipe is to use a chimney-like pipe called a chillum, which smokers hold upright in their cupped hands. In India, Sadhus also wrap a piece of cloth around the base of the chillum to filter out particulate matter. A patien
t can hold a joint like a chillum as it is smoked, also, which adds a cosmopolitan atmosphere and makes the experience safer for everyone.
Don’t get burned. The small remains of a burning joint, called a roach, can be relatively hazardous, particularly if the joint has been rolled too loosely. Many patients have had the unpleasant experience of burning their fingers while trying to take that last precious puff on a roach. Even worse is to inhale the burning embers of cannabis itself, which can occur from either a joint that is breaking apart or a pipe that is smoked without a screen. These painful burns can last for days. There are several ways to avoid this problem. One is to use a paper card-stock filter, like they do in Europe—often a piece torn from a matchbook, cigarette paper packaging, or a business card. Use only clean, nontoxic materials to make a filter. This does a double service. It ensures that there is something left to hold onto all the way through the smoking process, which protects your fingers, and it creates a barrier against any stray cinders that might otherwise have been inhaled. If a piece of punctured aluminum foil is used as a pipe screen, heat it up before using it so that any oxidation of the metal occurs before you inhale through it.
Take in enough air with the smoke. It can be difficult to keep moist hemp flowers or the concentrated resins burning at a steady rate, especially when rolled into a joint. Once the smoking technique has been mastered, many people learn to savor and enjoy the sweet flavor of gourmet cannabis smoke. With experience, the patient learns that by taking in some fresh air from the side of the mouth, they can moderate the density of the smoke they inhale. Many smoking pipes now come with a small air hole that can be blocked with the finger or opened to regulate the mixture of smoke to outside air. This ventilating hole is called a carburetor, like in a car engine. It allows the smoker to concentrate the smoke into a chamber, exhale and then take in all that smoke at once, and finally let in fresh air at the end of the inhalation to clear out the pipe stem and chamber.
Don’t hold smoke in your lungs very long. It doesn’t make much difference in terms of medicinal intake. The most active interchange of medical compounds occurs almost immediately as the smoke is taken into the lungs. The bronchodilation effect relaxes the muscles and expands the bronchial tubes within the lung, which transfers cannabinoids into the bloodstream very efficiently. This process occurs within a matter of seconds, after which the ratio of potentially destructive compounds increases. In other words, holding the smoke longer increases the health risks more than it increases the THC intake.
Don’t mix cannabis with tobacco. This may seem obvious in America, but it is common practice in Europe. Tobacco is treated with chemicals that help the cannabis burn more smoothly, but I highly discourage mixing the two. Tobacco smoke is deadly and does severe damage throughout the lungs. Furthermore, tobacco blocks several health benefits of cannabis. For example, cannabis is a vasodilator, and tobacco is a vasoconstrictor. Cannabis is a bronchodilator, tobacco is a bronchoconstrictor. Cannabis stimulates appetite, tobacco suppresses it. Cannabis is an overall relaxant, and tobacco is an overall stimulant. The difference is like day and night.
Consider using a “bong” or water pipe. Many smokers feel that the bong ensures maximum efficiency in the smoking process. These smoking systems cool the smoke and filter out any ash that may be sucked through the bowl of the pipe. This allows the patient to inhale a larger dose of smoke. Small-sized bowls that hold a single hit, or inhalation of smoke, reduce smoke loss into the air and economize the use of cannabis. Although there is also some loss of active compounds into the water, it is not a critical amount. Do not, however, filter cannabis smoke through wine or any other alcoholic beverage, because the oil-based active compounds will dissolve in the alcohol, resulting in a higher loss of medical benefits. Resist the temptation to drink the bong water. Not only does it taste horrible, but most of the stuff that it has filtered out is not anything you want to consume, anyway.
Use solar energy to light up. Sulfur from matches, carbon monoxide from butane lighters, soot from candles—who needs them? On a sunny day, a patient can use a good magnifying glass to focus sunlight directly onto the cannabis in their pipe or cigarette and ignite the herb with none of these harmful byproducts. Don’t stare at the point of combustion too long, though; it can cause a temporary sun spot in your vision.
Vaporize the resin. The most active cannabis compounds are rare in the vegetative matter but concentrated in the resin glands. These glands are actually a thick, oily compound that heats up, liquefies, boils, and turns into vapor without combusting. This occurs at a lower temperature than that at which the plant’s lignocellulose starts to burn and give off smoke. Therefore, by maintaining the correct temperature range, it is possible to consume most of the active compounds without ever igniting the herb, which oxidizes the carbons and forms ash and cinder. This occurs in the 300° to 400°F temperature range, but varies according to the altitude, diameter of the bowl, distance between the heat source and the herb, and so on. The process should be visually monitored so that only a transparent vapor is rising from the cannabis, not thick smoke. Paintstripping heat guns can be adjusted to achieve the optimum temperature. Several vaporizers are now on the specialty market, which collect the fumes in a chamber to be inhaled once there is enough vapor for a measured hit.
This is by far the cleanest way to inhale the fumes, producing a sweet but subtle aroma and flavor. Because vaporization is so clean, patients may not realize that they’ve taken in as much as they have, so go easy with it. After a few tries, you’ll come to recognize the burnt taste that means the resin has been vaporized and the flower itself is beginning to roast. Resist the temptation to continue beyond this point, or it’s back to smoking. When the resin is gone, the bud’s interior begins to look light brown, its structure becomes weak and powdery dry, and it begins to crumble. Even though the bud may still look good, the leftover plant matter should not be smoked. It is not yet clear how this affects the proportion of cannabinoids being consumed, so some people use the leftovers for baking. I recommend composting it.
Appendix B: Cannabis Therapy Reference Table
Appendix C:
Recipes for Hempier Health
HEMPSEED RECIPES
Mellow Vinaigrette
This salad dressing highlights the naturally nutty flavor of hempseed oil. It is ideal for green salads, pasta salads, or other cold dishes. Do not cook with hempseed oil, as the healthful EFAs are broken down by heat. Mix 2/3 c. hempseed oil, 1 tbs. balsamic vinegar, 1 tbs. lime juice, 1 tbs. orange juice, a pinch of cumin, and a pinch of salt together in a glass jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
The following recipes are from the Hemp Seed Cookbook, by Carol Miller and Don Wirtshafter. It can be ordered from The Ohio Hempery by calling 1-800-BUY-HEMP.
Hempseed Meal: the basis of hemp cooking
First wash the seeds several times. Select only the seeds that float. Immediately dry roast in a heavy skillet on top of the stove, or at a low temperature (250–300°F) in the oven. Roasting will take 5 to 10 minutes. You will know they are done when they stop popping and begin to smell like roasted nuts. Avoid French roasting. Cool the seeds and grind. Any grain grinder, nut grinder, or coffee mill will work. To reduce the coarse texture of the hulls, you may want to flash blend the toasted seeds briefly, then sift out the fragments. For a buttery texture, you may want to grind twice.
Hempseed and Walnut Loaf
In 2 tbs. olive oil, saute 1 c. chopped herbs (oregano, cilantro, parsley, basil—any or all), 1 lb. chopped onions, 1 c. chopped mushrooms, 1 c. chopped carrots, 1 c. chopped cabbage (or chard, zucchini, or other seasonal vegetables), ½ c. chopped celery, and 4 crushed garlic cloves. Add and mix together: 1 c. hempseed meal, 3 c. walnuts, 1 c. cooked rice (part wild rice is nice), 3 tbs. tamari or soy sauce, 1 lb. mashed tofu, ½ c. nutritional yeast. Press into 9" x 13" baking dish. Sprinkle with a thick layer of nutritional yeast. Bake for 35 minutes at 325°F, or at 300°F in a glass baking dish. Cut
into squares. Smother with mushroom gravy. Optional additions: 1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded; 4–6 eggs, beaten. Serves 12–16.
Hempseed Chocolate-Almond Torte
Whip ¾ c. butter or margarine. Beat in 6 egg yolks, one at a time. Mix in 1 c. melted chocolate chips, 1¾ c. ground almonds (about 1 lb.), ½–¾ c. hempseed meal. Beat until stiff: 6 egg whites. Fold in. Put into two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans. Bake for 10 minutes at 375°F. Lower heat to 325°F and bake for another 20 minutes. Cool before frosting. Serves 12–16.
Porridge (Gruel)
In a small pan, combine: 1 c. toasted, ground hempseed and 2 c. water, or more if you prefer. Heat to boiling, then turn heat down and cook 5–10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until it is the consistency you want. Sweeten with maple syrup or honey and serve with milk.
The following recipes are from Roger Christie’s Gourmet Hempseed Cookbook.
Hemp Smoothie
Place ½ c. roasted hempseeds, 2 ripe (or frozen) bananas, ½ c. plain or vanilla yogurt, and fresh or frozen fruit of your choice in a blender with 3 inches of water or fruit juice. Blend thoroughly for a delicious, nutritious protein drink. What a way to start the day!
Hemp ‘N Honey Spread
In a serving bowl, mix 1 c. roasted ground hempseed with enough fertile hempseed oil (or olive oil) to moisten the mixture; add honey to taste. Spread on bread or crackers or use as dip.