Trump’s words hold lots of real world sway, so when he releases a video that pretty explicitly endorses CBD as a medical tool for older citizens, this is going to be taken seriously.
Due to this, Stanford Medicine has kindly created a list of important things to consider when new to cannabis, even adorned with a nice little AI picture of hands gently holding a newly plucked weed plant.
Here are the five things to keep in mind:
- Do not over consume
Potency is certainly higher than it was 30 or 40 years ago. What’s nice, however, is that when you walk into a dispensary, there is typically a kind young person happy to guide you to the product that best suits your needs. So be careful of anything higher than 20% if you’re just starting out.
2. There are some health risks
Cannabis still carries some health risks, especially for older people. This includes heart disease and a serious undercutting of a sharp memory.
3. It can be addictive, just not physically
While you won’t have any physical withdrawal symptoms that would be fatal, cannabis addiction is a real thing. Or more common, cannabis dependency can occur and really make it difficult to ween off. This often happens when someone relies on marijuana for going to sleep, but can occur in any situation.
4. It can be really helpful!
Cannabis is getting more and more firm research into it’s positive effects on chronic pain and anxiety. Nothing is conclusive yet, and some studies do contradict some of these findings, but there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence out there showing it’s benefits.
5. Really ask questions before getting into anything
Here’s the typical advice you hear about anything in the medical field: really consult before you dive in. That includes doctors, but also your local budtender. They’ll have a much better understanding of all of the strains and their differences. The marijuana plant has a vast amount of characteristics depending on where you’re standing, and there are so many ways in which it can be used. So, ask questions, figure out why you want it, and go from there!
Read the original story at Stanford Medicine.
