Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at what makes hemp oil different from CBD oil, how to make your own cannabis tea, using marijuana to suppress your appetite—yes, you read that right— and more. Enjoy.
Spotlight on Hemp Oil and CBD
Chances are the next time you go to your local CBD shop—or convenience store—you’ll find both hemp oil and CBD oil products for sale. While similar in some ways they are different, both in the way they are made and in their potential benefits when used.
Brandon Dorfman , writing for the website Pot Network, explains that hemp oil is made from the seeds of the hemp plant. It is extremely low in THC, which means it does not produce even mild intoxication.
Dorfman notes that hemp oil contains a wide range of nutrients, such as magnesium, potassium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fats, and vitamin E. Low in saturated fats it can make for an excellent ingredient when cooking and many think it contributes to their well being.
Because of its high nutrient content it can also be used externally as a moisturizer and skin care product. Some say the linoleic acid and oleic acids found in hemp oil can help to make it an effective component in a skin care and anti-aging regimen.
Meanwhile, CBD oil is produced from the entire cannabis plant—not just the seeds—and can be made in several different ways. The most common method involves solvent extraction, using a solvent, such as butane or alcohol, to separate out the cannabinoids from the plant.
CBD can be used in a variety of ways, from capsules to oils and or creams. Many consumers use it as an aid for relaxation and sleep or to manage anxiety or to address inflammation or various aches and pains.
To learn more, visit Brandon Dorfman’s article in the April 30, 2020 edition of the website Pot Network.
www.potnetwork.com/news/explainer-whats-difference-between-cbd-oil-and-hemp-oil
Making You Own Cannabis Tea
Before there were hipsters and hippies there were beatniks. These outsiders were seen by mainstream culture to be attracted to coffee houses, poetry, jazz, goatees and berets—and in some cases, marijuana. However, in the slang of the day, many referred to it as “tea”—and for good reason.
Cannabis can be used to brew a pot of tea that takes the chill off of the day, in more ways than one. Lauren Yoshiko, writing for Thrillist, makes the point that making a pot of cannabis tea can be a way to help manage the “sedentary anxiety” many currently find themselves in, particularly if they are in an environment where smoking would be inconvenient.
Her ingredients for making three mug-sized cups of tea call for 1 gram of ground cannabis, 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter or coconut oil, a teabag of your choosing (she thinks classic English Breakfast is always good), 4 cups of water and any other ingredients for flavor such as honey, milk, sugar or cinnamon.
She cautions one should not drive or operate serious machinery within two hours of consuming. Yoshiko also suggests that the tea will be digested like an edible, so it’s important to be patient when waiting for it to take effect . That’s why butter is part of the recipe, it will help your body digest the THC and other cannabinoids. Depending on whether you’ve eaten recently and your body’s metabolism, it could take up to an hour and a half to feel effects.
We have found Lauren Yoshiko’s writing to be entertaining and informative and this article is no exception. You can find her detailed recipe for cannabis tea in the May 15, 2020 issue of Thrillist.
www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/how-to-make-cannabis-tea-recipe
Quote of the Week
“I just found cannabis was a wonderful pain reliever. I used it for my entire sports career. All the world championship titles, everything that I achieved, I used cannabis on a daily basis.” Frank Alisio Juarez III, AKA Frank Shamrock. An author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and social activist, he was the first fighter to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship and retired a four-time defending undefeated champion.
The quote is taken from an article by Sam Riches in the May 15, 2020 edition of The Growth Op. In the article Shamrock acknowledged that since he has stopped fighting and moved into broadcasting he no longer uses cannabis for pain management but continues to advocate for its use as a way to treat pain.
Stat of the Week
When it comes to the effect that being in quarantine has had on those who regularly use cannabis it seems that some things have changed, while others, not so much.
That’s the word from AmericanMarijuana.org. The organization conducted a survey that involved 1,017 US cannabis consumers to examine the effect COVID-19—particularly being in quarantine—had on their cannabis-smoking habits.
The survey found 29.28 percent of respondents said they smoked more cannabis while 26.50 percent said they smoked less. The survey also found 28.04 percent of the 1,017 US cannabis consumers polled reported they switched to other methods of consuming cannabis, such as oils and edibles.
To learn more about what the survey found you can read Dwight K. Blake’s article for American Marijuana. It appeared in the May 6, 2020 issue of Benzinga.
Using Cannabis To Manage Your Appetite
Whether or not you use cannabis you are probably familiar with the stereotype of the “stoner” who succumbs to “the munchies”—the compulsion to devour junk food in all of its caloric glory.
While it’s true cannabis can be used to boost appetite, it turns out that may not always be the case. In fact, according to Adam Drury, reporting for WeedMaps News, researchers are taking a close look at what he describes as a lesser known cannabinoid—THCV—that may actually help to suppress hunger.
Drury writes that researchers are exploring a variety of uses for THCV, ranging from suppressing appetite in people struggling to lose weight, to regulating blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes and even helping to address the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Drury notes that THCV itself is not psychoactive and even appears to slightly reduce the psychoactive effects of THC. He also suggests THCV’s ability to quiet the pangs of problematic munchies make it a worthy companion to diet and exercise.
So far growers and producers have found it difficult to isolate THCV and use it to produce cannabis products. However, Drury points out there are strains of cannabis that are naturally high in THCV content, most of which originate in Africa. For those who wish to explore the benefits of the cannabinoid on their own, and have access to a dispensary, he suggests looking for strains such as Durban Poison, Doug’s Varin, Pink Boost Goddess, Pineapple Purps and Jack the Ripper. All are said to have a robust amount of THCV.
To learn more, visit Adam Drury’s article for WeedMaps News which appeared in the January 17, 2020 edition of WeedMaps News. It also appeared in the April 28, 2020 issue of Benzinga.
weedmaps.com/news/2020/01/high-thcv-strains-you-should-know-about/
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com or at 347-528-8753.
