The Debate Rages On: Juicing Raw Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes
In the midst of the ever-growing debate regarding medical marijuana comes a whole new argument that may frustrate conservatives and marijuana smokers alike. It appears, according to some experts, consuming the plant in a raw, concentrated juice form may provide significantly more health benefits than smoking it . . . while drastically reducing the high that accompanies it.
One of the main reasons marijuana is faced with so much opposition (and one might say, oppression) is because it gives users a euphoric “high” that many lead to trouble. What kind of trouble? Impaired or delayed reaction time, diminished short-term memory, distorted perception; even paranoia or hallucinations can occur. So, removing the high factor almost entirely could serve as a tipping point in favor of marijuana advocates.
The Benefits
Not only does juicing cannabis greatly reduce the high, which is often seen as an unwanted side effect by those who truly need it for medicinal purposes; but it also provides a much higher concentration of therapeutically beneficial compounds. One of these compounds is Cannabidiol, or CBD, which has been clinically tested and proven to help reduce inflammation and nausea, and inhibit cancer cell growth.
How Does it Work?
How is this done? Well, there is normally a lot more CBD in marijuana than there is tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC. THC in its natural plant form is actually known as THCa, which is non-psychoactive. Upon burning the plant to smoke it, however, the THCa changes its chemical makeup to become THC, which is a psychoactive compound; and the heat also eliminates much of the CBD. Juicing the cannabis allows the THCa to remain intact, as well as the copious amounts of beneficial CBD.
One Woman’s Story
One particularly interesting case study is that of Kristen Peskuski, who had been sick throughout much of her life. Peskuski suffered from many different medical conditions and at one point was taking over 40 prescription medications each day, yet nothing ever seemed to fully treat her. It wasn’t until she began smoking medical marijuana that she discovered her ailments vanishing. After moving to California, she eventually came under the care of Dr. William Courtney, and began to take part in his raw cannabis experiments. The juiced cannabis improved her condition exponentially, leading many to believe that she was probably suffering from a biochemical disorder called cannabinoid deficiency syndrome.
The Future of Juicing Cannabis
Such positive results can seem very promising, and it may in fact be a great way to treat people suffering from lesser known conditions like in the case of Kristen Peskuski. Obviously, more clinical studies are needed to provide stronger evidence. Unfortunately, that could be a while. There are several key restrictions on the books, set by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, that prevent any real comprehensive studies to take place.
Cited Sources
Vladimirova, Laura. "Raw Cannabis Juice and the Link to Clinical Cannabinoid Deficiency." Big Buds. 19 Jan. 2012. Web. 7 May 2012.
Group, Dr. Edward. "Juicing RAW Cannabis – Eating RAW Cannabis?" Global Healing Center. 1 Mar. 2012. Web. 7 May 2012.
"Raw, Cannabis Juice the True Form of Medical Marijuana." A Cup of Green. Web.
"Juicing Raw Cannabis." The Midwest Cultivator. 29 Oct. 2011. Web. 7 May 2012.
