Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the active chemical in marijuana responsible for the mind-altering effects and has grabbed the attention of many Americans. In the United States, marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes in sixteen states and Washington D.C. With this growing popularity, a demand has been made for more effective and symptom specific strains of marijuana. The two most popular types are known as Cannabis sativa and Cannabis idica. Indica strains have been known to be more of a relaxant and are commonly used to treat symptoms such as chronic pain, anxiety, tremors, and muscle spasms. The sativa strains are stimulants and have been used to relieve chronic pain, increase appetite, and relieve depression.
Along with the strain, the potency of the plant plays an important role in the effectiveness of the treatment. Since the 1970’s, when marijuana averaged approximately one percent THC, marijuana of the twenty first century has reached an average of five percent. Some of the most potent strains have reached THC levels as high as eight to ten percent. As the demand for medical marijuana increases, the effectiveness of delivering THC to the body via the endocannabinoid system has become an area of interest. Thus, researchers and scientists, along with underground marijuana farmers, are seeking to maximize the beneficial effects of THC while minimizing the risks.
The two most popular methods of delivering the THC are through smoking and oral absorption. When marijuana is smoked, THC is inhaled and is passed through the lungs’ membrane. It then enters the bloodstream, which eventually makes its way to the brain’s cannabis receptors, the ultimate goal. In oral absorption, THC is delivered to the stomach, but the process of being absorbed by the bloodstream is relatively slow. A substantial percentage of the THC is often times degraded by metabolism in the liver before it even enters the bloodstream.
The most effective way seems to be smoking; however, many health concerns have been linked to smoking. From a scientific standpoint, it only seems right that a more effective delivery method is researched. If marijuana, or more specifically THC, is to be a legal commercial drug available to the United States as a whole, it must first be able to prove reliable in the medical community.
An Unorthodox Treatment
