The Pros and Cons of Smoking Hemp
A lot of people don’t know the difference between hemp and marijuana. In case you are wondering if the two have a difference, the answer is yes! When you are smoking marijuana, the dominant component is THC, which is the chemical compound in weed that gets you high.
When it comes to hemp, the THC levels drop to 0.03% or less. This is the legal percentage of THC in hemp, and instead, the higher component is cannabidiol. It is also abbreviated as CBD and is one of the major medicinal components of hemp. So, hemp is not meant to get you high, rather it has other benefits.
You can consume hemp in various ways, from consuming edibles to smoking, vaping, using hemp oil products, and so on.
Below are some of the pros and cons of smoking hemp.
Pros
While most people smoke weed to get high, smoking hemp gives off different benefits. And below are some of the pros of smoking hemp.
Pain Relieving
One of the biggest benefits of smoking hemp is that it helps relieve pain. And the good thing is that it does not intoxicate you, so it eases your pain without altering the state of your mind. This is one of the reasons it is often prescribed to elderly people suffering from joint pain and other pain caused by inflammation.
The CBD component in hemp is thought to interact with glycine receptors, it counters the pain signals it produces and prevents them from being sent to the brain. Another way that hemp helps relieve pain is through managing and preventing inflammation. Inflammation not only causes pain in the body but also oxidative stress, smoking high CBD hemp helps alleviate this pain.
Alleviating Stress and Anxiety
This is one of the biggest uses of CBD rich hemp.
There is a part of your system known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is responsible for helping you modulate anxiety, stress, and fear. But if that system gets overstimulated it increases stress and anxiety, and that is where CBD comes in. When you smoke hemp, the CDB component reaches the endocannabinoid system and helps to balance it while preventing overstimulation. The effects of this help to manage your stress and anxiety.
Better Sleep
Smoking hemp is also a good solution for sleeping problems. A major downside for most sleeping medications is that they are addictive, and this is the advantage smoking hemp has over them. The CBD content in hemp interacts with your sleep receptors that influence your sleeping and waking patterns.
This helps adjust these patterns improving your sleep. Besides, some people also find it difficult to sleep because of pain, stress, or anxiety. Luckily, CBD can help alleviate all these problems and give you better sleep.
Stronger Bones
As you grow older, your bones grow weak and more fragile. This makes you prone to bone-related diseases later in life like arthritis and so on. Furthermore, the body produces an enzyme that is responsible for these diseases, but CBD helps block its production. It also boosts the healing of bones after an injury as well regeneration, with the overall result being stronger and healthier bones.
High Bioavailability
Smoking hemp is better on your pocket than orally consuming it because of the high bioavailability. In most cases, the bioavailability of smoking hemp exceeds 25%, and other cases could even be up to 50%, which is higher than the other forms of consuming it. High bioavailability means that when you smoke hemp, most of it quickly gets absorbed into your system. But with other methods of consumption, a lot of it gets wasted since it is not all absorbed into the body. So if you want to get the most out of your hemp, smoke it!
Better Alternative for Tobacco
Another advantage of smoking hemp is that it is a great alternative for tobacco. Tobacco has many negative side effects, and it can also be fatal. While it can be addictive, smoking hemp can help you quit it. It helps to gradually reduce the urge to smoke tobacco, and eventually quit.
Takes Effect Fast
This is in comparison to consuming hemp edibles or other products. When you smoke hemp, the CBD reaches your bloodstream faster than when consumed orally. Perhaps you want to ease pain, so instead of eating an edible and waiting for 30 minutes or more for the hemp to take effect, smoking you will give off faster results, sometimes the effects can be felt in just a couple of minutes.
Affordability
This is not a direct benefit of smoking hemp, but buying hemp flowers, pre-rolls or other smokables is quite affordable when compared to buying hemp edibles. Even better you get value for your money thanks to the high bioavailability of smoking it.
Cons
Smoking hemp has a handful of pros, but it also has its downsides and below are some of them.
Interacts With Prescription Medication
A disadvantage of smoking hemp is that it can interact with prescription medications. So, if you are on medication, then it is advisable not to smoke hemp before consulting a medical professional. Unless it is a prescription from your physician, don’t smoke hemp while taking other prescription medications.
Affects Lungs
Generally, any kind of smoke is bad for your lungs. Smoking hemp, even though it has multiple benefits to the body, may affect your lungs and irritate them. However, it is considered safe but if you are suffering from a lung disease, consider other options.
Risks Inhaling Toxins
Just like most substances, when hemp is burned toxins are released from the combustion. These toxins are harmful to the body and are often inhaled together with the smoke, and this can damage cells.
To Sum it Up
Everything that has a good side has an ugly one. Not to say that smoking hemp is bad, but while you will benefit significantly, it is good to know how it will affect you negatively. If you are using it for medicinal purposes, consult your physician first for a prescription. Good thing is that it does not have the ugly side effects associated with medication meant for pain, stress, anxiety and other health problems.
The Pros and Cons of Smoking Hemp
A lot of people don’t know the difference between hemp and marijuana. In case you are wondering if the two have a difference, the answer is yes! When you are smoking marijuana, the dominant component is THC, which is the chemical compound in weed that gets you high.
When it comes to hemp, the THC levels drop to 0.03% or less. This is the legal percentage of THC in hemp, and instead, the higher component is cannabidiol. It is also abbreviated as CBD and is one of the major medicinal components of hemp. So, hemp is not meant to get you high, rather it has other benefits.
You can consume hemp in various ways, from consuming edibles to smoking, vaping, using hemp oil products, and so on.
Below are some of the pros and cons of smoking hemp.
Pros
While most people smoke weed to get high, smoking hemp gives off different benefits. And below are some of the pros of smoking hemp.
Pain Relieving
One of the biggest benefits of smoking hemp is that it helps relieve pain. And the good thing is that it does not intoxicate you, so it eases your pain without altering the state of your mind. This is one of the reasons it is often prescribed to elderly people suffering from joint pain and other pain caused by inflammation.
The CBD component in hemp is thought to interact with glycine receptors, it counters the pain signals it produces and prevents them from being sent to the brain. Another way that hemp helps relieve pain is through managing and preventing inflammation. Inflammation not only causes pain in the body but also oxidative stress, smoking high CBD hemp helps alleviate this pain.
Alleviating Stress and Anxiety
This is one of the biggest uses of CBD rich hemp.
There is a part of your system known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is responsible for helping you modulate anxiety, stress, and fear. But if that system gets overstimulated it increases stress and anxiety, and that is where CBD comes in. When you smoke hemp, the CDB component reaches the endocannabinoid system and helps to balance it while preventing overstimulation. The effects of this help to manage your stress and anxiety.
Better Sleep
Smoking hemp is also a good solution for sleeping problems. A major downside for most sleeping medications is that they are addictive, and this is the advantage smoking hemp has over them. The CBD content in hemp interacts with your sleep receptors that influence your sleeping and waking patterns.
This helps adjust these patterns improving your sleep. Besides, some people also find it difficult to sleep because of pain, stress, or anxiety. Luckily, CBD can help alleviate all these problems and give you better sleep.
Stronger Bones
As you grow older, your bones grow weak and more fragile. This makes you prone to bone-related diseases later in life like arthritis and so on. Furthermore, the body produces an enzyme that is responsible for these diseases, but CBD helps block its production. It also boosts the healing of bones after an injury as well regeneration, with the overall result being stronger and healthier bones.
High Bioavailability
Smoking hemp is better on your pocket than orally consuming it because of the high bioavailability. In most cases, the bioavailability of smoking hemp exceeds 25%, and other cases could even be up to 50%, which is higher than the other forms of consuming it. High bioavailability means that when you smoke hemp, most of it quickly gets absorbed into your system. But with other methods of consumption, a lot of it gets wasted since it is not all absorbed into the body. So if you want to get the most out of your hemp, smoke it!
Better Alternative for Tobacco
Another advantage of smoking hemp is that it is a great alternative for tobacco. Tobacco has many negative side effects, and it can also be fatal. While it can be addictive, smoking hemp can help you quit it. It helps to gradually reduce the urge to smoke tobacco, and eventually quit.
Takes Effect Fast
This is in comparison to consuming hemp edibles or other products. When you smoke hemp, the CBD reaches your bloodstream faster than when consumed orally. Perhaps you want to ease pain, so instead of eating an edible and waiting for 30 minutes or more for the hemp to take effect, smoking you will give off faster results, sometimes the effects can be felt in just a couple of minutes.
Affordability
This is not a direct benefit of smoking hemp, but buying hemp flowers, pre-rolls or other smokables is quite affordable when compared to buying hemp edibles. Even better you get value for your money thanks to the high bioavailability of smoking it.
Cons
Smoking hemp has a handful of pros, but it also has its downsides and below we list a few of the main downsides.
Interacts With Prescription Medication
A disadvantage of smoking hemp is that it can interact with prescription medications. So, if you are on medication, then it is advisable not to smoke hemp before consulting a medical professional. Unless it is a prescription from your physician, don’t smoke hemp while taking other prescription medications.
Affects Lungs
Generally, any kind of smoke is bad for your lungs. Smoking hemp, even though it has multiple benefits to the body, may affect your lungs and irritate them. However, it is considered safe but if you are suffering from a lung disease, consider other options.
Risks Inhaling Toxins
Just like most substances, when hemp is burned toxins are released from the combustion. These toxins are harmful to the body and are often inhaled together with the smoke, and this can damage cells.
To Sum it Up
Everything that has a good side has an ugly one. Not to say that smoking hemp is bad, but while you will benefit significantly, it is good to know how it will affect you negatively. If you are using it for medicinal purposes, consult your physician first for a prescription. Good thing is that it does not have the ugly side effects associated with medication meant for pain, stress, anxiety and other health problems.
