There is a wide range of methods and ways to consume cannabis, and each and every method is different from each other in terms of the length of the high, the intensity of the high, and the benefit of the high. You might be curious as to what happens if you eat weed. You probably have a decent idea of what it feels like when you smoke cannabis regularly or eat an edible that is infused with THC, but do you know what happens when you weed raw? We will guide you through the research on what can be experienced if you eat raw weed and we will bring up some information on why there are people that are listing cannabis as a superfood.
Does Consuming Raw Cannabis Get Me High?
The short answer to this is no, it will not get you high. Cannabis that isn’t heated won’t give you the same psychoactive effects that it does when it is heated. The primary cannabinoids in raw marijuana are THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and CBDA (cannabidiolic acid).
THCA is known to be the precursor to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and it isn’t psychoactive. THC is the cannabinoid that creates the psychoactive effects for users who consume marijuana. THCA is what turns into THC through a process known as decarboxylation.
Even though THCA isn’t psychoactive in nature, there was a study that was conducted in 2016 that found that it is pharmacologically active and can carry some therapeutic benefits as an anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and can be neuroprotective and antineoplastic. This particular study went on to conclude that consuming raw cannabis can increase the therapeutic gain of a couple of different ailments while keeping the negative side effects of THC itself to a bare minimum.
CBDA, on the other hand, is the precursor of cannabidiol (CBD) and is also not psychoactive. The wide range of benefits of CBD has been marketed all over the industry and this has caused a surge of popularity for it. The 2018 Farm Bill also removed hemp from the controlled substances list, and this only increased the popularity of this cannabinoid even more.
Initial studies have pointed to CBDA having a number of therapeutic benefits for people as well. Some of them are the reduction of nausea symptoms and the reduction of inflammation throughout the body. There has even been some proof that CBDA has displayed some anti-depressant properties on a study that was conducted on rats, but there needs to be more research done to really understand the various effects of THCA and CBDA.
After THC has been activated through heat or pressure, weed started to produce the intoxicating effects. This is a process known as decarboxylation. This is one of the main reasons why cannabis edible recipes need cannabutter in them. Because dry cannabis needs to go through that process before it can be used in the recipes. If you simply consume raw marijuana that hasn’t been heated at all, there may be some benefits in terms of health, but you won’t get the same high.
Is Raw Cannabis Considered A Superfood?
Even though raw cannabis won’t get you intoxicated, a lot of people are stating that it might potentially be the next superfood. There hasn’t been an official medical statement for what makes a superfood a superfood, but it basically refers to a food that contains a wide range of beneficial compounds that are known to be highly beneficial to someone’s health. We should take a deeper look into the different beneficial compounds that are in raw marijuana.
Raw leaves: The leaves on the marijuana plant are known to be a great source of iron, calcium, zinc, potassium, fibre, magnesium, and phosphorous. Raw leaves are also known to be high in:
Polyphenols: These are a fairly powerful antioxidant that is responsible for a lot of different health benefits.
Chlorophyll: This is the pigment in plants, that give it a bright, green colour. There have been a number of studies that have proven chlorophyll to have acne-fighting, anti-ageing, and wound-healing characteristics. Some other research has shown chlorophyll to slow down the progress of cancer growth.
Terpenes: These are what gives cannabis plants their unique aroma and there has been a number of different health benefits associated with them.
Hemp seeds: Also known as hemp hearts or shelled hemp seeds, you should be able to find these at almost any grocery store out there. Only 100 grams of hemp seeds come packed with 32 grams of protein. They are also high in vitamin B6, riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, zinc, and manganese. There is more protein and omega 3 and 6 in hemp seeds than chia or flax seeds.
Hemp seeds and hemp leaves might be hailed as the next superfood due to their high degree of omegas, antioxidants, and fibre, but there needs to be more research conducted to prove the overall benefits of consuming can marijuana.
Advocates Of Consume Raw Cannabis
Two of the main individuals that have pushed the idea of consuming raw marijuana due to its number of health benefits are Dr. William L. Courtney, and Kristen Peskuski (Courtney). They are the co-founders of Cannabis International.
In an article that was published in High Times, Peskuski talks about the terrible symptoms that she had in her vast number of chronic illnesses such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and endometriosis. She visited a host of different doctors, went through a huge array of prescriptions, and also self-medicated with cannabis and edibles. She eventually moved to California and met Dr. Courtney, who gave her the suggestion to eat raw marijuana. Courtney stated that by consuming fresh and juiced cannabis, people can greatly increase the number of cannabinoids they are able to consume without dealing with the psychoactive effects of it.
The recommendation that Dr. Courney gave was to consume 15 leaves per day and also 2 raw buds for all of his patients who were frequently sick. For Peskuski, she was eventually able to become pregnant, and this was something that her doctors told her was never possible. She consumed high doses of raw marijuana for years as part of her routine, and she states that she feels better than she has ever felt in her life.
Dr. William Courtney is now responsible for promoting the use of cannabis in people’s diets and states that 250 to 500 mg of cannabinoid acids should be an essential nutrient in people above 40 years old. On their website, he and Kristen are actively trying to remove marijuana bans in order to expand the availability of raw marijuana on a worldwide scale.
How Do You Eat Raw Cannabis?
If you have an interest in finding out if raw cannabis can benefit you in any type of way, there are certain methods you can use that will make the experience more enjoyable. For the highest concentrated option, juicing your raw marijuana is the most ideal method. Dr. Courtney has the recommendation to drink cannabis juice every couple of hours during the entire day for optimal benefits. If you are ingesting cannabis juice by itself, you will find that it is pretty bitter. It is best to use a 10-1 ratio with other fruits and vegetables involved such as carrots, apples, pineapples, cucumbers, and pears. If you want, you can also just add raw cannabis to whatever smoothies you are making and you will reap the benefits of the fibre in it.
If you don’t currently have access to raw marijuana leaves, then you can find cold-pressed hemp seed oil in a lot of mainstream grocery stores. It is widely used as an alternative to cooking oils like olive oil. Hemp seeds are also widely available and you will be able to easily find them nationwide. Many people use them in smoothies, yogurts, over salads, cereals, and even just eaten alone.
Should You Eat Raw Cannabis?
You can, without a doubt, consume raw cannabis. Many people recommend it, but if you want to get high, then you are looking in the wrong place for that. You will want to make an edible instead. But if you’re seeking a great way to get antioxidants, nutrients, and the benefits of cannabinoids, then eating raw marijuana is a great idea.
