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As of September 2017, seven states and Washington D.C. (lead by Colorado in 2012) have legalized marijuana in the U.S. for recreational use. Despite evidence of potentially adverse health risks associated with the substance, research shows popular opinion for legalizing marijuana across the country has never been higher…and so are the triggers for marijuana addiction.
As a result of this rising popularity, more Americans today are making travel to these legalized states a part of their vacation itineraries to experience the substance first-hand.
But what should you really know about cannabis use before you pack your bags? To help provide clarity on the side effects of marijuana use you may not have heard about on TV, we studied dozens of unique strains from 115 breeders across five (legalized) states to break down the most important need-to-know information on cannabis consumption. Curious how the chemical ingredients of marijuana might affect both your mind and body or which strains might be too potent? Read on to learn more.
Side Effects of Marijuana Use
When it comes to the psychological effects of marijuana – feelings of euphoria, relaxation, or even heightened sensory perception – one chemical is in charge of how the brain reacts to this mind-altering substance: tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC for short). By stimulating brain cells to release higher levels of dopamine (the “feel good” chemical), THC affects the brain by interfering with the information processed that is responsible for creating new memories. THC can even induce hallucinations or create delusion in higher concentrations and has been linked to negative side effects including anxiety, memory lapses, and excessive heart rate. If you find yourself relying on the herb to get by, consider a detox treatment center in Florida.
According to our research of the most popular strains of marijuana available across 115 growers, we identified five known substances with both the highest percentages of THC and the lowest. Referred to as “Snoop OG”, this variation reported over a 33 percent concentration of THC on average, making it one of the most psychostimulatory options on the market. Other top ranking varieties for above-average THC content included “BB #3,” “Alien Dawg,” and “Starfighter”.
In contrast, we learned some strains of marijuana offered little to no amounts of THC content at all, which is a better choice if you’d like to curb marijuana addiction. “Charlotte’s Web” reports a .35 percent concentration of the chemical, while “Harle-Tsu,” “Medi Haze,” and “Aliens on Moonshine” were all calculated at less than five percent. Charlotte’s Web in particular is a well-known CBD-focused strain that was specifically developed to have a low-thc content.
A Balancing Act
As opposed to THC which affects psychosis in the mind, the other primary chemical component to marijuana (Cannabidiol, or CBD) is considered non-psychotropic.
Without the stimulating effects of euphoria, CBD can act as a balancing option for strains of marijuana with overly high levels of THC to help reduce some of the more undesirable side effects of marijuana use and is a great choice when in recovery. When isolated, CBD has been found to produce some positive medicinal applications including as a treatment for epilepsy, pain relief, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Still, the scientific research on CBD remains inconclusive, and some experts suggest possible side effects (including hormone imbalances) have yet to be fully identified.
Of the strains of marijuana available in states like Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, we found CBD content was especially high in five particular varieties. Referred to as “Kush Master”, the highest available concentration of CBD was 25 percent. Behind it we identified “Charlotte’s Web,” “Critical Mass,” and “Cannatonic” has having the highest composition of CBD – ranging from nearly 16 to 19 percent.
Deciphering Price Points
The cost of marijuana in cities and states where the substance has been legalized don’t just vary from dispensary to dispensary (or strain to strain) – they can be downright confusing if you don’t know what you’re looking at. Because the market for legalized marijuana is largely unregulated, knowing what you’re actually getting from a legitimate vendor can still be complicated.
While analysis suggests there’s no systematic approach to the amount of money dispensaries choose to sell their products at, attempts at comparing (and rating the value of) different strains typically focus on a few factors: terpene levels, THC content, and growing conditions. Together, these variables help determine the “quality” of what you might be buying.
Based on the products produced by 115 legalized vendors in all five states, we identified the top five strains of marijuana based on their THC content and the average amount of money spent on them. With an average THC concentration of 22 percent, “Sour Amnesia” ranked first at 3.68 percent of THC for every dollar spent (based on average price per gram). Following “Sour Amnesia”; “Fortune Cookies,” “Hash Plant,” and “Lucid Dream” were generally rated as the most THC potent strains available for the least amount of money.
Pros and Cons
According to our research of Leafy.com and the average ratings for various strains that are available in dispensaries across 5 states, some emerged as clear winners while others may want to be avoided.
Known as “Rebel Berry OG”, this Oregon based strain is known for its psycho-stimulating effects. Users reported feeling an increased sense of euphoria, happiness, and relaxation after ingestion, though negative effects including anxiousness and dry mouth have also been associated with the product. With nearly twice as much CBD as THC, “Shurman #7” took the second slot, and respondents suggest that while the strain may induce feelings of relaxation, it’s also been known to make users tired at the same time.
In contrast, lower rated strains including “Green Kush,” “Frank’s Gift,” and “Day Tripper” were reported to induce more negative effects including paranoia, dizziness, and headaches. According to some responses, these strains even caused some users to experience severe nausea and vomiting immediately after consumption.
Differentiating Between Strains
Part of understanding the way legalized marijuana is categorized by growers and marijuana dispensaries across the country means understanding the differences between certain plant types. Marijuana strains mainly originate from two distinct plants (indica and sativa) and a third option: a hybrid of the previous two.
While generally the least popular on its own according to our research, sativa plants typically represent a common mental image of marijuana. Between 12 and 25 feet tall, the light green leaves of a sativa plant look identical to the stereotypical marijuana icon. As a result of slightly higher CBD level, marijuana produced from sativa plants may be a favorite for medicinal use as a result of its pain relief properties.
Indica strains were slightly more common and originate from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and the surrounding regions. More likely to include psycho-stimulating effects, users suggest indica strains may be best suited for relaxation and stress relief though some stronger varieties may induce fatigue.
Together, indica and sativa strains are sometimes combined by breeders to create the most popular variety: hybrid cannabis. Commonly designed to balance the effects of CBD and THC potency to create the most desirable effects, some hybrid strains can be dominant to one effect or another based on production.
Seeking Help for Marijuana Addiction
Despite changes to the accessibility and popular opinion surrounding marijuana in America today, there’s no denying the negative short and long-term effects associated with marijuana use. If you plan on partaking in recreational consumption in any of the legalized states across the U.S., it’s important to recognize that THC can remain in your system up to a full month after ingestion and can impair your memory and ability to function normally (including driving) during that time. If you or someone you know is in need of help, consider Florida addiction rehab. Studies have also shown that nearly 1 in 10 marijuana users will ultimately become dependent on the substance, so if you or someone you know has a marijuana addiction, don’t hesitate to seek out marijuana recovery or marijuana rehab or a Florida addiction rehab.
Drug addiction can be a crippling experience for everyone involved. At FHE Health, a South Florida marijuana recovery & premier mental health and addiction treatment facility, we believe complete treatment needs to encompass the whole person – mind, body, spirit, and brain – in order to be truly successful. With our customized detox programs, regulated inpatient and outpatient care programs, and state-of-the-art-facilities, FHE Health is your partner on the road to recovery. Let us help you on your path towards a happy and healthy future by having you visit a detox treatment center in Florida. Also, if you need some help with helping an addict, visit us online a FHERehab.com or call (855)441-2449 now to learn more.
Methodology
We pulled data behind THC content, CBD content, cost, ratings, strain descriptions, and side effects from 115 different growers in 5 states across the United States via Leafly.com. We analyzed these strains by different factors, such as average THC content per dollar spent. THC content per dollar spent was calculated based on the advertised cost per gram.
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Sources
- https://www.governing.com/gov-data/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/221018/record-high-support-legalizing-marijuana.aspx?g_source=Politics&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles
- https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/how-to-smoke-legal-pot-in-america-a-state-by-state-guide-w477307
- https://www.livescience.com/24553-what-is-thc.html
- https://www.livescience.com/24558-marijuana-effects.html
- https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cannabidiol-cbd-a-primer_us_58b7129ee4b0ddf654246290
- https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-oil-benefits
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/
- https://time.com/money/4744680/420-weed-prices-really-confusing/
- https://www.leafly.com/hybrid/rebel-berry-og
- https://www.leafly.com/
- https://www.leafly.com/hybrid/franks-gift/reviews?page=2&sort=rating
- https://www.leafly.com/explore/category-sativa
- https://www.leafly.com/explore/category-indica
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/you-illuminated/201409/long-term-effects-marijuana-the-brain
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive
