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  • Why Marijuana Smells Skunky

    Why Marijuana Smells Skunky

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    It is the telltale sign someone is having fun. Whether walking down the street or stepping into a crowd, you know exactly what is going on. Marijuana has a distinctive oder to clue you in when fun is going on.  But as cannabis goes mainstream and becomes legal, the smell is increasing fading. Here is why marijuana smells skunky and why is it disappearing.

    RELATED: The Most Popular Marijuana Flavors

    Smoking weed was the original way to consume.  But today, thanks to data from BDSA, we know most newer and younger partakers use vapes or gummies to enjoy the benefits.  The aroma is less prevalent, but it still as potent. Smoking still produces the smell, but why does some weed reek of skunk or dirty socks and other times it has the aroma of lemons or pine? The answer is terpenes.

    Photo by Alina Rosanova/Getty Images

    Terpenes are essential oils providing the fragrance in foods and herbs. When you take a whiff of basil, for example, what you are smelling are the terpenes. Cannabis strains also have unique terpenes producing the aroma. Some strains smell lemony (limonene) or spicy (caryophyllene) or floral (linalool) or piney (alpha-pinene).

    Terpenes not only provide the smell, they have essential therapeutic benefits, as well. Some of the most prevalent terpenes and their medicinal value:

    • Alpha-pinene (essential pine oil), the most common terpene in the plant world and one often found in cannabis, is a bronchodilator potentially helpful for asthmatics. Pinene also promotes alertness and memory retention by inhibiting the metabolic breakdown of acetylcholinesterase, a neurotransmitter in the brain stimulates these cognitive effects.
    • Myrcene, another terpene present in numerous cannabis varietals, is a sedative, a muscle relaxant, a hypnotic, an analgesic (painkiller) and an anti-inflammatory compound. This musky terpene contributes mightily to the infamous “couch-lock” experience and is the one which gives off the skunky aroma.
    • Limonene, a major terpene in citrus as well as in cannabis, has been used clinically to dissolve gallstones, improve mood and relieve heartburn and gastrointestinal reflux. Limonene, an anticonvulsant, has been shown to destroy breast-cancer cells in lab experiments, and its powerful antimicrobial action can kill pathogenic bacteria.
    • Linalool, a terpenoid prominent in lavender as well as in some cannabis strains, is an anxiolytic compound which counters anxiety and mediates stress. In addition, linalool is a strong anticonvulsant, and it also amplifies serotonin-receptor transmission, conferring an antidepressant effect. Applied topically, linalool can heal acne and skin burns without scarring.

    RELATED: How To Be Discreet When Using Weed

    • Beta-caryophyllene is a sesquiterpene found in the essential oils of black pepper, oregano and other edible herbs, as well as in cannabis and many green, leafy vegetables. It is gastro-protective, good for treating certain ulcers, and shows great promise as a therapeutic compound for inflammatory conditions and autoimmune disorders because of its ability to bind directly to the peripheral cannabinoid receptor known as CB2.

    And now you know why marijuana smells skunky.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • Is It Safe To Smoke Weed Daily

    Is It Safe To Smoke Weed Daily

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    While there is a phrase too much of a good thing, most people don’t overdo. But if you are wondering if you are overusing anything, candy, alcohol or marijuana, it is smart to pause and asses how often, how much, and why.  Using marijuana heavily (daily or near-daily) can damage your memory, attention, and learning ability. It can last a week or more after the last time marijuana was used. Some mircodose low amounts to manage stress and anxiety, the trick is the potency.

    The Fresh Toast – Is it safe to smoke weed daily? It depends – why do you ask, how are you feeling?  Here is an answer to your question.

    There is not significant research for the complete answer. Someone who has been waking and baking for years is tdifferent that a cancer patient medicating with cannabis to relieve pain or nausea.  Ask he question and be honest with yourself. And, if possible, have the conversation with your general practitioner or a trusted doctor.

    Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images

    Photo by fill via Pixabay.

    How Addictive Is Marijuana?

    According to one government-supported study, nearly 9 percent of people who use marijuana will become abusers. This compares to about 10% of people who drink alcohol, cocaine, 17% Opioids 26%, and for nicotine 32%. Cannabis is less addictive than neatly every legal or illegal drug.

    Research has demonstrated that daily marijuana use can lead to increased tolerance and withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop.

    RELATED: How To Lower Your Tolerance To Marijuana In One Easy Step

    If you have the slightest concern that you have developed a physical or mental dependence on marijuana, be proactive. Ween yourself off daily use. Take a tolerance break and recalibrate your system. If this becomes too difficult, it is possible you might want to explore more why.

    Does Daily Use Cause Physical Changes To The Brain

    Research is mixed on this question, except for those with still developing brain. Science is clear cannabis, alcohol and other drugs have a definite impact on brain development. In adults, it is a mixed bag and also depends on dosing. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found “daily marijuana use is not associated with brain morphometric measures in adolescents or adults.”

    According to this study, earlier research did not control for alcohol use. When that variable was included, the study suggests “it is possible alcohol use, or other factors, may explain some of the contradictory findings to date.”

    The study concluded that “while the literature clearly supports a deleterious short-term effect of marijuana on learning and memory, it seems unlikely that marijuana use has the same level of long-term deleterious effects on brain morphology as other drugs like alcohol.”

    Does this mean daily consumption of cannabis is OK? No. The research does not say that. The data is not definitive on what longtime daily use does to cognitive development.

    Dr. Stuart Gitlow, a professor at the University of Florida, is an addiction specialist and an ardent opponent of the medical use of marijuana, promotes a loss of attention, focus and concentration.

    While the medical community continues to study the issue, one thing is clear: Young, developing minds should refrain from cannabis use. And daily consumption for an adolescent or teen is not advised.

    Should I Steer Clear Of Waking And Baking

    Similar to morning use of alcohol among alcohol-dependent individuals, morning use of marijuana may indicate dependence and increased cannabis-related impairment, according to a study in the journal Addiction and Research Theory.

    The report, co-authored by cannabis researcher Mitch Earleywine, suggests that “morning users reported significantly more problems than non-morning users, and morning use accounted for significant unique variance in problems.”

    RELATED: Does Marijuana Make You Stupid? Here’s What Experts Say

    The positive news, according to the study, shows that “morning use also has the potential to lend itself to straightforward intervention. … Exploratory mediational analyses did not support the idea that morning use led to problems via withdrawal.”

    So if this is one of your habits, now may be the time to wean yourself fr0m it. There are potential negative outcomes, but not in everybody.

    Can it cause long term health issues

    Marijuana smoking, like tobacco smoking, may be associated with increased risk of lung cancer. Marijuana smoke contains cannabinoid compounds in addition to many of the same components as tobacco smoke.

    In addition, cannabis does increase symptoms of bronchitis like coughing and wheezing.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • Science’s Take On Marijuana For A Lean Physique

    Science’s Take On Marijuana For A Lean Physique

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    It is the time of year when we are watching the weight and trying to look our best.  Fasting, running, diet plans, pilates and cross training are all the table.  But what is science’s take on marijuana for a lean physique?

    Let’s start with some basic body chemistry. The pancreas creates insulin, a hormone that moderates blood sugar levels. It helps use sugar/glucose from carbohydrates for instant energy or stored as fat for later. That is the very process cannabis can influence, according to a growing body of research. It begins at a micro level. 

    THC is the compound in cannabis that causes people to feel “high.” While it may be the most famous cannabinoid, there are more than 100 in existence and they occur naturally in our bodies as endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system is present in all vertebrate animals and helps regulate sleep, energy, appetite and metabolism just to name a few. It helps create balance or homeostasis at a cellular level. This is why marijuana as medicine can be so effective. It is seen not as an invader, but as a familiar substance to the body’s cannabinoid receptors and works like a lock and key.

    RELATED: How I Lost 50 Pounds Using Marijuana

    But getting leaner by using cannabis? Are you serious? This is not just a pipe dream. Researchers studying diabetes, metabolism and obesity have become increasingly interested in how cannabis may be an effective therapy for human systems out of balance.

    While much of this research has been conducted on rats, human cannabis users have been shown to have significantly lower obesity rates and have trimmer waistlines than non-users. The cannabinoid THC has also been shown to suppress appetite. These findings have been further validated in studies with huge sample sizes.

    Photos by: Roberto Valdivia via Unsplash, 377873 via rawpixel

    Age, sex and race do not seem to matter; the effect is across the board. This has led to a deeper look and call for more research into how the endocannabinoid system may be manipulated to help people with obesity and blood sugar metabolism.

    The strange, good news does not end there. Cannabis users have also been shown to have lower cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood. The makers of statin drugs popular in common therapy for these conditions are watching these developments closely.

    RELATED: Federal Study Aims To Learn More About Marijuana And Weight Loss

    Jake Felice, a naturopath working in Washington State and California, has long been an advocate for appropriate cannabis therapy. While there is much promising research, Felice reminds patients:

    “While cannabis has not been shown to be a weight loss agent, it is associated with lower BMI (body mass index) and can have a positive influence on the body’s ability to regulate sugar levels. Additionally, cannabis can positively affect stress hormones associated with weight gain.” 

    Cannabis alone will not help you to have a lower BMI if you don’t exercise and have unhealthy eating habits. But, if researchers are right, it can help people to be more in balance and aid in maintaining a healthy body weight.

    Granted, we have a long way still to go on research, but stay tuned. Maybe one day the advice from the Surgeon General will be, “Just Say Grow.”

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    Trey Reckling

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