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There’s no shortage of controversy surrounding the use of medical marijuana. Despite the copious amount of scientifically-backed data gathered over decades, if not centuries, which show that cannabis has tremendous therapeutic potential, many lawmakers remain hesitant to approve its use. Regardless, a growing number of dedicated researchers continue to investigate new therapeutic applications for juicing or eating raw cannabis.
For some people, it still remains difficult to distinguish between the plant’s medicinal and recreational uses. This stems largely — let’s face it — from the fact that inhaling the plant’s vapors gets you high, even when that isn’t the primary reason why its being consumed.
It’s not just anti-cannabis critics who have a problem with this issue. Many of the people who consume raw cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation have no interest whatsoever in getting high. For them, the plant is a safe and natural method of relieving constant pain and constant discomfort, and it’s euphoric and thought befuddling qualities are seen as nothing more than unwanted side effects. Fortunately, research is now showing benefits from eating or juicing raw cannabis.
Cannabis enthusiasts have historically focused on developing strains with the largest possible concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the active ingredient in
marijuana that produces the “high”. Medical cannabis growers, more recently, have been much more focused on increasing concentrations of a lesser known, but therapeutically more beneficial chemical compound called Cannabidiol (CBD) which has been proven medically to help relieve inflammation, convulsions, nausea, as well as inhibit cancer cell growth.
By volume, there is significantly more CBD than THC, in marijuana. However, because of the way in which the two compounds interact when heated, the effects of the latter generally becomes the more noticeable of the two.
By eating or juicing raw cannabis in its natural state, this chemical balance is typically reversed. Meaning that beneficial properties of CBD completely outshine those of THC, and there is no resultant “high” to speak of. Drinking fresh-squeezed cannabis juice (similar to wheat grass juice) or eating raw cannabis as a leafy green vegetable, is fast becoming the preferred means of consumption for individuals in search of the plants health benefits, without having to lose their heads in the clouds.
I personally have not tried this but please let me know your thoughts on this as it is a very interesting topic gaining popularity for a wide variety of health giving properties.
~Dr. G
Recommended Reading:
- Juicing Raw Cannabis for Greater Health
- Juicing Raw Cannabis Part 1
- Eating Cannabis as Medicine
- Cannabis International Foundation
May 12th, 2012 at 6:52 am
I have been juicing raw Cannabis daily for a few months now, and have had tremendous results treating my Psoriatic Arthritis. CBD is a phenomenal anti-inflammatory and natural TNF-a blocker that helps regulate my immune system better than any pharma anti-rheum drug I’ve been prescribed, with considerably less side effects!
I can state for fact that raw Cannabis does NOT get you high at all! For one to get high from Cannabis, it must be decarboxylated (dried/heated) first. In its raw state, THC is not converted/activated.
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May 11th, 2012 at 12:22 am
Where con I get one of those!
It should be legal!
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May 10th, 2012 at 2:14 am
This principle has been discussed at length by Rick Simpson on Youtube although he talks about hemp oil ingestion Same same but different? Look it up folks
PS Look for Run for the Cure
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April 27th, 2012 at 5:54 am
Err… I’ve eaten weed before. Not only does it get you stoned, it gets you ridiculously baked. You guys sure you did your research?
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Lori Koonce replied on May 18th, 2012:
John
You probably had a edible made with the dried variety of MJ. Drying it consecrates the THC, and makes the CBC’s almost non existint.
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April 18th, 2012 at 1:09 am
I would like to try it, but don’t know where to find it. First I would have to find a physician who would give me an Rx and then I would have to find a dispensary who carries it.
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April 16th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
thats gonna be a $100 smothie
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April 10th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
I’m thinking the government should find a way to tax cannabis so they can make it legal and everyone can use it the way that they are using it now. If I did not know it was illegal, I was think it was legal based on the way it is used, and how casual people are in it’s use. Treat it like alcohol and cigarettes when used for recreation, and use it properly when using it for medicinal purposes. That would take care of a lot of deficits.
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April 4th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Wow, I didn’t know there were so many medicinal purposes for cannabis. Unfortunately, I think lawmakers are hesitant to approve its use because they think that people will just make up medical ailments in order to justify a prescription for this “illegal” drug. Of course, this could very well happen. But if it helps a lot of real medical conditions, I think any possible abuse is worth it.
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March 25th, 2012 at 7:29 am
US Govt. owns patent on CBD. All you gotta do is Google it.
Seems US Govt. is keeping CBD warm for the taskmaster Big Pharma.
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March 23rd, 2012 at 8:58 pm
i have back problems and fibro myalgia and cannabis is the only thing some days that helps me thru the pain. i don’t think the government needs to be all up in everybody’s business anyway.
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March 12th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
I am very grateful that my local medical marijuana dispensary works with Dr. Courtney. For the last three weeks they have been offering raw cannabis juice on Sundays. I have experienced such amazing results that simply leaving a comment on a website is totally inadequate. It is insane that we are not allowed to use this plant in its raw form. Without heating or aging, the plant has remarkably effective medicinal properties – and no psychoactive effect whatsoever.
After drinking the juice for the first time I was amazed to realize that afternoon I could do things I haven’t been able to do for years. To say the juice has been life changing for me is an understatement.
My only problem with it is the fear that since the clinic is only offering it now on a temporary basis I might not be able to access this wonderful medicine in the future. That would be so unfair! Please Dr. Group, if you care about people’s health even a fraction as much as you wrote in your mission statement, I beg you to contact Dr. William Courtney (http://www.cannabisinternational.org/) to see if you might be able to help make a raw cannabis product available to the general public.
Thank you so much for any assistance you can offer.
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Josh replied on May 10th, 2012:
I am very interested in figuring out and passing the knowledge to my local shop, for them to grow for me, and so that I may be able to juice myself. Any info you have would be GREATLY appreciated! Perhaps the name of your shop and a point of contact with good information on the process??
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Janet replied on April 19th, 2012:
Do you have a link or information I can give to my local shop (who grows their own) about the Sunday juice program. I want to ask them to start one.
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March 4th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
If someone were interested in trying cannabis as a preventative or additive to their diet, how or where would one go to obtain it? I would not even know where to start.
I have read many articles that the cannabis juice can prevent and/or cure cancer as well as other issues so I am interested in finding out more.
Tks
ab
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J.C. replied on April 2nd, 2012:
If you are a law abiding citizen and don’t have the police regularly beating on your door for some dumb $h!t you did, then grow it in your basement. You can find everything you need online at growers supply. Don’t tell your friends, family, or neighbors you are doing this. Bragging that you are doing something illegal is the best way to get turned in. Do not sell it or give any to your friends. Do not let anyone see you use it or leave remains lying about.
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jae pawl replied on April 1st, 2012:
if you live in a medical cannabis state simply talk to your doctor more in depth on the topic, if you do not live in a med.cannabis state simply find the worst part of town and ask the local thugs “pant saggers” for trees/buds or weed this way it is usualy sold as dimes or dubs which are ten$ and 20$ bags/jars..if ya dont get killed or robbed you should beable to score a dime..lol hence the need for national legalization!
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Simon replied on March 27th, 2012:
From a dealer. Get some connections.
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March 3rd, 2012 at 11:13 am
Re: al,
There are over 400 different natural compounds in cannabis flowers. Even if you don’t combine the product with fat, you will still metabolize very small amounts of THC, which is only one compound. There are hundreds of cannabinoidal compounds in just one flower and it is unlikely that they all must be combined with fats to metabolize them.
This article just articulated that if you ingest raw cannabis plants, you will metabolize much more CBD than THC, which balances the psychoactive effect.
I’m just pointing out that your claim that there’s “no point in eating the raw plant” is a bit premature.
As far as consuming cannabis goes, we all know that hemp seeds are the ultimate form of a natural super food. Everyone should include hemp seed in their daily diet. They go very well with oatmeal and salads.
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March 3rd, 2012 at 10:27 am
You can’t digest THC or CBD without first somehow mixing it with dietary fat (e.g. butter or cream). So there’s no point in eating the plant raw.
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soleil replied on April 26th, 2012:
I have been drinking a cannabis smoothie made in my vitamix every morning for the last 2 months with no irritation at all. 4 of us are doing this and the results are quite amazing. I have not felt this good in years, I’m in good health, 62 and eat an excellent diet. My friend is only 34 but was laid low by headaches and fibermialga and as long as she is juicing the fresh leaves she is way better, when she runs out she is in pain or sick again, has happened 3 times! My housemate has cancer and it is too soon to know but the Docs are saying his numbers look very good. I don’t like to be high and must be sure to have only fresh leafs and to ad ace cubes when I mix the smoothie.
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jae pawl replied on April 1st, 2012:
plus the crysolythic hairs {the tiny little hairs next to the trichomes and allover the leaf and stems} are known to irritate the digestive tract and bowels, they grow on the plant as a deterent, to keep animals from eating it. and yes in order for the acidic form of thc to become active in the body it must be heated or added to a fatty substance befor ingestion!
go grab a fresh leaf off a live cannabis plant and pop it in your mouth…its fuzzy and not like lettuce at all quite gross as a veggy.+ if its not grown organicly you are eating raw chelated salts and heavy metals from the “synthetic fertalizers” used….there are high cbd strains available now that have minimal psycoactive effect. insted of trying to reinvent the wheel or the salad for this matter,why not just do strain research?
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March 3rd, 2012 at 10:10 am
Good or bad, you should be free to ingest, inhale or inject the plant product of your choice. For goodness’ sake, legalize drugs.
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March 1st, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Government would love to keep this from you until they can capitalize on it, keeping you a slave to them and Pharma. This is great info, thanks Dr. Group!
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