Health Benefits of Marijuana

Marijuana Health Benefits

Marijuana has many known health benefits. And current research is revealing even more health benefits from marijuana.

Marijuana strains naturally contain chemicals called cannabinoids. Indicas, sativas, and hybrids vary in their composition of cannabinoids. The two primary cannabinoids in marijuana are delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). View graph (below) to see all cannabinoids in marijuana.

THC is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana that produces the euphoric effect known as a “high.” It also helps relieve pain, stimulate appetite and suppress muscle spasms. CBD is know for its expansive resume of health benefits. Scientific studies have found CBD helps with reducing inflammation, nausea, pain, anxiety, and seizures, is antibacterial, and inhibits cancer cell growth, among more.

When consumed together, THC and CBD have been found to increase marijuana’s efficacy while reducing adverse effects. CBD also works collectively with THC by boosting its health effects and moderating its psycho-activity. This means that marijuana with higher levels of CBD than THC will provide more medical benefits with less of a cognitive “high.”

Generally, at dispensaries, THC levels in marijuana range from 10% – 30%, with 15% – 20% being the most common.  CBD levels usually range from less than 1% to upwards of 5%.  Marijuana strains with a high CBD content are still rare at Arizona dispensaries. But the demand for the medical benefits of CBD-rich marijuana, as well as for the purity of organically-grown marijuana, will lead to more dispensaries offering these unique strain options.

CBD can also be found tincture, capsule (pill), beverage and other forms. Most Arizona dispensaries carry CBD products.

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