With more and more countries worldwide passing legislation to allow the use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes, it's important that people have accurate information about this amazing plant.
For many years, the only “education” available about cannabis was biased and often inaccurate. Think “Reefer Madness” and “This is your brain on drugs.”
But, thanks to decades of work from dedicated advocates, researchers, and educators, we now have a significantly better understanding of the plant and its effects on the human body. And we’re learning more every day!
In today’s post, I will outline my top four reasons why I think we all need more canna knowledge, especially now!
There are SO MANY ways to consume cannabis now
When my parents were smoking weed back in the 70s, they were … well, smoking weed. Sometimes they could get hash, and once in a while, my mom would make pot brownies, but that was basically their entire cannabis “menu.”
Now we’re heading into 2023, and it seems like I see a new cannabis product or way to consume every single month. Each of these products will have a different feeling in the body, onset time, and duration time. Without proper education, how are people going to know what they should be taking if there are so many options?
I mean, look at this list (and I’m probably missing stuff!)
Edibles
Gummies
Foods
Drinks
Sublinguals
Oils
Tinctures
Candies
Breath strips
Inhalables
Joints, blunts, bongs or pipes
Dry herb vaporizers
Vape pens
Dab rigs
Topicals
Nasal sprays
Transdermals
Eye Drops
Suppositories
There’s even CBD toothpaste!
Imagine being a new consumer of the plant and having to make a decision based on that list! We need people out there who can teach others about the different ways to take cannabis and the pros and cons of each.
There is some scary shit out there.
When the USA passed the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp, I was really excited. It meant that more people would have access to CBD, which I saw as a purely good thing. Ha! I didn’t take into account how endlessly inventive people are. Enterprising entrepreneurs immediately started taking CBD and chemically changing it to molecules that act more like THC. We’re talking about things like delta-8-THC, THC-0-acetate, and HHC. (I call them “Franken-cannabinoids.”) The processes they use are scary, and I don’t believe they’re trying to provide a health-promoting product. Some of the additives and residual solvents that can be left in those things are terrifying. Unfortunately, many people believe that because cannabis products come from a plant, they must be safe. Well, the cannabis PLANT is safe. It’s what we do to it that keeps me awake at night. People need to be given accurate facts about these new molecules. Cannabis educators to the rescue!
Cannabis Is Not a Gateway Drug - It’s an EXIT Drug
As the opioid crisis rages across Canada and the US, I can’t help but wonder what place we’d be in if hospitals and doctors had a “Cannabis first” policy. Of course, cannabis isn’t going to work for everything, and thank goodness we have things like morphine for when it’s needed, but if we STARTED with cannabis instead of opiates, might we be in a different situation now?
I’m taking a really nerdy cannabis science class right now, and my final project is looking into the research around using cannabis as an adjunct or replacement to opiates. What I’m learning is blowing my mind and making me wish everyone knew this stuff.
Did you know that many people can use cannabis as a way to wean off of more dangerous opiate drugs? I’ve seen it repeatedly happen to students at the Cannabis Coaching Institute, and reading about the research on this topic has me fired up.
We could be saving lives with cannabis, and a little bit of education could go a long way in this regard. Stay tuned for more on this subject as I complete my project.
There are some dangers to using cannabis as well
But it’s not all sunshine, roses, and life-saving.
This kind of goes along with my first point. Just because it’s from a plant doesn't mean it’s 100% safe, but people must be told what to watch out for.
As cannabis educators, it’s our job to share both the good AND the bad about this plant. Way too many people on the internet are singing cannabis’ praises without addressing the other side of the coin.
Here are four dangers I can think of just off the top of my head.
If you’re taking heart medication or blood thinners, you should talk to your doctor before trying THC because it might not be safe for you.
Many cannabis consumers think that they’re doing a good job driving under the influence, but studies show that they’re not. Cannabis-impaired drivers cause many accidents each year.
When people consume cannabis dabs (cannabis concentrates heated to extremely high temperatures), some of the compounds in the dab, like terpenes, can turn carcinogenic.
Although small doses of THC can help some people with depression, long-term, high-dose cannabis use is associated with higher rates of depression overall.
We need to have a balanced understanding of the benefits and dangers of cannabis, and of course, proper education is key!
Do YOU want to become a Cannabis Educator?
Cannabis education is becoming more and more accessible to everyone who wants to learn about the plant. Whether you're a newcomer to cannabis or you've been using it for years, there's always something new to learn.
Thanks to the internet, there are now more resources than ever. Online courses, podcasts, webinars, and even in-person classes are all great ways to expand your knowledge base.
Of course, I’m a bit biased and love what we do at the Cannabis Coaching Institute. Not only do we give you a firm foundation of cannabis science, so you understand how and why cannabis works, but we also teach you how to take your knowledge and passion and turn it into a side hustle.
You’ll learn how to create blogs, articles, podcasts, videos, or workshops that will not only teach your community about the power of the plant, they’ll help pay the bills!
Check it out here and use code: revealcannabis for $300 off your tuition.
Why do YOU think cannabis education is important? Sound off in the comments below.
With love,
Andrea