Cannabis, sometimes referred to as marijuana, hemp, pot, weed, hau ma ren (in China), or its botanical name, Cannabis Sativa, is a Cannabinaceae (Hemp) family member. Cannabis is native to Asia but is cultivated worldwide (1). Although probably the most recognized plant worldwide, this herbaceous plant can be identified by its alternating segmented leaves 2-7 inches long, 1-7 inches wide, and joined at the plant’s center with 1-3-inch long petioles (leafstalks). The plant has 3-11 coarsely toothed leaflets 1-7 inches long and up to 1 inch wide with long tapered tips and bases (2). When identifying hemp plants, differentiating male and female plants is crucial. The primary way to distinguish male versus female plants is male plants do not yield usable seeds or buds, whereas female plants do. Additionally, female plants contain large amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while male plants only contain trace amounts (3). 

The cannabis plant comprises over 120 components. According to one of my favorite herbal resources, the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, marijuana’s key constituents are cannabinoids, volatile oil, and alkaloids. The plant’s seed contains approximately 55% linoleic acid, 20% alpha-linolenic acid, and 1.5% gamma-linolenic acid. 

Although the cannabis plant contains 60 different types of cannabinoids, only two of them are well understood in today’s society – cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

• THC is the prominent psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for the “high” most people associate with cannabis.
• CBD is a non-intoxicating, non-euphoric cannabinoid, meaning it won’t get you ”high.” 

Although cannabis is not legal worldwide or even nationwide, in areas where it is legal, it’s prescribed and recommended by doctors for a range of medical conditions. Interestingly, our body naturally has an endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a complex cell-signaling system responsible for regulating a range of functions, including (4):

• Sleep
• Mood/stress
• Appetite/metabolism
• Memory/learning
• Reproduction/fertility
• Inflammation
• Motor control
• Muscle formation
• Cardiovascular system
• Bone growth/remodeling
• Liver
• Skin and nerves 

THC is one of the main cannabinoids found in cannabis and can also be found in Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis. This compound can interact with your ECS and bind to its receptors (CB1 and CB2), like endocannabinoids. This compound’s ability to interact with your ECS allows THC to have a range of effects on your mind and body, like reducing pain, reducing inflammation, and stimulating the appetite. 

Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t get you high, which typically doesn’t cause any adverse effects on the body. It’s all the fantastic benefits of THC without the psychoactive effect. Although CBD doesn’t bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors the way THC does, many believe it prevents endocannabinoids from breaking down. In contrast, others believe CBD binds to a receptor that hasn’t been discovered yet (5).

Some experts believe there is a clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD). This theory suggests low endocannabinoid levels can cause the ECS to be dysfunctional, contributing to the development of certain conditions. In an article published in 2016, they reviewed ten years of research and believe this is why some people develop migraines, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. This would explain why these people successfully use THC and CBD for treatment (6).

Research-Backed Health Benefits of Cannabis

What some people call an escape drug, others call one of the most versatile herbs with a wide array of medicinal purposes, including but not limited to:

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Cannabis can help relieve inflammation. Although inflammation is a natural bodily response, chronic inflammation can lead to detrimental health effects. Chronic inflammation has been linked with many diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and certain cancers (7). In an animal study, the non-psychoactive cannabis constituent, cannabidiol, significantly reduced chronic inflammation and neuropathic pain in rats (8). Another study found cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties help reduce airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice, making it a potentially effective option for allergy-induced asthma (9).

Pain-Relieving Properties

As of 2016, an estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults (50.0 million) had chronic pain, and 8.0% of U.S. adults (19.6 million) had high-impact chronic pain (10). Thankfully, cannabis may work with the endocannabinoid system’s ability to regulate pain. Research indicates cannabis is an effective treatment option for pain management (11). Several studies have demonstrated the pain-relieving properties of cannabis for headaches/migraines and even chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis (MS), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), lupus, and more (12,13,14,15,16). Additionally, a human study discovered cannabis’ ability to suppress muscle spasms in 75% of muscle dystrophy patients who were resistant to medication therapy (17)

May Reduce Cravings During Addiction Recovery

With chronic pain conditions impacting many, opioid use and abuse have spiked, resulting in opioid-involved overdose deaths rising from 49,860 in 2019 to 81,806 in 2022 (18). Research indicates cannabis can help reduce drug cravings and anxiety in patients undergoing addiction recovery. Methadone and buprenorphine are the two most commonly prescribed medications. Although the prescriptions are sometimes underutilized and difficult to access, leading to a treatment gap for those who need them, they are also frequently misused. Thankfully, cannabis is considered a safe and non-addictive option for opioid use disorders (19). Additionally, studies have found great success in patients recovering from drug and alcohol addictions when using cannabis, including relapse prevention (20,21).

May Improve Mental Health

Worldwide, 970 million people struggle with mental health, resulting in approximately 8 million deaths annually, accounting for 14.3% of deaths worldwide (22). Thankfully, our endocannabinoid regulates mood and stress, meaning cannabis can help manage mental health symptoms. Research indicates cannabis can be helpful when managing stress, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (23,24,25,26,27). It’s important to note that research indicates cannabis may increase the likelihood of schizophrenia and other psychoses but does not appear to increase the risk of developing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (28).

May Promote Sleep & Relaxation

It’s said that 70 million adults in the United States experience sleep disorder symptoms; more than half of them experience insomnia, with another 10 to 15 percent being chronic (29). Thankfully, cannabis can restore your natural sleep cycle, making it a practical option for those who have insomnia and other sleep disorders. In one study, 84 percent of participants who took cannabis for sleep reported it as very beneficial, and 83 percent discontinued over-the-counter sleep aids (30). A systematic review concluded that CBD alone or with equal quantities of THC may help alleviate the symptoms of insomnia (31). Although CBD can lengthen sleep, it’s important to note that research indicates it can change the properties of rest and non-REM sleep oscillations (delta, spindle, ripples) and negatively impact memory consolidation (32).

Anticonvulsant Properties

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and 5,000 are newly diagnosed annually (33). Anticonvulsants help people with epilepsy manage their seizures and may even help with nerve pain (34). The top prescribed anticonvulsant medication is lamotrigine (Lamictal), which has a long list of side effects, including increased seizure activity (35,36). 

Thankfully, research indicates cannabis can help treat some types of seizures and even prevent them. One study found CBD more effective than the placebo at reducing seizure burden (37). Another study noted CBD reduced seizure frequency in patients with Dravet syndromes (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), with a good safety profile (38). CBD has been so beneficial for those with DS and LGS that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) synthesized it to make the first-ever cannabis prescription drug to treat seizures associated with the two syndromes (39).

May Improve Nausea & Appetite Loss 

Cannabis may improve nausea and appetite loss. More specifically, cannabis is linked to the endocannabinoid system’s appetite control function. Cannabis interacts with the serotonin receptors and eases nausea in those undergoing chemotherapy and experiencing morning sickness. In the past decade, cannabis has been widely studied, demonstrating cannabidiol receptors can benefit those struggling with eating disorders, body weight disorders, and reduced appetite (40). Additionally, a human study found that a combination of CBD and THC may relieve this symptom in chemotherapy patients, which has led others to believe it helps with morning sickness as well (41).

Anticancer Properties

Statistics say that 158.3 of every 100,000 individuals will die from cancer, but what if they didn’t have to (42)? Thankfully, research shows cannabis may prevent cancer growth. Some studies have found cannabis to have anticancer properties, while others have found it to inhibit the spread of cancer (43,44).In animal studies, CBD inhibited the spread of aggressive breast cancer in mice (45). Another study concluded that:

There is preclinical evidence that CBD may address several of the pathways underpinning cancer, and there is preclinical and some clinical evidence that CBD may be effective in treating several of the symptoms and signs associated with the disease and its orthodox treatment (46). 

In other words, between cannabis’ ability to address appetite loss and nausea, which are often symptoms of chemotherapy, and its benefits in inhibiting cancer, it may be an excellent option for cancer patients. 

Safety Information, Contraindications & Interactions

Not to anyone’s surprise, the FDA recommends against all CBD products, claiming they are all unsafe unless, of course, it’s the FDA-approved pharmaceutical drug, Epidiolex–then the benefits outweigh the risks (47). Epidiolex is approved for patients one year or older (48). It is not pure CBD. Aside from isolated cannabidiol, its inactive ingredients include dehydrated alcohol, sesame seed oil, strawberry flavor, and sucralose (49). Additionally, Epidiolex oral liquid (100 mg/mL) costs around $1,042 for a supply of 60 milliliters (50), compared to roughly $40 to $100 for a reputable, high-quality brand of CBD. 

In other words, the pharmaceutical drug costs roughly $0.17/mg of CBD, while over-the-counter brands range from $0.036 to $0.08/mg of CBD. Additionally, when purchasing from a reputable brand, you can opt for full-spectrum cannabidiol and view lab reports when available.

Regarding children, CBD can’t “officially” be recommended for them. Researchers find it unethical to test the safety of CBD on vulnerable communities unless, of course, it’s for their high-cost prescription drug option. However, many families safely use CBD with their children for various reasons. For instance, one study found that cannabidiol-enriched cannabis use in pediatric treatment-resistant epilepsy resulted in fewer reported seizures and a favorable side effect profile (51). Another study found oral cannabis extracts for treating refractory epilepsy in children had a positive outcome on seizures and improved behavior, alertness, language, and motor skills (52).

CBD use while pregnant is tricky because few studies have been conducted, and none on humans. Unfortunately, since literature is scarce, it’s hard to determine potential biases. With that said, to make an informed decision, one must have all the facts present. One animal study demonstrated that high-dose CBD exposure increased thermal pain sensitivity in male offspring while reducing excitability and decreasing problem-solving behaviors in female offspring (53). Another animal study associated fetal CBD exposure with mixed behavior outcomes, mentioning perturbation (mental uneasiness) and shifts in brain DNA methylation (54).

As for using CBD while breastfeeding, studies and literature are nearly nonexistent. The CDC recommends against all cannabidiol-containing products, claiming marijuana use may allow harmful chemicals to pass to the infant (55). Interestingly, cannabinoids are naturally found in breast milk (56). One study of mothers who self-reported smoking marijuana showed no significant differences in growth, mental, or motor development aside from offspring being slightly shorter (57). Another study demonstrated slight, dose-dependent reductions in motor development without differences in mental development (58).

With that said, I recommend weighing the pros and cons and making an informed decision for you and your child’s medicinal needs. No matter your choice, I encourage you to do your research and ensure you are 100% confident with your decision. 

How to Use Cannabis & Product Recommendations

I try to buy herbs locally when I make my own products herbal remedies. When buying locally isn’t an option, I typically purchase from one of the following brands I trust:

• Anthony’s Goods
• Frontier Co-op
• Starwest Botanicals

Looking for additional herbal suppliers? Check out my post, 3 Ways to Source Herbs.

However, these companies do not carry cannabis products. I haven’t had the opportunity to make herbal remedies with cannabis yet, but I have been eyeing The Brother’s Apothecary’s smokable flowers if that time comes. Aside from that, I recommend a few premade cannabis products, including:

• The Brother’s Apothecary Calming K9 is a simple, made-for-dogs CBD oil. It is made with pure CBD, top-quality full-spectrum hemp extract, and MCT Oil, and it has a delicious peanut butter taste sourced from real peanut oil. 
• The Brother’s Apothecary Dragon’s Lair is potently crafted for the most restless nights. This powerful CBD oil’s name is inspired by Mušhuššu of ancient Mesopotamian mythology. This tincture is full-spectrum, made with USA-grown hemp CB, and is third-party lab-tested for potency and safety. 
• The Brother’s Apothecary Stomach Soother combines delicious peppermint with full-spectrum CBD, providing a light, bright, and sensational taste filled with the benefits of two amazing plants.

If you’re looking for a euphoric experience, I enjoy the following products:

• Brother’s Apothecary Delta Eight Wildflower Honey is a delicious blend of USDA organic polyfloral honey infused with 14mg of Delta-8-rich hemp extract per serving. 
•  The Brother’s Apothecary Delta Sleep combines Delta-8, CBN, CBG, and CBD in a powerful, easy-to-take sleep-focused oil. This hemp-derived tincture is blended with delicious MCT oil and peppermint and has an estimated 40mg per dropper.

Product Disclaimer

Product recommendations are affiliate links. I do not own or make these products. Recommendations are selected according to ingredients at the time article was written and can change at any time. I encourage you to double-check ingredients and research each company to ensure they’re suitable for your journey.

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