Disclaimer:
I am not medically trained, nor do I prescribe
medicine. I merely seek to share the knowledge I have gained from the internet as well as my experience in the relief of pain by using cannibis. This post is not intended to influence your usage or non-usage of cannibis.
Definitions:
There are two strains of cannabis, one called Cannabis
Sativa, that contains predominately TetraHydroCannabidinol (THC) compound,
the ingredient that among other effects makes people feel high, higher, or
stoned, and another secondly identified as Cannabis Indica, that
contains, along with a lesser amount of THC, Cannabidinol (CBD) compound, the
ingredient that is a useful analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal,
anti-nausea, blood pressure lowering, bone growth enhancer, anti-spasmotic,
restful-sleep-inducing…can we call it medicine?
The ratio in these plants can be as high as 10 CBD to 1 THC, and the
neat thing about them is the temperature it takes to release them into an
infusion is different, so you can choose what it is you want out of the Indica
plant you are preparing. (See Heat, following…)
A third cannabis is commercial Hemp, botanically
identified as Cannabis Sativa L. which provides a lot of good wholesome
organic food in the seeds, which contain no THC (it’s in the leaves and flowers
which do contain 1% THC) as well as rope, fiber for cloth, fiber for paper, oil
to power your diesel truck—but that is another story. Farm Bill 2014, signed by
President Obama, has authorized new agricultural plantings of commercial hemp.
An infusion is an oil
which has been warmed with the product (the flower of the Indica
plant in this case) to the point where the active ingredient (CBD) has been
released into the carrier (oil). Like Oil of Rosemary, etc.
Ingredients:
One ounce of product, be it “bud” (the dried flowers
of the cannabis indica plant), or
“shake” (the dried leaves, stems, maybe a few buds)
of the cannabis indica plant…….You will not get high using indica as
long as you don’t overheat the product to the point where the THC will be released.
2 1/8th cups of Extra Virgin Olive
Oil. I have also used sesame oil and
coconut oil, but the literature suggests EVOO is best.
Equipment:
A heat source you can keep at 165°F. I
have found that the stove top or oven (even with a double-boiler) is difficult
to keep so low. I use an induction heating device (available on TV, Walmart, or
Ace Hardware).
A pot that will work on an induction heater.
A thermometer to keep track of the heat you are
getting, along with a way to suspend the thermometer in the infusion.
A sieve to strain out the product leavings after you
have warmed them up to speed. I use a ladies nylon knee sox, but you could also
use a French coffee device.
Method:
Chop up the product to make more edges so as to
extract more CBD. Add the product to the
oil and allow it to soak overnight in a warm place. Increase the temp to 165°F and maintain it there for anywhere from 2
to 6 to 8 hours. Some folks put it into
mason jars and leave it in a sunny window for a couple of weeks.
I test for readiness by tasting it. If it tastes
like swamp water, it is beginning to be usable—keep tasting it every half hour
or so until it really tastes and smells like swamp water, maybe a
couple of hours or so.
Stir it frequently, like
every 15 minutes. Or 30.
Here’s the downside.
You don’t know how strong the results are, you have no laboratory to
test it and they charge $1500 to do it. Speaking of money, you have already
spent from $60 to $100 on the heating device, and anywhere from $150 up for the
Weed, so you need to be dedicated to this project, or else just forget about
it.
I feel this way—here’s a computer programming
IF/Then statement:
IF:
I taste a small amount of my
results (say a teaspoon)
And
I receive relief from pain
as a result, without any ill side effects,
Then:
I have “hit on” more or less
the proper proportions
“…to sleep, perchance to
dream, …aye!… there’s the rub…”
Dosage:
The above results need to be stored in dark bottles,
hopefully with dropper stoppers, or have droppers available. Start by ingesting
one dropper of the oil AM and one PM under the tongue. Keep it there for 90
seconds, then swallow. Chase it with fruit juice to relieve your taste buds. If
you get relief, stick with it. If you don’t get pain relief, then the next day,
try two droppers, AM and PM. You will get approximately 7 to 8 ounces of
infusion from the above stated amounts, PLUS, there will be about 4 or so
ounces left over to make a balm, which can be used in many ways to relieve pain
and sometimes works better than ingesting the oil.
Before we arrive at the balm, here’s something to
think about:
After ingesting the morning (or anytime) dose, take
about a half an hour and lie down in a comfortable place, close your eyes, and
relax your torso and neck muscles one at a time. Heck, add legs and arms …
Visualize feeling better. Don’t be surprised if the ½ hour turns into an hour
and a half, so do it at night when sleep seems impossible. Works for
me….(placebos get A’s 30% of the time anyway).
The Balm:
Take the 4 or so ounces left over from the first
press;
Add ½ ounce of fresh product and 1 cup of oil;
Do the 6 to 8 hour, stirred routine (the next day if
you are tired), and after it too, tastes like swamp water:
Add about 1/4th cup of coconut oil,
plus a lesser amount of melted beeswax, and enough drops of eucalyptus
oil to make it smell like Vicks Vaporub, and pour this concoction into
small jars.
When it sets up, rub it
vigorously over anything that hurts on your beautiful body. Keep the excess
jars in the fridge. Do Not ingest the balm if you have added eucalyptus to it,
since gastric disturbances could result. Use it topically only.
Also:
You can make your own trans-dermal patches.
Materials: small gauze patches, large band aids, and
that stretchy athletic tape to hold it all in place.
Method:
Saturate a small patch (cut to a size just smaller
than the band aids to prevent leakage).
Place wet patch in the middle of the band aid, and
apply to wrist—place it somewhat away from the wrist joint because that part
bends and will scratch you, and keep it in place with the stretchy tape. You
can refresh the patch by injecting more oil under the band aid twice a day. I
think you get a more uniform release of the product in this fashion. If the
tape gets soiled just cut it off and begin again.
Heat:
What keeps your infusion from having THC in it, if
there is a lesser amount of THC in all CBD strains? Well, THC is not released
until the heat in the oil gets to just below boiling point (212°F) or so. This means that the leavings of
weed that you have extracted the CBD from is still THC active—it is called a
“ball” and can be used to rub on your body after or before a bath—Any Italian
will tell you that the olive oil is good for you...or you can use it as a sleep
aide. I don’t get high from it but I do feel a sense of peace, which is a good
thing.
Websites I have found informative:
Also, the Charlotte Figi story about epilepsy and
cannabis.
Miscellaneous
You will need a “Red Card” to purchase anything at a
Medical Marijuana dispensary.
The State does not collect (at this time) sales tax
on Medical Marijuana. Some physicians
will prescribe for cannabis, and there are lists of them in every area in the
state.
Dixie Dew Drops sells a 2-ounce bottle of CBD
infusion for $160. I think doing it yourself saves about half for a dropper
full, which lasts me at two squirts AM, PM about 3 weeks.
I was a bit squeamish the first time I visited a
dispensary. I shouldn’t have been. All of the employees I have had dealings
with have been helpful and courteous. If you are dissatisfied with the service,
try another dispensary, you won’t have to look far. The transactions are cash
only.
I would still be on 6 to 8 Oxycodone pills a day if
it had not been for the side effects. The switch, for me, has been a last
hurrah. Does it cost too much? Sure. Will the price come down? Depends on how
long it will take the Federales to come to reason…and of course, there are many
users with Medical licenses that get high and stoned on MMJ by using Sativa.
Certainly, it is their choice. Is use of CBD habit forming? Is it being taken
to stop pain? If you do not have a headache, would you take an aspirin? The literature stresses, no side effects, no
addiction to CBD, and that the “undesirable” part of cannabis lies in the sativa
strain. Yet, the undesirable part of cannabis sativa is being used to treat HIV
patients, patients struggling with pain from chemo therapy, epilepsy seizures,
all within the Dr. Jeckle/Mr. Hyde definitions.
Within the
legal guidelines, you can grow it yourself, but read up on it first. For a
weed, (a weed that has been hybridized) it can be picky.
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