Is High THC a Problem

With more and more people encouraging the legalization of medical cannabis, some parts of the anti-weed group have started to move from straight prohibiting to making sure there is some regulation to this. This is specifically in the capping of THC in terms of both medical and recreational cannabis. Vermont actually did limit the levels for flower, and some other states have also looked into possibly doing the same. With that said, it’s something that may be a problem, since it might have some issues to this. Here, we’ll go over the possible downsides of higher THC levels in some products. 

The concerns 

Most of the justification for higher THC in some of these products are that it can help with various issues. Some have said that there might be a few reasons for justification of this. For starters, the availability may increase the illicit use of this by younger people. It might impair brain development in adolescents. Some believe as well that it may also increase overdoses along with hospitalizations of this. Finally, I may increase chances of psychotic disorders. 

Most studies do say that legal cannabis sourced through healthier outlets are not the main way that users go to grab this.  However, it also is of note to say that  there is no evidence that medical cannabis encourage use among younger people, and it eliminates as well any problems that the youth may have with this, and in some cases, youth use of medical cannabis has actually gone down. 

The biggest concern is the potency issues, since there is some chances that people who do use this end up purchasing some suspicious types of weed on the street. But right now, on the subject of this, it’s been found that marijuana in it as a compound does not mess with cognitive development, and it actually the decline in this during adulthood is because of other factors, rather than blaming it on weed. 

While ingestion of large amounts suddenly doe cause bad reactions, there is no reports of someone overdosing from cannabis, with most records showing that most people who have adverse reactions to cannabis are because they were getting synthetic kinds rather than just regular flower. 

The concerns that the high-THC compounds will cause bad reactions is further countered by a lot of evidence that a lot of people who consume cannabis tend to dos=e themselves with high levels of THC, and products that cause these results. 

Regular users were found that a lot of them didn’t have as many negative effects from this. It also was found when looking at HTC on memory, they found almost no difference in cognitive performance compared to memory when looking at both low-THC along with high-THC cannabis. 

The fears that this can also cause psychosis were based on a study done in 2019 which looked at the associations that were there between using cannabis that had high THC daily, and the increased chances of having a psychotic break compared to others, but there wsa not something that caused a direct causality between this and other disorders. 

It was found though that high levels of cannabis consumption might be a symptom for developing these disorders, rather than a root cause. So in truth, THC is actually the good person, and it’s been vilified for a long time. that’s because THC is responsible for activating the receptors which are used to help treat many conditions, and instead of being something to avoid, it should be taken, as it can possibly help with agonizing the THC and other levels in the body.

Cannabis and Constipation

For a long time, many have tried to address gut health and issues. With more and more different ways to handle it than ever, we’ve all started to look at how cannabis can impact constipation. 

What constipation is? 

This is when you’re unable to have bowel movements as often, and this is something that’s affected many people for a lot of reasons, and it’s usually a common, not serious matter. This can sometimes cause someone to have more or less often than they should, like once a week, or three times a day. But if you’re going more than about three days without a pass, it can be a problem. It also can cause stomach aches, bloating, diarrhea, and also flatulence too. Diarrhea is usually more often though, and it’s causing watery stools that are much looser too. It can happen for a variety of reasons, such as what you eat, the abuse of laxatives or other gut health problems. 

How cannabis Might Help 

Cannabis is something that's been used for a variety of issues, including digestive problems, in both clinical trials, and non-clinical ways too. But the science is still limited. However, it’s been found that THC is great for IBD, and reduces the occurrence of diarrhea in a lot of people.  This also shows that it can help too with the way stool passes through the intestinal tract. 

Cannabis is also being studied in a lot of ways to help with stomach issues due to certain drugs. While we tend to use opioids to help with relieving pain, they can create constipation. 

Cannabis is still being looked at as a way to reduce the opioid use, and it’s something that limits the effects that come with it, including constipation.  Cannabis is also something that’s appreciated for the chance of someone experiencing a relaxed state.  They also feel more relaxed, so it’s easier to have bowel movements. 

There are still reports of this being contradictory though, since some people have noticed that their bowel movements got worse, and constipation happened more when they used this more often. However, most who have cannabis constipation also deal with IBS, and constipation is a very common side effect that comes with this. 

Right now, the current evidence that’s surrounding this is still primary and anecdotal, and more studies must be used. But there is some research that links both the endocannabinoid system and your gut, and there is a chance there might be more answers to the questions we may have. 

Is Weed Considered a Laxative Though? 

Some people say that weed may be a laxative, but the truth is, there was research that saw that there was a decrease in experiencing the effects of constipation.

However, this was mostly due to utilizing cannabis in order to relax the body, and it can help relax all of the muscles in the body, even those in the gut. 

The form that you have this does also cause the effects too. Nicotine can be a mild laxative for example if you have a very low tolerance for it. 

If you’re mixing cannabis with nicotine, it can loosen up the stools, especially if you’re someone who already has healthy bowel movements. 

If you have cannabis foods, it also can create this too. Remember too as well that all of the cannabinoids that go into the stomach get a chance, and then, it’s put into some sort of chemical manner and it might not be as gentle as other forms are within the stomach. 

So right now, this is what we know about cannabis and constipation.

Can Doctors and Nurses Get Marijuana Cards

Doctors along with nurses are actually gatekeepers for medical marijuana and the usage of this. They do get sick on occasion, and they may use medical cannabis to treat the conditions that they have. They can have these, but there are some risks that are important to factor in mind if you’re a doctor who is using medical cannabis. 

The Rules 

Whether someone is registered with a card ultimately depends on the state that they live in, and the state’s medical board guidelines. It’s a very grey area, as it’s still considered federally legal, and a few states haven’t legalized it for medical use. The NCSBN, which is basically the state board for nursing, has helped with other state boards to provide the guidelines for those who are cardholders that work in the field of medicine. 

RNs that are working and living in states that have legalized the use of cannabis medically are allowed to use the cards. However, you have to make sure that the cannabis won’t interfere with the work that they do. So while they can use medical cannabis, you cannot go to the job while high, as that’s a bad thing, and they’re reprimand you for doing so. 

They also recommend that doctors of cannabis are used as recommendations for physicians.  The physicians have also been given the okay to use marijuana in states where they have it legalized. However, if you’re doing a job, you’re not allowed to use it, as they’re supposed to have a care standard that means they must be free from all impairment, and this includes not only THC, but other substances too, such as alcohol and other drugs. THC metabolites do cling to your fat cells, so it’s important to remember that you can actually test positive even if you’re not high. 

Hospitals do test, and they do offer a zero-tolerance policy for this. While you may not use your nursing or physician’s license to get marijuana, doing so will make you lose your job. Some states don’t have a medical board policy based on the use of cannabis for a doctor or a nurse but if they’re impaired in some way, the actions must be taken to prevent this. 

Most of the states will leave it up to the actual employer to ensure that the workplace is safe and drug-free. If you violate these, you will get terminated, even if the person does have a cannabis card for medical reasons. New Jersey and other states, however, are trying to put together legislation that allows for medical cannabis usage, provided that there is some exception to this. 

Can others Get a Medical Card 

If you’re someone who works in the medical field as a healthcare provider., you can, but do suspect that you may be tested at any time. If you need to utilize cannabis, do it when you’re not going to be working, and make sure it’s out of the system prior to returning to work. 

Most medical schools and nursing programs do require you to have a drug test prior to being admitted, and they do happen throughout the program, to offer a more immersive experience. This is usually urine drug screening, and different testing policies based on the different healthcare agencies affiliated with this. Testing for this means that it may possibly prevent you from participating. 

So a good rule of thumb is, if you’re going to be in medical school in some way, shape or form, you should avoid using medical cannabis, as it can impact your ability to work.