Methods of ingestion
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Smoked Marijuana
The most common method of ingesting marijuana in the United States is to smoke it in a joint (cigarette), a glass pipe or a type of water pipe known as a bong. Smoking is a quick and efficient way to deliver an optimum therapeutic dose of cannabinoids, because the patient is able to feel the effects almost immediately, and can stop as soon as the desired relief is achieved. The trade off is an increased risk of bronchitis or other respiratory irritation.
Rolling a joint, or making a marijuana cigarette, is a learned skill. Practice makes perfect. Rolling papers are readily available at corner stores and gas stations, and come in a wide range of sizes, composition and flavors. Beginners are advised to start with larger sizes. Inexpensive cigarette rolling machines (~$3 to $5) are also widely available for those with less than nimble fingers.
Glass pipes and bongs are commonly used to smoke marijuana but may be difficult to find for sale in your community, particularly in small towns or rural areas of the state. You may have to order a glass pipe or bong on-line or travel to a larger city where you can visit a smoke shop.
If you do visit a store to purchase a glass pipe or bong, you will see notices posted that these devices are intended for consuming tobacco or legal herbs only. Michigan law prohibits the sale of drug paraphernalia, which is any device intended for use in consuming controlled substances. However, the Michigan Marijuana Act protects not only registered patients and caregivers who possess paraphernalia, but also any vendors who sell it to them.
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There are many ways of ingesting medical marijuana besides smoking it.
Capsules
THC, the most powerful medicinal compound in cannabis, is available by prescription from licensed physicians. But most patients who try Marinol discover that it is far too psychoactive. THC is only one of a handful of cannabis compounds that work together harmoniously. For example, it is known that Cannabidiol (CBD) has sedative effects that offset the stimulative effects of pure THC. That is a part of why pure THC pills are known to overpower the senses. In order to get the optimum medicinal benefits without unwanted side effects, all of the natural cannabis compounds should be taken together as nature intended. Thus these homemade “Mari pills” are far superior to pharmaceutical Marinol. Plus, at a cost of up to $12 per tablet, Marinol is much more expensive than pills made from the natural plant.
Eating marijuana
In many cultures people prefer to ingest marijuana by eating or drinking it. Eating medical marijuana is especially recommended for patients since it avoids the risks of bronchitis or lung irritations associated with inhaling smoke.
Two important facts about medical marijuana that must be kept in mind if you plan to eat it.
1) Some cannabinoids must be activated by heat. Eating it raw will not deliver the full therapeutic benefits. Many people however do eat raw marijuana and report they receive benefit from doing so.
2) Cannabinoids are soluble (dissolve) in fats and alcohol, but not water. The cannabinoids, or the therapeutically active components in medical marijuana, cannot be extracted by brewing a tea or soaking in water. They must be either suspended in a fat such as vegetable oil or butter, OR steeped in alcohol.
Medical marijuana can be prepared for cooking in two ways.
1) Pulverized into powder, called marijuana, or canna flour.
2)Extracted into a fat or oil, most commonly butter, called cannabutter.
Cannabutter
“Cannabutter” is the common name for a butter that has been infused with the beneficial cannabinoids contained in medical marijuana. Cannabutter is not hard to make and for those who ingest their medicine by eating it, cannabutter is much more palatable than is the whole plant.
Medical Marijuana Flour
Marijuana can be cooked into any favorite recipe. However most people do not care for the taste so it’s important to chose recipes that will mask the flavor. Chocolate and tomato sauce are often used for that reason.
Suppositories
Medical marijuana can be easily converted into suppository form. Medical marijuana suppositories are well suited for patients who are unable to eat or smoke medical marijuana.
Drink
The active ingredients in medical marijuana can be infused into various liquids and made into drinks. Because cannabinoids are not water soluble, making drinkable medical marijuana is not a simple matter of brewing up a tea. Medical marijuana drinks are most commonly alcohol & milk based.
