Search results
before the outcomes of any high-quality UK-based clinical data emerge on the use of medical cannabis in the management of chronic pain. The British Pain Society are considering the lessons learned from different models of supply, prescribing and monitoring the effect of cannabis-based medicinal products in other countries.
- 396KB
- 3
The effects of cannabis typically last for 2-3 hours when smoked or vaporized, and for 6-8 hours when ingested. Cannabis has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, cancer-related pain, muscle spasms, nausea, and appetite loss.
Apr 29, 2024 · When it comes to fast-acting pain relief, smoking or vaping cannabis is often the most effective method. These consumption methods allow the active compounds in cannabis, such as THC and CBD, to be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs, providing pain relief within 5-10 minutes. Another quick-acting option is using a ...
- Overview
- What is cannabutter?
- Main uses
- How to make it
- Safety and side effects
- The bottom line
Cannabis, also known as marijuana or weed, is a mind-altering drug that comes from either the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant (1).
These plants have been widely used for centuries for both medicinal and recreational use.
While many people choose to smoke or vape cannabis, edibles have grown in popularity. These edibles often contain cannabutter — a cannabis-infused butter that can be purchased at a local cannabis dispensary or made at home.
Still, keep in mind that cannabis is illegal in many states and countries, so always check with your local government before using it or related products.
As the name implies, cannabutter is a combination of cannabis and butter.
It’s most commonly used to make cannabis edibles, particularly baked goods like cookies and brownies.
Before buying or making cannabutter, you should decide what effects you’re hoping to experience.
Cannabis contains two main compounds known as cannabinoids — tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is a psychoactive compound that leads to a high, while CBD is not mind-altering (1, 2).
Depending on its intended use, cannabutter may contain only CBD or both CBD and THC.
Summary
May alleviate cancer-related symptoms
Many cancer treatments lead to undesired symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and pain, and a lot of research focuses on natural remedies to relieve them (3). Cannabis has been used as a natural treatment for nausea and vomiting throughout history. In fact, its anti-nausea properties were one of its first discovered medical benefits (4). Cannabis contains compounds called cannabinoids. They affect your body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates various bodily processes, including mood, memory, and appetite (4). While THC has been most extensively studied, it appears that other cannabinoids, such as CBD, may also help treat nausea and vomiting (4). However, keep in mind that excessive cannabis use can lead to the same symptoms. Therefore, it’s important to work with a healthcare professional to ensure you’re using cannabis safely and effectively (5). Finally, cannabis is widely prescribed to help treat cancer-related pain (5). Cannabutter can be incorporated into foods, making it a useful, smoke-free, edible option for people with cancer.
Sleep aid
Cannabis is commonly cited as an effective sleep aid. One review noted that THC alone or combined with CBD improved sleep (6). While the underlying mechanism needs more research, it appears that these two cannabinoids affect your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and decrease pain-associated insomnia (7). Still, there are concerns that overusing cannabis may lead to dependency as a sleep aid (6, 7). More quality research is needed to better understand the relationship between cannabis and sleep. Summary Cannabutter is a versatile, smoke-free cannabis product that can be used to improve sleep quality and help manage nausea, vomiting, and pain.
Step 1: Decarboxylation
It’s important to bake cannabis before making cannabutter. In its raw form, it contains tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which are the inactive versions of THC and CBD (2, 8). By heating these compounds, they undergo decarboxylation — also known as decarbing — and become the active compounds THC and CBD (2, 8). To activate THC and CBD, preheat your oven to 240°F (115°C) and place 1/2-ounce (14 grams) of cannabis onto a baking sheet. Allow it to cook for approximately 30–40 minutes. If you’re using fresh cannabis, you may need to let it cook for up to 1 hour. Conversely, if you’re using older, drier cannabis, shorten the cooking time to around 20 minutes. Be sure to stir and rotate the cannabis every 10 minutes to prevent burning. You will know it’s decarboxylated when its color changes from a bright green to a dark brown-green. Finally, make sure your oven does not exceed 240°F (115°C), as this can destroy important oil compounds called terpenes. These compounds are responsible for the smell, flavor, and medicinal effects of the plant (9).
Step 2: Stovetop cooking
Once the cannabis has been activated, you need the following: •1/2 ounce (14 grams) decarboxylated cannabis •2 cups (500 ml) of water •2 sticks of butter (approximately 8 ounces or 225 grams) •1 medium-sized saucepan with a lid •1 wooden spoon •2 cheese cloths •1 medium-sized glass bowl or container On very low heat, bring the water to a boil and then add the butter. Once the butter has completely melted, stir it well and add the cannabis to the mixture. Put the lid on and allow it to simmer for 3–4 hours. Be sure to stir the mixture every 20–30 minutes to prevent burning. The mixture is done when it’s thick and glossy on the top. Once it’s finished cooking, place two layers of cheesecloth over a glass bowl or container, pour the mixture onto the cheesecloth, and allow the liquid to drain through. Let the remaining liquid cool at room temperature for 30–60 minutes, then place the bowl in the refrigerator until the butter has completely separated from the water and appears as a thick top layer. Carefully scrape the butter from the bowl and place it in a separate container. Store it in the refrigerator for immediate or short-term use. Moreover, it can be kept in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 6 months. When making edible cannabis products at home, it’s best to use half cannabutter and half regular butter in most recipes. However, you may want to test smaller doses of cannabutter to prevent overconsumption. Summary To ensure you make cannabutter properly, follow the steps above exactly as outlined. If you don’t wish to experience psychoactive effects, be sure to use THC-free cannabis.
Though cannabutter is safe to eat, you should consider some important side effects.
Unlike smoking or vaping, finding an appropriate dosage for edible cannabis products can be difficult due to varying THC concentrations (10, 11, 12).
This variation is largely due to the quality of the cannabis used, preparation methods, or where the product was purchased (10, 11, 12).
Furthermore, edible cannabis products like cannabutter have longer latency periods, as they’re metabolized differently than inhalable cannabis products (10, 11).
With edibles, it can take 30–90 minutes to notice effects, with reactions peaking around 2–4 hours. However, this depends on how much was consumed, as well as your gender, body weight, and metabolism (11).
In contrast, smoking or vaping cannabis takes effect within 20–30 minutes and usually wears off in 2–3 hours (10, 11).
Cannabutter is made from butter and cannabis.
It’s primarily used to make edible cannabis products like baked goods and candies.
These may help relieve cancer-related symptoms and improve sleep. However, cannabutter may contain inconsistent concentrations of THC, making it easy to overconsume.
Is cannabis legal? Depending on the country or state you live in, medicinal or recreational use of cannabis may be legal, so be sure to familiarize yourself with applicable laws. To ensure pure and potent cannabis, be sure to only purchase from licensed and legal dispensaries.
Aug 10, 2023 · Product information. There are three requirements that a cannabis-based product for medicinal use (CBPM) should satisfy: the product is or contains cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol or a cannabinol derivative, it is produced for medical use in humans, and. it is a product that is regulated as a medical product, or an ingredient of a medical ...
Jun 22, 2021 · Osteoarthritis. Pains typically treated with opioids. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Rheumatoid arthritis. Seizures. Severe nausea. Sleeping disorders. But understanding how marijuana works ...
People also ask
Is cannabis a painkiller?
Can non-inhaled medical cannabis help treat chronic pain?
Are cannabis-based products for medicinal use effective for pain?
Can cannabis help with chronic pain?
Sep 9, 2021 · The guidance offers a weak recommendation for a trial of non-inhaled medical cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain. Its summary indicates moderate evidence of a clinically important decrease in pain for a small to very small proportion of patients. The recommendation for a trial of treatment is based on two meta-analyses of randomised ...
