Does everyone with serious pain issues need high THC to relieve their pain? Many people think so, and it certainly has become the norm with many pain patients. But as new research emerges on the value of the other constituents, or organic compounds in the cannabis plant, it appears that the “only the highest THC content for pain” theory isn’t holding up as much anymore, at least not for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, there are people who definitely need a high concentration of THC to control their severe chronic pain, but that’s not necessarily the norm for everyone.
There is a lot to be learned and re-learned after so many years of worldwide cannabis prohibition because research practically came to a halt as marijuana was demonized, governments banned all things cannabis, and outlawed any research that would offer or explain any benefit that this plant has to offer.
The newest term being thrown around the medical cannabis communities is “The Entourage Effect”. Simply put, this means there are a whole bunch of things in the plant that are working together to deal with your particular problem, and as I’ve said before, not everyone is alike and what works for some doesn’t work for others. But I truly believe there is a cannabis strain out there for everyone, not one strain for everything, but rather a particular strain that will work the best for your body and your condition.
Experienced patients have learned which strains work for them the best by trial and error, and they’ve learned to use their nose to help them choose, because up until now that’s all they’ve really have to go by. They choose something that smells like a strain that worked for them in the past. Or, they just go for the highest THC content they can find, which isn’t the best plan, but gives the much needed pain relief. These intuitive folks are using their nose to determine terpene content. Terpenoids have huge medicinal value by themselves, but together with cannabinoids magic can and does happen. The problem is, although science has proven medicinal qualities of some cannabinoids and terpenoids as individual organic chemicals, not enough research exists with regard to these constituents working together as medicine. A lot of anecdotal evidence IS out there and that’s what patents have relied on thus far.
Because of this lack of clinical research on marijuana, coupled with the fact that there are so many strains out on the market now, finding the strain perfect for your ailment(s) can be a very difficult task. There is a lot of patient evidence to help guide other patients, and preliminary research on lab animals with very promising results. There are research studies too that suggest cannabis may work for one thing or another, but basically these studies all call for further clinical research to be done. New research is happening as I write, on the plant itself and all that’s in it, and what has been found is pointing more and more to the conclusion that the entourage effect is not only extremely important, it is essential for the most complete efficacy of the medicine. I have no doubts that in future years there will be strains developed that will be very specific to a myriad of ailments and diseases.
This is already happening to a small degree. As more research points to the benefits and efficacy of the cannabinoid, CBD, which had been nearly eradicated from cannabis in general in the last few decades of marijuana breeding and the quest for the highest THC content, we see CBD strains re-emerging and patients are becoming more familiar with the fact that higher THC content doesn’t necessarily mean better medicine. In New Mexico, finding a strain with and CBD was like finding a needle in a haystack when I first joined the NM Medical Cannabis Program in 2012. Now there isn’t a dispensary in the state that doesn’t have a CBD strain on their menu most of the time, and most have several to choose from.
Current research on cannabis is proving the benefits of the other constituents of the plant, such as terpenes and terpenoids, that not only come with their own medicinal qualities, but alter the effects of the other constituents in the plant. What is also proven is that our body’s own endocannabinoid system can utilize cannabinoids on an as-needed basis, and can send these medicines to the parts of the body that need it the most.
Additionally, research is also pointing to benefits of many newly found uses of terpenoids, cannabinoids and other constituants of cannabis that have either been newly discovered and/or have been overlooked in the last several decades due to cannabis being scheduled by the FDA as a dangerous drug with no medical value, thus prohibiting research. THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinoilc acid), CBDA (Cannabidiolic Acid), and CBCA (Cannabichromic Acid) are all present in the raw, uncured form of the cannabis plant which is being utilized by many, many people who find it to be hugely beneficial in controlling painful inflammation caused by all forms of arthritis and autoimmune conditions such as Crohn’s Disease, IBS and many more conditions. These people are getting relief and remission, not from high THC buds, but rather raw, non-psychoactive cannabis juice. It’s unfortunate that no one in NM is allowed to grow enough cannabis to make juice once a day all year long.
Other cannabis constituents, such as THCVA (Tetrahydocannabivarinic Acid) and THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin), are each showing promise scientifically as true medicines utilized by our body’s own encocannabinoid system, and we can look forward to hearing much more in the near future about their uses for treatment of specific disease.
My point in all this is to encourage people who believe that high THC content is the only way to relief, that maybe they should be looking at other strains of cannabis besides the “big high” buds and concentrates when choosing cannabis medicine. Believe me, the best is yet to come.
When all cannabis medicine is tested and labeled with all the medicinal constituents of the plant – all the terpenoids and cannabinoids detectable – patients will have a better understanding of the full potential of any given strain for their own personal condition, and strain specific indications will become available and known to all. If you are serious about cannabis as medicine I encourage you to demand testing of all cannabis medicine, and not to support a seller that does not agree.