How to talk to your Parents and Grandparents about Cannabis.
It’s a family gathering perhaps, maybe Sunday dinner. You’re seated around the table with your family. You’re absentmindedly listening in to the conversation as you devour your meal but, your ears perk up when you hear the word “weed” drop from grandma's mouth.
You try not to choke on your food as you swallow fast and perk up, hoping no one notices your red eyes and a wicked case of the munchies.
Even if your family doesn’t partake in cannabis, the generation of Baby Boomers is becoming the next generation of cannabis consumers. Cannabis is in the news daily with more and more positive studies coming out to support the good that cannabis brings.
As cannabis was Legalized recreationally in Canada on October 17, 2018. More and more of the older generation are turning to cannabis to treat a variety of ailments. Some are even just enjoying the recreational side and rolling joints like they did back in the 1970s and reminiscing about the
“ Good old days”.
Your family still may not be open to cannabis and have so many misconceptions when it comes to this vast plant.
The basic questions most of the older generation will ask when it comes to weed are,
-Doesn’t weed just get you high?
-What’s this CBD thing?
-What is this hemp oil stuff then?
-What are the laws?
-What are my options if I don’t want to smoke?
Doesn’t cannabis just get you high?
No!
You don’t need to get high to experience the benefits of cannabis. Out of the 140 compounds found in the cannabis plant, only one gets you high and that’s THC, known as Tetrahydrocannabinol. This day and age with the help of genetic modification, we’ve managed to breed plants that are lower in THC, high in CBD.
THC isn't a bad thing though! THC is known to help induce appetite and reduce inflammation. But the other components found in weed other than THC help with pain, anxiety, and other ailments without the “high
What is this CBD thing?
CBD stands for Cannabidiol. CBD is non-intoxicating so it can be used during the day to ease your pain. CBD, unlike THC, doesn’t bind to your receptors in the central nervous system, but instead, it binds to the naturally occurring CB2 receptors that are found all over your body in areas such as your digestive tract, immune cells, skin, and other areas of your body.
Inflammatory pain is vast and not limited to, all forms of arthritis, some autoimmune diseases such as chrons and other digestive issues that cause spasms and pain, and simple conditions such as headaches, PMS, and aches from exercise and work.
What’s great about CBD also is that it works without the risk of damaging your liver, heart, or cause gastrointestinal issues like NSAIDS can do.
As the demand for CBD increases, the research into CBD goes up. CBD cannot cure your problems but it can surely help you treat them in a more natural way.
What is this hemp oil stuff?
You’re sitting at the table and your aunt Karen pipes up saying she purchased this amazing CBD oil from the local health store and she can’t understand why anyone would order it online when you can buy “ CBD” just anywhere.
What Karen doesn’t realize, along with a lot of other people is that when they purchase those CBD oils, they’re hemp-derived CBD and not typically regulated and lab tested.
When looking for a CBD product to help you, Look for products sourced in Canada. We have options of hemp-derived CBD and full-spectrum CBD derived from the marijuana plant. When choosing a CBD Canadian sourced hemp or cannabis is your best and safest bet! Canada has regulations in place to protect us from bad products. It does still happen but most CBD products are tested in a Health Canada approved lab. When you buy CBD sourced from other countries, you’re risking ingesting contaminated CBD. Other countries use harsh pesticides and can have mould on their plants. This is not safe and not fit for human consumption. Be aware of where your CBD comes from!
What are the laws when it comes to cannabis?
Canada is the second country to legalize recreational cannabis in the world. We are the first G7 and G20 countries to do so also.
Did you know Cannabis was banned in Canada from 1923 till July 30, 2001, when medical cannabis was legalized?
.
As of October 17, 2018. Canadians of legal age 19+ or 18+ if you’re in Alberta/Quebec can, -
-carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis on them at all times.
- You are allowed to gift up to 30 grams to adults of legal age.
-And depending on your province, you can grow up to 4 plants at home!
Gone are the days where we had to go to a buddy down the road to get questionable weed. We now can go to retail recreational stores, or order online and have it discreetly shipped right to your door.
I don’t like to smoke, what else can I do?
Long gone are the days where we had to rely on joints and pipes to get us by. We have so many options now. Smoking is not the only way to reap the benefits of cannabis
If you want to slowly introduce cannabis into your family lives. Start with offering grandma a topical for her aching joints.
Topicals are non-intoxicating as you’re only spreading them on your skin. Within 30 minutes the pain should be knocked down a few notches and you’re benefiting from the cannabis without smoking.
Another option is tinctures or oils. These are discreet and easy to take and dose. You choose your appropriate dosage and place it under the tongue and hold for 60 seconds. Why this is effective is because under your tongue as sublingual receptors that absorb the THC faster than it goes through your digestive system like when you consume a weed edible.
Edibles are other great options for those looking to try cannabis. They are food items that contain cannabis. With how advanced the cannabis world is, you don’t have to just get the classic pot brownies. We now have a wide array of weed edibles. Everything from infused granola bars and dried fruit, to cotton candy! From coffee and teas to sports recovery drinks and capsules.
You can even get edibles that have no weed taste that is made with distillate as opposed to classic weed infusions such as cannabis butter or canna coconut oil.
The older generation isn’t trying to be rude and hate on cannabis. They’ve just spent years being misinformed and we as the next generation are here to help them understand and benefit from this amazing plant.
If more people would just try cannabis, imagine how many people would be happy and in less pain?
Instead of arguing, take a few moments and listen to WHY they’re against cannabis so much and come back with facts to prove your points.
As cannabis becomes more widely accepted, the more we break down preconceived notions.