Minimising negative side effects of cannabis?

[bongoman]

Hi there

My first post here!

Cannabis is something that weaves it's way through my life, on and off over the last 20 years. More off than on in the last ten years, but I've been enjoying some home grown recently and was curious about how best to minimise any harmful effects.

I'm not actually experiencing anything negative but just because I'm not aware of anything does not mean they are not happening

I'm nearing 40 and am more aware of my health and mind states than when I was 20.

Cannabis is mostly a solo activity for me. My wife is breastfeeding so I tend to use it on my own, for insight and inner replenishment.

I think cannabis is a miraculous plant but also believe that it requires discipline to take full advantage of it's benefits. It's a fine line between learning from cannabis and abusing it.

However, what do other cannabis connoiseurs do to minimise any possible harmful effects (physical, mental, emotional) from using this special herb?

I'm using a vaporiser and there's no way I could smoke now, unless it was just a one-off occasion. I find that vaporising gets me high, not stoned, and does not seem to have such a physical impact (I can eat my vaped herb if I want the body effects).

But what about supplements? I've heard about lecithin and I think someone mentioned melatonin.

Are there any other suggestions (apart from good diet and exercise)?

I'd be curious to hear from those who use cannabis respectfully and intelligently.

 

[the seeker]

umm don't use it often? there's not much more to it than that.

I find that vaporising gets me high, not stoned

that's the reason i never liked vaporizers. i like being high and stoned.

 

[Blowmonkey]

First off, welcome to Bluelight. Second, it would help if you'd list some of the problems that have been bothering you, that way people could make more accurate suggestions as to what to do or not to do.

 

[bongoman]

No major issues - otherwise I wouldn't indulge

But there is the typical and common effect of very vivid dreams when I stop for a while - which I understand is due to cannabis reducing the quality of one's REM sleep, so dreams return when you stop.

And there is the slight brain fog the next morning.

I suppose they are the 2 main issues - reduced REM sleep and brain fog (maybe they are connected in that REM sleep actually refreshes you).

Maybe lecithin and trytophan are good ideas? I'm curious about nootropics as well and might start supplementing with piracetam and choline and one or two others.

 

[the seeker]

you shouldn't even be getting vivid dreams unless youve been smoking very frequently. forget the crazy supplements and just don't smoke so damn much, that's all you have to do.

 

[Xorkoth]

What has helped me is a regimen of nootropic supplements (nootropics being mind-enhancing substances). Piracetam is the most beneficial of these. There have been a large number of studies which have suggested, besides anything related to cannabis, that it has a wide range of benefits to anyone, including increased rate of neuronal firing, increased communication rate of the corpus collosum, meaning that the two halves of your brain can communicate more effectively, and powerful antioxidant protection in the brain, among others. This essentially leads to increased mental quickness and stamina, and increased recall and word choice.

A great substance to mix with piracetam, as they have a great synergistic effect, is hydergine. Hydergine is an ergoloid alkaloid (actually, a blend of 3) which has also been found to have a whole host of mental benefits, which include reduced effect of aging in the brain, cerebral vasodialation, peripheral vasodilation (meaning in the limbs), increased motivation, and balancing out levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. This leads to noticeable subjective effects, including enhanced bloodflow, increased mental stamina and dexterity, increased word recall and concept linkage, reducing aging in the brain, and a great emotional balancing effect.

A final substance to add is soy lecithin. Lecithin is a substance found in some common food items but is something which a lot of us don't get enough of. Lecithin's benefits are numerous as well. It contains several compounds but the most relevant one is phosphatidylcholine, which is a very bioavailable choline source. Choline is key in the production of acetylcholine, one of the 4 main neurotransmitters which affects, among other things, mental/creative activity, memory, and motivation. Lecithin also has several additional benefits that I can recall, including providing the material which coats the myelin sheath in your nerve cells. This compound I believe is called phosphaidylserine.

I suggest doing some research on these compounds, as the benefits and effects I listed are the ones I remember off-hand from my own research and experience, and there are others, and the ones I listed can be examined in more detail.

But don't forget, moderation of cannabis is the most important factor here. I get the feeling you're already pretty moderate, and I'm glad to hear you're using a vaporizer. I agree with you that it gets you high rather than stoned. In general, it's a good idea not to take too many substances, but adding a few with noted benefits to your mental health could be beneficial to you in more ways than minimizing cannabis harm. I know it sure has been for me. I feel sharper and more emotionally balanced and healthy than ever before, from before and during my heavy smoking days, and I still vaporize marijuana regularly (though much less).

 

[swilow]

Damiana- a herb- in a tea can help to bring back a smokers dreams, if only temporaraily.

I find ginko biloba, and other synergistic memory herbs suitable for counteracting the negative effects of weed on the memory, but they can't do much against overuse.

 

[djshibbs]

you can abuse weed?

well i wouldnt know what its like to not abuse it then cuz ive smoked every day of my life for the past few years...


welcome to bluelight

 

[Xorkoth]

Here are two great articles with a lot of good references, the first on piracetam and the second on hydergine. I keep reiterating throughout the forum because I think the research on these drugs is exciting and promising, and in the interest of harm reduction, knowledge of your options can only bring about good things:

Piracetam: http://smart-nutrition.net/JamesSouth-nootropics.htm

Hydergine (and its relatives bromocriptine and nicergoline): http://smart-drugs.com/Ward-Dean-Hydergine.htm