The use of marijuana for pain relief has been known for centuries. However, the use of the drug has recently become more mainstream.
Now that marijuana has been legalized in many states around the US, the taboo behind smoking has decreased significantly. The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is now widely accepted as both medically and morally sound.
Many of you out there may already be using marijuana recreationally and haven’t considered it as a way to soothe sore muscles after a long day of activity. When it comes to pain relief with this drug, there are some basic guidelines for using it as a medically safe and useful tool.
Different Strains
The first thing to understand is that there are many types of marijuana. Notably, there are two main strains of cannabis, Indica, and Sativa. Also, there are many hybrid strains.
There is not enough scientific research to show whether one strain has a greater effect on pain; however, according to most surveys, users tend to prefer indica for pain management. This makes sense in some ways since, between the two strains, indica is seen as having a relaxing effect. In contrast, sativa is more often used to elevate mood.
Forms of Ingestion
Another factor to consider is how one can ingest marijuana. While the dangers of weed that were publicized in the 1950s and ’60s were often overblown, there are some real risks. One of these that is particularly important to athletes are the negative effects of smoking the substance.
People forget that smoking cannabis, especially through joints and paper products, is detrimental to the lungs. Some of the same effects that occur with prolonged use of tobacco, like tar build-up in the lungs, can occur with marijuana use. Smoking marijuana has been linked to lung cancer.
Edible Cannabis
Luckily, in today’s day and age, there are many ways to ingest marijuana without the same negative consequences on one’s lungs. One option is through food that is infused with cannabis (often referred to as edibles). That’s right! You can make delicious snacks, like cookies and brownies, with marijuana oil.
Of course, edibles are not always the most practical way of ingesting marijuana. They take a lot of time to cook and sometimes require a lot of weed.
Vaping
One method that has become increasingly popular is the use of vape pens. This is also known as vaping. There is a large variety of vaporizers that one can choose from. There are tabletop vaporizers, durable dry herb vape pens, wax vaporizers, and dab pens. These options vary by size, and the usage of the actual marijuana flower, or of cannabis concentrates.
Vaping is a great alternative to traditional smoking methods because it is much healthier for the lungs. This is particularly great news for athletes. Another reason why they have become so popular is that they can be used more discreetly. They do not let off a very strong aroma when compared to marijuana joints and pipes. Also, vape pens and other portable vaporizers are easy to conceal.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a way to get some pain relief from the soreness of your excursions and adventures, marijuana can be a great option for you! However, we recommend trying to use edibles and vaporizers due because these alternatives avoid some detrimental effects that smoking can have on your lungs. Good luck out there!
