Why choose cannabis products for your well-being? It's simple – they provide a natural alternative to pharmaceutical options with minimal risk of physical addiction. Positioned between medical and recreational choices, licensed cannabis dispensaries offer wellness products that focus on promoting holistic well-being—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Let me share my story. For years, I struggled with chronic pain due to a sports injury. Traditional painkillers left me feeling groggy and disconnected. Then, I discovered CBD-infused products at a licensed cannabis dispensary. Not only did they alleviate my pain, but they also offered a sense of clarity and calmness I hadn't experienced in years.

Your optimal well-being is influenced by balancing six dimensions of wellness: intellectual, spiritual, emotional, physical, environmental, and social. The key player in regulating these dimensions is the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which interacts with cannabinoids like CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) found in the cannabis plant.

CBD and THC, though producing different but beneficial effects, interact with two types of receptors naturally produced by the body:

• CB1 Receptors: Found throughout the body, particularly in the brain, these receptors coordinate movement, pain, emotion, mood, thinking, appetite, memories, and other functions.

• CB2 Receptors: Located in the immune system, these receptors influence inflammation and pain.

While THC attaches to CB1 receptors, CBD stimulates them. Both have been discovered to assist with sleep, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, metabolism, stress, and appetite. From a wellness standpoint, they shine for their therapeutic potential. Studies show that CBD reduces inflammation by preventing the release of compounds triggering inflammation in the body. When applied topically, cannabis products act on endocannabinoid receptors in muscle tissue, skin, and nerves at the application site.

User Awareness: If you're considering cannabis wellness products, be cautious about potential interactions with other medications or substances. Since the absorption of THC and CBD varies from person to person, new users are encouraged to carefully consider all factors before use. Your well-being journey begins with awareness!

RESOURCES

The Ontario Cannabis Store. ‘Learn – Choosing Cannabis Products.’ https://ocs.ca/blogs/choosing-cannabis-products. (2021)

Greencamp. ‘Cannabis Wellness: Why Is Weed Branded as a Wellness Product?’ https://greencamp.com/cannabis-wellness/. (2020)

Journal of Experimental Medicine. ‘Cannabinoids Suppress Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain.’ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371734/. (2012)

US National Library of Medicine. ‘An Introduction to the Endrogenous Cannabinoid System.’ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4789136/. (2016)

Here to Help. ‘Why People Use Cannabis.’ https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/why-people-use-cannabis. (2019)

US National Library of Medicine. ‘Cannabinoid Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System.’ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877694/. (2018)