All THC is created equal. Well, for people who use cannabis recreationally, that is not true. Different strains of cannabis (and there are well over 800 documented types and hybrids) can have different benefits. And psychoactive effects.
For people who have a medical card and use cannabis to treat health symptoms, the same holds. For example, did you know that some types of cannabis high in CBD can provide effective pain relief? That is because CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory. Uncontrolled inflammation is the cause of many chronic diseases and pain symptoms.
Why isn’t THC widely accepted as an effective method of pain relief? Or as a safer alternative to prescription NSAIDs or opioids? Countries like Israel and Thailand have been publishing world-leading studies on cannabis and human health. In the United States, the FDA recently approved a synthetic cannabinoid prescription medication to treat severe epilepsy.
Thirty-six states (at the time of writing) in America have legalized medical cannabis. And it seems like cannabis may be an excellent therapeutic option for symptom management. But there is one little problem. Cannabis is intoxicating.
Sure, you can pack a bowl or light up a pre-roll when you get home at night. When you know you are not going out again. But dosing THC before you head to work? That doesn’t work. Is there a way to get the benefits of cannabinoids without the intoxicating effects? That’s why researchers are interested in Delta-8 THC.
The First Choice in Pain Management Causes Almost Fifty-Thousand Overdose Deaths Annually
There are well over two hundred cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. And it is not yet understood how the entourage effect (cannabinoids and terpenes) work. But if you ask patients who struggled for years (and decades in some cases) with painful conditions, many report that cannabis helps.
The opioid epidemic in America has spotlighted the problem with pain management. And the importance of another alternative. The most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paints a dark picture about opioids safety. Prescription NSAIDs and opioids are not the safe therapeutic option we were led to believe. Opioids are fast becoming the number one cause of death in the United States.
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the CDC collects data on overdose deaths. For every drug, and includes the most recent information from 2019. The Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts show that reliance on opioids for pain management can be fatal.
From 1999 to 2019, more than 70,000 Americans died from drug-related overdoses. That includes both illicit substances and prescription opioids. Overdose deaths directly related to opioids rose from 21,088 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017. In 2018, there were a total of 46,802 known deaths caused by opioids. In 2019, the number rose again to 49,860.
This is after legislation was put into place to make physicians track and then restrict the number of opioid prescriptions they write. It was believed it would reduce the overdose rates, but it didn’t.
Addressing the Practical Problems of Cannabis Impairment and Daily Use
Cannabis could be the alternative health solution to opioids. Over time, many clinical studies have reported that opioids actually increase nerve and pain sensitivity. When the nervous system stops reporting pain sensations to the brain, the human brain compensates. It turns up the volume (or the sensitivity) of the nerve receptors.
A scaling-up cycle begins. The patient experiences less pain relief, and the physician increases the dose of the opioid. Or adds a different kind of prescription anti-inflammatory. Then, the brain increases the pain receptors once more. It levels up to a point where the patient cannot achieve pain relief by following prescribed doses.
The risk of overdose increases. Patients, desperate for relief, may source opioids from other providers or through the Black Market. The ability to get additional prescriptions by visiting a walk-in clinic or another physician outside of the primary care provider is more difficult. Many states have implemented health information exchange (HIE) which tracks prescriptions to reduce fraud and overdose incidents.
Using cannabis as a pain relief method can be very effective. However, the psychoactive properties of THC create cognitive and physiological impairments. If opioids are not safe and cannabis is a good alternative, how do we make medical marijuana practical to use during the daytime? There is a type of cannabis that offers all the benefits (without the high risk of impairment). And it is found in trains that have high levels of Delta-8 THC.
What is Delta-8 THC, and How Is It Different from Standard THC Found in Marijuana?
What kind of THC do you find at your garden variety pot shop? Cannabis strains sold in medical and recreational dispensaries are usually Delta-9 THC dominant. Only two compounds out of 200+ cannabinoids found in cannabis create psychoactive effects. That is Delta-9 THC and Delta-8 THC.
But Delta-8 THC can have much higher CBD levels. That means it might be better for certain health conditions that are related to inflammation. And almost every chronic disease stems from excessive levels of inflammation.
Science discovered that THC helps the body release and uptake norepinephrine. It is an important neurotransmitter that helps the body release adrenaline. That heart-pumping happy emotion that feels euphoric. And then, when adrenaline levels drop. You get sleepy. Many of the best cannabis strains take you up to an elevated level and then gently bring you down for some relaxation and rest.
Consuming Delta-8 THC doesn’t make a person feel like they have lost control. It is not overpowering in sedation. But Delta-8 does create a sense of euphoria in the process. And provides some analgesic (pain numbing) effects.
It’s like THC light! All the goodness with the less psychoactive response to contend with. This is good news if you are on your way to an interview or to meet your future in-laws for the first time. And you don’t want to bump into the fish tank.
Delta-8 THC May be Safer and More Appropriate for Children with Chronic Diseases
Epilepsy is one of the most common qualifying health conditions listed in legalized states. Certain strains of cannabis have been suggested for the treatment of seizures. And for children who have moderate to severe symptoms of epilepsy, there is a new FDA-approved medication called Epidiolex. It is a cannabidiol (CBD) oral solution approved for patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
The prescription medication is approved for the use of children aged two years and older. And it is the first medication approved by the FDA that is a cannabis-derived synthetic. But minors assisted by caregivers can also be approved for a medical card, depending on where they live. The problem is that providing medical cannabis to a child can be morally objectionable. The idea of intoxicating a child with cannabis is equally upsetting, unless in a hospice care scenario.
MarijuanaDoctors.com shares that Delta-8 THC provides all the benefits of cannabinoids without impairment or intoxication. It has just enough active cannabinoids to reduce inflammation and ease muscular tremors. However, the patient remains clear-headed.
Safer for Seniors? Why Delta-8 Could be Ideal for Therapeutics in Long-Term Care Facilities
One of the other hazards of using traditional Delta-9 THC and cannabis products is impairment. Arguably for many people, that feeling of fuzzy-headed relaxation is a good thing. It can help relieve stress and make pain symptoms more manageable.
As we age, we can begin to lose coordination and motion acuity. Trip and fall incidents are uncomfortable at any age, but they can be very dangerous for seniors. Sometimes fall injuries can be life-threatening for seniors.
Some states with legalized medical programs are debating whether nursing homes should be allowed to administer medical cannabis. If the patient and/or the caregivers agree that medical cannabis could enhance the quality of life. The same benefits apply to senior care, as cannabis is not contraindicated with different types of medications.
It may be safer than NSAIDs and Opioids for long-term symptom management. Rather than providing a sedating effect, Delta-8 THC could promote better pain management. And without the side-effects and risks common with long-term opioid use that can be dangerous to seniors.
In some clinical studies, Delta-8 THC has provided better results for patients with mental health disorders. Some strains of cannabis have an entourage effect that can trigger psychosis, anxiety, or paranoia. It could be a safer therapeutic option for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
