Cannabis Yin and Yang

By Susan Boskey

As far as I can tell, nothing in life is ever simply all one way, either good or bad. Think: people, politics, places, technology … and cannabis for that matter. It seems to me that we have entered (Maybe it always been this way?) a phase where black and white thinking/opinions about people, politics, places, technology and cannabis, etc. is cast in stone. No exceptions and no shades of grey.  Yet:

• ‘Good’ people have been known to become murders.
• A handful of politicians attempt to stay true to acting ‘for the people’.
• Gorgeous tourist destinations still dump human waste into the ocean.
• Technology appears to have a negative impact on social skills and
• Overuse of THC can lead to psychosis and/or Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). [1] [2] [3]

In the world of herbs and herbal remedies one characteristic that identifies the cannabis plant is that it is ‘bimodal’. Bimodal means its effect depends on how the plant is used. When used medicinally via microdosing, you get one effect and when used (usually overuses) for years, and/or containing a high percentage of THC, you get another, which can lead to psychosis or CHS.

But most people never learn this fact of cannabis’ bimodality.

The three recent, scientifically-based articles documented above tell the story of the dark side of cannabis. I discussed this propensity for cannabis in previous blogs here and here. What is interesting, however, is that as evidence of the symptoms and causes get clarified, black and white thinking often gets applied as further evidence of the ‘evil’ weed.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Back in 1600 when Shakespeare wrote, As You Like It, he said something that speaks to both the nature of cannabis and to human nature:

ROSALIND: Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?

Come, sister, you shall be the priest and marry us.

Give me your hand, Orlando. What do you say, sister?

Since cannabis has two different modes of how it affects users, for the informed, this fact changes the conversation. The focus shifts from cannabis good or cannabis bad to a personal inquiry: Why do some people choose to over-consume cannabis and/or go for the products with the most THC while others do not? Where does personal responsibility enter the equation? Asking and answering these questions exonerates cannabis from the good/bad conundrum common to many and instead puts the emphasis where it belongs: on the individual usage of the plant.

My hope is that such factual information may help others to take advantage of the medicinal use of cannabis. Check out this 3-minute video.

Disclaimer: The information and opinions I share are for informational purposes only including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material and are not intended as medical advice or instruction. Nothing mentioned is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment

Susan is a Certified Cannabis Practitioner and graduate of the Holistic Cannabis Academy with over 45 years of personal involvement in the spectrum of wellness modalities. Her mission today is to intervene in the noise of modern life and help her clients identify and remove stressors that trigger their dis-ease. She personalizes care plans regarding the best cannabis strain, dose and delivery system to address her client’s issue. As a non-physician coach Susan enjoys the added flexibility of also providing protocols for simple lifestyle changes to accelerate the healing process. Visit her website: LifestyleWellnessRx.com