Table of Contents
- Edible Uses of Cannabis (Pot)
- Medicinal Uses of Cannabis (Pot)
- Alternative Uses of Hemp
- Growing Cannabis Sativa
Here in Canada, cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is a legal medicinal and industrial plant.
When Haliburton Flora was compiled, there was one Cannabis sativa noted on waste ground up in the northeast corner of Haliburton county. In the Haliburton Flora entry it’s called “marijuana”, but that name is used less and less for its racist origins. (I won’t stir it up, it’s easy to research!)
Industrial and recreational cannabis are technically both Cannabis sativa, and I am presuming since Haliburton Flora considered this lone plant “marijuana” it was on the higher THC side. However, I am going to cover both as this same species of plant can be cultivated in varieties for industrial uses (“hemp”) or for the edible seed (“hemp”), both of which are not highly psychoactive varieties. Or for cannabinoids, especially CBD/cannabidiol and THC/tetrahydrocannabinol (let’s call these higher THC varieties “pot” – high THC can cause psychosis in some cases).
I wanted to make up a story of a hippie tossing their half used joint out the window back in the day being the reason our surveyors found a lonely pot plant, maybe someone on the way to a commune. But heat bursts the seeds. To make a long story short, this Boo Radley of weed was likely from a seed dropped by a bird who found a much larger and not-so-legal field of pot.
Around Haliburton we have a couple plants from the mulberry family: common hop and cannabis. The beer you get from the hops can cause trouble. The cannabis if high in THC also can. In spiritual terms, getting drunk or high can open oneself up to oppression. But there are uses that don’t involve getting high..
Edible Uses of Cannabis (Pot)
Hemp seed has 8 of the 9 essential amino acids – it’s a protein powerhouse. Its also got omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Are recreational and medicinal varieties of cannabis seeds the same? While the seeds can be substituted, there is less research on the nutritional value of recreational varieties, and they may have low concentrations of THC.
Even Amazon carries hemp seed (affiliate link).
Cannabis leaves can be used to make a tea that tastes like what you would imagine grass to taste like, so it’s best mixed with your favorite tea if used at all. Cannabinoids (including THC) are insoluble in water.
The leaves contain calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins C and K.
Medicinal Uses of Cannabis (Pot)
Cannabis is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Endocrine
- Muscular
- Nervous
- Skeletal
Medicinal tags include Analgesic, Antiemetic, Antispasmodic, and Hallucinogen, Stimulant or Sedative. See Medicinal tag key for more information.
Common usage includes reducing the side effects of chemo, especially nausea. Another headline usage is for glaucoma treatment. And more and more it’s the oil for pain management I am hearing about in my own circles, whether physical pain or emotional (depression, anxiety). As with most things, it works for some people and not so well for others.
CBD-only products have been gaining popularity. And that’s good regarding previously mentioned potential side effects (psychosis, spiritual oppression).
Cannabis is an ancient drug, historically used for all manners of disorders. Money is being put into research more and more now, which means we’ll learn more, but we also have more vetting to do with so much money involved. Let’s be cautious in looking for good peer reviewed science.
Alternative Uses of Hemp
The low THC forms of cannabis are used for their tough (tougher than leather? maybe close) fibers, and for making a drying oil for paints. Sativa means “things that are cultivated”, and it sure was. It was probably first cultivated in ancient China over 5,000 years ago, coming to the west circa the 16th century.
I let my mind wander. Hemp products are limitless. There are building materials, fabric for clothing, hemp “plastic”, hemp paper – one meme I saw says 50,000+ uses. So much things to say.
Growing Cannabis Sativa
I don’t know about growing hemp, but here in Ontario you’re allowed 4 stout pot plants per household. There is still a lot of government regulation to look into!
WARNINGS
Any ingestion of cannabis runs the risk of a positive drug test.
THC which causes the “high” has side effects (mentioned above) and while I used to ignore these, I can’t recommend using products with THC anymore.
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.
3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
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REFERENCES
My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: of Eastern and Central North America (The Sam Thayer’s Field Guides) Paperback – June 1, 2023 and this plant IS featured as one of the edible wild plants in this area. I highly recommend this guide for your bookshelves!
Cannabis sativa Linnaeus – Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada