Marijuana-Edibles
Eating Raw Cannabis – Add more Green to Your Diet
The various benefits of ingesting weed are more relevant and widely known now more than ever, with countless different methods to choose from, but have you ever tried eating raw cannabis?
With so many different consumption techniques at our disposal, it may seem like a weird and unnecessary thing to do. However, eating raw cannabis can present multiple healing benefits due to its various health-promoting compounds, such as calcium, protein and healthy amino acids.
While it may not get you high, that’s not always the end goal. Many cannabis users choose to partake in their favourite herb for the various health benefits it supplies outside of the recreational objective of expanding your mind and getting high.
Don’t get it twisted. We definitely think that’s fun too, but there is much more to the cannabis plant than one specific purpose, which is part of the reason why we love it oh so much.
If you haven’t considered eating raw cannabis before, take this as the perfect opportunity to potentially give it a go. This article will cover the benefits of eating raw cannabis, its various healing components, and how to integrate it into your diet.
If nothing else, it may be just the motivation you need to broaden your horizons and try a new, straightforward method of enjoying your favourite bud.
That said, let’s get started!
Eating Raw Cannabis
While weed edibles are not a new or revolutionary concept at this point, eating raw cannabis is often overlooked. Still, eating raw cannabis can produce some incredible health benefits.
So, if you’re in the market for living a healthier life, raw cannabis isn’t something to sleep on.
In the traditional sense, cannabis is a plant or herb. In reality, it functions much more closely to a vegetable. That’s right. Veggies are back on the menu. You can’t have too many greens in your diet, y’all!
Weed is, in all regards, a superfood. Like other famous superfoods, such as avocados, leafy greens and turmeric, raw cannabis is packed with nutritional molecules.
These include and are not limited to:
- Protein
- Calcium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Potassium
- Selenium
- Carotenoids
- Omega 3,6,9 Fatty Acids
- Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E
- Fibre
- Amino Acids
With a nutrient list this diversified, there’s little question as to why raw cannabis needs to be in everyone’s diet.
While a healthy array of vitamins and nutrients is enough to motivate, there’s more to eating raw cannabis, including endocannabinoid system activation.
The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is a system in our bodies that regulates a host of functions, including appetite, memory, reproduction, learning and much more. When we consume cannabis, we activate the ECS.
This isn’t to say it isn’t active without cannabis, but the lack of cannabinoids in the average diet isn’t geared towards a body that hums and sings.
Once again, vegetables for the win.
Eating Raw Cannabis for Phytochemicals, Cannabinoids and Flavonoids
Just as vaping and smoking weed introduces phytochemicals to our bodies, so does raw eating cannabis.
But here’s the kicker.
When we smoke weed, and the plant matter combusts, yes, we take in all the healthy bits. However, we also ingest the harsh smoke and other potentially harmful components such as excess plant matter and toxic carcinogens.
As we’re all well aware, any smoke isn’t great for your lungs. Sure, smoking cannabis is much safer than cigarettes or cigars, but it doesn’t change the fact that there are better and healthier options.
Well then, vaping must be the answer, right? Not so fast. In the smoking vs vaping debate, vaping no doubt takes the cake as a safer alternative.
Still, the problem isn’t necessarily the combustion. It’s the breakdown of phytochemicals attributed to rising temperatures. As these healthy phytochemicals break down, they lose their value. Hence, giving raw cannabis an edge in this regard.
While we’re on the subject of combustion, it’s also critical to note that phytochemicals aren’t the only thing affected by it. Cannabinoids and flavonoids are subject to change and breaking down as well.
For instance, it’s a common misunderstanding that raw cannabis has THC and CBD. Instead, THCA and CBDA are present. Only through decarboxylation do CBDA and THCA convert to their more familiar, well-known counterparts, respectively.
Yet, this isn’t to say THCA and CBDA are useless. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
THCA and CBDA are highly therapeutic. You’ll find them commonly used for the following:
As you can see, the benefits of consuming raw cannabis are numerous. Yet, you may have noticed we’re yet to cover if you get high from eating natural cannabis. That’s because we wanted to present all its benefits before scaring off some folks.
Does Eating Raw Cannabis Get you High?
In 99.9% of cases, eating raw cannabis doesn’t get you high. THCA must convert to THC before becoming psychoactive. This process occurs, once again, by decarboxylation.
While prolonged exposure to a specific temperature is the crucial ingredient in decarbing, cannabis that is very, very old has a slight chance of converting a tiny amount of THCA into THC. So, while there’s not much need to worry if getting high is out of the question, stick to fresh cannabis leaves.
Don’t let the lack of high deter you from the raw cannabis health perks, though. There are a ton of other righteous benefits associating with eating raw cannabis.
How to Use Raw Cannabis
Grabbing a nug of weed out of your stash and popping it directly into your mouth and chewing may not be the most appealing endeavour. We totally get it.
That’s why we’re here to outline some other methods of reaping the benefits of eating raw cannabis by making it more tasty and enticing.
Juicing/Cannabis Juice
The most common way to consume raw cannabis is to juice it. Most people stick to this method because the marijuana plant isn’t always the tastiest.
Create your own juice blend with other veggies, some fruits, juices and whatnot to help mask the flavour without missing out on all of the wonderful benefits.
Cold Pressed Oils
Another great way to benefit from raw cannabis is making cold-pressed oils.
Cold-pressed hemp oils are typically created using raw hemp seeds and olive oil. However, any oil is suitable! Cold-pressed oils are great because they contain an abundance of antioxidants and other healing properties.
Raw Hemp Seeds
Speaking of raw hemp seeds, they’re also a popular trend these days.
Hemp hearts are available at Safeway, Superstore and other grocery stores. Unlike cold-pressed hemp seed oil, hemp hearts or hemp seeds are more versatile, meaning that you can integrate them into a variety of recipes with ease.
Salads
Now, don’t take this as an invitation to make a salad with only weed leaves as the base. Cannabis leaves are not a flavourful bunch.
Instead, opt to chop some in as you would cilantro. It will mask the flavour but is a fantastic and effective way to enjoy cannabis plants. Alternatively, you can opt for a hemp oil salad dressing for an added zest.
Eating Raw Cannabis – Transform Your Diet from Dud to Dank
Eating raw cannabis has myriad health benefits. Containing a wealth of nutrients, proteins, fatty and amino acids, its abundance of THCA and CBDA is significant in regulating the endocannabinoid system.
The non-psychoactive method of consumption fits any and all lifestyles. It’s just the next evolution in North American use of medical cannabis.
The best methods for consuming weed continue to change by the minute. Still, one thing that won’t change is the shared affection for cannabis and the weed plant itself.
If you plan to give eating raw cannabis a try, be sure that you are purchasing your products from a trustworthy and reliable dispensary.
Even if you do choose to give it a go, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to forego the fun, recreational side of weed altogether.
Life is all about balance, and edibles present an excellent way to ingest your favourite wacky tobacky that is accurately dosed and safer than other consumption methods, such as smoking.
