Opinion

The Health Benefits of Eating Raw Cannabis

Written by Mell Green

It may sound weird to many, or even gross to some, but raw cannabis can do the body more help than harm. For example, it provides key B vitamins and without them, your body is depression-fighting neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Whether you’re a health junkie or not, you can consume raw cannabis freely without the concern of getting high.

It is normal to consume dried and cured cannabis, but when freshly harvested and not dried or cured, the cannabinoid-rich herb is capable of addressing a number of health conditions. When most people think of cannabis, typically the psychoactive effects come to mind. However, the undecarbed herb is non-psychoactive in its natural state. The key note here is: raw cannabis allows you to administer therapeutic levels of cannabinoids without skyrocketing you into space; not to mention its exceptional nutrient content.

Cannabinoids are unique to cannabis and offer an immense amount of health goodness, providing antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antianalgesic, antibiotic, antifungal, antiproliferative and antiepileptic effects. The two most common cannabinoids found in raw cannabis that have been studied thus far are CBDa (cannabidiolic acid) and THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). The “a” at the end stands for “acid.” This designates that they exist in their non-psychoactive, acidic state. Although in the preliminary stages, research indicates that THCa and CBDa both contain powerful healing properties. Research suggests that THCa is a great cannabinoid for pain regulation and treating inflammation, while CBDa has shown promising results for treating epilepsy and preventing inflammation.

Cannabinoid receptors are found in cells all throughout the human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is vital for regulating a range of biological functions including mood, appetite, sleep and others. When it gets thrown off, disease and illness will ensue, a condition health professionals refer to as clinical endocannabinoid deficiency. Fortunately, the cannabinoids CBDa and THCa have been found to prevent the development of disease and illness associated with the condition.

Because you can consume extremely large amounts of CBDa and THCa when eating raw cannabis, the sheer number and quality of nutrients that you take in per serving increases dramatically, which is great for those who need a serious health overhaul. That said, it may be safe to conclude that supplementing a deficient ECS with these cannabinoids can potentially nurse the body back to optimal health, thus improving any associated conditions.

If you want to try things out, we recommend consuming your raw cannabis in a smoothie, juice, or you can feel free to make up your own recipe.

Image Credit: High Times

About the author

Mell Green

Mell is a published writer and advocate of the legal cannabis movement who’s dedicated to all things wellness. You can catch her work in a number of publications including Plant People, Cannabis.info, and the Weed Blog. She’s a proud volunteer of the National Hemp Association and enjoys consuming cannabis medicinally and recreationally.