Cannadid Qs: Will THC Hurt My PHD?
Thanks to studies that have been done on the medical benefits of cannabis, we now know that it can be used to treat a variety of conditions. But can the same be said for recreational cannabis use? This week, Cannadid Questions explores how cannabis impacts us in the educational and social aspects of our lives! Because the media has had it all wrong for far too long…
Dear Cannabis Magazine,
I’ve always been a very motivated and driven person. I’m the first in my family to attend college, and I’m determined to graduate with a Ph.D. I have one more year until I graduate and I don’t want to do anything to mess it up. I’ve wanted to try some of the cannabis products at a dispensary near me, but I’ve heard that there are a lot of studies that show that cannabis can lower your IQ. But if that’s true, I don’t understand why it’s been legalized in so many different states. So my question to you is this:
Will using cannabis ruin my chance to be the first person in my family to graduate from college?
-Skeptical Student
Dear Skeptical Student,
First of all, congratulations! Being the first in your family to achieve so much is quite the accomplishment! And as such, we understand your concern about partaking in any activities that may have negative effects on your drive and ability to function productively. That being said, we think you’ll be happy to learn that, NO, cannabis should not be a danger to your studies.
The main study used as proof that cannabis can have a damaging effect on intellect actually shows minimal differences between non-users and casual users. While non-users were thought to have a slight rise in IQ over time, it was actually found that causal users had a higher IQ on average.
If you do decide to explore the benefits of cannabis, we recommend that you talk to a budtender at your local dispensary about how different products can produce different highs. They’ll help to give you advice about how to find a product that works best for your lifestyle so you can make an informed decision.
All the Highest!
Cannabis Magazine
Hey Cannabis Magazine,
A lot of my friends do cannabis recreationally and say that they think it helps to improve their overall quality of life. I’ve been thinking about trying it, but I’m concerned about how smoking might affect my health. I know that a lot of people do edibles instead, but I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about overdosing and don’t want to go through that either. What would you recommend?
-On the Fence Friend
Dear On the Fence Friend,
Much of the propaganda targeted towards cannabis leads consumers to believe that it has many of the same detrimental effects that cigarettes do – this is not the case.
While it has been shown that cannabis can cause irritation to the lungs, it has also been demonstrated that the symptoms only last as long as you are consistently smoking.
When it comes down to which is the better of the two options, it will always be a personal preference. If smoking isn’t really your style, you can talk to your local budtenders about how to use edibles to microdose. Microdose edibles are becoming more and more available as legalization progresses, and they allow you to feel the comforting effects of cannabis without becoming completely elevated. Check out what our friend Emerson has to say about them here!
All the Highest!
Cannabis Magazine
Hello Cannabis Magazine,
A few months ago I reconnected with an old friend and she’s going to drive out to Denver to visit me next month. After talking to her more in-depth about her travel plans, I found out that she’s allergic to hemp. I want to make sure that I don’t make her uncomfortable when she visits, but I’m a medical user and cannabis is a very big part of my life. Are cannabis allergies more serious than other allergies? And what can I do to make sure that my house is safe enough for her to visit without having to go without my daily dose?
-Concerned Friend
Dear Concerned Friend,
While it is uncommon to hear about cannabis allergies, it doesn’t mean that they are any different than normal allergies. Keep in mind that we are emerging from a prohibition era – there are still many things about cannabis we have to discover!
That being said, to determine the level of precaution you need to take, you’ll need to talk to your friend about the extent of her allergies. Be sure to address these questions:
-Does she have to have contact with THC to be affected?
-Will second-hand smoke produce a reaction?
-Are her symptoms fairly mild (runny nose, itchy eyes, etc.) or more serious (like hives or anaphylactic shock)?
Once you establish what her major concerns are, you’ll be able to get a better idea of the steps you’ll need to take to make sure she’s comfortable during her stay. If her allergies are minimal you can probably get by with just limiting your cannabis use to one area of the house until she leaves. However, if her reaction is more severe, it might be better for her to spend her stay in a hotel nearby.
All the Highest!
