The Connection Between Tobacco, Nicotine, and Cancer

Remember it’s not smoke that signals nicotine’s presence: it’s tobacco. All tobacco products contain nicotine whether or not they are smokeless. For example, all of the following products differ in form and method but contain nicotine:

• Cigarettes
• Cigars
• Dip
• Snuff
• Snus
• Chewing tobacco
• Hookah tobacco
• Most e-cigarette products

The interesting element here is that nicotine itself doesn’t cause cancer. The poisons within tobacco cause cancer. The nicotine in the tobacco simply makes smoking tobacco more addictive. Unfortunately, there is no safe smoking alternative that contains tobacco.

Marijuana is Your Nicotine and Tobacco-Free Option

So the good news is that marijuana is nicotine-free–there’s no direct chemical element that makes it addictive. Tobacco use, on the other hand, has been proven many times over to be addictive, and further, to influence your chances of developing a diverse array of cancers. Fortunately, no such link has been thoroughly observed between tobacco-related cancers and cannabis consumption. Additionally, if you’re worried about the potential of marijuana smoke to be carcinogenic, rest at ease knowing that Strains Dispensary has smoke-free THC products for you!

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Smoking or vaping weed, on the contrary, doesn’t add enough calories to your diet to logically consider or count (1 or less according to some sources). At the same time, there’s evidence to suggest that smoking weed increases your metabolism–helping you to burn more calories when your body is at rest. 

Curiously enough, a sufficient portion of the scientific community is curious about the energetic value of the plant. Preliminary studies based on hemp structure pinpointing pure marijuana calories show that raw cannabis itself probably contains about two calories for every gram. That’s about 203 calories for every 100 grams of weed that you eat or drink. This doesn’t include the calories that other ingredients in THC edibles or drinks may contain. 

Understanding The Science Behind The Munchies

Some view weed’s natural ability to increase the hunger hormone ghrelin as a marijuana health benefit–especially in people who struggle with a low appetite for any number of reasons. This famous hunger-stimulating effect was coined long ago as what many THC veterans refer to as the munchies. 

The munchies are the culmination of the increased ghrelin and dopamine production that THC prompts, making you hungrier and then happier upon eating. This can lead to overeating which, if sustained over time, can cause weight gain. 

As always, Strains Dispensary advocates for marijuana safety and using the plant responsibly. It’s best to monitor your calorie intake to ensure you’re nourishing your body properly as often as possible, especially when you smoke or eat weed.

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Benefits of Liquid Edibles and THC Beverages

1. THC beverages have the added benefit of blending in. Whether you’re at a friend’s house party or you’re responsibly day drinking in public–you can raise a toast and enjoy cannabis subtly. 
2. There’s more to love when it comes to THC beverages in comparison to gummies or baked goods–simply because it takes a bit longer to savor a 12oz can of THC goodness than it does to pop back a THC gummy. 
3. You’re looking at a quicker effect with liquid edibles. This is so because you’re ingesting the drink’s properties via saliva, expediting noticeable effects by as much as half an hour. Eating edibles is a process–they must be fully digested before their effects take full force. 
4. If you’re a newbie, you don’t have to worry about perfecting rolling, smoking, or bong-hitting techniques. You simply have to sip. 

Benefits of Solid Edibles 

1. If you don’t enjoy the taste or the smell of THC products, solid edibles can be consumed quickly to avoid exposure to smoke, a strong smell, or that characteristic earthy flavor any longer than necessary. THC drinks typically require more of a commitment to their flavor.
2. If you love a slow smokeless burn, solid edibles take quite some time to digest (up to two hours) and typically last a bit longer than drinks.
3. While solid edibles are still newbie-friendly, they tend to be quite strong. Therefore, if you’re a THC veteran who’s into simplified and minimalist cannabis consumption: edibles are totally for you! 

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Main Factors in Predicting The Length and Intensity of a Weed High

When you’re trying to gauge how long your high might last, keep in mind the following parameters that can dictate how you respond to any given THC product:

• The variant of weed that you’re smoking (sative, indica, or hybrid–some affect you more or less so)
• Your biochemistry (metabolic rate, general THC tolerance, weight, etc..)
• The medium of THC you’re consuming (flower, hash, dab, vape, cannabis drinks, edibles, etc..)
• Whether you’re mixing substances (alcohol, prescription medication, hallucinogens, etc.*)

As a general rule of thumb, THC edibles normally take longer to kick in and have a more potent high than smoking. Dabs also tend to have a more powerful effect. Additionally, people with lower body weights and less tolerance tend to feel more of a high and for longer. Still, it’s important to remember that some of these general rules won’t apply to everyone. It’s just as normal for these generalizations to be true for you and later to see the opposite manifest in someone else. The takeaway? Experiment safely and at your own pace with us. Learn how your body reacts to certain strains and mediums, noting the patterns and reactions that you might have.