Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

PLEASE NOTE:
• The information on this handout is for educational purposes only and does not substitute
for advice from a qualified health care provider.
• Even though cannabis has been used as medicine for millennia, modern day scientific
knowledge about the therapeutic benefits of cannabis is constantly evolving. The
information in this handout may become outdated as more information is discovered.

DOSING BEST PRACTICES

1. Determine the desired goals for using cannabis medicine
2. Understand the user’s past experience with cannabis and, if experienced, their
tolerance level
3. Understand the difference between daytime strains vs nighttime strains
4. Decide on best intake method(s)
5. Choose a cannabinoid ratio - THC/CBD
6. Compare the terpene profile with desired cannabinoid ratio
7. Start low. Go slow.
8. Don’t give up! Finding the right strain and intake method takes time!

HOW TO OBTAIN LEGAL CANNABIS MEDICINE IN CANADA

1. Visit a medical doctor educated in cannabis medicine. The MD will determine if
medical cannabis will be a good fit for you, and ensure there are no contraindications
with your health history or current prescription medication(s).
2. After visiting your MD, consult with a cannabis educator to determine the best
products and intake methods for your health concerns. Your cannabis educator
will suggest Licensed Producers that meet your needs.
3. Register with a Canadian Licensed Producer (LP) that has the products to meet
your needs. Once you have registered with your LP, the medical doctor will send
your prescription to them. Note: The medical doctor can only give your prescription
to a Licensed Producer.
4. After registration with your LP is complete (usually 5-7 business days) you will be
notified by email. At that point you can order your cannabis medicine online or
by phone. To ensure your cannabis medicine stays secure, it will be sent to you via
courier. The delivery requires a signature by someone over 18.

Notes about your cannabis prescription:

• You can legally purchase your prescription amount x 30 every month. For example,
if your prescription is 2 grams per day you can purchase 60 grams (2x30) every
month. Note: you are under no legal obligation to purchase or use your full
prescription every month.
• The amount you can legally have on your person is your prescription amount x 30 or
150 grams (whichever is less.) For example if your prescription is 2 grams per day
you can carry with you up to 60 grams (2x30.)
• Your cannabis medicine will arrive in a container with a prescription label. That
prescription label is a legal document. You can transport your cannabis medicine in
its original container with the prescription label any where in Canada. Note: medical
cannabis cannot be transported outside of Canada.

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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM (ECS)

• an important physiological system • The two most studied
that is as vital to our health and well- endocannabinoids are known:
being as other biological systems Anandamide (AEA) aka the ‘bliss
such as the digestive system, nervous molecule’, and 2-
system, etc Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)
• The main purpose of the ECS is to • The two most studied
maintain/regain homeostasis endocannabinoid receptors are CB1
• Functions of the ECS include: and CB2
- memory & learning • CB1 and CB2 receptors have both
- decision making separate and overlapping roles
- reward perception within the body
- emotions • Both CB1 and CB2 receptors are
- digestion involved in how we perceive pain
- motor function • CB1 receptors tend to influence our
- immune response senses; things like appetite, memory
- inflammation and pain
- appetite • CB2 receptors tend to influence the
- pain body’s immune response, including
- blood pressure the inflammatory response
- bone growth
- connective tissue health
- nerve protectant

CB1 Locations: CB2 Locations:

• Central nervous system (brain & • Primarily found in the immune
spinal cord) system
• Reproductive system (testes, uterus) • monocytes
• Adipose tissue • macrophages
• Connective Tissue • B-cells
• Endocrine glands (pineal, pituitary, • T-cells
pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid, • Liver
parathyroid, hypothalamus, • Spleen
adrenals) • Tonsils
• Exocrine glands • CNS
• Leukocytes • Enteric nervous system (in the gut)
• Spleen
• Heart Both receptors are also found in lesser
• GI tract amounts throughout the body
• Liver

Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency is a proposed condition that may be responsible for

several common health conditions, including: sleeping disorders, unexplained nausea,
irritable bowel syndrome, PTSD, chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, chronic
pain, migraines, and even the aging process.
NOTE: there is still much to learn about the body’s endocannabinoid system, its receptors, their
locations and effects. Keep open to new research as it becomes available.

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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

CANNABINOIDS
CBC (Cannabichromene) CBDV (cannabidivarin)
- Non-psychoactive - Non-psychoactive
- Antibiotic - Slightly degraded form of CBD
- Anti fungal - Anti-epileptic
- Antiviral - Anti-nausea
- Anti-inflammatory - shows promise on its own as an
- Analgesic anticonvulsant, and seems to work
- Stimulates bone growth synergistically with CBD
- 10 times more effective than CBD
in treating anxiety and stress CBG (Cannabigerol) & CBGA
- Increases neurogenesis (Cannabigerolic acid)
(development of new brain cells) - Non-psychoactive
- Study shows that CBC increases - The precursor to CBG, is CBGA
neurogenesis (development of - CBGA is also the precursor to all
new brain cells): [The effect of the other acid cannabinoids
cannabichromene on adult neural - CBGA is present in the developing
stem/progenitor cells. Noriko plant … however not much
Shinjyo, VincenzoDi Marzo. 2013] remains in the fully mature plant
- Acidic (unheated) form of CBC, - may prove to stimulate brain cell
called CBCA (Cannabichromenic and bone growth and shows
acid) forms in the immature promise as an anti-bacterial and
flowers, six weeks before maturity anti-insomnia medicine
- strong appetite stimulant
CBD (Cannabidiol) - in mice models, shown to be an
- Non-psychoactive effective treatment for IBS
- Analgesic (reduces pain) - antibacterial
- Anti-inflammatory - shows promise as an antitumor
- Anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) agent, especially in cases of
- Neuroprotective prostate and oral cancers
- Anti-epileptic
- Antispasmodic CBN (Cannabinol)
- Anticonvulsant - Mildly to non-psychoactive
- Antioxidant - This cannabinoid is not produced
- Anti-tumour by the cannabis plant, but occurs
- Anti-proliferant as a result of THC degradation
- Bone Stimulant - abundant in older samples of
- Immune modulating cannabis flowers and resin
- Vaso relaxant - Most sedating of all the
- Antipsychotic cannabinoids
- Antibiotic - Demonstrates promise in treating
glaucoma, and pain and may prove
effective against MRSA infections

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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists
CANNABINOIDS (continued)
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)
- Psychoactive
- Analgesic (reduces pain)
- Antiemetic (manage
nausea/vomiting)
- Sleep Aid
- Appetite stimulant
- Antispasmodic
- Anticonvulsant
- Antioxidant
- Anti-cancer
THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin)
- Strongly psychoactive, but lasts
about half the time of THC
- Pronounced energetic effects
- May effectively counter anxiety,
stress, & panic disorders without
suppressing emotion
- Reduces tremors associated with
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and
other neurological disorders
- Diminishes appetite
Synthetic Cannabis Drugs
Sativex (THC & CBD from cannabis
plant extract)
- analgesic for cancer pain
- spasticity from MS
Dronabinol / Marinol (Synthetic
Delta-9 THC)
- nausea/vomiting associated with
cancer treatments
- appetite stimulant for AIDS
patients
- analgesic for neuropathic pain in
MS patients
© 2018 jeanannelaing.com For educational purposes only.
THCA & CBDA (unheated THC & CBD
aka raw cannabis)
- Non-psychoactive for most people
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Anticancer
- Strong immune booster
- Improved intestinal function
- Improved neural function
- Neuroprotective
- Rebuilds bone
- The body does not convert THCA
to THC (that happens through a
heating process outside the body)
- However, the body can convert
CBDA into CBD, especially when
taking juice from the fresh leaves
- Juiced fresh cannabis leaves
creates up to 4x more serum CBD
than other consumption methods
- Juice shelf life 4-12 hours
- If freezing the juice add a little
water or other juice (it doesn’t
freeze well on its own)
- Best consumed with other juices
Nabilone / Cesamet (synthetic
cannabinoid similar to THC but 2x
stronger)
- nausea/vomiting associated with
cancer treatments
Dexanabinol (synthetic non-
psychoactive cannabinoid)
- neuroprotective after cardiac
surgery
- regain high level functioning (such
as regaining memory) after brain
injury
- possible anti-cancer use (solid
tumour) in future
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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

TERPENES
The aromatic oils found in all plants. The terpenes give plants their distinctive smells. Each
has a physiological action in the body and work synergistically with the cannabinoids

• Caryophyllene: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, sleep aid, anti-

antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-
inflammatory, anti-proliferative,
antioxidant, anxiolytic, neuro-
protective. Also found in black
pepper, cloves, hops, rosemary, basil.
• Humulene: analgesic, antibacterial,
anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative,
appetite suppressant, aid weight loss.
Also found in hops, sage ginseng.
• Limonene: antidepressant, anti-
fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-
proliferative, anxiolytic, reduces acid
reflux, immunostimulant. Also found
in the rinds of citrus fruit.
• Linalool: analgesic, antidepressant,
reduces seizures & convulsions, anti-
inflammatory, anxiolytic, sedative,
required for the body to make
vitamin E. Also found in lavender.
• Myrcene: analgesic, antibacterial,
helps mitigate the effects of diabetes,
proliferative/anti-mutagenic,
antispasmodic. Also found in mangos,
hops, sweet basil.
• Pinene (alpha & beta): analgesic,
antibacterial, anti-inflammatory,
anti-proliferative, antioxidant, helps
with focus & concentration,
bronchodilator,may counteract THC
induced short-term memory loss and
paranoia. Also found in pine trees,
rosemary.
• Terpineol: antibiotic, antioxidant,
anti-proliferative, mild sedative, anti-
inflammatory, antimalarial,
anxiolytic. Also found in lilacs, pine
trees, lime blossoms, eucalyptus sap.
• Terpinolene: antibacterial, anti-
fungal, mild sedative, anti-
proliferative, antioxidant. Also found
in apple, cumin, lilac, tea tree.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT MAY BENEFIT FROM CANNABIS MEDICINE

* Do not self-diagnose. Seek proper medical attention *
• ADD • Depression • Mood Disorders
• ADHD • Diabetic • MS
• Addictions / Neuropathy • Spasms
Withdrawal • Dystonia • Muscular
• Anorexia • Epilepsy Dystrophy
• Eating Disorders • Fibromyalgia • Nausea
• ALS • Gastrointestinal • Overactive Bladder
• Alzheimer’s • Glaucoma • Palliative Care
• Anxiety • Hepatitis C • Parkinson’s
• Stress • HIV • Post-concussion
• Arthritis • Huntington’s • PTSD
• Asthma • Hypothyroid • Seizure Disorders
• Brain Injury • Inflammation • Sexual Dysfunction
• Cancer Treatment • IBS • Sleep Disorders
Side Effects • Kidney Failure • Spinal Cord
• Chronic Pain • Dialysis Injury/Disease
• Colitis • Menstrual Pain
• Crohn’s • Migraines

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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

CAUTIONS & SIDE EFFECTS

Caution Required for: Adverse Reactions: Side-effect or

• Youth under 18 yrs • Tachycardia Desired-effect?
• Youth under 25 yrs (elevated heart rate) • Sedative or
(until brain fully • Paranoia, increased treatment for
developed) anxiety insomnia?
• The elderly and frail • Dizziness & • Appetite stimulant
• Advanced cardio- disorientation or treatment for loss
pulmonary disease • Perceived time of appetite
• Some psychiatric alterations (anorexia)?
disorders (consult a • Impaired motor • Catalepsy (couch
cannabis physician) control lock) or relief from
• Pregnancy and • Numbness nervous tension?
lactation • Dehydration • Impaired short-term
• Inexperienced users • Decreased memory or relief
• Allergy to cannabis motivation from P

IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE CANNABIS PLANT

Cola refers to the flowering tops
Fan leaves grow out of the cola and are trimmed prior to sale
Pistils catch the pollen from the male plant. Pistils usually start
out white, and turn orange/red and sometimes darker
colours as plant matures. For the best medicine the female
plants are prevented from being pollinated
Trichomes are the sticky resinous pods that cover the plant.
Much of Cannabis’ medicine (cannabinoids and terpenes) is in the trichomes .

INTAKE METHODS
Inhalation: Sublingual
• through the lungs • under the tongue
• quick onset 3-5 mins • medium onset 15-40 mins
• effects last 2-4 hours • effects last 4-8 hours
Ingestion Suppository
• through the digestive system • through rectum or vagina
• slow onset 30 – 90 mins • psychoactivity variable depending on
• effects last 6-10 hours user
• must be taken with fatty food Absorption
• through the skin
• psychoactivity rare
• can reapply as needed

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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

STRAIN CATEGORIES
• Indica: Generally relaxing and sedating. Use for evening/sleep (In-da-couch Indica)
• Sativa: Generally energizing. Use for daytime/focus (Sunny Sativa)
• Hybrid: Properties of both Indica and Sativa
• CBD: Non-psychoactive for daytime/nighttime, anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory
are main benefits

TOLERANCE
• Aka “membrane receptor endosome internalization” the cell literally pulls cannabinoid
receptor inside, where it is no longer available to be stimulated
• Tolerance levels vary greatly for individuals (from 3-5mg to 300-500+mg)
• Tolerance can happen within a few hours/days/weeks (ie ‘smoke yourself straight’)
• “sensitization protocol” allows one to reset the sensitivity of the ECS
• 24 hours - 6 days abstinence from Cannabis is usually long enough to reset the
receptors
• If abstinence not an option, changing strains can help
• Certain conditions (cancer, chronic infection) may respond better to very high doses, so
one may need to deliberately up their tolerance by slowly increasing dosage over a few
days/weeks

MICRODOSING
• More is not always better
• Some individuals benefit from taking very small amounts of cannabis to ‘remind’ their
internal endocannabinoid system to kick in
• Small amounts of cannabis taken more often can help avoid psychoactivity
• By microdosing as a preventative, when an outbreak of symptoms occurs a larger dose
can be taken without experiencing tolerance
• Preliminary studies on microdosing cannabis suggest that low amounts of THC will up-
regulate the endocannabinoid system

ENTOURAGE EFFECT
• The whole plant is more powerful than its individual constituents

REFERENCES

BOOKS & ARTICLES

Handbook of Cannabis
By Robert Pertwee

Cannabis Pharmacy, The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana

By Michael Backes

CBD, A Patient’s Guide to Medical Cannabis

By Leonard Leinow & Juliana Birnbaum

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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

Cannabis Health Index, Combining the Science of Medical Marijuana with

Mindfulness Techniques to Heal 100 Chronic Symptoms and Diseases
By Uwe Blesching, PhD

Introduction to the Endocannabinoid System (White Paper)

By Ethan B. Russo, MD

Cannabinoids as therapeutic agents in cancer; current status and future

implication (White Paper 2014)
By Chakravarti, Ravi and Ganju

Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid

entourage effects (White Paper 2011)
By Ethan B. Russo, MD

HEALTH CANADA
Cannabis regulations for licensed producers:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/cannabis-regulations-licensed-
producers.html
- includes information on Licensing Process Update, Good Production Practices &
Safety Requirements, Ethical Conduct, Advertising Rules, Pest Control Products,
Consumer Information & Warnings, Medical Document requirement &
submission, Inspections, Import & Export, Compliance & Enforcement

List of Current Licensed Producers:

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-use-
marijuana/licensed-producers/authorized-licensed-producers-medical-purposes.html

Information for Health Care Professionals: Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and

the cannabinoids [Health Canada, 2013]
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-use-
marijuana/information-medical-practitioners/information-health-care-professionals-
cannabis-marihuana-marijuana-cannabinoids.html

ONLINE
Green Flower Media: https://www.learngreenflower.com/
Project CBD: https://www.projectcbd.org/
Leafly: www.leafly.com
Lift: https://lift.co/
The Scientist – The story of Rapheal Mechoulam (Documentary on YouTube):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csbJnBKqwIw
1902 Cannabis Monograph from Potter, 1902: A Compend of Materia Medica.
https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/potter-comp/cannabis.html
Reefer Madness Original Movie (now in the public domain)
Gain a historical perspective on the ridiculous propaganda against cannabis medicine in the
years following prohibition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhQlcMHhF3w

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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

BOILING POINTS CHART

Boiling temperatures of Cannabis’ common cannabinoids, terpenes, flavinoids & phytosterols

CBDV (cannabidivarin) 65°C 149°F

THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) decarb starts at 90°C* 90°C 194°F
Humulene 107°C 225°F
Caryophyllene 129°C 264°F
CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) decarb starts at 80°C* 130°C 266°F
Beta-sitosterol (phytosterol) 134°C 273°F
Pinene 155°C 311°F
𝛥 9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) 157°C 315°F
Myrcene 167°C 333°F
Limonene 176°C 349°F
Apigenin (flavinoid) 178°C 352°F
CBD (cannabidiol) (160°C - 180°C) 180°C 356°F
Cannflavin (flavinoid) 182°C 360°F
CBN (cannabinol) 185°C 365°F
Terpinolene 187°C 369°F
Linalool 198°C 388°F
CBC (cannabichromene) 220°C 428°F
CBG (Cannabigerol) 220°C 428°F
THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) 220°C 428°F
Terpineol 221°C 430°F
Combustion (200°C - 230°C) 230°C 451°F
Quercetin (flavinoid) 250°C 482°F

*NOTE: It takes "3 hours at 100°C to convert THCA fully into THC and 4 hours at 98°C. At high temperatures
above 160°C only about 10 minutes and at 200°C only seconds are needed to convert THCA fully into THC."

REFERENCES:
1 US National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, PubChem Open Chemistry
database. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
2 McPartland, John & Russo, Ethan. (2001). Cannabis and cannabis extracts: Greater than the sum of their parts?. J
Cannabis Therapeutics. 1. 103-132. 10.1300/J175v01n03_08.
3 Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/
4 Project CBD. www.projectcbd.org
5 Cerilliant Analytical Reference Standards. www.cerilliant.com
6 Kerstin Iffland, Michael Carus and Dr. med. Franjo Grotenhermen, nova-Institut GmbH. Decarboxylation of
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) to active THC. http://eiha.org/media/2014/08/16-10-25-Decarboxylation-of-
THCA-to-active-THC.pdf

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 Class Notes for Cannabis Medicine for Herbalists

CANNABINOID LIFECYCLE CHART

See also:
• Aunt Zelda’s Lifecycle of cannabinoids https://auntzeldas.org/
• Understanding Cannabinoids chart

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