Reefer Wellness: Understanding Cannabis Science, Culture, and Medicine

Kirk, a pharmacology professor at the University of Rhode Island, debuts with a comprehensive overview of the healing properties of marijuana. She explains that the heat from smoking cannabis removes carboxylic acid from the plant, activating tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) compounds that bind with receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, which “is responsible for maintaining balance within our biological systems,” to produce the sensation of being high. Surveying the many medicinal uses of cannabis, she cites evidence showing that it reduces inflammation in irritable bowel disease patients, decreases the likelihood of developing breast or prostate cancer by regulating cell growth, and alleviates migraines by correcting for low levels of naturally produced signaling molecules called endocannabinoids. Kirk balances her bullish outlook on the drug’s benefits with a realistic assessment of its downsides, noting that the safety of cannabis use during pregnancy and its potential for aggravating schizophrenia in genetically susceptible populations remains uncertain. Recommendations on safe usage include ensuring dispensaries have a legally mandated certificate of analysis that affirms they underwent safety testing and shopping at craft dispensaries instead of corporate operations because the former usually stocks fresher product from local sources. Informative and evenhanded, this will benefit readers aspiring to get more intentional with their weed intake. (June)