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Thank You for Supporting Thread!

Thank You for Supporting Thread!

Jul 24, 2019 | Cannabis, Community

This month we are supported an organization close to our hearts called Thread!  

What does Thread do? 

Thread is often mistaken for a mentoring program or tutoring group. In fact, Thread is a community of individuals working to end our social isolation by rallying around Baltimore’s most academically-underperforming and highest potential 9th graders. Thread volunteers work in groups with a single student, building strong transformative relationships that transcend lines of race, class and zip code. Thread students consistently defy the odds: 85% of Thread students have graduated from high school within six years, and 83% have completed a college degree or certificate program. 

At the beginning on this month, we held a week long donation drive at Trilogy Wellness to collect new and gently used towels for Threads summer camps! Camp Thread is for young adults and volunteers in the Thread community as well as the Baltimore Police Department’s Love U2 Life Camp! Camp is such a tremendous opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, build life-long friendships and most importantly have a ton of fun! 

Together we collected over 200 towels during the donation drive! Community is one of Trilogy’s brand pillars and we are always so happy to give back. Thank you to everyone who participated in this wonderful cause! 

CBD 101- Hemp vs Cannabis derived CBD

CBD 101- Hemp vs Cannabis derived CBD

Mar 2, 2019 | Cannabis, CBD, Endocannabinoid System

Cannabidiol, or more popularly known as CBD, has been getting a lot of buzz in the health and wellness world. Everything from CBD tinctures, topicals and vape carts are now readily available. Those seeking natural relief from a variety of ailments have been able to do so with this therapeutic cannabinoid.  

CBD is a cannabinoid that can be obtained from both hemp and cannabis plants. Depending on which variety of plant you are wanting to obtain CBD from, will determine whether you will need to be a registered medical cannabis patient or not. 

With CBD becoming more and more popular, there has also come more confusion. So, we’ve broken it down for you: 

 

First off, what is CBD? 

CBD is a phytocannabinoid found in both hemp and cannabis plants. CBD interacts with the CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system and can provide relief from pain, anxiety, inflammation, insomnia and depression (just to name a few). CBD is non-psychoactive and is well tolerated amongst many people even at high doses.  

 

What’s the difference between Hemp and Cannabis? 

Cannabis is a family of plants that includes sativa and indica species. And while cannabis that contains THC, often referred to as “Marijuana”, can be obtained from both indica and sativa species, Hemp is derived only from the cannabis sativa family.  Hemp contains <0.3% THC and is naturally high in CBD. Cannabis (or Marijuana) in contrast, typically contains higher amounts of THC and small amounts of CBD.  

Hemp and hemp-derived products are federally legal to obtain in the United States while the high THC cannabis and cannabis-derived products are not.  

  

Hemp derived CBD vs Cannabis derived CBD 

Like previously stated, CBD can be derived from both hemp and cannabis plants. CBD derived from hemp contains only CBD, while CBD derived from medical cannabis tends to contain secondary cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other minor constituents to help produce a wide array of benefits. 

Since hemp-derived CBD is federally legal, it can be purchased from a variety of sources. Cannabis-derived CBD on the other hand, can only be purchased in Maryland through a medical dispensary.  

CBD derived from cannabis is for medical purposes and is highly regulated and must undergo rigorous testing and quality standards. CBD derived from hemp does not have these requirements.  

 

Do I need a medical card to obtain CBD? 

The short answer, no. If you want to purchase hemp-derived CBD then you do not need to be a medical cannabis patient. However, if you want to obtain CBD that has been derived from medical cannabis, then you will need to be a registered patient. 

Delivery Methods

Delivery Methods

Feb 4, 2019 | Cannabis

Interested in using cannabis? Did you know that there are now a variety of ways to consume cannabis? With the Maryland cannabis market continuing to grow, more and more products are entering the dispensaries and allowing patients of all types to get the relief they deserve.  

There are 4 main types of cannabis delivery methods. These methods include inhalation, ingestion, topicals and liquid extracts. Each of these delivery methods offer their own benefits and advantages. Here are what make each of them unique: 

 

Inhalation Overview 

Inhalation offers the quickest onset time because when cannabis is inhaled, it rapidly passes from the lungs and into the bloodstream. Inhaling cannabis can be done in a few different ways, through smoking flower or through vaporizing.  Vaporizing is beneficial because it can be less irritating to the lungs because it heats cannabis without combustion.  

On-Set: ~1-5 minutes 

Duration: ~1-6 hours 

Advantages:  

  • Best choice for those who need quick relief 
  • Flower provides whole plant medicine (multiple cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and minor constituents) 

Featured products: Natures Heritage, Verano Brand, gLeaf, Rythm Vape Pens  

Topicals (External Use) Overview 

Topicals are cannabis-infused lotions and oils. They are placed onto the affected area and are then absorbed through the skin. Topicals are best for localized relief of pain, soreness, and inflammation. They come in a variety of forms such as lotions, salves and transdermal patches.  There are a variety of topical treatments that include THC, CBD, CBN, THCA, CBDA and other cannabinoids. Some also feature essential oils that can also help provide natural relief.  

On-Set: Varies 

Duration: Varies  

Advantages:  

  • Great for localized pain 
  • Non-impairing 
  • Very discrete (easy to apply and no smell) 

Featured products: Dixie Synergy Balm, Mary’s Medicinals  

Liquid Extracts Overview 

A tincture is a liquid cannabis concentrate. Tinctures are made by extracting out the plant’s beneficial cannabinoids and constituents. Since no heat is required during the extracting process or during administration, tinctures can preserve many of the beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and minor constituents  

On-Set: ~10-45 minutes 

Duration: ~2-8 hours 

Advantages:  

  • Very discrete 
  • Allows for easy and precise dosing 
  • Longer lasting effect 
  • Healthier alternative to smoking 

Featured products: Healer Drops, Feel Collection, RSO  

Ingestion Overview 

Consuming cannabis though cannabis infused products can provide stronger and longer-lasting effects than inhalation and use of tinctures. When you ingest cannabis through a food items such as baked goods, drinks, gummies or other food items, you are able to utilize a more potent THC metabolite.  

On-Set: ~1-2 hours 

Duration: ~4-12 hours 

Advantages:  

  • Discrete 
  • Long-lasting  
  • Healthier alternative to smoking 
  • Tends to provide a more intense effect 
  • Produces a more consistent effect 

Featured products: Betty’s Eddies, Liberty Infused Oils, Dixie Elixirs

Tips for Better Sleep

Tips for Better Sleep

Dec 29, 2018 | Cannabis, Endocannabinoid System, Sleep

We all know that getting adequate sleep is good for us; it’s a time for rest and repair. When we are sleep deprived, we can experience symptoms like foggy thinking, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, weight control issues, and the list goes on.  

Some of us experience straight up insomnia (the inability to fall asleep), while others may fall asleep just fine but find themselves waking up throughout the night. Both of these issues should be addressed as they can limit you from getting into deep and restorative sleep. 

Some factors that contribute to disturbed sleep include stress and anxiety, intake of stimulants (caffeine, sugar, processed foods), adrenal issues, pain, hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies and lack of exercise. So, to get to the root cause of your sleeplessness, it may be beneficially to explore what your cause/s may be and address them head on. 

Here are some tips to help you restore your sleep: 

Nutrition: 

Limit your intake of refined and processed foods. These foods can cause blood sugar issues which can impact your sleep. You want to opt for fiber-rich and slow burning carbohydrates foods like vegetables, grains, legumes and healthy fats to help sustain your blood sugar throughout the day and through bedtime. You also want to limit stimulating foods like caffeine and chocolate and avoid alcohol and heavy meals especially close to bedtime. 

 Lifestyle: 

About an hour before bedtime, you want to aim for little to no bright light or blue wave lighting (cell phones and computers). The decrease in light helps our brains to produce melatonin which is the sleep time hormone. You also want to make sure you are getting in regular exercise, as it can help you burn off excess energy which can help fatigue your body and help you get more restful sleep. Another lifestyle tip you may want to start including in your daily life is prioritizing stress-management. Many of us have a hard to falling and staying asleep simply due to the fact that we have too much on our minds.  

Alternative Medicine: 

Aromatherapy – Essential oils such as lavender, cedarwood and bergamot all tend to produce sedating effects. You can diffuse these into the air to create a relaxing environment. **Please note that some essential oils can be toxic to pets so please do your research beforehand.  

Acupuncture – Incorporating acupuncture into your wellness routine may be beneficial for your sleep. Acupuncture is said to help increase our natural melatonin production, ease anxiety and stress and can also provide pain relief.  

Cannabis – There are a variety of products and strains on the market that can help improve your sleep. Indica strains tend to produce a relaxing and sedating effect that could be great for evening relaxation. Look for strains that are high in myrcene, caryophyllene and terpinolene as these terpenes also tend to produce sedating effects. For long lasting relief, using tinctures and/or edibles could be a nice option as their effects can last up to 8+ hours. For those who do not want any psychoactive effects, CBD and CBN products could help do the trick as they both can produce relaxing and sedating effects with little to no impairment.

Cannabinoids 101

Cannabinoids 101

Dec 9, 2018 | Cannabis, Endocannabinoid System

Cannabinoids are the naturally occurring active constituents found in the cannabis plant. These chemical compounds (think THC and CBD) interact with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis within the body. Depending on what receptors the cannabinoids bind to within the ECS, can provide relief from an array of symptoms which include pain, anxiety, inflammation, nausea and insomnia (just to name a few).  

While THC and CBD tend to get the most notoriety, did you know that there are at least 100+ different cannabinoids? Each of these cannabinoids bind to different receptors and can produce a wide array of relief in various systems in the body including the immune, neurological and gastro-intestinal.  

Here are some of the different cannabinoids and their benefits:  

THC – This is the most abundant cannabinoid within cannabis and produces psychoactivity. It can help with pain relief, relieve muscle spasms, reduce nausea, increase appetite, and provide antioxidants. 

CBD – Non-psychoactive. It can help reduce anxiety, increase appetite, decrease occurrence of seizures, relax muscles, aid pain relief, reduce inflammation, and provide antioxidants. CBD is also an antagonist at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors within the ECS, which means it can be used to mitigate the psychoactive effects of THC. 

CBN – THC converts to CBN when oxidized. CBN has little to no intoxicating effects and is best known for its sedating effects. It can help relieve spasms and pain. CBN is also an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsive.  

CBG – Non-psychoactive, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Can also stimulant bone growth and help to lower blood pressure. 

THCV – Can help to decrease seizures, suppress appetite, stimulant bone growth, and relieve anxiety. 

CBC – Non-intoxicating and can provide antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. Can help with pain and inflammation and stimulate bone growth. Can also help alleviate depression.  

THCa – Acidic form of THC. Non-psychoactive and can provide neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Can also help alleviate pain, insomnia and muscle spasms.  

CBDa – Acidic form of CBD. Non-psychoactive and has potential to help reduce inflammation, and act as an anti-nausea, analgesic and anticonvulsant.   

 

courtesy of leafly.com 

Consuming cannabis in its whole form can provide a variety of these different cannabinoids. This variety (along with terpenes, flavonoids and other constituents) is called the entourage effect. All these cannabis compounds can influence each other and produce synergistic effects; which is just one explanation as to why cannabis can aid in a bunch of different ailments.  

 As cannabis continues to expand and more research can be conducted, we are very excited to learn more about all these amazing chemical constituents and how they can benefit us.

Arthritis & Cannabis- How to Relieve your Pain Naturally

Arthritis & Cannabis- How to Relieve your Pain Naturally

Nov 14, 2018 | Cannabis, Chronic Pain, Inflammation

Those who suffer from arthritis daily often depend frequently on over the counter medications to help give them some relief. But did you know that all-natural cannabis can provide adequate relief without all the potential side effects?  

Arthritis currently affects an estimated 31 million Americans [arthritis.org] and is only expected to increase with time. Signs and symptoms associated with arthritis include:  

  • Stiff Joints
  • Mobility Issues
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Inability/Difficulty doing everyday tasks

While many over-the-counter and prescription medications can help alleviate the pain momentarily, they are sometime accompanied with unwanted side-effects, and are not necessarily good to take long-term.  

Cannabis on the other hand contains potent compounds that can help alleviate both pain and inflammation and can provide relief at very low doses. Cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, such as THC and CBD, contain pain relieving qualities that can also help reduce inflammation.  

In an article in the Journal of Rheumatology, studies have shown that those who suffer from arthritis have an increased level of CB2 receptors in their joint tissue, and since cannabis interacts with these receptors, it can help reduce inflammation and even help repair the joint.   

While cannabinoids have been shown to provide an array of benefits, terpenes (the plants aromatic oils) also provide their own unique benefits. Terpenes such as Humulene and Caryophyllene contain anti-inflammatory and pain reducing benefits, and provide antioxidants as well.  

A huge benefit of cannabis is that they contain all these different compounds (acidic cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other minor constituents) that produce an entourage effect; meaning they provide high medical value and affect a wide array of symptoms. 

For those who need quick pain relief, inhalation provides the fastest onset of about 5 minutes. For those in need of long-lasting relief, using a tincture can provide relief up to 2-8 hours but takes a little longer to kick in (~1 hour). There are also a variety of topical products that are great for localized pain and do not cause any psychoactive effects.  

There are a variety of cannabis products on the market now for every type of patient. Patients are no longer required to rely on inhalation as their only method of consumption. Products like tablets, tinctures and elixirs are now available, as well as topicals and high CBD products that provide little to no psychoactivity. Come by Trilogy Wellness and talk with our Wellness Advisors to learn about the different products and strains that can help alleviate your pain.