Cooking marijuana leaves, is it the same effect as smoking marijuana? : uses, side effects, interactions

History records that since 10,000 years BC, the cannabis tree has been used as a cup for storing valuable objects. Apart from being a storage area, marijuana leaves are also used as a cooking spice. You must have heard that there are regional dishes that use this leaf as a cooking ingredient. Then, does cooking these leaves have the same effect as smoking marijuana? Or is it actually bringing benefits? Find out in the following article.

What is the cannabis plant?

Marijuana refers to the dry leaves, stems, flowers and seeds of the plant Cannabis sativa . If you pay attention to this green plant, it has a distinctive shape, namely the leaves are finger-shaped like cassava.

It's just that the edges of the leaves are serrated and the leaf bones are very clear. Apart from that, because of its unique leaf shape, the cannabis plant can also grow to 2 meters tall and is equipped with small flowers that collect at the top.

This notoriously controversial plant goes by many other names, such as marijuana and cannabis. Based on a report compiled by the University of California, this plant can grow in temperate or cool climates, namely in areas with sufficient sunlight, water, and air.

Even in extreme conditions, cannabis plants can survive in concrete culverts along highways, a research team found in rural China found.

Almost all parts of marijuana are used, both for medicinal purposes, for food flavoring, and for entertainment. This plant is marketed in form weed (dried cannabis leaves and shoots), cannabis oil extract, and hashish (resin from the shoots of the cannabis plant).

Controversy over the use of cannabis leaves

Source: Bob Cat Graham Digital

Marijuana is known to have benefits in the medical world so that it is used as medicine, both in the form of tablets, steam, and essential oils. According to Peter Grinspoon MD, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, explains the content of marijuana for the medical world.

According to him, some patients who use marijuana as a treatment experience several benefits, such as reducing pain and relieving anxiety and insomnia. Apart from medicine, it turns out that cannabis leaves or cannabis oil extract are also added to some foods, such as cakes and chocolate, as well as additions to coffee and tea.

However, not all countries allow the use of marijuana, either for medicinal purposes or for food. One of them is in Indonesia. It is illegal to use, distribute, store, or grow this plant in Indonesia.

Why? The reason is that the Indonesian Ministry of Health said that although marijuana can be used in the medical world, it can be abused, cause dependence, and endanger public health. Even so, some regional dishes from Padang, Aceh, and Medan are known to still use the addition of marijuana to make it taste better, for example, beulangong curry broth.

Well, how to use marijuana by cooking the leaves and adding it to food, is known as edible marijuana . The use of marijuana in this way is believed to be a new form of marketing for marijuana to the wider community.

The way the body processes marijuana that is smoked and eaten

Source: Very Well

The cannabis plant contains more than 421 chemicals, including cannabinoids. When dry cannabis leaves are burned, more than 2000 compounds are produced, including nitrogen, amino acids, glucose, hydrocarbons, terpenes, and simple fatty acids. Among them, the most popular is delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (▵9_THC).

Well, there are many ways to use marijuana, namely cooking marijuana leaves (consumed) or smoked (inhalation). Although the method is different, THC compounds both bind to specific receptors in the human brain, namely cannabinoid receptors.

At low doses, THC compounds can relieve pain, stimulate appetite, reduce aggression, and relieve nausea. Meanwhile, if consumed in large quantities or high doses, compounds in the stems, flowers, seeds, or leaves of marijuana can cause giting or high , namely the unconscious state that creates a sense of happiness.

Although marijuana has the same effect, which is to stimulate special receptors in the brain, it turns out that the THC metabolic process is different depending on how you use it.

When marijuana leaves are smoked, THC compounds will move from the lungs to the brain in a matter of minutes. The effects of marijuana will occur in a short time as it slowly disappears.

It usually takes about 20 or 30 minutes to 1 hour. This is why marijuana smokers are able to inhale the smoke of burning cannabis leaves for hours without any negative effects.

This process is different from using marijuana by cooking the leaves. Initially, the THC compound will be obtained after the body digests the marijuana leaves. Once absorbed in the stomach, these compounds will move towards the liver. In this organ, the compounds will be processed again before entering the bloodstream, which can eventually cause side effects.

The body's process of digesting marijuana is indeed more complex, involving many organs, so it takes longer. Usually it will take about 3 to 6 hours to feel the effect.

Cooking marijuana leaves and smoking them, is the effect the same?

Broadly speaking, smoking marijuana or cooking marijuana leaves and consuming it has almost the same effect. It's only time for the body to come up with a different reaction.

In low doses, these compounds can reduce pain, reduce aggression, stimulate appetite, and can help reduce nausea. Meanwhile, if marijuana is used in high doses or in large amounts it can cause delusions, hallucinations, slurred speech, and "giting" or "high". (high).

Giting is a condition that makes a person feel happy and comfortable, but at that time he is unconscious, aka hallucinations. This happens because THC stimulates the release of dopamine, a hormone that works to create pleasure and reduce pain.

In addition, other effects that may occur if you cook marijuana leaves or inhale the smoke of the combustion include:

Short term effects

• Feel happy and happy
• Feel relaxed and relaxed
• Feeling that time is running slower
• Changed sensory perceptions
• Restless and sleepy
• Impaired coordination of the body
• The mouth feels dry and the eyes are red
• Increased appetite
• Heart beat faster
• Anxious and paranoia

Additional effect if used regularly

• The ability to think and make decisions is impaired
• Decreased memory
• It's hard to focus and judge things
• Mood changes easily, usually leading to anxiety and depression

Although the effects are quite a lot, each person may experience different effects. This depends on the body's metabolic processes, how marijuana is used, and the dose of marijuana used.

Effect of marijuana on the body after being smoked or eaten

When it enters the body, marijuana will affect several systems in your body, including:

Respiratory system

Inhaling marijuana vapor has the same effect as smoking tobacco smoke. Both contain various toxic chemicals, such as ammonia, hydrogen cyanide which can irritate your respiratory tract and lungs. In addition, marijuana smoke also contains carcinogens that can trigger and increase lung cancer.

Digestive system

If smoking marijuana affects the respiratory system, cooking marijuana leaves and eating it will have more of an effect on the digestive system, namely the stomach, intestines and liver. Yes, these three organs process foods containing marijuana, metabolize the compounds contained, and circulate them to the blood.

Circulatory system

Using smoked marijuana will carry THC compounds from the lungs into the bloodstream and sent throughout the body. Within a few minutes of being inhaled, the blood vessels around the eye will enlarge, making the eye red and the heart rate will increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute. This condition will continue for 3 hours.

Central nerve system

The THC compound triggers the brain to release large amounts of dopamine. Even though it creates a feeling of "fun", the brain's function to make judgments and store memories is impaired.

In addition, these cannabis compounds also interfere with the work of the cerebellum and the basal ganglia, which are areas of the brain that are responsible for maintaining balance and coordination of movements.

How long has the compound from marijuana been in the body?

After you use marijuana, the compounds it contains will be detected in urine, blood, saliva, and hair. Usually, marijuana will be detected through several tests for 1 to 30 days after use. However, if used every day or the dose is high enough, cannabis can be detected for a longer time, which is about 90 days.

Why does marijuana stay in the body for such a long time? Both the stems, flowers, seeds, and leaves of marijuana are fat-soluble. That means, marijuana compounds will bind to fat in the body so that it takes a long time to be completely lost and wasted.

In addition to body metabolism, there are several factors that affect how long cannabis compounds take in the body, namely gender, body mass index, and age. Then, how often (frequency) and how much (dose) the use of marijuana also affects the length of time marijuana is in the body's system.

Cooking marijuana is known to cause marijuana compounds to stay in the body longer than smoking it. Well, there are several tests that can be used to detect marijuana in a person's body, namely:

Urine test

This test is most often used to detect marijuana in the urine. If marijuana is used up to 3 times a week, the cannabis compound will be in the urine for 3 days. When used 4 times a week, marijuana in the urine will be there for 5 to 7 days.

Furthermore, if used daily, marijuana will be in the urine for 10 to 15 days. The use of marijuana several times a day will be in the urine for more than 30 days.

Blood test

Generally, marijuana compounds will be in the blood for 1 to 2 days after use. However, if its use is routine enough, cannabis compounds can be detected in the blood for up to 25 days after use.

As you know that marijuana compounds can get mixed in the bloodstream. When the blood containing marijuana is distributed throughout the tissues, a number of the compounds will be reabsorbed in the blood and broken down. This absorption process is what makes it possible for marijuana to remain in the bloodstream for days.

Saliva (saliva) test

Cooking marijuana leaves or mixing marijuana oil in food can leave a number of compounds in saliva. When used once, the cannabis compound will remain in your saliva within 1 to 3 days. While regular use, cannabis compounds will be detected for up to 29 days.

Hair test

Any medicine you take can stay in your hair follicles for up to 90 days. After use, the compounds in marijuana reach the hair follicles through the blood vessels.

Because the hair grows about 12, 7 cm per month. then this method will take 30 cm of hair close to the scalp. Usually the marijuana compound will be in the hair for 3 months.

What are the risks of cooking marijuana leaves or smoking them?

The use of this plant is controversial because it has a negative impact on body health, according to the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. The negative impacts caused by cooking marijuana leaves or inhaling the smoke from the combustion include:

1. Addiction

If a person fails to stop using marijuana, this can be a sign of marijuana addiction. People with this condition are more likely to commit negative acts, such as theft. This is done because the cost of buying marijuana is very expensive.

When someone tries to stop using marijuana, the THC substance in the brain will encourage the user to continue using it and even increase the dose. Over time the person will consume large doses of marijuana and it will become increasingly difficult to get rid of it.

2. Problems with the brain and mental disorders

Marijuana compounds affect the central nervous system, which is your brain. The brain is responsible for various things, such as memory, learning, attention, coordination, emotions, and decision making. The use of marijuana interferes with brain function and development.

In addition, cannabis also affects mental health. Cannabis use causes feelings of anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations. If it happens continuously, depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia can occur, even leading to suicide.

3. Lung disease

The use of marijuana in the form of cigarettes has the same effect as tobacco cigarettes. The smoke contains many toxins that can irritate and form scar tissue in the lungs. Initially, marijuana users will feel dry mouth and cough full of phlegm. If it is not stopped, the risk of lung cancer and bronchitis will increase.

4. Heart disease

One of the effects of using marijuana is to speed up the heart rate. In addition, marijuana compounds that enter the bloodstream and are pumped by the heart will certainly slowly damage heart function. This can lead to an increased risk of stroke with heart disease.