Coffee and Counsel with Adonis Michael
Demystifying the common myths of medicinal marijuana over coffee with Michael Rose & Baylis director, Adonis Michael
Words by Adonis MICHAEL
What is the difference between THC and CBD? Do you know your Rick Simpson from your Hash? Your Cannabis from your Marijuana? What’s legal and what’s not? Confusing isn’t it? Take a seat.
Across the globe and throughout the ages, societies have utilised Cannabis for its purported medicinal qualities. Reports that suggest it was used as early as 2700 BC in Ancient China. Ancient India had an equal affinity with it — medicinally, religiously, recreationally, and spiritually. Throughout the Middle Ages, it was a widely used throughout the Middle East. In the early 1900s, Mexican immigrants entering the U.S. introduced marijuana to the country and, from there, the world.
Despite recreational use of the drug quickly becoming widespread, there was an immediate stigma attached to the drug. Those who smoked weed were viewed as debaucherous and troublesome and its use became associated with low-level criminality and teenage delinquency.
Fast forward to present day and we’ve seen a string of high profile cases demonstrating the miraculous benefits of marijuana and its ability to treat a range of illnesses. Indeed, the past 12 months have seen a revolution in the world of cannabis, its use, and the laws surrounding it here in the UK. As of 1st November 2018, for example, the government announced that certain patients can be prescribed cannabis for their ailments.
‘…we’ve seen a string of high profile cases demonstrating the miraculous benefits of marijuana and its ability to treat a range of illnesses.’
So why is it that we’re not seeing people casually puffing away on joints with Amsterdam-esque levels of reckless abandon as they stroll through town on the way to grab their oat milk flat whites? Well, let’s get legal for a minute: Cannabis is still illegal in the UK. It has been since 1971. Although there is mounting pressure for laws to be relaxed and certain police forces have a taken a more laid back approach to its recreational use, it remains a class B drug. So if you get caught smoking it, growing it or possessing it, then depending on the quantities you’re likely to face prosecution.
“Well, what’s all this hullabaloo about cannabis oil and why can I buy it over the counter then if it’s illegal?” I hear you ask. Well take another sip of your coffee and let me explain.
You see: cannabis oil is made up of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, that are extracted from the cannabis plant. Marijuana (which comes from the actual cannabis flower) is the breed of cannabis that contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is the chemical that produces the psychotropic effects that get people high. CBD oil does not produce a high. Why, you ask? Well, it has less than 0.2% of the psychoactive THC. Which is why it’s considered medicinal, and therefore legal, in the UK. In a nutshell, the THC oil gets people high the CBD oil doesn’t.
To actually be prescribed cannabis, you will have to be judged on a case-by-case basis, and only a specialist doctor can make the decision, not a GP. So for those of you planning on lighting up a spliff in your local coffee shop, I’m afraid you will have to wait a little longer. For now, you’ll just have to keep an eye out for cheap flights to Amsterdam. Or, if you’ve got a bit more money to burn (pun intended) and fancy getting a tan with your high, try California. AM
