Weed used to be my friend, now it's my enemy

Well-spoken, ZappyRacc! Glad to see field-educated support on the matter! 💝❤️‍🩹💖 🍁 I tell folks about the requirement of presence of CBD in their bud to actually assist with the effects of THC that they're looking for frequently, and it almost always falls on deaf ears. It breaks my heart. But, how true that "one can only show you the door," I guess. The hardest part of empathy is watching folks fail where you know they have the potential to succeed. The THC hype has probably led to the ignorance of so many genetics which so many folks could really benefit from. I like things balanced, myself. Give me like a 2:3 CBD:THC and I'm the happiest camper at the festival 😌🧘

I agree it feels completely different now than it used to even 6-8 years ago when I was a heavy smoker. I still smoke now but not nearly as often, it doesn't have the same effects that it used to for me.

Hi there, med card holder, toker of half a decade and a few years working in the Colorado legal cannabis and CBD industry for years here to hopefully help answer your question. So, a lot of folks wonder why today's weed hits so different from the pot of a decade ago, when recreational legalization became a thing. You know about genetic modification of crops? I don't mean the "GMO scare" of a few years back, but rather the process of selective germination farmers and animal breeders have used for decades to influence traits passed down to future generations. Mankind took the friendliest wolves and now we have terriers, shepherds, Chihuahuas, etc. Well, now that we know the science behind that process, we can accelerate it. And that's what happened with cannabis. The classic handful of strains are now hundreds, if not thousands, of unique little bastard strains far from the originals. The big thing is THC vs CBD. CBD by itself is legal in most places, while THC is legal in way fewer, and that's because it's THC which carries the majority of the psychoactive effects. Growers producing strains to stock dispensaries have been trying for years to prioritize THC, because most consumers will come back for more of something which gets them high. But the rub is that to maximize THC, a grower must accept reduced CBD and other cannabinoids in their strain. CBD, CBG, CBN, and many other cannabinoids, are fantastic for medical use. We're talking reduced pain, inflammation, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, and more. There are even studies going into the potential neuroprotective properties of CBD. THC is what can give you the feeling of intoxication, usually noticed through a body high, thought acceleration, and sight dissociation. It can make you feel alone in your own head when you don't have much tolerance. At worst, you can panic or have symptoms of psychosis. It's typically older generations I hear lamenting the loss of the "old, mellow weed," but I've seen it in folks my age or even younger as well. Weed sure was different when I bought it in high school. Thing about the old weed is it had more of the non-THC cannabinoids. Not only does their presence mean reduced THC, but CBD has actually been demonstrated to work synergistically with THC to provide more medical benefits and reduce any anxiety brought on by the THC. So, a ton of people who used to smoke, then stopped for years, and are starting to smoke again are discovering they don't feel as relaxed and mellow as weed used to make them feel. I've honestly found a good counter to be using CBD in conjunction with THC products. But plenty of folks just stick to CBD alone for symptom relief. If you look into CBD, try to find either hemp flower or a product labeled "full spectrum." CBD isolate products are really popular, but the presence of additional cannabinoids and terpenes from the bud will enhance the effects of the CBD. Oh, and if you ever struggle with insomnia, look for a product with CBN. Even after smoking daily for half a decade and building a massive tolerance, CBN will put me out quicker than Benadryl or an OTC sleep aid.

Did you try to GTS? Lots of research on this now. Just pick a source, any source: Cannabis Worsens Mood and Anxiety Disorders in the Long Run https://www.jwatch.org/na46954/2018/06/22/cannabis-worsens-mood-and-anxiety-disorders-long-run The Long-Term Side Effects of Marijuana Use https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/marijuana/long-term-effects-marijuana-use Effects of Marijuana on Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders - Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute https://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/2017mjanxiety.pdf Marijuana and Anxiety: A Good or Bad Match? - Healthline https://www.healthline.com/health/marijuana-and-anxiety If you wanna manage CNS issues, it's all about the CBD baybee! THC is bad for ya long-term, turns out. Whoda thunk it?