Ask Ethel

Get the scoop on all cannabis-related questions from Arkansas’ expert advice columnist, Ethel Mertz.

By Ethel Mertz
Photography By Ebony Blevins

Consider me your modern-day Ethel Mertz from “I Love Lucy.” I want to be your friend, your confidante, and a guide to all your cannabis-related questions.

Dear Health-Conscious,

I haven’t had my coffee yet, let me go brew some of that caffeine up for my system before we get to this ever-complex question! *Pause*

Ok. I’m back. As with anything we put in our bodies, *sips coffee*, there are inherent risks and potential benefits.

Cannabis is currently and has been a Schedule I substance since 1970. As a result, U.S. researchers face regulatory hurdles to studying cannabis. This situation has limited the development of robust scientific research, particularly as it relates to potential benefits or risks of long-term cannabis use.  Therefore, medically speaking, any current study should be taken with a grain of salt.  

Below are some of the risks and a few benefits that we know of based on general medical knowledge and five years of personal accounts from Arkansas medical patients: 

Risks:

• Cannabis is a mind-altering substance.  One should not drive or operate heavy machinery while under the influence of any mind-altering substance and those who are at-fall risk may also be more at risk of falling.
• Frequent use of any mind-altering substance by teens and young adults may have a significant impact on the maturing of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region of the brain that’s responsible for: rational thinking, planning, personality, impulse control, and language.
• Inhaling smoke of any kind is not good for your health. Unlike tobacco, Arkansas Medical Cannabis is free of any additives or chemicals. However, patients with chronic lung problems are encouraged to use routes of administration other than smoking.   

Benefits:

• Relief of symptoms of qualifying condition(s) with minimal side effects.  Countless renewing patients have reported that cannabis has been extremely effective at relieving their symptoms without the laundry list of side effects that came along with their traditional prescribed medications.
• Availability.  The opioid epidemic has led to many chronic pain patients not being able to effectively treat their pain due to the under prescribing of traditional pain meds.  Cannabis has bridged that gap for so many that suffer from all types of chronic pain without the risk of chemical dependence.  
• Cost.  Cost of healthcare continues to skyrocket in America as the cost of medical cannabis continues to fall.

Hope this helps!

Love,

Ethel

Dear Mrs. Microdose,

Let me just start by saying. I LOVE micro-dosing. It might come as a shock to you, but I was a stoner long before legalization. As I’ve aged (like fine wine), my desire to ‘feel’ high has lessened and my desire to feel good has increased.

A micro-dose of THC is not a set amount; rather, it’s whatever amount that produces sub-psychoactive, and sub-perceptual effects. Because your endocannabinoid system is different than mine, a micro-dose will vary from person to person. A typical microdose of cannabis starts at 2.5 milligrams of THC to increase to 5 milligrams. Once you increase over this amount of THC you might start to feel the what you don’t want to feel.

My best advice for you is to start low (even lower than that) and go slow.

When I was but a young gal, I could smoke an entire joint and not feel high. Now at my fine wine age, I can puff a joint twice and feel good for hours.

There are several micro-dosing products on the market in our state. Best to discuss with your dispensary educator/pharmacist about what might be best for you.

Love,

Ethel

Do you have a question for Ethel?
Let us know and your question may be answered in a future post.

“As I’ve aged (like fine wine), my desire to ‘feel’ high has lessened and my desire to feel good has increased.”