Raw marijuana won’t get you stoned, but it does have some interesting benefits

Amateur cannabis users are unlikely to be familiar with the inner workings of cannabis. Little do they know that a key element in the “high” experience is heat, which converts the compound THCA to THC, so one might try adding raw marijuana to their candy and expect some benefit.

While this doesn’t work, raw marijuana has some interesting health benefits.

In recent years, people have taken an interest in other parts of the cannabis plant and taken THC out of their focus. There are a variety of elements in the plant that have benefits, sometimes mysterious as they have not been overly studied. These compounds and terpenes are abundant and varied widely, to the point where researchers don’t even know how many there are and how their effects are complete.

Photo by underworld111 / Getty Images

While consuming raw cannabis won’t get you high or the most delicious experience, it is something like consuming leafy greens. Although the plant does not produce psychoactive effects, it can provide vitamins, minerals, and cannabinoids to your body.

RELATED: Why Cannabis Juicing Can Be Good For You

In order for the THC in the cannabis plant to take effect – providing the high and feeling of relaxation or creativity – the plant must go through a decarboxylation process. This is the step that many newbies to cannabis skip before cooking edibles. Decarboxylation occurs when you add heat to the plant, whether it’s smoking a joint or preheating cannabis before adding it to your edibles.

Photo by FatCamera / Getty Images

In its natural state, cannabis does not contain THC. Instead, it contains a compound called THCA, which has been linked to anti-inflammatory properties, promoting brain health, helping cells multiply, and even slowing the growth and spread of cancer cells.

No matter how much you are invested in cannabis research, there is no scientific evidence to guarantee that consuming the raw plant will provide the anti-inflammatory properties and other benefits it is associated with. However, if you eat cannabis raw, you will get the same benefits as any other green and leafy plant.

RELATED: 3 Reasons Cannabis Is a Powerful Superfood

If you are interested in eating cannabis and find it challenging, there are a few options you can try. While some are interested in adding it to salads or as a side dish in their dishes (why ?!), juicing may be the easiest way to go. This process uses the entire cannabis plant, including the leaves, stems, and buds, and is a much better option than somehow figuring out a way to make raw marijuana taste good.

Photo by CasarsaGuru / Getty Images

RELATED: 5 Ways To Use Leftover Marijuana Pulp Made From Cannabutter

Cannabis juices contain all of the compounds and properties of the plant and can be shaped to your taste. You can mix it with other fruits and vegetables, add some honey for sweetening and in the end you get something healthy and tasty.

Hopefully this approach can help you use cannabis in different ways. If you have access to cannabis leaves, you likely have access to the cannabis plant. Make sure you are using it to your advantage; Chopsticks, stems, leaves and the like can be used to infuse drinks, teas and coffees or to give a cocktail a cool and aromatic note and to delight some dinner guests.