I smoke cannabis every now and then (which works out to be maybe only a few times a year). I have also had the odd bit of cannabis during my lyme journey as well and it just mellowed me out, reduced inflammation, but I probably didn't have enough to cause a herx. I don't think smoking it is going to give you a herx though, you just won't get enough cannabinoids in you to kill the bacteria. But it might help you mellow out a little bit. To be honest I don't really like getting overly high and I'm pretty sure if you have cannabis at doses that will make you really herx you'll probably be pretty high. But there are 2 principles with cannabinoids that makes it different than other drugs or intoxicants... There is a "saturation point"... A point where you just won't get any higher no matter how much more you consume... Basically all your cannabinoid receptors are saturated. But if you consume more you may be in that state longer. There are also no cannabinoid receptors in the brain stem which is essential for our breathing, heart beat and vital signs... 2 reasons why you can't have a dangerous overdose with cannabis like you can with other drugs. Another key point is if you use cannabis that has higher CBD than THC, you simply won't get any higher. The CBD binds to cannabinoid receptors but works as an antagonist rather than an agonist. Antagonist meaning it binds the receptor but doesn't cause it to activate. In this case if there is also THC which acts as an agonist to cannabinoid receptors meaning it binds them and activates them which in turn causes a decrease in firing of glutamate synapses which slows you down and mellows you out. But with both, you won't get as high as some CBD that binds the cannabinoid receptors will not let THC bind that same receptor site as the CBD is already bound there.
You can use a vaporizer if you don't want to smoke it which will eliminate all biproducts of combustion such as carbon monoxide and lots of the tar. The vaporizing point of the cannabinoids is 365 degrees farenheit... At this temperature the cannabinoids will evaporate and so will lots of water vapor, but the plant material doesn't combust. Also smoking cannabis isn't actually more likely to cause cancer than smoking tobacco is. Mainly because you probably won't be smoking as much, but also because the cannabinoids also work like antioxidants, and the cannabinoids have an anti cancer effect as well.
If cannabis medicine is advanced further... They can perhaps create a cannabinoid extact with say 25% THC, 70% CBD, and 5 % other cannabinoids... An extract like this would be great as it might just mellow you out a little bit, won't really get you too high, it will reduce inflammation, and you will be able to get to doses high enough to make you herx as well. I think I read a report of someone who was using a full half gram of cannabinoid extract to treat their lyme which was sufficient to cause herxing.
Or more realistically you can take CBD hemp oil, although it maybe a bit pricey. You should be able to legally order hemp oil online. It's the THC that works as an intoxicant, not the CBD.
Post Edited (LymePickle) : 6/27/2015 9:20:54 PM (GMT-6)