Delta 8 & Delta 9 THC: A Christian Perspective

by Jonathon, posted in cbd, thc, Theology

Preface

Hi all, in this article I’d like to explore Delta 8 and 9 THC from the perspective of someone who seeks to honor Christ by being sound and sober of mind, but also as someone seeking relief from everyday chronic pain. For many both inside and outside of the Church this is a touchy subject so I’ll do my best to be objective and present both my experience and the facts as I’m aware of them. It’s also important to note that you always want to consult a health professional before taking anything new. Now, on to the article!

The Issues

The TLDR

I tend to like getting the bad stuff out of the way first. Perhaps that makes me weird, but I’d rather get the bad news out of the way first. For those seeking a TLDR of my perspective on the issues with THC I would say that as with any medicine, because ultimately here we seek to use D8 and D9 medicinally, there are upsides and downsides. THC effects different people differently which can be a major downside since some may experience adverse side effects. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone will have a bad experience. Like I said always ask your doctor before trying anything, especially if you have preexisting conditions or mental health concerns.

Effects On Mental Health

Now while research is still unsure on the long term effects on mental health with THC usage we do know that THC can exacerbate some underlying mental health issues. Meaning that if you have anxiety, depression, or any other number of mental health concerns you absolutely need to consult with a health professional prior to trying Detla 8 or Delta 9 THC as a solution to any issue. It’s also important to have the correct state of mind going in to using THC as in my own experience if I’m having a lot of anxiety I find that THC simply worsens it. With THC being a psychoactive substance it’s very important to have mental health in check first. All in all as I’ve stated before people react differently to THC and if you experience lots of negative side effects it’s probably best to simply stop using it.

Physical Effects

There are a myriad of physical effects that THC can cause, especially if you take too much. Probably the most well known would be drowsiness and memory loss. Other effects can include increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure. For some people these won’t be a problem but if you already have an underlying heart condition you should probably exercise caution and once again talk to a doctor prior. Almost all the packaging on THC products have warnings about not operating machinery or vehicles after taking them, and you absolutely should abide by such warnings. I would say to treat THC like alcohol in that you should make sure you’re in a safe place and don’t plan on leaving soon. Safety of yourself and others is always something to keep in mind.

The Issue With Dosing

One of the biggest issues with both Delta 8 and 9 is that it effects everyone differently. So a dose that works perfect for me might cause someone else negative side effects. As a result there isn’t a “recommended” dosing that new people can look to. So the rule is always low and slow. You can always up the dose as needed but you can’t ever reduce the dose.

This is probably my biggest issue with Delta 8 and 9. There isn’t a consistent way to measure how it will effect a person unlike something like say alcohol. Everyone has a different mental state and physiology which can make the effects differ wildly.

Quality Control

Another big issue with the industry as a whole is quality control. Because there aren’t a ton of regulations in place as to how things are made and safety standards that should be enforced we see drastically differing quality in product. It’s always important to check your products prior to using for lab results that can tell you exactly what is in (or in some cases not in) it, and to check the company’s safety standards. Thankfully there are some businesses that do this for you like the fine folks over at Humanity Health CBD. They do a great job of curating their products so I always feel safe to use anything they sell. And they link back to the lab results for the things they sell so you can check the quality for yourself.

Keeping a Sound Mind

As a Christian I’m called by God to keep my wits about me and to have a sober mind. So you may be wondering how I balance that with THC. Now all those nasty side effects that I listed are absolutely a thing to keep in mind before trying THC, but do keep in mind that not everyone will experience such negative side effects. Personally the only time I feel extreme drowsiness or any form of memory loss is if I take too much THC and not enough CBD. Taking a good ratio of CBD to THC is paramount to keeping a sober mind. A big misconception with THC, especially in the Church, is that taking any amount will get you high. This is simply not the case for myself personally. In fact, I can say that I’ve had times where I felt absolutely no effect from THC at all. Personally Delta 8 THC has very little effect on me besides pain relief and a mood boost unless I take a very large dose. Each person is different, but research would suggest Delta 8 tends to effect people less than Delta 9; so it may be a good starting point to try a low dose of Delta 8 for pain while trying to keep a level head.

It should also be noted that THC isn’t for everyone. I keep reiterating this point because it’s really important. If something isn’t working right for you then it probably means you need to seek another solution.

My Personal Advice for Keeping a Sound Mind

So I mentioned earlier that a good CBD to THC ratio is a great way to keep your head sober; I would definitely recommend getting some CBD with your Delta 8/9 if you decide to try it as it has been a huge help to me personally. CBD gummies that you can take along with the THC are a great option, but another option that I personally use in the rare case that the THC effects me more than expected is a CBD vape. Now vaping isn’t the best for you I know, but a CBD vape can be a great escape hatch if you find yourself becoming unsound of mind. In a future article I plan on doing a review of a CBD vape I’ve personally had great success with.

Another really important thing is your mood going into things and the atmosphere you put yourself in. When I’ve had a bad day with my OCD or anxiety in general I tend to avoid THC all together as for me it makes it worse. I also always make sure to take it in the evenings when I’m not busy and find a good place to simply unwind and relax (my giant bean bag in front of the TV is my fave spot). If by some chance you accidentally overdo it just remember not to panic, the effects should only last a little while. In the few cases where I’ve overdone it I find that going to a calm place where I feel comfortable and finding a distraction is the best cure.

The Uses

A Boon for Chronic Pain Sufferers

A huge reason why people use and love Delta 8 and 9 THC is for its pain relieving benefits. From my own personal experiences I can say that my overall pain level has decreased with consistent usage. This has been a game changer for me as now even when not being actively effected by THC I still receive some pain management benefits. Others that I’ve talked with have reported feeling either less pain or no pain entirely while effected. While the effects of THC do tend to vary from person to person this is one of the most consistent upsides to it that I’ve witnessed.

Mood Boosting Effects

One of the effects that tends to vary a lot is how THC impacts mood in people. As I stated in the issues section some people get anxiety and a decrease in overall happiness as a result. However, some people like myself get a mood boost from Delta 8 and 9. I generally feel happier when effected which can be nice after a long, exhausting day. I also notice that I tend to laugh more and be more sociable during the effects. Depending on the strain I also tend to be very motivated to get things done around my house. These effects may actually help people with high stress or anxiety, assuming the THC doesn’t cause those things in the individual.

Focus

Now this effect has been a tricky one to get. I need just the right dose but assuming I find that sweet spot I notice focusing effect from some Delta 8 and 9. I suffer from pretty severe ADHD so for me focus is always a big issue. However, like I said once I find the sweet spot of effects I tend to be very focused on a particular thing. It’s almost as if the world has melted away and all that remains is the task ahead of me. I found this useful for getting things done around the house. I will say that this is not an effect everyone gets and at least anecdotally seems to be rarer than the previous effects mentioned.

Closing Thoughts

In closing I’d like to say that while Delta 8 and 9 THC has been highly beneficial to me not everyone will have the same effects. As with any medicine different people will react differently. But I also want to stress that just because some people have negative experiences that doesn’t mean that we should completely disregard THC as being only negative. There is a lot of stigma that surrounds Delta 8 and 9 and we should all be careful not to demonize it. At the same time we also must be careful not to idolize it and claim that it only has positive effects. It’s rare to find something that is only all good or all bad when it comes to wellness solutions. Always keep that in mind.

Navigating Suffering

by Jonathon, posted in Personal Stories

The journey begins

I’d like to start this blog off by introducing myself and giving a brief overview of my journey through chronic pain to a destination with a far better quality of life all while trying to honor God and Jesus. My name is Jonathon and several years ago I received an injury to my right eye that to this day causes me a great deal of pain. I’m a software engineer so being able to use my eyes is a huge part of my daily life with most of my daily tasks revolving around reading and writing code. For several years I believed that the only solution was pain pills prescribed by a doctor which I had a general aversion to due to their long term effects, and due to the fact that I’m still rather young (23 at the time of writing this). I did not want to be dependent on pain drugs nor deal with their addictive nature.

So begins my adventure to find a remedy to my issue. At first I tried things like Tylenol and ibuprofen to ease my day to day pain, but these things had little to no effect on the issue. I tried using hot water on towels to ease the muscles but again this had little impact; not to mention that I can’t very well take constant breaks to do this. So for a few years I simply dealt with the pain. I was depressed, anxious, and overall not in the best of moods most days. Even on a good day I knew that I wasn’t fully myself as I had been prior to the injury. Soon after I met my wife and I knew that I needed to do something to change my disposition on life because I feared that the constant pain would interfere with our life together. This was about the time I began looking at alternatives to manage my pain.

So where to begin…her father was in a very similar situation as me, having to deal with constant chronic pain. He suggested I try CBD. Now at this time I was well aware of what it was but I had apprehension using it due to having been brought up in a fairly anti-drug home. I had heard the stories of people who abused cannabis and had little interest in using anything associated with it. However, as I continued to deal with the pain my opinion started to change. I needed relief from the pain and was willing to try something new. So I decided to visit a local CBD and wellness shop in my local area that came highly recommended by my father in law, Humanity Health CBD.

Prior to visiting I did some research and found that CBD was non-intoxicating, so I felt slightly better about using it to start. When I walked through the doors I was greeted with a myriad of different products derived from the hemp plant as well as other supplements and wellness supplies. I was nervous beyond belief and completely unsure what was right for me. Thankfully the guy behind the register, Thad, knew exactly how to address my concerns. I explained my situation to him and he listened intently before recommending a CBD gummy that he believed would help. I left the store hopeful that this would help. Little did I know how much it would.

After returning home I took the first gummy and waited. Then as the effects started I noticed that while my pain wasn’t gone it was as if the sharpness of it had dulled. I was amazed. Up till now nothing had even touched the pain so to have such relief was completely foreign to me. For the first time in years an over the counter option was helping my pain. And after doing more research I was amazed to find that there weren’t any adverse effects to taking CBD regularly. In fact I found a decent amount of evidence suggesting that continual use was actually beneficial to the body!

Branching out

After trying several CBD products and finding one I liked best I then began to look into what else was being offered in the store, and to my surprise I saw that THC (both D8 and D9) were available. Now as I mentioned I was raised in a fairly anti-drug home so my views on THC were fairly negative. I knew this was the intoxicating chemical in the hemp plant that many people used to get high. However, once again I found myself wondering if maybe my preconceived views were skewed. Once again I talked with Thad and decided to try a low dose of both D8 and D9 THC to see how it would effect me, and once again I was shocked by the results.

I started by taking half of a D8 gummy (around 10mg I believe) and once more I waited. And to my surprise the pain began to disappear completely. This wasn’t like the CBD that simply took the edge off but rather this seemed to negate the pain entirely. I also noticed that I seemed to be in a better mood overall, laughing and having a general good time. Not once did I feel “high” as I had expected and been told I would by people around me.

Now before I continue it is important to note that THC does effect people differently. Some people experience little to no effect from low doses while others can have a much bigger reaction. Now back to the story.

A similar story occurred with the D9 THC. Once again I didn’t feel any form of high but simply felt my pain completely dissipate and a good mood creep in. It was nothing like I had been told by those around me.

closing thoughts

After having these experiences and using these new natural remedies for a while I decided to begin keeping a digital journal of sorts (that’s what you’re reading now!) to share my experiences with others who may be in a similar spot as me. Above all else this is meant to serve as a light of hope to those who are in pain and a place of positivity while simultaneously keeping true to my Christian beliefs.