5 Spooky Cannabis

Myths to Let Die This Halloween

Halloween is all about having fun. Whether you love candy, dressing up, or a good old-fashioned jump scare, there’s endless enjoyment to be had leaning into the spirit of the holiday. But you know what’s not fun? Believing in these 5 spooky cannabis myths.

Here, we offer some cold, hard facts to keep in mind as you light up on All Hallows Eve (jump scares not included).

1. Cannabis isn’t medicine

Here’s a treat- cannabis is medicine, and you have an entire system in your body dedicated to processing and using it! Your endocannabinoid system helps keep you healthy and has receptors throughout your body to process cannabinoids, including THC and CBD.

Weed can and should be used recreationally- but at the end of the day, this plant has been used as medicine for thousands of years. Today’s research and findings ensure cannabis (and all of its glorious cannabinoids) will become an integral part of the modern medical system.

So the next time someone tells you weed is just about getting high, drop some frighteningly accurate knowledge on them.

2. Weed is a gateway drug

The original monster of the war on drugs, calling weed a gateway drug is like calling running a gateway exercise. While it’s true that people who consume cannabis often try other substances, weed isn’t a fast track to heroin and meth (we have opioids to thank for that). Correlation is not the same as causation, and multiple studies over the past decade have shown no evidence proving that cannabis use leads to harder substance abuse. People who consume cannabis may just be predisposed to trying other forms of plant medicine.

Seriously- can we put this myth on a gravestone and stick it in the front yard?

3. Stoners are lazy

While this may be your parent’s favorite response to smoking weed, this scary-otype is no more based in reality than Nightmare on Elm Street. In fact, a 2021 study shows that the opposite is true- cannabis users are more active than their non-consuming peers. Anecdotal evidence tells us that many people use cannabis to enjoy their workouts more, from running and hiking to yoga and meditation. Intention is also important here- are you smoking to get through your to-do list, or to take the edge off on a Friday night?

Either way, don’t flinch in the face of this baseless myth. Cannabis users are as active, if not more active than the average person. Which means you’ll be in good shape to outrun your nonsmoking friends when the masked man comes around with a chainsaw.

4.Indica and Sativa are the most important labels.

Nope!

Indica and sativa refer to the type of cannabis plant the bud was grown on, cannabis indica or cannabis sativa. But the indica/sativa divide doesn’t tell us much about the weed, let alone its effect on you specifically.

And every cannabis experience can affect you differently, depending on the strain and its interaction with your unique endocannabinoid system. So, to understand the effect a strain will have on you, you need to know both the cannabinoid and terpene profile, and understand your personal reactions. If you don’t have a history of consuming cannabis, track your strain and reactions for a few months and look for patterns.

Additionally, don’t correlate high THC percentages with good weed. High THC percentages can tell you where the weed was grown (in a greenhouse with the best lights and nutrients) but it won’t tell you the weed’s effect on you. And for many people, a high THC strain isn’t the best option.

5. You can’t get addicted to cannabis.

You totally can. And before you TP my house, hear me out.

Cannabis is, first and foremost, a medicine. It helps people relieve stress, sleep better, reduce chronic pain, and improve their mental states. But none of that means you can’t become problematically dependent on it. Cannabis Use Disorder may sound like the disease you use to prank call a doctor’s office, but it’s real. And for people suffering, it can be isolating to know they won’t be taken seriously by their peers or medical professionals.

Cannabis is an amazing plant, but it’s not for everyone and it can have negative side effects. From cannabis use disorder to cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, it’s time to let the myth that cannabis works for everyone die (and stay dead).

However you celebrate this Halloween, whatever you call the autumn holiday, even if you don’t light up, be safe, incorporate a mask, and have fun.

Meet Jessica.

Jessica Reilly is a copywriter, content strategist, and cannabis aficionado. She combines her passion for cannabis with her talent for writing at Jessica Reilly, Writer and runs the Cannabis Creative Blog. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram @Cannabis_writer, or on Hi-Curious at Jess the Cannabis Blogger.

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