Did you know that smoking weed is legal in 19 states?

Although recreational pot isn’t yet legal in the majority of the United States, the movement to legalize cannabis is vast and effective. Only two states (Washington and Colorado) made smoking cannabis legal in 2012. Nearly a decade later, 17 more states followed suit, and the rest will likely legalize marijuaa in due time.

Now that you can freely enjoy a blunt at your discretion in many states, let’s explore a few compelling health benefits of using cannabis.

Editor’s Note: The following article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

1. Smoking Cannabis Can Reduce Anxiety

Are you constantly wired?

If anxiety plagues your life, you could benefit from a toke now and again. Recent clinical data suggests that CBD plays a key role in relaxing and calming a person’s central nervous system when ingested or inhaled.

In the study, 79 percent of patients had less anxiety after a month of using cannabis. The decreased anxiety persisted past the initial findings.

2. Cannabis Can Promote Better Sleep

Are you an insomniac?

If you toss and turn each night, a bit of cannabis before bed can satisfy your craving for a good night’s sleep.

As CBD binds with the cannabinoids receptors in your brain, they can suppress the brain’s arousal system and promote a deeper, higher-quality sleep.

In general, those who smoke or eat cannabis products occasionally experience better sleep than those who smoke everyday. That said, more in-depth sleep studies are needed to understand exactly how cannabis helps with sleep issues. Use this guide to help you choose the right type of cannabis for some quality sleep.

3. Cannabis Can Promote a Healthy Appetite

What staves off illness better than a healthy appetite?

If you’ve ever been sick long-term or otherwise, you understand the struggle of not being able to eat what your body needs to thrive.

One of the best-known benefits of smoking marijuana is an increase in appetite and cravings. When CBD binds to your brain’s receptors, your cravings for food  can intensify. You also experience more pleasure while eating.

An increase in appetite is the main reason why cancer patients are often encouraged to self-medicate with cannabis. In fact, many oncologist’s prescribe synthetic weed for this purpose. When cancer treatments affect a patient’s appetite, marijuana can quell their pain while strengthening their desire for food, thus replenishing their energy and nutrients.

4. Cannabis May Enhance Creativity

If you’ve ever wanted to think outside the box but you’re stuck with the same stale ideas, your frustration is valid. A lack of creativity stifles productivity.

However, a bit of cannabis can get your creative juices flowing. Though more research is necessary, some health experts believe that since the human brain on weed makes unlikely connections between concepts, it can experience a flair in creativity. That’s one reason why musicians and other artists enjoy lighting up.

If the above benefits have you fired up about smoking cannabis, get your favorite stash, throw on some great tunes, and smoke your worries away. Or, even better, use a tincture or edible to avoid lung issues that may come from smoking.

Trevor Anderson wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.    

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