Is Weed a Psychedelic? Key Differences Between Psychedelics and Weed

Weed is a drug that has recently gained enormous acceptability owing to the global debate on its legalization. In the US, weed has already been decriminalized and legalized in various US states though the federal government still classifies it as illegal.

Weed has a great potential to treat numerous chronic conditions that affect human beings and also animals. This has caused many research scientists and policymakers to reconsider the laws prohibiting its usage.

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As we await the federal government’s intervention in legalizing weed, psychedelics have also emerged as an alternative for treating chronic conditions. Legalizing and decriminalizing weed in various states has given lobby groups the green light to campaign for the legalization of psychedelics.

Is weed a psychedelic? To answer this question, we have put together detailed information that explains what each entails. We will examine how these two substances differ in their composition and their effect on the body.

What is a Weed?

Weed comes from a plant known as cannabis and can be grown or occur naturally. Weed is either obtained from cannabis Indica or Sativa species. Weed can also be referred to as marijuana and contains numerous compounds. The main active compounds found in weed are categorized into two, namely:

Tetrahydocannabinoids (THC)
Cannabidiol (CBD)

THC and CBD compounds produce varying effects on the body, and they both act on the brain’s cb1 and cb2 receptors. THC is an active compound with psychoactive properties that make you high, enhancing your mood and concentration.

CBD compound lacks psychoactive elements and is helpful in the alleviation of pain and enhancing memory and sleep. CBD is also used to make CBD oil with therapeutic benefits in your body; it helps fight skin conditions such as acne, reducing pain, and helping in the alleviation of anxiety and depression.

Weed and Psychedelic

Weed is taken in the body through various ways, namely:

Smoking.
Vaping.
Edibles.

Is weed a psychedelic? Researchers opine that taking a high dosage can produce weed psychedelic side effects that can adversely affect your body.

Some of the side effects that you can experience when a high dosage of marijuana is taken include the following;

Heightened anxiety
Increased appetite
Rapid heartbeat
Impaired judgment
Feeling drowsy
Feeling depressed

So, is weed a psychedelic? High intake of weed doses can produce one of the most psychedelic weed side effects of hallucinations. The US federal government classified weed as a Schedule 1 product in the 1970s under the Controlled Substances Act outlawing its distribution, sale, and possession. Experts are doing limited research activities to establish its medical importance in the treatment of chronic conditions.

Definition of Psychedelics

Psychedelics include a group of substances that produce some mind-altering experiences. Under federal law, numerous psychedelic compounds are classified under the Schedule 1 category. The question is weed a psychedelic still lingers.

When substances are classified in Schedule 1, they are harmful to the body, have no medical value, and have a high potential of being abused by their users.

Several psychedelic substances exist and can significantly impact the users’ brains after being consumed.

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The most common psychedelics include:

Ayahuasca
Psilocybin
Ketamine
LSD
MDMA
Peyote

Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are the most common psychedelics used for recreational or medical purposes. They can be cultivated under a controlled environment in states that have decriminalized or legalized psychedelics. Medics recommend the use of psychedelics in a controlled environment under a licensed psychedelic professional.

Even though users have described psychedelics as a natural alternative medicine in treating chronic conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, they should be used with caution. Psychedelics, if not properly managed, can cause adverse side effects.

Several US states have begun legalizing the use of psychedelics for medical purposes. Oregon made history as the first state to legalize the use of psychedelics for medical purposes. Other states have followed suit by passing laws that regulate the establishment of psychedelic centers.

Similarities between shrooms and weed?

Is weed a psychedelic? No, even though both weed and mushrooms share similarities that include:

Both are proscribed under Schedule 1.
Both can be abused if not used in moderation.
Both can create a high effect.

What Differentiates Weed from Psychedelics? Is Weed a Psychedelic?

Although researchers have established some evidence showing that shrooms and weed have potential therapeutic benefits, they are not the same. Mushrooms and weed share similarities in how they have been used in the past, but their effects on the body are not similar.

Cannabis Strains

If you still do not know whether is weed a psychedelic or not, here are how weed and mushrooms differ:

1. Cannabis/weed activates the endocannabinoid receptors while psychedelics do not activate.

Is weed a psychedelic? Weed contains an active compound known as THC. The body has a unique system known as the endocannabinoid system with receptors that control cognitive functions such as thinking, relaxation, and memory.

When you consume weed with a high THC concentration, it attaches itself to receptors found in the endocannabinoid system, therefore, regulating activities that involve your feelings, movement, and reactions. As THC has psychoactive properties, you will experience a high effect, which makes you active.

When you take psychedelics, they affect certain receptors in the brain known as 2ARs or 5-HT2A. When psychedelics activate these receptors, they change the cognitive functions, which bring certain effects to your body. The receptors are found in the brain’s cortex. Researchers have established that serotonin influences the activation of the receptors by the psychedelic compounds. Therefore, is weed a psychedelic can be answered in the negative.

2. Cannabis and psychedelics have different chemical compositions.

The main compounds that influence the way you feel when you consume weed are THC and CBD. The composition of these two compounds affects the way your body will react. High composition of THC in the weed you consume will have a higher impact than a weed with a low composition of THC.

THC has psychoactive properties that significantly affect the functioning of your brain. It influences some activities such as sleep, memory, and mood.

In contrast, psychedelics consist of different substances, the chemical composition also varies. The effects on the body after consuming different types of psychedelic compounds also differ from the product taken. A psychedelic user who consumed psilocybin compound will differ from a psychedelic user who took the Ayahuasca compound. Again, is weed a psychedelic is answered in the negative.

3. The duration takes to experience the effects and how long they last differ.

Cannabis/marijuana is believed to be effective if you want to treat a chronic condition for an extended period because marijuana effects are easily predictable and manageable. If you consume weed, it takes approximately 20-30 minutes before you start experiencing the effects in the body. These effects will take about 4 hours in your body.

On the other hand, the consumption of psychedelics brings long-lasting effects that can last approximately 12 hours and over. Once ingested into the body, psychedelics take about an hour to get the effects on the body. The use of psychedelics impacts the perception and cognitive ability making the user experience some hallucinations. The duration it takes for either to take effect answers is weed a psychedelic in the negative.

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Take Away

The question is weed a psychedelic can be answered by evaluating each drug’s reactions when consumed at different times. Although there are striking similarities between weed and psychedelics, every drug has its properties and effects.

Psychedelic substances have tremendous potential to alleviate chronic conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. However, research still needs to be carried out to confirm the therapeutic benefits of these compounds. Is cannabis a psychedelic? The answer is a definite NO.

Getting a licensed psychedelic center may be overwhelming, especially when you have just discovered the benefits of psychedelic. However, with the correct information and access to the internet, your search can be simplified.

At MDBerry, we are the leading cannabis and psychedelic center in the US. We are certified and approved by authorities to provide psychedelic and cannabis services to patients in the US.

We have a highly qualified staff ready to walk with you on a journey to defeat the chronic condition you may be having. Our state-of-the-art facilities will give you the comfort you need to recuperate in a patient-friendly environment.