Cannabis & Health: From Ancient Roots to Modern Rituals (Yes! It has medicinal value!)
At Red Roots Trading Company, we like to keep things real: cannabis is not just a plant, it’s a lifestyle, a wellness tool, a piece of culture, and sometimes the reason you suddenly remember that nachos are the perfect midnight snack (we definitely don't know that from prior experience).
For thousands of years, Indigenous communities and cultures around the world have turned to cannabis not for trends, but for tradition: for medicine, ceremony, and connection. Fast-forward to today, and cannabis is having its biggest glow-up ever: showing up in wellness routines, clinical research, skincare products, and yes, in the occasional comedy-fueled movie night.
So let’s dig into the roots (pun absolutely intended), explore the ways cannabis supports wellness, look at how people actually use it, and wrap it all up by busting some stubborn myths.
The Healing Roots of Cannabis
Cannabis didn’t just show up in the 1960s with tie-dye and folk music. It’s been part of traditional healing for countless centuries.
Among Indigenous peoples in North America, cannabis (and other plant medicines) has been recognized for its grounding, calming, and restorative properties. The plant was often part of broader holistic practices that treated the whole person: body, mind, and spirit, rather than just one symptom.
Historically, cannabis has been used to:
Soothe Pain & Inflammation: Whether from long days of physical work, injuries, or chronic conditions, cannabis helped take the edge off.
Support Mental Clarity & Calm: Used in ceremony or meditation, cannabis was seen as a tool to quiet the mind and strengthen focus.
Aid Digestion & Appetite: It wasn’t called the munchies back then, but cannabis was known to help stimulate hunger and ease nausea.
Enhance Spiritual Connection: Like sage or tobacco, cannabis could be used as a bridge in prayer, reflection, and ceremony.
Today, modern society is rediscovering what Indigenous knowledge has always shown: cannabis isn’t just “a drug,” it’s bona fide medicine, in the truest sense.
Modern-Day Wellness with Cannabis
These days, cannabis has gone mainstream, and no, not just because your uncle Dave keeps showing up to Thanksgiving with his “world famous special brownies.” It’s in yoga studios, health shops, and even infused into skincare.
Some of the wellness benefits backed by research and real-life users include:
Stress & Anxiety Relief: Cannabis can calm the nervous system and help people cope with modern life’s endless chaos (emails, traffic, your neighbor’s 6 a.m. leaf blower). CBD-heavy strains, edibles and tinctures are especially popular for this.
Scenario: Meet Sam, a university student who swears by CBD gummies to settle his nerves before exams. Instead of cramming himself into an anxious spiral, he’s calmly highlighting notes with a steady hand.
Sleep Support: If you’ve ever struggled with tossing and turning, you’ll know how valuable a cannabis nightcap can be. Indicas and edibles are often used to support deep, restful sleep.
Scenario: Grandma Joan keeps a trusty bag of Indica shatter gummies by her bedside. “Half a gummy and I’m out like a light,” she says. And no, she doesn’t share, those are strictly for bedtime.
Chronic Pain & Inflammation: From arthritis to migraines, cannabis is a natural option for pain management without relying on heavy pharmaceuticals.
Scenario: Tom the carpenter applies a 1:1 cannabis salve on his sore hands after a long day. “Doesn’t get me high, just lets me grip my coffee mug in the morning without wincing.”
Mental Wellness & Focus: Sativa strains are well-loved for sparking creativity, focus, and mood elevation. Great for art projects, brainstorming, or simply making folding laundry less of a chore.
Scenario: Riley, a local artist, swears her vapes are the reason her sketchbook keeps filling up with fresh ideas. “Without it, I’d just stare at a blank page.”
The Many Ways to Consume Cannabis
Let’s be honest: the menu of cannabis consumption has exploded. Gone are the days when “smoke it or don’t” were the only options. Now, there’s something for everyone:
Smoking: The classic method. Fast-acting, ritualistic, and social. Whether rolled into a joint, packed into a pipe, or passed around a circle, smoking connects people as much as it soothes.
Scenario: Marcus and his friends have a Friday night ritual: light an infused Moon Rockets joint, put on some vinyl records, and let the week start to melt away.
Vaping: A cleaner, often smoother option. Vaporizers heat cannabis without burning it, releasing cannabinoids without much of the smoke. It’s discreet, portable, and doesn’t leave you smelling like a campfire.
Scenario: Lisa sneaks a quick vape session on her balcony before joining her work Zoom call. No smell, no stress, just calm vibes.
Dabbing: Concentrated cannabis extracts (like diamonds or shatter) deliver a powerful, fast-acting effect. Think of it as the espresso shot of cannabis consumption. Definitely not for beginners, but loved by seasoned consumers.
Scenario: Martin, a longtime cannabis enthusiast, loves dabbing before heading into his IT management office. “Gets me where I need to be, fast,” he says.
Edibles: A crowd favorite. Gummies, chocolates, lollipops, beverages, the list is endless. The effects take longer to kick in (30–90 minutes), but they last much longer, making edibles a favorite for sleep support or full-body relaxation.
Scenario: Bella and her roommate share a couple of THC infused drinks before movie night. Two hours later, they’re laughing so hard at the opening credits, they've had to pause the film three times now.
Tinctures & RSO: Dropped under the tongue or added to food/drinks, tinctures and RSO are discreet and easy to dose. Perfect for people who want steady, controlled effects.
Scenario: Derek adds a couple of drops of tincture into his morning tea, no smoke, no fuss, just gentle daily wellness.
Topicals: Salves, creams, and more that targets localized pain, inflammation, or skin concerns. These don’t get you high, they just soothe the body locally where your body needs it most.
Scenario: After her morning jog, Maya rubs a cannabis cream into her knees. “Feels like a spa treatment,” she says, “but way cheaper than physio.”
In short: whether you’re into fire, food, or face creams, there’s a cannabis product for you.
Quick-Reference Guide: Choosing Your Cannabis Adventure
| Method | Onset Time | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking 🌬️ | Almost instant (1–5 min) | 1–3 hours | Social sessions, quick relief, enjoying the ritual of rolling & sharing. |
| Vaping 💨 | Almost instant (1–5 min) | 1–3 hours | Discreet use, smoother on lungs, fast-acting relief without much odor. |
| Dabbing 🔥 | Instant (seconds) | 1–2 hours | Experienced users, high potency needs, “espresso shot” level effects. |
| Edibles 🍪 | Slow (30–90 min) | 4–8 hours (sometimes more) | Sleep, long-lasting relief, body-focused effects, cozy nights in. |
| Tinctures 💧 | Moderate (15–30 min) | 2–4 hours | Easy dosing, subtle effects, daily wellness support without smoking/vaping. |
| Topicals 🧴 | Localized (10–20 min) | 2–6 hours (varies) | Muscle soreness, joint pain, skin health, no high, just soothing relief. |
Pro Tip: Everyone’s body reacts a little differently to cannabis. Start low, go slow, and give yourself time to notice the effects before reaching for more. (Your future self will thank you. We promise.)
Cannabis Myths: Busted
Okay, let’s call these myths what they are: seriously bad hand-me-down rumors that just simply refuse to die. Time to clear the smoke, once and for all.
Myth: “Cannabis kills brain cells.”
Truth: Nope. Try again. Research shows cannabinoids not only don’t kill brain cells, in fact some evidence now points to cannabis compounds actually working to protect your your precious grey matter and keep you sharp!
Myth: “All cannabis gets you super high.”
Truth: Not true! CBD products give you all the body benefits without the buzz. You can relax, recover, and focus, without feeling the sometimes undesired euphoric lift that cannabis is popular and known for.
Myth: “Edibles kick in right away.”
Truth: Unless you're talking nano-emulsified edibles (which can hit in as little as 15 minutes), regular edibles that most of us are used to typically take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 freakin' hours to really hit their maximum level. Patience is key (no, seriously), or you’ll end up on your couch wondering why you thought eating four gummies was a good idea.
Myth: “Cannabis is only for young people.”
Truth: False. Many older folks use cannabis for arthritis, sleep, and relaxation. The fastest-growing group of cannabis consumers overall? Older and especially senior adults (they know we have that good, good gold seal red wrap hash!).
Myth: “Topicals get you high.”
Truth: Nope! Topicals only work on the area you apply them, and even then, they don't pass THC into your bloodstream. They’re perfect for targeting the local cannabinoid receptors directly where you apply it, to sore knees, to back pain, to achy hands, all without affecting your mind.
Myth: “Cannabis has no medical value.”
Truth: This one’s been debunked so many times it’s embarrassing it still comes up, yet we're still giving it honourable mention. Cannabis has been studied for pain, epilepsy, PTSD, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, cancer, bipolar disorder, autism, and the list just goes on, with promising results basically every time. Science doesn't lie.
Why Red Roots Stands Out
At Red Roots Trading Company, we’re more than just a cannabis & tobacco shop, we’re a bridge between tradition and modern wellness. Our products are Indigenous-made, reflecting centuries of respect for the plant and the community knowledge that surrounds it.
We believe cannabis isn’t just about recreation, it’s about healing, balance, and connection. That’s why every product we carry is chosen with intention and always third-party lab tested for purity, potency, and safety.
When you shop with us, you’re not only getting high-quality products, but you’re also:
- Supporting Indigenous communities directly.
- Accessing authentic, culturally rooted cannabis traditions blended with today’s best practices.
- Becoming part of a movement that values wellness, respect for the plant, and responsible use.
So whether you’re sparking up for stress relief, winding down with an edible, or finding pain relief in a topical, know that Red Roots is here to help you on your cannabis wellness journey, with heart, respect, and heritage.
Final Thoughts
So, here's the scoop. Cannabis isn’t just about “getting high.” It’s a versatile, time-honored plant with a staggeringly long history of supporting wellness, ceremony, and community. Whether you’re looking to ease pain, calm your mind, sleep better, or just enhance your movie night snacks, there’s a form of cannabis that fits your needs.
