Legal alternatives to cannabis

There are many reasons why people may want to cut down or stop using cannabis or tobacco: addiction, impact on their behavior, examinations... For people who want to cut down on tobacco or cannabis, there are legal alternatives.

What is an alternative to cannabis?

A legal response could be the consumption of an authorized herb or blend of herbs as a substitute for cannabis or tobacco consumption. These are by no means synthetic products such as K2 or Spice, very dangerous and prohibited. Nor are they alternatives to THC or nicotine.

One of the reasons why people find it hard to give up tobacco or canna, other than the addiction created by nicotine (80% from cigarette consumption) or THC (10% from joint consumption), is the pleasure derived from consumption.

Some herbs offer an alternative to tobacco or canna, with mild physical effects. We tested 3 varieties of Herbs of the Gods, both in herbal tea and vaporized. Here are our impressions.

Passionflower

Named for its shape, which in many ways recalls the Passion of Christ, passionflower produces passion fruit, but is also used in pharmacopoeia for its relaxing and soporific properties.

Passionflower contains several alkaloids, including some monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a type of antidepressant used to treat certain cases of depression.

The instruction manual recommends dipping 2 grams of herb into a cup of hot water for an infusion, or 15 grams for a slightly stronger «cocktail». The herb has a bread-like smell and a bitter taste. Add a little sugar or honey to enhance the taste.

Small quantities have a calming effect, while larger quantities are more sedative. When vaporizing, be careful to grind the mixture well. The effect will be a slight mental buzz and a slightly heavy body high. Intriguing.

Klip dagga (Leonotisi nepetifolia)

Klip dagga is a herb of African origin, similar to wild dagga. The word «dagga» refers to cannabis in Africa, but klip dagga is legal. The active ingredient in dagga is leonurine, an alkaloid with sedative and psychotropic effects.

The effect is very light and pleasant. The body is relaxed, without stress, but without euphoria either. It is recommended to infuse 5g per person in hot water.

Klip dagga is apparently not as strong as wild dagga. It can be blended with other herbs such as peppermint to create more savory flavors.

Marihuanilla

The evocative name is directly reminiscent of the marihuana South America. And with good reason: the plant is called «little marijuana» there, although it also grows in Asia (Siberia, Taiwan, Korea, China). Visually, there's a clear resemblance, and the smell is reminiscent of hemp. The plant itself is up to 2 metres tall.

Marihuanilla is said to induce a state of relaxation and calm. It is also used in Mexico to soothe menstrual pain (the plant's roots are used in this case) and to treat rheumatism and arthritis. in dyes.

We tested it with 2 teaspoons of herb infused for 15 minutes in a bowl of hot water, and found it to be calmer than cannabis, with no euphoria. Avoid in the morning if you're not too awake, but why not in the evening before going to bed.