Juicing marijuana is blowing the global wellness world up in smoke, with enthusiasts now blitzing the plant raw, or adding it to their morning green smoothie.

While it’s often “munchies” that comes to mind faster than “health” when considering marijuana, followers say this power plant packs serious goodness. Here’s why.

What are the benefits of juicing marijuana?

Like most leafy greens, marijuana is nutritionally dense and full of calcium, iron, vitamin K, fiber and antioxidants.

Kath Guidance, a spokesperson from the Nimbin Hemp Embassy says the added superfood bonus is in the cannabinoids.

“Cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system; which manages anything from mood, appetite and pain. The interaction provides profound anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, anti-convulsion and mood enhancing benefits,” says Guidance.

She explains that experts now believe juiced raw cannabis can be used to prevent health issues before they arise.

“Raw marijuana is an excellent source of protein, magnesium, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. If consumed, it could prevent serious illness in the same way a conscious healthy lifestyle would,” says Guidance.

While we’re far off going green in order to cure terminal illnesses, research suggests that cannabinoids have a positive effect on Alzheimers, dementia and epilepsy.

Will marijuana juice get you high?

Unlike a mary-jane, reefer, joint, stinkweed, grass, pot, blaze, boo, charge, skunk; or whatever you call joints, raw marijuana leaves won’t get you high.

As Guidance explains, “it’s the THC cannabinoids in cannabis that causes the ‘high’ effect. THC is activated by applying heat (such as smoking a joint). Raw cannabis contains THC-A (un-activated THC) that won’t get you high but itself but provides phenomenal health benefits.”

How did juiced weed even become a thing?

The practice is popular in many 420-friendly states, as put simply – it won’t get you high and is appropriate for daytime use.

Ray-Jay, age 28, a sufferer of the chronic autoimmune disease Crohn’s from Australia has been relying on the juiced version for years as pain relief.

“Consuming raw marijuana in its entirety has been popular for decades internationally. Australian doctors aren’t trained on the plant but if you independently research online you’ll find thousands have been juicing for health benefits,” explains Ray-Jay.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration recommends anyone who wishes to access medicinal cannabis to talk to their doctor.

Meanwhile, Ray-Jay and her partner are backyard growers, using the plant themselves for health purposes.

“I turned to cannabis when my Crohn’s spiraled out of control. I lost over 25kgs (55 lbs) in a few months and the medication wasn’t helping. After a few weeks consuming marijuana, the constant nausea, diarrhea, cramping and bloating I endured with my Crohn’s was quickly relieved. While it is not 100 percent a cure, it’s made my symptoms manageable,” she says.

The challenges of juicing marijuana

The issue users are finding with juicing raw marijuana is you need a large crop to support ongoing supply and it’s not great tasting.

Ray-Jay says the smell of fresh marijuana can differentiate from a sweet citrus or strawberry, to something as pungent as diesel, but on a whole the taste is “pretty average and herb like.”

“In a perfect world, I’d consume 30mls, three times a day if I could. I previously purchased off the dark web but now my partner and I grow the plant ourselves as a cheaper and safer option.”