I initially started smoking cannabis as a means to relax, mellow out and share with friends. I’d shop at the dispensary for dried flower, pre-rolls and vapes high in THC percentages. However, I’ve learned that cannabis offers a range of curative benefits. It can work wonders as a muscle relaxant, pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. As someone who runs for exercise, I suffer a lot of aches and pains in my joints and muscles. I’ve dealt with plantar fasciitis, runner’s heel, bursitis, shin splints and sprains. I’ve never been willing to risk my health by taking synthetic medicines. Prescription muscle relaxants tend to include harmful and long-range side-effects. I am delighted to find a plant based medicine to ease muscle tension, spasms, cramps, stiffness, pain and spasticity. THC or tetrahydrocannabinol has shown to provide pain relief and lessen muscle cramps while CBD or cannabidiol offers anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the chance of muscle spasms. I’ve experimented with different ratios of THC and CBD to determine the ideal balance for my issues. I tend to prefer a bit higher CBD percentage and lower THC. However, I’ve found that it’s best to use the cannabinoids in combination. I’ve also tried out different consumption methods, such as smoking, vapes, tinctures, edibles and topicals. Each one provides different benefits. Products that include CBN or cannabinol are great for helping me to relax and sleep when I have muscle pain. Options that feature CBG or cannabigerol are especially helpful for treating pain and inflammation. I also pay attention to terpenes. While they are mainly associated with the flavor, smell and even color of cannabis, they also offer therapeutic effects.