Raw marijuana doesn’t have THC, but this doesn’t mean that the the plant in it’s natural state isn’t healthy or worth trying.

A lot of amateur cannabis users don’t know the details about cooking with cannabis. They might think that adding raw marijuana leaves to their sweets and dishes might produce some sort of effect. While this isn’t at all true, raw marijuana does have some interesting health benefits.

Not that long ago, researchers began to notice the benefits of the other parts of the cannabis plant, removing their focus from THC and CBD. These compounds and terpenes are plentiful and vastly different, to a point where researchers don’t even know how many there are and what their effects are in full.

Consuming raw cannabis has been likened to eating leafy greens. While the plant in this state won’t get you high or produce any psychoactive effects, it might help in preventing diseases, providing vitamins, minerals and cannabinoids. It most likely will taste really bad.

For the THC in the cannabis plant to become effective — providing the high and the sensation of relaxation or creativity — the plant needs to go through decarboxylation. It’s the process many unfortunately skip before eating marijuana (edibles). Decarboxylation occurs when you apply heat to the plant, be that when smoking a joint or when preheating cannabis before adding it in to your edibles.

In its natural state, cannabis doesn’t have any THC. Instead it has a compound called THCA, which has been linked with anti-inflammatory properties, promotion of brain health, propagation of cells, and even slowing down the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Still, no matter how invested you are in cannabis research, there’s no scientific evidence out there that guarantees that consuming the raw plant will provide the anti-inflammatory properties and other benefits it’s been linked to. By eating the plant you’d get the benefits of eating any other very green and leafy plant.

If you’re interested in eating cannabis and are finding it challenging to find an attractive way of ingesting a raw, prickly and fibrous leaf, there are some options out there. While some try eating the plant in salads or as a garnish in their dishes, some experts recommend juicing. This process takes advantage of the entire cannabis plant, including the leafs, stem and buds, and makes for a much better option than somehow finding a way to make raw leaves taste good.

Cannabis juice contains all of the compounds and properties in the plant and can be shaped according to your tastes. You can mix it with other fruits and veggies, add in some honey for sweetness and end up with something healthy and delicious.