Getting Fido or Socks 'high' might sound like something out of the 60’s, when the Hippie generation was allowing their dogs and cats to inhale what they were exhaling. Second-hand smoke back then was a way of life, and it’s hard to determine now with all of the new knowledge we have regarding marijuana’s medicinal benefits, if it did them any good, or if they just became part of a drug culture’s collateral damage.
Flash-forward 50-plus years . . .
In 2016, with medical marijuana legal in 23 states, and recreational use permitted in four states, in addition to Washington, D.C., the cannabis industry has gone mainstream. To that mix, a number of companies are now producing edible products for our pets.
Biscuits and cannabis compounds are entering the market for ailing and elderly dogs for some of the same reasons they were introduced to America’s aging seniors. These are edible products that serve as a natural pain reliever, similar to other anti-inflammatory supplements we've been introduced to.
To Market, To Market To Give Your Pet A Treat . . .
For skeptics who feel getting your pets stoned is not a good idea, proponents are quick to point out its need.
"The cannabis plant has many compounds in it," said Matthew J. Cote, brand manager at San Francisco bay area edibles manufacturer Auntie Dolores, which launched its pet-focused line Treatibles in 2014. "Most people breed cannabis for the euphoric experience of THC. But they've been overlooking cannabidiol -- commonly known as CBD -- which is non-psychoactive."
Sold online for $22 per bag of 40 treats, Treatibles contain 1 milligram of CBD per treat. The company's recommended dose is 1 milligram per 20-pound animal.
"What we've seen is that some of these dogs respond very rapidly," said Cote. "One woman from Fort Bragg was ready to put down her dog due to how sick and in pain he was, but the day before he was scheduled to go under, she administered our treats and just like that the dog was up, walking around and acting normally again."
Canna Companion, a Sultan, Washington-based producer of pet capsules that combine portions of dried, powdered hemp, obtained similar success stories and testimonials from its customers.
"Just want to say how much this product has helped my animals," writes one pet owner on the brand's Facebook page. "Bug, [my] 18-year-old cat, is playing, sleeping next to me at night, being curious and exploring... her back pain is nearly gone. I can pet her all over and she purrs! She has NEVER, until being on hemp, enjoyed being petted."
So is 'pot for pets' in the cards for your four-legged friends, readers? Does it make sense for medicinal purposes, or do you see some inherent harmful effects with its use? Please comment below and let us know how you weigh in on whether or not pot for pets is a ‘groovy’ idea? [Sorry about that . . . but that’s how those Hippies of yesteryear might have described it!]
