Juicing Raw Cannabis for Non-Psychoactive Healing

Photo by Yavdat

Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, Ph.D., CTC, CNHP in ECS and Naturopathic Medicine, is a cannabis therapy consultant, founder and education director of the Cannabis Holistic Institute. 

In the world of holistic and naturopathic health, we are finally reconnecting with what ancient herbal traditions understood long ago: the full cannabis plant, when used fresh and raw, is an exceptional, non-psychoactive superfood that supports vitality and well-being. In my role as a naturopath, regenerative organic farmer, and cannabis therapy consultant, I have witnessed the subtle yet profound benefits this practice can offer. Raw cannabis juicing brings gentle nourishment to the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) without inducing the “alteration” typically associated with cannabis.

When juicing the whole plant including the leaves and stems, we unlock a completely different therapeutic profile compared to dried, cured, or combusted cannabis. Instead of intoxicating effects, the body receives a bioavailable array of cannabinoid acids, terpenes, chlorophyll, plant fiber, and antioxidants. The result is systemic cellular nourishment, gentle detoxification, and energetic balance for the entire body.

Why Juice Cannabis? Discovering Cannabinoid Acids

One of the most potent reasons to juice raw cannabis is its rich content of cannabinoid acids, the precursors to THC and CBD. In the fresh, living plant, these acids are abundant:

• THCA: The raw, non-psychoactive form of THC. THCA has shown potential anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-spasmodic properties. When unheated, THCA does not produce any intoxicating effects.
• CBDA: The acidic precursor to CBD, CBDA supports the body’s immune modulation, mood regulation, and anti-nausea pathways. Recent research suggests that CBDA may also help inhibit COX-2 enzymes, responsible for inflammation.
• CBGA: Found in the plant’s stems and stalks in small but meaningful amounts. CBGA is often referred to as the “mother cannabinoid” because all other cannabinoids originate from it. CBGA has demonstrated potential in metabolic regulation and cancer cell research.

These cannabinoid acids offer profound healing opportunities without mental alteration. They interact directly with the ECS to promote internal balance, support immune function, and reduce chronic inflammation. This makes juicing an excellent option for those with autoimmune conditions, neurological issues, or digestive imbalance.

Terpenes in Fresh Cannabis: The Aromatic Healers

Terpenes, the aromatic molecules responsible for the scent and flavor of cannabis, also provide significant therapeutic benefits. While most are concentrated in the flowering buds, many terpenes are present in the leaves and stems as well. That’s especially true when the plant is grown outdoors in a living soil system.

Common terpenes found in fresh plant material include:

• Beta-Caryophyllene: Found in the leaves and young stems. This rare terpene can act directly on the CB2 receptor, supporting anti-inflammatory and gut-protective actions.
• Alpha-Pinene: Prominent in fresh cannabis foliage, this terpene promotes mental clarity, improves airflow in the lungs, and reduces systemic inflammation.
• Limonene: A mood-enhancing terpene present in the waxy coating of leaves. Limonene can aid digestion, reduce stress, and encourage cellular detoxification.

When juiced fresh, these terpenes stay intact, unlike dried cannabis, where oxidation and degradation can diminish their potency. The gentle release of terpenes in the juice supports the body’s endocrine, immune, and nervous systems with every sip.

The Whole Plant Approach: Leaves, Stems, and Stalks

A truly holistic, full-spectrum juice includes various parts of the cannabis plant, each offering unique therapeutic gifts:

• Leaves: The most nutrient-rich part of the fresh plant. These are loaded with cannabinoid acids (THCA, CBDA), antioxidants, chlorophyll, magnesium, and beneficial polyphenols. They assist in blood purification, gut lining repair, and anti-inflammatory activity.
• Stems: Often discarded in traditional preparation, stems contain dietary fiber, trace amounts of CBGA, and plant lignans that support digestive health and microbiome balance.
• Stalks: The inner stalk material provides prebiotic fibers and small amounts of phytocannabinoid precursors. They help feed beneficial gut bacteria and offer gentle detoxification properties.

Juicing these components together offers a synergistic, whole-plant remedy that is nourishing on a cellular level. Unlike isolates or extracts, this method allows for all plant compounds to work harmoniously as nature intended.

Growing Cannabis for Juicing: Outdoor, Organic, Regenerative

How your cannabis is grown directly impacts its quality as food and medicine. When juicing cannabis, you are ingesting the plant raw. This means any pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, or contaminants will also enter your body. This is why I always emphasize regenerative, organic, and outdoor cultivation—not only for ecological reasons, but also for the sake of human health.

In regenerative farming practices, cultivators enrich the soil with living microbes, compost, mineral amendments, and cover crops that build fertility naturally. Cannabis grown in this way absorbs the rich diversity of soil nutrients and produces stronger terpenes and cannabinoid acids.

Outdoor plants benefit from the full spectrum of sunlight, which influences the expression of cannabinoids and terpenes, along with natural wind stress and seasonal rhythms that make the plant heartier and more therapeutically complex.

Hydroponically or chemically grown indoor cannabis lacks this full expression. For juicing, the purer and more vibrant the plant, the more effective the medicine.

Practical Tips for Juicing Cannabis

To juice cannabis properly and safely, here are a few recommendations:

1. Harvest Fresh: Select young fan leaves, small stems, and tender inner stalk material from healthy plants. Avoid older, yellowing, or damaged leaves.
2. Rinse Gently: Wash leaves carefully to remove dust, insects, or outdoor residue. Avoid vigorous scrubbing that can remove beneficial plant waxes and terpenes.
3. Juice Quickly: Cannabis degrades after harvesting. Process and consume within 4–6 hours for maximum cannabinoid and terpene retention.
4. Combine with Vegetables: Mix with carrot, cucumber, apple, or celery juice to improve flavor and enhance bioavailability.
5. Start Slowly: Begin with 10–15 leaves daily, adjusting as your body becomes accustomed to the raw plant compounds.

For those who cannot consume fresh juice daily, consider freezing juice in ice cube trays to preserve nutrients for later use in smoothies or water infusions.

A Gentle Cannabis Revolution

Raw cannabis juicing represents a quiet but powerful revolution in plant medicine. This approach allows individuals, especially elders, sensitive patients, and those desiring non-intoxicating support, to benefit from the full healing intelligence of the plant without altering consciousness.

This is true energetic herbalism: receiving the plant’s offerings in its whole, living state, unaltered by fire or solvent. The cannabis plant, when grown regeneratively in the outdoor sun and harvested with care, becomes both food and medicine—a sacred gift of Earth’s abundance.

As practitioners, farmers, and conscious consumers, we are invited to embrace this full-spectrum relationship. When we honor cannabis as a raw superfood, we restore its rightful place in holistic health and return to an ancient wisdom of plant-based nourishment.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources. Please check with your Cannabis Educated Primary Health Care Physician or Educated & Trained Cannabis Therapy Consultant before beginning any new diet or lifestyle change.