So you have heard about the numerous health benefits of cannabis products and would like to try them out for yourself. Wait! Before you do that, there are certain things you need to know to ensure you are making the right choice.
There are different types of cannabis for various purposes.
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis is a collective name for three plants confirmed to possess psychoactive properties.
Types of cannabis plants
- Cannabis sativa
- Cannabis indica
- Cannabis ruderalis
The Cannabis sativa is known for its relaxing kick when ingested, while the Cannabis indica is reputed for its energizing effects. The Cannabis ruderalis, on the other hand, is in-between.
Some botanists may disagree with the ruderalis being classified as a separate cannabis species.
It is very common for growers to harvest and dry the flowers of these plants. The result of this processing method is called different names. Some call it weed, others pot and mostly marijuana.
Types of cannabis products
Cannabis products are classified based on the mode of production. The common products you are likely to encounter in the market today include:
- Flower
Flower, also known as bud, is the ingestable part of the cannabis plant. Although there are today lots of cannabis products, the flower remains the preferred choice for many people as it is smokable. According to Kolas (www.Kolas.com), a Cannabis Dispensary and Delivery Near Sacramento CA, the flower is cultivated, harvested, dried and cured before it is finally made available to consumers through licensed dispensaries.
- Concentrates
Concentrates are produced by removing impurities from the cannabis plants until only the preferred compounds remain. These compounds are cannabinoids and terpenes.
Cannabinoids are a group of compounds that can be naturally found in cannabis plants. There are more than 400 compounds in cannabis plants, but only about 66 are referred to as cannabinoids.
Terpenes, on the other hand, are the compounds behind the distinct smell of a cannabis plant.
- Edibles
Edibles, as the name implies, are food or drinks containing a cannabis product, especially the flower and concentrate.
Producers of edibles make them fit the anticipated taste of the targeted market. It could be infused in popcorn, beverages, burgers, and gummies.
- Tinctures
Tincture is a general term for concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking plant parts in alcohol, oil, or vinegar.
Cannabis tinctures are produced by soaking a cannabis plant in any of these liquids.
- Topicals
Topicals are similar to edibles except that they are not meant to be ingested. It includes cannabis-infused products like lotions, body oil, balm and sprays.
They are meant to be applied directly to the skin.
Is cannabis legal?
The legality of cannabis is dependent on your location. In Canada, possession of cannabis of about 30 grams is allowed. A household can also grow up to four cannabis plants.
The legality in the United States (US) is somehow tricky. Under Federal law, it is illegal to use or possess cannabis of any amount. Meanwhile, at the time of writing, 39 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the plant’s medicinal use.
Likewise, in the United Kingdom (UK), medical use of cannabis was legalized on November 1, 2008.
THC vs CBD
The primary concern about the usage of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the cannabinoids. It is the primary psychoactive compound in the plant and responsible for its high-effect.
Another popular compound is cannabidiol (CBD). Both THC and CBD offers many of the same health benefits, except that one will make you high and the other will not.
THC and CBD have similar chemical formulas but different arrangements of atoms. This varies the way they interact with the brain. In a typical human brain, there are neurons called cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors. They are capable of binding with cannabis compounds.
The THC binds strongly with these receptors, thereby triggering a sense of euphoria. CBD only binds weakly with the receptors.
Health benefits of cannabis
The use of cannabis for the treatment of ailments spans more than 3,000 years. Some of the scientifically researched health benefits of cannabis include:
- Chronic pain relief
Multiple research works have confirmed that cannabis can help relieve pain. A study result published in 2014 in the Hawaiʻi Journal of Health and Social Welfare, hand-delivered surveys to one hundred patients. 97 percent of the respondents claimed they used cannabis primarily for chronic pain and confirmed experiencing relief.
- Alcoholism addiction treatment
A 2017 review published in the journal Clinical Psychology Review suggests that cannabis may help treat alcohol addiction.
- Alleviates depression and PTSD
Recreational users of cannabis were revealed in a study to be less depressed. People who use cannabis at least once per week or less have reduced depressed moods, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes.
- Slows cancer growth
Early clinical trials have revealed that cannabinoids are safe in treating cancer. People who inhale marijuana also experience lesser nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
Some studies on cells also indicate cannabis can help slow down cancer growth.
- Decreases seizure
A 2017 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirmed CBD could help reduce seizures in children with Dravet syndrome by 39 percent. 5 percent of the children who participated in the children experienced no episode after the use of CBD.