Cannabis and cannabis products are becoming more popular than ever before. Probably, you’ve seen cannabis products being advertised, like CBD oils and tinctures.
However, maybe you aren’t so familiar with cannabis and don’t know what all of this stuff really is and why it’s such a big deal. That’s why we’re here to clear up any confusion and explain what you need to know about cannabis in plain English.
What Is Cannabis?
By definition, cannabis refers to the cannabis plant. Scientifically speaking, the species of the plant is known as Cannabis indica.
However, when most people talk about cannabis, they’re not talking about the plant itself. They’re usually talking about the flowers.
The flowers go by many names—bud, weed, pot, nugs, ganja, and much more. Once these flowers are harvested from the plant and dried, you’re left with smokeable weed.
Basically, if someone is using weed, they’re using the flowers.
What Does Cannabis Do?
When cannabis is smoked or eaten, it causes the feeling of being high. Not only that, but there are many other immediate effects like:
- Euphoria
- Relaxation
- Sights and sounds becoming more clear
- Focus
- Creativity
However, there’s a lot of reasons why people smoke cannabis. Most people use cannabis for recreational or medicinal purposes.
Put simply, people use cannabis either for fun or because it helps them in some way.
Therapeutic Properties
Probably you’ve heard of something called medical marijuana. Many states in the USA have programs that allow cannabis use for medicinal purposes.
That means that the only people allowed to use weed are people who need it for medical reasons. That reason can be chronic pain, epilepsy, cancer, glaucoma, PTSD, and much more.
Now you might be wondering—how can cannabis treat all of those different things? It turns out that cannabis is good at aiding both mental and physical ailments.
Without going into too much detail, compounds inside the cannabis flower can help the body. More specifically, those compounds can stop pain, inflammation, and seizures.
On top of that, cannabis can also help with mood. Some people find that cannabis may reduce their anxiety or depression.
If that sounds too good to be true, then we’ve got good news because all of this is supported by real scientific research.
Recreation
Many people around the globe are calling for cannabis legalization. That means that people want cannabis to be legal for everybody past a certain age.
Some states in the USA, like California and Colorado, already have legalized cannabis. In those states, they usually call it ‘adult-use’ or recreational weed.
Basically, anyone above the age of 21 can buy weed, and they don’t need a medical reason. That’s because millions of people around the world use cannabis recreationally.
That means that they do it for enjoyment or relaxation. It’s just like alcohol—people drink alcohol recreationally.
Alcohol use is reserved mostly for parties and having a good time. It’s the same thing with cannabis.
However, cannabis is actually much safer than alcohol. That’s why many people are wondering why cannabis is still illegal while drugs like alcohol are perfectly legal.
What’s in Cannabis?
Now you’re probably wondering—so what’s inside of cannabis that causes the feeling of being high? In a nutshell, it’s because of natural cannabis compounds called cannabinoids.
There are many different types of cannabinoids, but there are two which are the most important and the most common. Those two are called THC and CBD.
THC is responsible for the feeling of being high. On the other hand, CBD is responsible for many of the potential medical benefits.
Researchers have found that CBD can reduce pain and inflammation and even support a good mood. On top of that, CBD doesn’t cause the feeling of being high—which is why many people prefer it.
However, there are also many other types of compounds like terpenes. Terpenes are responsible for the smell and taste of cannabis.
If you’ve ever come into contact with the skunky or dank smell of weed, it’s thanks to terpenes. You can see all of these compounds if you look closely at some cannabis flowers.
You’ll notice the weed is covered in sticky and multi-colored hairs that are called trichomes. Those trichomes contain cannabinoids and usually cover the entire surface of the cannabis bud.
What Types of Cannabis Products Are There?
So now that you know what cannabis is and what it does, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the many different types of products. Whether you live in a state with legal weed or not, there are many kinds of weed products.
Flower
As we mentioned earlier, using cannabis buds is still the most popular method. To use flower, people will grind it into a small powder.
From there, it can be rolled into a small cigarette (called a joint), put in a pipe or a bong, and then lit on fire. The smoke is inhaled into the lungs and then exhaled.
After a few puffs, the effects of the cannabis will be felt for about an hour or so.
Edibles
The next most popular form of using weed is from something called an edible. Basically, weed can be baked or infused into different types of tasty treats just like mushroom edibles.
Some of the most common are brownies, cookies, or even gummy bears. You simply eat the weed edible and wait for the effects to kick in.
Tinctures and Oils
Tinctures and oils are cannabis extracts. That means that the cannabinoids and other compounds from cannabis flowers were taken and concentrated into a clear oil.
Tinctures and oils can be taken straight up or mixed with something else.
Concentrates
Concentrates usually refer to super-concentrated forms of cannabis. Usually, these concentrates are for experienced smokers who want something stronger than regular flower.
However, concentrates also refer to vaping products which are some of the most popular cannabis products. Cannabis oil is put inside of an e-cigarette for cannabis smoking on the go.
How Do I Get Cannabis Products?
If you live in a state with recreational cannabis, then all you need to do is be over 21 years of age and walk to a local dispensary or call a delivery service. If you live in a state with medical cannabis, then you’ll need to get a medical marijuana license from a doctor.
However, if you live in a state with no cannabis laws, you definitely can’t get THC-rich products. Luckily, because of the Farm Bill, CBD products with low THC content are now technically legal in every state.
Still, you’ll need to be sure about your local laws before ordering any CBD products. Remember, you’ll always want to get the best quality cannabis products that you can find.
That means that you’ll want to get weed that’s been lab-tested. Lab-tested weed makes sure that the weed you’re consuming is safe and free from chemicals or other harmful substances.
Now that you know what cannabis is, you can make your own decision about whether you want to try it or not.
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