Cannabis Frequently Asked Questions

Cannabis plants are annuals, which means it completes its full lifecycle within a single growing season. In terms of human use, cannabis plants are cultivated for its flowers. Cannabis flowers produce trichomes, which contain cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.

However, cannabis plants intended for flower production must be female. The female cannabis plant produces the flower that medical and recreational cannabis users enjoy.

Male cannabis plants, on the other hand, produce pollen sacs that release millions of pollen grains that can potentially fertilize the female flower.

If the female flower receives male pollen, the result is a flower full of seeds. Unless intentional for breeding purposes, cannabis growers avoid male cannabis plants at all costs.

Cannabis flowers contain medicinal and recreational cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. THC-rich cannabis can produce a potent psychoactive effect that makes users feel high or stoned.

Alternatively, CBD-rich cannabis provides soothing relaxation and heightened awareness.

Currently, the cannabis market is filled with a wide variety of cannabis-based products. From cannabis flower to cannabis concentrates, cannabis has transformed the idea of what cannabis is. Here’s a brief look at the many types of cannabis products.

• Cannabis Flowers
• Cannabis Extracts
• Cannabis Edibles
• Cannabis Topicals

Each of these categories contains a slew of sub-categories. As you dive into each product type, you will understand the vast possibilities of cannabis.

Cannabis can be smoked, vaporized, eaten, and placed topically on the skin. There are many methods to consume cannabis, from intricate glass dab rigs to high-tech vaporizers.

Ultimately, cannabis has transformed from a wild-growing weed to one of the world’s most sought after commodities.

As you scan through history, many ancient cultures used cannabis for medicinal, recreational, and spiritual use. From the Greeks to ancient Chinese cultures, cannabis has traded hands for millennia.

Although it’s fairly understood where cannabis originated, the next question is when.

Cannabis is a direct relative to hops — the plant that produces the primary flavoring agent in beer. Although researchers cannot pinpoint the exact date of cannabis’ evolution, they can use its nearest relatives’ (hops) historical timeline for a ballpark measurement.

Overall, hops (Humulus lupulus) evolved into a distinct species roughly 6 million years ago. Therefore, scientists believe that cannabis evolved into a separate species at least 6 million years ago.

However, many researchers agree that the timeline of cannabis’ evolution could have occurred between 6-34 million years ago.

Furthermore, indicas and sativas are notably separated in terms of the environment. Let’s look at specific regions and the optimal environmental conditions that indicas and sativa plants require.

Let’s begin with Cannabis indica.

Indica plants are known to grow in regions that exhibit short summers and cold winters. From the steppes of Mongolia to the mountainous cliffs of Kandahar, Cannabis indica flourishes in rugged environments.

Once you see a pure indica plant, you’ll quickly understand why they flourish in these regions. The short and stocky nature of indica plants guard against a strong wind, and the dense flowers prevent the flowers from being damaged.

Cannabis sativa, on the other hand, naturally grows in tropical and subtropical zones. Overall, landrace sativas are found in the jungles of Panama and the island of Reunion. Each of these zones is characterized by an abundance of heat, rainfall, humidity, and long summer days.

Furthermore, sativas guard against the overbearing humidity with the help of fluffy flowers. Additionally, sativas grow tall to compete with other large plants for sunlight.

Canada legalized recreational cannabis use in 2018. However, Uruguay was the first country in the world to legalize cannabis in 2013.

Currently, the United States does not allow cannabis use at the federal level. However, the majority of states within the US have legalized the recreational or medicinal use of cannabis. Although this pits states against federal law, many states recognize the financial benefits of legalizing cannabis use.

Although the European Union contains multiple countries with lax cannabis laws, there has yet to be a legal cannabis country. Currently, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany have relaxed cannabis laws. Although there is access to cannabis, European countries’ governments have not yet introduced legislation to legalize marijuana formally.

To this day, the federal government classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance, making it illegal to cultivate, distribute, consume, or sell. However, the story is very different once you look at each states’ cannabis laws.

Here’s a list of states that legalized medical or recreational cannabis:

• California
• Oregon
• Washington
• Nevada
• Montana
• Arizona
• Utah
• New Mexico
• Colorado
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Arkansas
• Louisiana
• Florida
• Ohio
• Maine
• Vermont
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Maryland
• Delaware
• West Virginia
• District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
• New Jersey

As you can see, the vast majority of US states allow recreational or medical marijuana use.

The endocannabinoid system is composed of receptors, which are grouped into two categories — CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors are primarily found in nerve cells in the spinal cord, brain, blood cells, and various organs. CB2 receptors are located within the bone marrow, immune cells, white blood cells, immune system, central nervous system, and more.

As you can see, the endocannabinoid system plays a significant role in your body’s overall functioning. Interestingly enough, cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, are agonists towards CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Once you consume THC-rich cannabis, the THC molecules rush towards the brain’s nerve cells. THC blocks the CB1 receptors from receiving or sending signals. As THC blocks CB1 receptors, you will begin to feel the effects of THC.

Due to the blockage of CB1 receptors in the brain, users experience forgetfulness, loss of coordination, and emotional control loss. However, these effects are not considered harmful by cannabis enthusiasts.

Furthermore, THC does not permanently block CB1 receptors in the brain. After 1-4-hours, the THC molecules dissipate and allow CB1 receptors to function again.

Alternatively, CBD-rich cannabis does not block the CB1 or CB2 receptors. Instead, CBD molecules fight against THC. If you consume THC and CBD, the CBD molecules will alter the size of the receptors found in the brain. Due to the alteration, THC molecules cannot block the CB1 receptors.

In other words, CBD effectively counteracts the psychoactive effects by not allowing THC to function correctly. It’s because of CBD’s modular qualities that will enable your brain to operate normally while providing relaxing or stimulating effects.

Now, let’s take a look at the factors that dictate the length of time that cannabinoids stay in your system.

First, the type of cannabis product used plays a significant role. The amount of cannabis in a cannabis extract versus cannabis flower varies immensely.

At most, cannabis flowers can contain upwards of 32% THC. Compare that figure with 99% THC found in cannabis concentrates.

Next, the method used for consuming cannabis products plays an important role. If you take a small drag from a one-hitter, the number of cannabinoid molecules in your system is low because the device itself does not allow for a significant hit.

Compare a one-hitter to that of a 2-foot bong. Once you’re done milking a bong, you may inhale an entire gram’s worth of smoke in one hit. As you can imagine, the number of molecules entering your body far outweighs those from a small weed pipe.

Next, you must understand that cannabinoids attach to fat. As you consume your favorite cannabis strain, the cannabinoids quickly bind to fat throughout the body.

If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, the time it takes for cannabinoids to dissipate from your system increases. The less fat your body has, the less time it takes for cannabinoids to flush out of the system.

If you lead an active lifestyle, the rate at which your body burns fat forces cannabinoids out of the system. If you want to pass a drug test, you must incorporate daily exercise to ensure the remaining cannabinoids are removed from the system.

Lastly, you must understand that cannabis tests search for cannabinoids in multiple parts of your body, such as hair follicles, urine samples, blood samples, and saliva samples.

Ultimately, you must exercise, reduce the frequency of cannabis use, and remain hydrated if you want to pass a drug screening.

Let’s take a look if cannabis use disorder is a fact or a myth.

Although it’s clear that cannabis is not addictive, it may lead to negative consequences. From driving under the influence of cannabis or arriving late to work, cannabis can negatively impact your life.

The stereotype of lazy stoners is another way of describing someone who may have cannabis use disorder. The lack of willpower, determination, and energy may explain the effects of cannabis use disorder. However, cannabis use disorder does not consider if a person was already lazy to begin with.

In other words, cannabis may not be the issue at all, but instead, a person’s way-of-being.

Overall, cannabis use disorder is an already out-dated term that does not adequately describe the adverse effects of cannabis. Instead of providing insight into individuals who overindulge in cannabis-based products, the cannabis use disorder term fuels the flame against cannabis legalization.