Using cannabis for the first time can be overwhelming, but educating yourself on what the different plant properties and effects are can give you a place to start. There are many uses of the plant that can provide consumers with pain relief, aid in anxiety, or a better night’s sleep. But how does this happen and why is it different for everyone? In each one of our bodies, we have an endocannabinoid system, that involves three components, messengers, receptors, and enzymes. They all work together to contribute to homeostasis or stability within your body. We all have different systems, just like we have different nervous systems, digestive systems and so on. This is why your reaction to a certain type of cannabis will be different from someone else’s. There are many ways to use the plant that works best for you.
Although the plant has over 100 cannabinoids within, there are two main types that we know about, CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the most widely known for its head high but can have positive impacts on both the body and mind. Consumers have reported feelings of euphoria and calmness; reduced anxiety and having a better night’s sleep. CBD can provide similar effects, but without the intoxicating feel. This is because CBD doesn’t interact with the BC1 receptors in the brain to cause the mind-altering THC experience. It has been said that users experience pain relief, relaxation, and increased well-being. So, if you’re unsure on which of these cannabinoids will work for you, you should start with one or the other and experiment from there.
There are many different forms of these two cannabinoids and can be taken with multiple applications to choose from. The most well-known way cannabis users like to ingest the plant is through inhalation. Inhaling cannabis is the fastest way to get a high and can be done by smoking or vaping. Smoking usually involves flower that can be rolled into a joint or blunt, or packed into pipes. Vaping has gained popularity with its convenience and its ability to be discreet.
Vaping on cartridges have become most liked by consumers as vaping produces a mild to no odor vapor. Something to consider when smoking flower is the smell of the strain you choose. One of the strongest links to your brain is your sense of smell. It can impact mood, emotions, and behaviors even if you’re unconsciously aware of the smells around you. Understanding how scents influence you can help you make better decisions on picking which flower will assist you best. If you’re not a smoker, you can ingest it orally through edibles or tinctures.
Edibles are cannabis infused foods like gummies or baked goods and beverages. The effects of the plant take longer after eating edibles due to absorption through the digestive tract. Consumers can usually feel them within 30 minutes to 3 hours. If you’re having a hard time eating or if you’re dieting, but looking to benefit from the plant, a great alternative to edibles are tinctures. The bottle should state what the dosage is per number of drops, but if you’re still unsure, start small. To ingest the tincture, put the drops under your tongue and wait until the cannabis is fully absorbed.
If you’re looking for direct effects on a specific area of the body, topicals are used for muscle soreness or body pain. You can’t consume topicals, so you won’t experience the euphoric effects that smoking and eating the plant give.
There is a lot of information when entering the cannabis world and it can be confusing, but this should give you a place to start. Using cannabis products is like using a spice, start with less because you can always add more. Being educated on this amazing plant can give you more than just a high, it can be used to enhance whatever your intended experience is.
Consuming THC can cause different effects for everyone. Exploring cannabis research in the 90’s, scientists found a complex system of cell receptors and communicators called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Once THC enters our bodies, it interacts with ECS causing us to feel high, feelings of euphoria, or other side effects. It is believed that the ECS is an important part to our body as it helps maintain homeostasis and aids in functions like sleep, memory, and immune reactions.
In each one of our bodies, we have an endocannabinoid system, that involves three components, messengers, receptors, and enzymes. They all work together to help stability within your body. The lipid-based messengers, also known as neurotransmitters, interacts with the nerve cells through sending signals. The messengers attach to the receptors, located on the surface of the cell, to send a signal that starts the endocannabinoid system. There are two receptors known as CB1 and CB2 throughout the body. CB1 is found mainly in the central nervous system, while CB2 lies mostly in the peripheral nervous system. The endocannabinoids will single out either type of receptor to help aid in pain management. Lastly, enzymes take on breaking down the endocannabinoids after they are no longer needed.
While our body produces its own endocannabinoids, we can also ingest them through cannabis products that contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD). These cannabinoids interact with the receptors and cause similar effects as endocannabinoids; THC can give more of a euphoric experience whereas CBD does not. There is still extensive research being conducted on fully understanding the endocannabinoid system and how cannabis and other plants help support it. Although, people have experienced therapeutic benefits through ingesting marijuana, you should always consult your doctor first.
Have you ever taken a walk through the forest and smelled a mix of pine, mustiness and sweetness? That comes from terpenes. They’re what give cannabis its unique and distinctive odor. Terpenes are found all throughout nature and the cannabis plant has over 150 different types. The female cannabis plant is covered in a sticky resin produced by trichomes where the terpenes are produced.
These aromatic compounds work together to give the plant an identifiable scent profile and flavor. Terpenes help us recognize certain strains of weed and other numerous types of vegetation. They help aid in the protection and growth of the plant against harmful external factors. These compounds send information about the plant’s surrounding environment to support its immune system.
So, terpenes smell good, and they help protect the plant, but do they get you high? One of the first facts you learn about cannabis is strain type, sativa or indica. Sativa is known for a more energetic high as opposed to Indica’s relaxing high. As more studies have been done, research is showing that other compounds of the plant assist in your reaction or high. The effect of the compounds, both cannabinoids and terpenes, when taken together rather than apart produces a better effect known as “the entourage effect”. It is suggested that not only do terpenes give cannabis flower its smell but have therapeutic properties to elevate the effects on the body.
The medicinal properties of terpenes are still being researched but have been associated with the following benefits: anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anticancer, and anti-microbial. There are many different types of terpenes that can all provide their own benefits. Some of the most common terpenes found in marijuana are limonene, pinene, myrcene.
Limonene is one of the primary terpenes in cannabis and is known for its citrusy aroma and spicy notes. This creates a more uplifting experience and can be found in strains like Super Sour Diesel, MAC and Quantum Kush. Many different plants produce limonene in nature to fight against mold which is why it is found in multiple household cleaning products.
Pinene is a very common terpene found throughout all of nature and is easily identified because of its distinguishable pine smell. Pinene is earthy and musty and found in plants like basil, rosemary, and you guessed it, pine needles. If you take a walk through the forest and get a burst of energy, it’s probably because this terpene is naturally energy boosting and has its own unique medicinal benefits. Pinene acts as a bronchodilator which helps expand airways for better breathing. It can also be used for anti-inflammatory and pain relief. You’ll find it in strains like Pineapple OG, Cherry Gelato and Jenny Kush.
If you’re looking for a relaxing or sedative high, you should try finding a cannabis strain that has myrcene in it. There is a plethora of myrcene terpene produced in nature, including plants like hops and mangos. The medicinal benefits of myrcene include a relaxing effect which is why you may feel more relaxed when you drink a beer.
In society there are a lot of different health trends, some for dieting, some for drinking alcohol and even smoking weed. Believe it or not, stoners don’t want to burn out their lungs and find different ways to eliminate some of the negative impacts. When smoking a joint you can get two different types of ash, black or white and ideally most consumers want white ash.
White ash is thought to be the cleanest way to smoke and is evidence of correctly growing plants. One of the ways to produce white ash is to wash the plant at the end of the cycle, also known as “flushing”. Doing this gets rid of excess nutrients and forces the plant to use its stored nutrients. Flushing is considered to produce better bud and ultimately give a better high, but a 2019 flushing cannabis trial and event conducted by RX Green Technologies, found otherwise. The company found the consumers who blind-tasted bud from different flushing periods, including no flushing, couldn’t tell a difference; they actually preferred the unflushed cannabis. Flushing aside, there are other factors that contribute to white ash and to a cleaner smoking experience.
One of the factors you should consider when looking for white ash is the moisture content. Similar to a wood fire, the drier the product, the whiter it becomes. The wetter the product, the darker and harder it is to burn. Drier weed will combust faster producing white ash.
Health-conscious marijuana smokers look for alternative joint smoking accessories to make less of an impact on their lungs. One of the first items to change is your rolling paper. Rolling paper comes in a variety of materials like hemp, rice fibers, and wood pulp. When trying out different types and brands, you will find how each one burns, how it tastes and how much ash it produces. Some consumers prefer a hemp-based paper to get a complete cannabis experience while others prefer to use natural leaves like tobacco or palm.
Another way to get a cleaner smoking experience is through your flame source. Typically, smokers will use a lighter and slowly rotate the joint or blunt to give it an even burn. As soon as the lighter is lit, you are exposing your weed to noxious butane chemicals that are bad for your lungs and can even impact your flavor profile. Many stoners have switched to hemp wick, a thin cannabis derived cord covered in beeswax to control the burn. It is lit on one end a produces a slower burn which is great for bowl and pipe users.
A newer trend of vaping cannabis eliminates the use of lighters and paper because of the negative impacts. Some consumers have switched over to vaporizers as it is thought to alleviate health concerns. Performing your own tests and experimenting with alternatives will be the best way to find your cleanest and best smoking experience.