Now that cannabis is legal and we are embarking into a new world that includes legal cannabis products, there are some FAQ’s that a lot of new and seasoned users alike have concern for. Here are some common questions.
It was only a few years ago we didn’t really know about THC percentages and high THC. We only really knew that it could get you high, obviously, but we didn’t know that there were other things in combination affecting the high that we get from different strains of cannabis.
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What’s The Highest THC Percentage Available?
The funny thing about high THC is that that’s not all that really matters, sometimes high THC doesn’t really even get you high. High THC may not mean anything for the user, especially if you have a high cannabinoid count already existing in your system. For example, you smoke weed every day, multiple times a day. You’re a heavy user so you understand what high THC actually means. Studies show the THC percentage doesn’t really play as big a role in the results of the high that you’re trying to achieve. It is only one component of the rest of the components that work alongside the high THC count would be the terpenes and the other cannabinoids that work in combination with the THC. Depending on which terpenes are present, different terpenes have different effects and in combination with THC will give different results. Here are a few explanations about certain, common terpenes found in cannabis that also gives specific effects and results.
Linalool: described as having floral and lavender undertones. Known to promote calming, relaxing effects.
Limonene: strong citrusy smells like oranges, lemons, and limes. Strains high in limonene are known to promote a general uplift in mood and attitude. Found in citrus fruit rinds, rosemary, juniper, and peppermint, as well as in several pine needle oils.
Myrcene: aroma has been described as musky, earthy, herbal – like cloves. Well-known for its “couch-lock” effects in classic Indica strains. Myrcene is found in oil of hops, citrus fruits, bay leaves, eucalyptus, wild thyme, lemongrass, and many other plants.
Caryophyllene: found in many plants such as Thai basil, cloves, cinnamon leaves, and black pepper, and in minor quantities in lavender. Its aroma has been described as peppery, woody and/or spicy. Known to be an anti-inflammatory cannabinoid.
Alpha pinene: most widely encountered terpenoid in nature. It is found mostly in balsamic resin, pine woods, and some citrus fruits are known and used in medicine as an anti-inflammatory and local antiseptic.
Humulene: found in hops, cannabis Sativa strains, and Vietnamese coriander, gives beer its distinct ‘hoppy’ aroma. It is considered to be anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and is known to suppress appetite.
Also with legalization, cannabis has now become such a hot commodity that nowadays there’s no such thing as an original strain. Original strains have become almost obsolete, most of the strains are hybrids and they’ve been cloned and crossbred with other strains to make not only just a strain with high THC but a super strain that is superpowered can create a lot of crystals with strong THC content and give different perspective results.
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What’s The Difference Between Sativa And Indica?
Sativa strains are known for being more cerebral, uplifting, making you feel creative, energetic and as if you want to get up and do stuff. It kind of keeps you in your head and makes you think a lot. If you are creative it definitely is a great strain for this, but on the negative side if you have anxiety or depression, or you simply think too much it is not going to be your best friend. Sativa may make you feel anxious, and it might make you feel extremely “in your head”, in terms of overthinking negative thoughts. It can also make your heart race, leaving you to feel very uncomfortable. It’s not to say that Sativa can’t be great, it is still a great strain that is good for daytime smoking if you have stuff to do, as it’s not a super sedative, although usually Sativa’s have higher THC content than Indica, they can definitely be a great strain for certain users.
Indica, on the other hand, is known for putting people “in da couch”, meaning it’s more sedative. It’s going to make you feel lethargic, so it’s more for sleepytime. It’s great for nighttime if you’re staying in and watching a movie, or just planning to have a chill night. You’re not going anywhere for the evening, so you just want to relax. Indica is also known for pain relief so if you are suffering through recovery from surgery or you had an injury, or if you experience chronic headaches, Indica is the one that you’re going to go to for pain relief, relaxation, and a certain THC content. It can definitely make you become the couch, not just put you in da couch.
Scientists today are saying that Indica, Sativa or hybrid doesn’t really matter. Everyone reacts differently to cannabis and the effects of an Indica can affect you like a Sativa or vice versa, depending on your experience with cannabis and your cannabinoid buildup in your endocannabinoid system. The overall complexity of cannabis allows for us to not really know why it affects everyone differently.
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Do I Need A License Or Prescription To Buy Cannabis?
Nowadays, you don’t really need a prescription, you can simply walk into a retail regulated cannabis store across Canada and purchase recreational cannabis as long as you have a valid driver’s license or piece of valid photo ID.
What Is Sublingual? Do You Have Edibles? Can I Get A Disposable Vape Pen?
The cannabis market has opened up a wide variety of different types of sublingual products, oils you can put under your tongue and allow your saliva to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and get into your bloodstream. There’s also edibles or consumables in capsule form and there are disposable pens now available with concentrated distillate which makes the THC content a lot higher and a lot stronger. These are all alternative methods to using cannabis without doing it in the carcinogenic combustible way that is a lot less harmful, especially for people like elderly people or people who don’t or cannot smoke, and/or children that suffer from health issues like seizures, epilepsy or brain trauma.
Users that are avid users and who are now ready for the legal market where they can buy legal cannabis instead of hitting off the black market one of the first questions for them is always…..
Why Is The Cannabis So Dry?
So, the legal license producers/manufacturers of cannabis today have to follow strict legal regulations and those legal regulations for our health and safety mean that they have to make sure the product is safe for us to consume. With that being said, they have to irradiate their products during the drying process to eliminate mold growth. You don’t want to smoke a joint that is covered in mold – that’s not good for your health and it’s definitely not good for the business. So they irradiate the products to completely dry them out and eliminate any mold growth of these products as they are packaged in plastic and sealed and put on shelves for a period of time before sales. A lot of people don’t actually know or realize that most of the produce we get from the grocery store, or dried spices and herbs we buy, have been irradiated. This is something we have been exposed to for a long time for health and safety purposes, as a lot of what we consume is imported and exported from other countries. To eliminate bacteria, mold, and other pesticides they irradiate the product. With that being said always keep your cannabis in a dry, cool, dark place, tightly sealed with a moisture pack in the jar.
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The key important element when choosing a strain is simply to perform your own due diligence and use guides like this to help you understand the differences between Indica vs Sativa vs hybrid strains. This should set you well on the way to finding the perfect strain for every occasion. Always do your research and knowing the differences when it comes to Indica, Sativa, or a hybrid is a much deeper level than just the name tag. This is though, all part of the joy and experience of learning more about the cannabis world. Use this guide and content to help you continue evolving and developing alongside the legal cannabis industry.
As always smoke responsibly and smoke in moderation!
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