Marijuana
Dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant, used for the variety of psychoactive and physiological effects it has when ingested. Marijuana can be vaporized, eaten, or smoked.
Hemp
A soft, durable fibre produced from the Cannabis plant. Hemp is one of the earliest domesticated plants and has a variety of uses. It is also very environmentally friendly. Typically Cannabis Sativa is used for hemp, while Cannabis Indica is not strong enough and is used for psychoactive or medical uses. Hemp contains less than 0.3% THC, which has no effect on the body. Hemp can be used to make paper, fabric, plastic, building materials, and biofuels, and can also be used by farmers as weed control and water filtration. The hemp seed is high in protein as well as beneficial omega fatty acids when eaten and has a variety of culinary uses.
Cannabinoids
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) gets a user high, a larger proportion of THC will produce a stronger high. Without THC you don’t get high.
THC is responsible for most of the cerebral (mental) effects of cannabis. Besides potentially inducing feelings of euphoria and happiness, THC can cause people to feel anxious, nervous, or paranoid.
CBD (Cannabidiol) increases some of the effects of THC and decreases other effects of THC. Larger amounts of CBD tend to relax both mind and body, and decrease feelings like anxiety, nervousness, and paranoia.
Cannabis that has a high level of THC and low level of CBD will produce a very strong cerebral high. The body may feel more physically energetic when compared to ingesting cannabis with larger levels of CBD.
Cannabis that has a high level of both THC and CBD will produce a strong cerebral high. The body will feel somewhat relaxed and heavy. At lower dose sizes, physical activity is possible (with effort).
As the dose size increases, the body will feel more relaxed and heavy. This makes physical activity require more effort. Fresh hashish is an example of a cannabis product with high levels of both THC and CBD.
Cannabis that has low levels of THC and high levels of CBD will produce more of a stoned feeling. The mind feels relaxed and dull, the body feels relaxed and heavy, most people do not like to engage in physical activity.
CBC (Cannabichromene) is not psychoactive in pure form, and is not known to interact with THC to affect the high.
CBL (Cannabicyclol) is a degradative product like CBN. Light converts CBC to CBL.
CBN (Cannabinol) is produced as THC ages. High levels of CBN tend to make a person feel messed up rather than high. CBN levels can be kept to a minimum by storing cannabis products in a dark, cool, airtight environment.
Trichomes
Trichomes on plants are epidermal outgrowths of various kinds. A common type of trichome is a hair. Plant hairs may be unicellular or multicellular, branched or unbranched. Multicellular hairs may have one or several layers of cells. Branched hairs can bedendritic (tree-like), tufted, or stellate (star-shaped). When referring to cannabis specifically, trichomes are the tiny mushroom-shaped appendages covering the buds. The trichomes increase in number as the plant matures. The color of the trichome’s head changes as well and indicates the degree of potency. Flowers that are covered in trichomes are typically a “frosty” color and can literally glisten.
Sativa
Sativa marijuana is recognized by its size, usually growing up to 8-12 feet tall with long thin leaves. Sativa strains of marijuana are known to emit a sweet smell as they reach maturity. The smoke produced these types of marijuana is generally more mild and lighter with a fruity flavorful taste.
The medicinal effects of sativa strains are much more cerebral compared to indica strains. Medical marijuana patients tend to use sativa dominant stains during the daytime because of their energetic and uplifting effects. Sativas are also helpful for treating chronic pain and general stress without the heavy sedation of an indica. Many patients that use medical marijuana throughout the course of a day utilize sativa dominant strains of cannabis to avoid the burnout feeling.
Indica
Indica marijuana is recognized by it’s compact growing style with short broad leaves and dark green color. Usually growing between 3 and 6 feet tall, mature indica plants emit a strong skunky smelling aroma. The smoke produced by these types of marijuana is generally thick and dense and considered by some to be on the harsh side.
The medicinal results from indica dominant strains are most often described as more of a “body effect”. Chronic pain sufferers will often find the most relief from 100% indica strains because of the extremely potent levels of THC that provide a natural pain reliever. Indicas are also helpful in treating stress and anxiety symptoms by providing an overall sense of relaxation and sedation similar to many anti-anxiety prescription medications.
Bong
A large water pipe with a detachable bowl used for smoking medicinal marijuana.
Bubbler
a smaller handheld water pipe with a bowl used for smoking medicinal marijuana
Pipe
A tube of wood, clay, hard rubber, blown glass or other material, with a small bowl at one end, used for smoking tobacco or marijuana
Vaporizer
Vaporization is a technique for avoiding irritating respiratory toxins in marijuana smoke by heating cannabis to a temperature where the psychoactive ingredients evaporate without causing combustion. You inhale a mist instead of actual smoke
Clone
A clone is a branch clipping taken from a larger “mother” plant. With the correct care, the main branches of the plant can be rooted and used to start a new plant with the exact genetic makeup of the original plant. This is a well-known technique used by experienced marijuana cultivators to grow new plants without the use of seeds, so that they can keep their entire crop feminized and keep the flowers seed-free. Additionally, the use of clones allows for a grower to skip the early plant cycles and generally produce flowering buds quicker than starting growth from seeds.