Cannabis Crash Course

Over the years, cannabis has been given many nicknames: weed, pot, grass and marijuana.

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a psychoactive drug extracted from the cannabis plant. Cannabis is used for medical and recreational purposes. Please refer to Focus Pott Big Facts for more information.

The cannabis plant is described as an Asian herb that is tall in height and is a descendant of Cannabaceae plant which is a member of the hemp family. The Cannabaceae plant has 170 different species. These species are separated in 11 different categories. Cannabis is the most famous among the species of Cannabaceae plants and is versatile in its use.

The cannabis plant consist of 4 different variations that provide psychoactive affects.

1. Sativa is an annual herbaceous flower plant native to Eastern Asia. Sativa provides an uplifting euphoric feeling allowing ease in physical activities, relaxing social events and enhanced creative space.

2. Indica is an annual plant and early cultivation were in India. Indica provides a more tranquil feeling allowing relaxation and stress relief.

3. Hybrid strains of cannabis are a combination of parent plants either plant can be dominate or the hybrid can be equally balanced. Hybrid cannabis are the best of both worlds and provide a combination of the euphoric feelings that sativa and indica strains provide.

4. Ruderalis is a wild cannabis that grows across Asia and Russia. Cannabis breeders use ruderalis in creating hybrid strains of cannabis.

Human consumption of cannabis began as early as 500 BC

Cannabis is composed of cannabinoids and terpenes. Two of the most familiar cannabinoids are THC and CBD. THC is the component that produces a euphoric feeling and can be used for increasing appetite, pain management and much more. On the other hand, CBD doesn't give a euphoric feeling but it can be used for anxiety, pain, inflammation and much more. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that provide color and distinctive flavors for example fruity, pine, citrus, etc.