Category: Cannabis

One of the perks of cannabis legalization is that you can now buy dried buds. Even better, you are also allowed to grow cannabis plants at home. Cost, of course, comes to mind as it entails some initial investment. Not to mention, there is a learning curve, too. So, why do many people choose growing cannabis over heading to a dispensary? Even as a beginner, you can and you should. As you are about to find out, the benefits are more than compelling enough.

Note: Before taking a plunge, you would also want to know the regulations on growing weed. Keep in mind that there may be other statutes or ordinances in your local area. Once you join the ranks of cannabis growers, do check from time to time to stay updated.

The Benefits of Growing Cannabis Plants

There are several reasons why you should grow cannabis yourself. As someone who has not grown plants in the past, it is only but natural to feel hesitant. Keep in mind that even the most renowned master growers were once clueless beginners. In more ways than one, it should be easier today as there are plenty of tutorials and resource materials – something the prior generations never had.

Growing cannabis plants is an exhilarating experience. Because you are doing it yourself, it can be empowering and rewarding. Imagine how it feels to turn those tiny seeds into thriving flowering cannabis plants. Feel the excitement as harvest time comes and you start cutting off the buds and begin post-harvest processing. Finally, when the buds are dry, they are ready for however you want to consume cannabis – smoking, vaping, or making edibles.

Why do you want to grow cannabis inside the house?

1. Cost-effective

If you choose to grow cannabis indoors, that would require an initial investment – which can be cheap or expensive, depending on the choice of equipment and tools. Even so, the overall costs are dramatically lower than buying dried buds. For many growers, the return of investment comes after only growing a few batches of cannabis plants. Although it is true that you spend money – electricity, water, nutrients, and more – the price per gram of homegrown buds is far cheaper than buying the dried buds in a dispensary.

One growing technique that you could use is cloning. Once you find a female with characteristics that are a cut above the rest, you can keep it in a perpetual vegetative stage and use it as a source of cuts. No longer do you need to keep buying seeds. Instead, you can keep growing precise duplicates of the superior donor.

2. Continuous Supply

As a medical cannabis consumer, not all strains are suitable for your specific needs. Once you find one that works best for your condition, the next concern is a continuous supply. In  Canada, you cannot buy excessive quantities. What happens if the dispensary runs out of stock?

Instead of relying on a dispensary, you can find a strain that you can grow at home. One strain you can grow, for example, is Chem Stallion. It is an example of high-THC medical cannabis that can relieve stress and pain. At the same time, the euphoric rush it provides also makes it attractive to recreational consumers.

3. Full Control

In the past, one of the top reasons why you should start growing weed yourself is to ensure that the buds are free of chemicals. Before the legalization of cannabis, there were no standards or restrictions on its cultivation. The dried buds you buy – no matter how they are supposed to be grown organically – may actually contain chemical residues.

Canada has strict laws followed by licensed cannabis growers. As long as you buy dried buds from a duly-licensed dispensary, the buds should be safe for consumption. However, if you want to have peace of mind, then growing marijuana yourself is the way to go. In this case, you have full control over the growing conditions. More importantly, you know exactly what nutrients are used, and have a choice of going 100% organic all the way.

4. Fun Hobby and Experiments

If you think about the things you do for fun, think about the learning curve. The same can be said of growing cannabis – you have to start somewhere. Once you get the hang of it, one of the things appreciated by many growers is that it is a fun activity.

It can even be more fun if you are the adventurous type. For example, try to use advanced growing techniques. Not only do you benefit by increasing the size of harvest but also better tasting and more potent buds. You can also try to mix and match hybrids by cross-breeding. Who knows what comes out of the union between X and Y strain?

Canadian Laws on Growing Cannabis at Home

Everyone can tell you how wonderful it is, how so much better it is to grow cannabis yourself at home. All that goes down the train if the government prohibits it. Not in this day and age for someone residing in Canada. You can, because it is legal. You do have to know what the law allows you to do.

Note: Although you are allowed to grow cannabis for personal use, you cannot sell them.

Recreational

In terms of growing cannabis at home for recreational purposes, all Canadians must follow federal, provincial, and local regulations. You must be old enough to access cannabis in your province or territory to be permitted to grow it. Specific provinces have additional rules that further restrict federal cultivation laws. For example, British Columbia does not allow cannabis plants to be grown anywhere visible from a public place.

As of the time of publishing in 2021, Manitoba and Quebec do not allow any home growing of cannabis. In each other province and territory, each household can grow up to four cannabis plants. It does not matter how many adults are in residence. The household limit is four pants. Make sure you investigate your local regulations around cannabis cultivation to ensure you comply with all relevant laws.

Medical

Medical marijuana patients are also permitted to cultivate their medicine at home. In these cases, the allowable limit on cannabis plants will depend on your cannabis medical authorization. Growing limits are set based on how much cannabis you are medically authorized to use each month.

For medical patients who require large doses of cannabis, growing at home can become a viable option to control your annual costs. On the flip side, the condition or disease that warranted your cannabis authorization in the first place may itself be a limiting factor for your ability to cultivate cannabis.

Things You Need to Grow Cannabis at Home

You can go cheap by keeping the initial investment to a minimum. However, the yield may not be sufficient enough to justify the effort thrown into cultivation. Furthermore, the quality of the buds – potency, for one – may leave plenty to desire.

A decent setup you could consider should include a dedicated grow room or grow tent, grow lights, and ventilation. When it comes to buying supplies, you should purchase the best quality lights you can afford. While it does require some investment to get started, these costs will pay dividends long into the future.

You’ll also need to purchase seeds and other potting supplies. Buying seeds is one of the most fun parts of the entire process, as you have to decide what sort of strain you want to grow. The primary decision you’ll have to make is between buying photoperiod seeds or auto-flowering seeds.

Photoperiods are the most common type. They rely on a light cycle to determine when it should revert from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage. From seedling to vegging, these plants are exposed to 18 hours of light, 6 hours of darkness. Once they are ready, you merely change the light schedule to 12 hours on, 12 hours off. The combination of shortened daytime and prolonged nighttime makes the plants think that winter is around the corner, and they respond by developing their reproductive systems – flowers.

Auto-flowering strains are a new class of seeds that take away the reliance on light cycles. Around two to three weeks from the time they germinate, these plants automatically transition to the flowering stage. Take Northern Lights Auto, for example. It is one of the most influential strains in the world, having been used by master breeders to create new hybrids. For decades, it is deemed as one of the best strains to relieve stress and pain. A highly relaxing physical buzz makes it ideal for use in the evening. Once the seeds sprout, it takes only nine to ten weeks to be ready for harvest.

Ongoing costs include plant nutrients, water and electric bills. You can expect a noticeable increase in your monthly energy costs, especially when using HID grow lights. That said, including these costs still leads to cheaper buds than you can buy on the market. Remember to factor in energy costs when determining your budget for growing cannabis.

Growing outside requires much lower starting costs, but there are several essential considerations. There is only one growing season in Canada, and the results will depend on your local climate. You’ll see better-growing conditions in southern Ontario than you will in northern Alberta, for example. Security is another concern, as cannabis plant thefts occur must more frequently than many people realize. Lastly, keep in mind that your plants should not be seen by the public, to conform to the law.

Cultivating cannabis requires considerable time investments, but the rewards are immense. You will need to water plants daily unless you use an automated set-up. You can set your lights on a schedule so that they do their job without any effort from you. Caring for and trimming your plants requires additional time, along with pest prevention and monitoring. Whether you have a green thumb or not, you can find this process incredibly rewarding.

Finally, when you harvest the buds, there is one more thing to do – post-harvest processing. Essentially, this process begins as you cut off the buds. The usual procedure is to cut the sugar leaves and hang them to dry. For this, you need sharp scissors and a drying rack. For sanitation purposes, you should wear proper gloves, too.

Once the buds are dry enough, they need to be cured. At the barest minimum, they need to be placed in a glass jar and tightly sealed. You then place the containers in a dry, cool, dark place for weeks to months.

Properly dried and cured buds are free of excess chlorophyll and nutrients that contribute to harsh taste. If you do it properly – and it is quite easy – you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Should You Grow Cannabis Yourself at Home?

Provided that you are 19 years old or older, there are not many reasons why you should not. Canada is one of the few places on earth where you can do so – legally. Sure, there are certain conditions that you need to follow. For that, you would have to do your due diligence in knowing such restrictions in your locality. One that most, if not all provinces and territories follow, is that you can only grow up to four cannabis plants. And, you can only do that in one residence only. Additionally, you would need to consult the landlord or property owner if you are renting.

Licensed producers in Canada need to uphold high standards in cannabis cultivation. and subsequent processes to get dried buds into the shelves of dispensaries. If your only reason to grow cannabis plants is to ensure product safety, that may not be practical. However, there are other compelling reasons why you should definitely try.

First, it is cost-effective. After only a few batches of four cannabis plants, you are more than likely to recover the initial investment. From that point forward, your dried buds are going to be significantly cheaper than buying from stores.

Second, it is one way to ensure a continuous supply. Advanced techniques, which you can learn, include producing seeds or cloning. Either of these methods guarantees that you will never run out of the much-needed source of comfort and relief.

Finally, you can have fun while growing cannabis plants. It is a fun activity that you can do – and comes with benefits. In time, you could even consider experimenting and creating hybrids.

To answer the question of whether or not you can and should grow cannabis plants, the answer is a resounding yes.

Throughout history, humans have harvested and used cannabis in a variety of ways. Despite its industrial, spiritual, and medicinal applications, governments worldwide declared marijuana cultivation, sale, and use illegal. A plant species that were once highly regarded became the target of the war on drugs for nearly a century. In 2018, Canada became the second country to legalize its distribution and consumption.

History of Cannabis in Canada

Cannabis are thought to have originated in Central Asia, and eventually found their way to all corners of the world. Originally, these plants were cultivated for industrial, nutritional, herbal applications.

These plants were likely first used as herbal medicine in Asia around 500 B.C. Hemp, a marijuana species, were grown during ancient times to produce fibres used in making clothes, sails, rope, and paper. Furthermore, cannabis seeds were also eaten as a nutritional food source. In America, the colonists were the first to grow hemp to make textiles and rope.

In Canada, hemp production has waxed and waned as public sentiment and government interventions changed over time. The Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada distributed hemp seeds to farmers in the year 1801 to stimulate the industry.

Years later, in 1822, the provincial parliament of Upper Canada helped provide the machinery needed to process hemp. The hemp fibre was used to create the sails and ropes of the British navy while reducing reliance on Russian hemp production.

In the 1830s, an Irish doctor named Sir William Brooke O’Shaughnessy travelled to India and extensively studied cannabis plants. He explored the herbal and recreational uses of cannabis products like Bhang, an edible mixture of cannabis, milk, and spices. O’Shaughnessy also took note of the use of cannabis as a traditional medicine for stomach pain, vomiting, cholera, and more.

When his report was released in Britain, interest in using cannabis as a medicine quickly spread. By the late 1800s, cannabis extracts could be found in pharmacies throughout Europe and the U.S. This was long before scientists had even discovered THC and how it interacted with the human endocannabinoid system.

Although cannabis use was mostly medicinal, it also grew in popularity as a substance that can induce psychoactive effects. In 1923, the Canadian government introduced the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill, which prohibited opium, cocaine, and morphine. Unfortunately, cannabis was also included in the list of prohibited substances.

The War on Drugs: Cannabis Persecution

The first known use of smoked cannabis flowers and seeds is said to have begun in Central Asia. Iranian nomads, called Scythians, were thought to use cannabis before committing assassinations. Hashish became the cannabis product widely used throughout the Middle East and parts of Asia after 800 A.D.

The recreational use of cannabis in North America was not noted until the early 1900s. Immigrants from Mexico are thought to be the first people that brought recreational cannabis consumption habits along with them. The African American community also quickly found uses for cannabis at this time. While white Americans also likely consumed cannabis, the drug was associated with immigrants and people of colour.

It is widely accepted that racial undertones led to the criminalization of cannabis. The US government passed the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937 in hopes of crushing cannabis use. Industrial hemp was allowed to persist, and it did until about the year 1957. The fibre of the hemp plant served many important functions during these times of war. It was not long after this time that hemp fell from graces and became collateral damage of a new war.

Richard Nixon repealed the Marijuana Tax Act and replaced it with the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. It was at this point that cannabis was listed as a Schedule I drug alongside heroin, ecstasy, and LSD. Anti-drug programs were funded and criminal persecutions grew rapidly.

It was not only in the US where cannabis use was severely persecuted. America got the global community to join them in their war on drugs. International drug conventions were created to ensure a global effort against this plant. Canada was yet another country that fell in line and waged a war on cannabis.

The first seizure of cannabis did not occur in Canada until 1937, likely due to legislation passed in the United States. In the following decades, however, very few arrests were made. It was not until the 1970s that persecution exploded. As cannabis emerged as a popular drug of choice for hippies, college students, and minority populations, the arrests grew rapidly. In 1968 alone, 2300 cannabis convictions occurred in Canada.

The first cannabis smoke-in occurred in Vancouver’s Gastown district in 1971. The police responded by starting a riot and forcefully dispersing the crowd using police officers on horseback. Protesters were beaten and arrested, but they did not stop fighting.

It did not matter that even government-commissioned reports found good reasons to reduce cannabis penalties. The Canadian government-funded Le Dain Commission of 1972 investigated the non-medical use of cannabis and suggested the removal of persecution for personal possession.

Arrests for cannabis possession continued throughout Canada as the war on drugs was waged. Little progress was made until one arrest changed the course of cannabis history forever.

Medical and Recreational Cannabis Makes a Comeback

Terrance Parker was arrested for cannabis possession, cultivation, and trafficking in 1996. He used cannabis to control his epileptic seizures that did not respond to any of the prescription medication options. Parker, however, did not lay down and accept this unjust persecution. Instead, he appealed to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for the right to smoke cannabis medically.

After years of fighting and working his way up through the courts, Parker finally had his case heard by the Ontario Court of Appeal. In the year 2000, this court determined that cannabis prohibition infringed on his right to life, liberty, and security of person.

This ruling made cannabis prohibition unconstitutional and mandated that the government change the rules or potentially have them thrown-out altogether. In response, the federal Canadian government enacted the Marihuana for Medical Access Regulations (MMAR). This legislation allowed licensed patients to grow cannabis themselves or buy it from licensed growers.

In the following years, the Liberal Party of Canada attempted to decriminalize cannabis several times. Unfortunately, each effort was defeated, largely due to the influence of the United States.

Further legal battles forced the government to update the regulations around cannabis. As a result, the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) was implemented in 2013. The rules were changed to create a legal commercial cannabis industry so that medical cannabis patients could buy through this system.

The suspension of personal cannabis production, though, was a sticking point for the MMPR. Neil Allard challenged these news rules and won his case in the Federal Court of Canada. And so, the rules were revised once again, creating the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) in 2016.

In the following year, the federal government proposed the Cannabis Act. This bill legalized the possession, use, cultivation, and purchase of cannabis by adults. The bill was passed and came into effect in October 2018.

Canada became only the second nation at the time to legalize cannabis for adults. Uruguay had done so earlier, but those regulations only allowed adult citizens the right to purchase and use cannabis. Unlike Uruguay, all adults in Canada could buy and use cannabis, permitting visitors to the country to partake.

Starting on October 17, 2018, all adults in Canada could purchase dried flowers, oils, seeds, and cannabis plants. One year later, cannabis 2.0 came into effect, allowing infused edibles and beverages, and cannabis concentrates to also be sold. Canadians were allowed to purchase and carry up to 30 grams at a time. Nearly all Canadians could also cultivate cannabis themselves, aside from those in two provinces.

The Canadian government also made an effort to also forgive past criminal records on cannabis possession. This process has had its flaws, but progress is being made to right the wrongs of the past.

As Canada awaits the rest of the world catching up, it has bravely changed the course of history forever. While far from perfect, the Cannabis Act has ended the war on cannabis. There have been nearly zero cannabis convictions in Canada since this dramatic shift. Police officers are now free to focus on illegal cannabis cultivation and trafficking, along with working to keep the roads safe from impaired driving.

In the years since marijuana legalization, Canadian cannabis companies have created an industry that contributes to  taxes and employs thousands of Canadians. The Canadian economy is better off and no more citizens are unfairly punished for simple possession of Cannabis. The era of cannabis persecution is over, and cannabis is on the path back to glory. Weed Me is proud to be at the forefront of this brave new world.

Managing aches and pains is a fact of life that we all encounter. We can all relate to this struggle. For more than 1-in-5 of all Canadian adults, chronic pain impedes our ability to maintain a good quality of life. Many Canadians are asking about what cannabis can do to help with the complexities surrounding pain problems. You’ll be surprised by how many answers the scientific research has already answered. 

Pain Problems in Life

When it comes to pain, there are a few key points to understand. Pain is a subjective experience, similar to sensations like touch and taste. But let us be clear, pain is genuine and a significant disturbance in so many Canadian lives. 

The neurological underpinnings of pain involve ‘nociception.’ This term relates to the signals transmitted by our nerves in response to noxious and threatening stimuli. Nociceptors are the receptors that detect these noxious stimuli and send alerts to the brain. 

This signaling occurs in response to potentially dangerous physical and chemical threats. When these neural signals reach the brain, they are filtered and translated to the sensation of pain based on the threat level.  

There are distinct categories and types of pain problems. The significant distinction that readers should understand is the difference between acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is the direct and immediate response to damage or dangerous stimuli. It involves the short-term pain response that subsides as the tissue damage recovers. Think bruises, muscle damage, headaches, and more.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, involves long-term pain states persisting for more than three months. These problems are not directly related to healing tissues, as these tissues heal within this time. In other words, chronic pain is a complex condition that includes interactions between sensory, emotional, and cognitive components. The most common chronic pain problems are back and neck pain. 

This distinction between acute and chronic pain is critical when discussing the role of cannabis in pain states. There is a big difference in the medical treatment of each and how we respond to them behaviorally. Furthermore, there are differences in how cannabis can help people suffering from each of these pain problems. 

The Role of Cannabis

You may be wondering why cannabis is involved in discussions around pain. There is a wealth of research and data that explains the role of cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in pain states. 

The action of cannabinoids like THC and CBD on the human endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an area of growing research and discovery. Cannabinoids have been investigated for their role in pain states due to the high prevalence of subjective reporting of benefits. 

It is well-established that the ECS plays a critical role in “the modulation of nociceptive and pain states.” As we discovered earlier, nociceptors transmit signals to the brain, where they are processed before a resulting sensation is felt or not. The ECS has a direct moderator role at each of the neuronal synapses in these pain processing pathways. 

A neuronal synapse is a junction where nerves meet. Nerves transmit electrochemical signals that reach these synapses. If the signal is strong enough, it continues to be transmitted by the next nerve in the pathway. The ECS plays a role at this synapse, impacting the signal’s strength and whether it continues along the path. 

These synapses are one of the central locations where we find cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). When a CB1 receptor is activated, it reduces neural signals’ strength and decreases signal transmission chances further down the pathway. 

When it comes to acute pain, this pain-signaling generally functions as intended. When we injure our foot, pain signals help inform us that we need to rest and recover. On the other hand, the development of persistent pain problems is thought to be at least somewhat related to malfunctioning pain pathways. Put simply, the pathway may become over-reactive, producing pain signals when there is a lack of immediate threats or tissue damage. 

This information helps you understand the ‘sensory’ interactions involved in the persistence of pain states. Emotions are another factor, as our state of being impacts how we perceive and respond to threats like pain. Finally, cognitive components play a role in what we think about this pain as these neural signals bounce around our brain. Each neural synapse involved in these cognitive networks contains cannabinoid receptors.

Cannabis and Acute Pain

Clinical studies have explored the role of cannabis and cannabinoids in the perception of acute pain. These studies have found that smoked or vaped cannabis and oral THC (edibles and oils) produces mixed results in acute pain states. That said, there appears to be a dose-dependent response in healthy human volunteers. Researchers found that lower doses of THC have an analgesic (pain-reducing) effect, while higher doses have a hyperalgesic (pain-enhancing) effect.

For consumers of cannabis, you likely have a good understanding of how cannabis enhances sensory experiences. It makes sense that painful sensory experiences can also be enhanced by cannabis, just like with taste or smell. And so, it appears that when it comes to incidents of acute pain, less is more—considering sticking with lower doses of THC if you are dealing with acute pain problems. 

When it comes to responding to acute pain, the best response is generally rest. This is a specialty of cannabis, which is well-known to produce relaxation and promote sleep. So, it would seem that consuming enough cannabis to promote relaxation but not enough to ramp-up pain sensations would be the ideal middle-ground to seek. 

You’ll generally want to find a great Indica to help you out for those seeking relaxation. Our Blackberry Gum and Ice Cream Cake are Indicas that can help you reach that couch-locking state needed to get you some rest. 

Chronic Pain and Cannabinoids 

As we’ve discovered, chronic pain is a much more complicated situation. These problems should not be dealt with alone. Strongly consider seeking medical attention to help address persistent pain problems. These health professionals can help you find the treatment options you need and determine whether medical cannabis is warranted. 

In terms of research, THC and CBD has been shown to have an anti-nociceptive effect in multiple animals experiencing experimentally-induced chronic pain. In fact, “[t]he anti-nociceptive efficacy of cannabinoids has been unequivocally demonstrated in several different animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.”

Persistent pain problems also have a profound impact on mental health and quality of life. These are two areas where cannabis can be beneficial if used responsibly. Cannabis produces euphoria, providing uplifting mental effects. It can also help reduce anxiety at lower doses, enabling us to settle down when we are stressed by chronic pain. 

When trying to manage pain during the day, staying alert and functional is essential. Strains like our Wedding Cake and Lemon Z are fantastic sativas suitable for a daytime high. These strains can help provide the euphoric lift you need to help you get through your household chores and get some exercise. 

Furthermore, getting proper sleep needed can be difficult when suffering from chronic pain. Cannabis has been shown to help reduce the time taken to fall asleep. Many medical cannabis users switch to an Indica strain when the evening arrives. 

How Can Cannabis help?

We’ve learned about the vital distinction between acute and chronic pain problems. These two very unique states demand different responses. 

For acute pain problems, cannabis can help you relax and promote recovery. The pain-reducing and sleep-promoting effects of cannabis can be attained with the right strain and the correct dose. And let’s not forget how the appetite-stimulating impact can help you get the nutrients your injured body needs.  

Chronic pain is incredibly complex and should not be suffered alone. We strongly encourage all chronic pain sufferers to seek professional assistance to determine whether medical cannabis is right for them. While rest is also crucial in these situations, it is critical for persistent pain sufferings to get what exercise they can while eating right and sleeping well. Cannabis can be used to promote these health activities and help you manage your chronic pain problems. 

As with all of these findings, the dose size is critical and should be carefully monitored. Consider keeping a cannabis diary to track how much you consume and what effects occur. Doing this simple task can help you learn the correct dosage for the problems that plague you. 

Finally, the goal should always be to use the least cannabis possible to acquire the relief you need. Beyond monitoring your usage, the next best thing you can do is find the right strains that help you. Here at Weed Me, we cultivate the best variety of strains with consumers and users like you in mind. We understand how much pain sucks, and we want to help Canadians suffer less from pain problems.  

Does smoking weed just not hit the same as it used to for you? Do you long for those days when a small toke would send you soaring?

An important concept called tolerance is likely behind these decreasing effects. 

Developing tolerance influences all consumers of cannabis in somewhat predictable and unfortunate ways. Furthermore, medicinal cannabis patients face additional risks from tolerance due to their medical needs.

That said, there are some surprising ways to reduce the impacts of tolerance. Moreover, there are valuable tips we’ll describe below that just might surprise you. Whether you use cannabis recreationally or medically, understanding tolerance is critical for long-term success.

What Is Tolerance?

Smoking and vaping cannabis products lead to a group of effects collectively known as getting ‘high.’ We know that THC is the primary driver of these effects, but that other cannabinoids and the terpenes present also play a role. Sadly, the high produced by cannabis products tends to reduce in intensity over time for some people. This effect is due to tolerance.

Tolerance is defined as the need for a larger dose of a drug to maintain the original effects it produced. This effect can begin to occur after the first few doses, for some people at least. Unfortunately, developing tolerance can also eventually lead to physical dependence and even addiction. We’ll learn some useful tips to help avoid such adverse outcomes.

The development of tolerance usually occurs with chronic or frequent use of cannabis. The higher and more frequent dosing of cannabis increases this physiological adaptation. Since tolerance relates to our internal physiology, it is different for everyone.

The Risks of Tolerance

The first and most obvious downside of tolerance is that you need to consume more cannabis to get the same high. This leads to increased consumption and higher costs. The more you smoke or vape, the higher the chance of side-effects. These include agitation to your airways and motor impairment.

This impairment is especially dangerous when it comes to driving or operating any heavy machinery. The increased costs needed to cover your cannabis needs also have bad outcomes on your wallet.

For medical cannabis patients, there is some optimism around a lack of tolerance around specific therapeutic effects, such as reducing spasticity and analgesia (pain-reduction).

The Physiological Effects 

Cannabis consumption increases heart-rate, known as tachycardia. Research has shown that this cardiovascular effect is one of the impacts that is reduced as tolerance develops.

For medical patients who use cannabis to help control pain, inflammation, sleep, and more, developing tolerance means that your medicine doesn’t work as well.

Our current understanding of tolerance and cannabis points to changes in how our body reacts to THC. These effects do not appear to be related to pharmacokinetic mechanisms, such as increased THC excretion after consumption. Instead, scientists use the term pharmacodynamic to describe how the body reacts to having the substance present.

It is these pharmacodynamic mechanisms that adapt over time to change our level of tolerance to cannabis. For example, THC is known to produce psychoactive effects through actions on our CB1 receptors primarily. Our bodies adapt to the high THC levels by reducing CB1 sensitivity or even the number of CB1 receptors present in our brain.

Scientists call this receptor desensitization (reduced sensitivity) and receptor downregulation (reduced number of receptors). Combined, these adaptions occur in specific regions of the brain and our body as a response to cannabis consumption.

The end-result of these adaptations influences the following effects of cannabis:

Tolerance appears to decrease the acute effects of cannabis on subjective intoxication and motor impairment. That said, cognitive impairment seems to increase over time as tolerance develops. While consumers may feel less impaired after they smoke, it seems that their overall level of cognitive performance decreases.

This leads us to repeat this vital note once again, do not drive high. While regular consumers may feel like they have less impairment, research has shown that the neurocognitive function of daily cannabis consumers is impaired. And so, driving while high is dangerous, no matter your level of tolerance. 

Preventing Tolerance

To help ensure cannabis keeps producing the euphoric lift that we all desire, preventing tolerance is essential. Here are a few of the best tips to help you avoid developing tolerance.

  1. Consume as little as possible. Try to consume just as much as you need to produce the intended effects. Maintain these lower rates of consumption as best you can each and every day.
  2. Practice mindfulness. It is just as easy to consume too much cannabis when distracted from overeating junk food. Instead of getting high while distracted, focus on the effects as they occur. Whether taking a walk, eating a meal, or listening to a great album, focus on the task at hand, and pay attention to how cannabis impacts you.
  3. Take days off. By not consuming cannabis every day, you reduce the chances of developing tolerance. These days off help to slow or even prevent the build-up of tolerance that otherwise occurs.
  4. Add more CBD to your cannabis dosing. Pick strains that have more CBD and more balanced cannabinoid profiles. Aim for a higher CBD-THC ratio.
  5. Switch up your cannabis. By changing it up, you get a whole new set of cannabinoids and terpenes. These changes can provide a little boost in the high you experience and help you maintain lower doses day after day.
  6. Avoid switching to more potent cannabis products, such as concentrates. While these products provide more THC, they increase the development of tolerance. They also increase the adverse health outcomes that occur from consuming too much THC.
  7. Avoid combining cannabis with other drugs or alcohol. Stick to one psychoactive substance at a time so that you can fully enjoy the effects. Combining drugs muddies the effects and can reduce the enjoyment of each substance. 

Reducing Tolerance

The good news is that tolerance can also go away. These cannabinoid receptor adaptations appear to reverse after we stop consuming cannabis rather quickly.

One of the best ways to reduce your tolerance is by taking a break from consuming cannabis. This is often called a tolerance-break or T-break. While there is little evidence to provide concrete timeline suggestions, taking a few weeks off is an excellent place to start.

Abstinence is frankly one of the best ways to provide your body time to reset. Too much of a good thing… as they say. Give your body and your cannabinoid receptors time to reset by taking breaks at least a week-long at least a few times a year.

Some people call it a detox, but it is more of a break. While on your T-break, avoid increasing consumption of alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs. Also, do your best to eat well, drinks lots of water, exercise, and get the right amount of sleep. Finally, consider taking some multi-vitamins to help provide your body when the nutrient and vitamins it needs.

The best part about taking a T-break is when you finally get to end it. That first smoke or vape after taking time off cannabis can provide an uplifting experience similar to your early experiences with cannabis.

When you do resume consumption, start with the smallest amount of cannabis possible. Take your time and pay attention to the effects. By starting low and attempting to maintain lower amounts of cannabis consumption, you can reduce the re-development of tolerance.

As mentioned earlier, avoid switching to more potent varieties of cannabis products if you wish to keep your tolerance low. Cannabis concentrates have incredibly high amounts of THC, leading to rapid tolerance development. The same goes for ending a T-break, as you should pick dried flowers instead of concentrates.

Our Blackberry Gum is a great Indica strain for experiencing the couch-locking effects of cannabis after a T-break. If you’re seeking a daytime high, go with our Lemon Z for a strain rich in limonene and pinene.

How Concerned about Tolerance Should You Be? 

The tolerance that develops with frequent and heavy use of cannabis leads to a reduction in benefits and increased side effects. For example, tolerance leads to reduced euphoria and can increase the cognitive impairment of cannabis consumption. Furthermore, tolerance ultimately hurts your wallet as you have to spend more to get the same level of enjoyment out of cannabis.

The development of tolerance can also lead to cannabis dependence or even addiction. It increases the potential of health risks, and so it should be avoided wherever possible. Remember to never drive while high, no matter your tolerance level. 

For all the reasons discussed above, preventing and reducing tolerance should be front of mind. If you haven’t taken a T-break before, find out the benefits for yourself by giving it a try. Not only will you save money during your T-break, but you’ll also continue to save money when you return to cannabis with a lower tolerance.

The world of growing cannabis has evolved dramatically over the last several decades. When breaking down the current landscape of marijuana cultivation, one of the major dichotomies is between indoor and outdoor growing. By comparing these two styles, you will discover what makes each environment unique and advantageous over the other. More importantly, you can then decide which one is better suited for your needs.

Indoor Growing and Outdoor Growing

When it comes to growing cannabis, there are some major decisions that growers need to make before they even get started. This choice starts with one of the most critical debate, should we grow it inside or outside? While this may sound like a simple decision, there are deep nuances and vast differences in the financial costs of each. Ultimately, the final product is determined largely by this first choice.

We’ll break down the pros and cons of each. With so many options when it comes to buying cannabis, discovering these intricacies of the cultivation process leads to numerous benefits. By becoming informed consumers who understand these differences, you’ll make better buying decisions. 

The Pros of Growing Cannabis Indoors

Growing cannabis indoors generally results in darker and more dense buds. Generally, you’ll find a brighter variety of colours, like orange, purple, and red pistils. If you give your dried flower a squeeze, you’ll generally note that indoor-grown bud is more firm. 

Growing cannabis indoors requires lighting systems to cultivate and harvest cannabis insight a building. Some growers use greenhouses to combine natural sunlight with supplemental lighting. Most indoor growing occurs using only electrical lighting options, such as LEDs, fluorescent lights (CFL), and HID grow lights. Without depending on sunlight, indoors growers can decide precisely how many hours of light each room of plants gets. On the flip side, these rooms provide more certain darkness during the night, which appears to be beneficial for plant growth. 

Controlled Environment

The advantages of indoor growing include having an utterly controllable environment. Pests, pathogens, and other invaders can be mitigated more easily inside than outside. Without dependence on sunlight, growers have complete control over how much light their plants get. This includes both the light schedule (how many hours the lights are on versus off), light type, and intensity. Growers also control the room temperatures and airflow. None of this involves any reliance on the local weather, reducing the risks that come with relying on nature. 

Uniformity

Another benefit is uniformity. With complete control over the entire grow room(s), growers can ensure that each plant in the room ends up pretty similar to one another. The same goes for subsequent harvests, as the environment can be controlled to produce nearly identical results time after time. For medical cannabis growers, this is absolutely essential to produce the tight-range of cannabinoid profile expected in these situations. 

Growing Medium and Watering

Growing indoors also provides opportunities for the choice of Growing medium. Instead of having to use the ground beneath your field, indoor growers use a variety of mediums. With these mediums it is more possible ensure the correct nutrient profile, with much more control than natural soil. Other indoor growers exclude the soil completely, using hydroponic systems that allow roots to grow directly in water.

The ability to provide precise levels of water to meet the plant’s needs is a benefit of growing inside. When it comes to growing outside, growers are dependent on rain-water unless they invest the resources needed to create watering systems. Even in these situations, indoor growers still have far more control over the temperature and content of the water used.

Costs 

While buying a grow tent, grow lights, and other equipment for indoor growing is pricey, the bud does pay for itself over time. Growing inside is a better option for people who can’t grow outside or don’t have space. It is also a better option for those who want full control over the growing environment for their plants. Growing plants inside makes it easier to care for plants. Many home-grower take advantage of topping and low-stress training to provide the maximum yield possible. 

Shelf-Appeal

While this cheap bud is perfect for making edibles, it does not have the same shelf appeal as indoor-grown cannabis. And so, the choice for most consumers will be between indoor-grown and greenhouse-grown bud. Of the two, indoor-grown will come with a higher price tag.

This price tag is higher for good reasons, however. You’ll find that indoor-grown bud is generally larger than the small nugs grown outside. The extra care and attention is given to each plant grown inside results in these larger and more high-quality buds. Often, the trimming process is more precise for indoor bud, and this is why you’ll find fewer sugar leaves and more trichomes.

Potency

Historically, growing weed inside is what has led to the current highs in potency we now see in the cannabis market. Cannabis grown outside has consistently lagged in strength, for reasons already discussed above. While potencies have improved with outdoor harvests, they still don’t compete with the best buds grown inside. When it comes to growing at home, indoor growing may provide a higher cannabinoid profile, but growing outside can produce higher yields overall. 

Flavor and Smell 

You can expect a more pungent aroma with the bud grown inside. Cannabis grown outside often has a more hay-like and earthy aroma. This weed is often contrasted by indoor-grown bud, which comes with more hints of citrus, lavender, and vanilla. It should be noted that many people prefer the natural aroma of outdoor-grown weed, and there is nothing wrong with that.

The differences in flavor tend to follow the same pattern. You can expect more flavor in bud grown inside, along with a better variety of flavors. Outdoor-grown flower has more muted and natural smelling aromas. It should be noted that the flavor and smell of outdoor-grown bud largely depend on the soil and the climate of the region. Both of these factors vary from year-to-year, so you can expect more variance in subsequent outdoor harvests than those grown inside. 

The Benefits of Outdoor Cannabis Growing

Cannabis grown outside tends to have a more rugged and weathered appearance. Being exposed to nature’s whims can have this effect on the bud. The weed tends to be darker, less dense, and more fluffy. You’ll likely find fewer trichomes (white little crystals) on bud grown outdoors. 

The advantages of outdoors growing mainly lie in cheaper overall growing costs. Without having to pay for lighting, growers avoid the largest component of the cost of growing indoors. The same goes for the cost differences between a large field and building a facility. The cost-per-gram of growing outdoors is significantly lower than indoor growing. Greenhouses that take advantage of natural sunlight reduce these costs somewhat, but also add additional risks of pests and pathogens. For the average home-grower, there are far fewer costs associated with growing outside than indoors. 

Relying on Nature

While cannabis grown outside does rely on nature, the benefits include much lower growing costs. Since growers can take full advantage of natural sunlight, no lights need to be bought and the electricity bill gets to stay low. Watering of plants can supplement natural rainfall to ensure plants get what they need to grow.  

Cheaper Cultivation

While there is less environmental control for outdoor growing, the decrease in overall costs, and an increase in plant yield make up this difference for these growers. While the outdoor space may allow more plants to be grown, as we’ve discussed, these plants tend to have lower cannabinoid profile yields. That said, these plants can grow incredibly large under summer sunlight. Nonetheless, growing indoors is nowhere as cheap as growing outside, although greenhouses come closer. 

Which One Should You Buy?

Ultimately, it does come down to preference and cost when deciding which one to buy. Generally, the cost of weed increases from outdoor-grown to greenhouse-grown to indoor-grown bud. 

Home-growers also have a big choice to make when it comes to deciding where to grow. As we’ve discussed, the benefits of growing inside include a more controlled environment and higher quality bud. That said, growing outside is far cheaper and easier, as growers do not need to buy grow tents, grow lights, and pay for the electrical needs. 

If you want the best available potencies, flavors, and aromas, go with indoor bud. The same can be said if you love spending hours taking care of your plants and giving them the extra care and attention they need. On the other hand, if you want some cheaper, simple, and lower potency bud then turn to grow outside. 

If you want to buy strains rich in terpenes and high in potency, your best bet is indoor-grown bud. For example, our Wedding Cake and Lemon Z are rich in pinene and limonene. Our Ice Cream Cake and Blackberry Gum have plenty of linalool and myrcene. Each of these strains are dense, covered in trichomes, and high-THC. 

At Weed Me we only grow indoors to ensure we provide only the highest quality bud. Using techniques developed over the years indoors we can do a few tricks of the trade that cannot be replicated outdoors for a truly different and superior product.

While a little bit of anxiety can be beneficial, the development of disorders can have significant negative impacts on how we live our lives. We can be driven to action through minor discomfort, but too much can paralyze us. In this article you will know how cannabis can help anxiety.

An anxiety disorder impacts 5% of the household population in Canada. These disorders can lead to mild or severe impairment in how we function each day. Mental disorders result from a complex mix of genetic, biological, personality, and environmental factors. Cannabis is an environmental factor that can produce distress, but it can also alleviate symptoms. 

What is Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety is an emotional state characterized by maladaptive and excessive emotional responsiveness to situations that may be potentially dangerous. It is a natural response mechanism to cope with potentially dangerous situations. There is a range of physical and emotional symptoms involved in these situations.

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

Emotional Symptoms

There are numerous different types of anxiety disorders based on the cluster of symptoms experienced. Each of them has specific criteria for diagnosis and unique impacts on those who suffer from them.

Types of Anxiety Disorders 

Uncontrolled anxiety interferes with your pursuit of health and wellness. The range of negative emotions can make it difficult to complete everyday days. Increasing your tolerance for stress decreases these adverse behavioural outcomes.

The Symptoms of Anxiety

How Cannabis Eases Symptoms of Anxiety

Evidence from research and the experiences of cannabis consumers all over the world makes one thing clear. THC can reduce the symptoms of anxiety at lower doses. The effects of being high, like relaxation and euphoria, can help to reduce distress and suffering. You can use cannabis intentionally to manage physical and emotional symptoms.

Dosing and Tolerance Essentials

When it comes to cannabis, everyone should start low and go slow. Tolerance develops to cannabis over time, and this is why people who are new to cannabis should begin with the lowest dose possible. New consumers of cannabis should strongly consider strains with a bit more CBD and less THC while tolerance develops. 

The same goes for dosing. Start with a tiny amount until you get used to the effects. For those with much high tolerance levels, you’ll find that a higher dose may become tolerable and produce less unwanted anxiety symptoms.

Exposure and Adaptation

Long-term exposure to cannabis can lead to changes in how your brain functions and adapts to environmental pressures. This relates to a concept called neuroplasticity, which describes how our brains wire and re-wire connections over time. This fact is essential because it shows that cannabis can become part of self-therapy for anxiety disorders. 

The implication here is that consuming cannabis can lead to long-term changes that may be beneficial or unproductive. If you use getting high to avoid stress and discomfort, your tolerance to these things may decrease over time. Instead, if you push your boundaries and use cannabis proactively, these long-term changes can be beneficial.

What Do You Do While High?  

Often more important than getting high itself is what we do after we get high. Whether cannabis has benefits or consequences in your life over the long-term strongly relates to your behaviours or actions. What you do daily and what you do while high both impact the outcome.

For example, let’s compare two situations. The first involves getting high and going for walks, exploring new places, seeing new things, and learning about new topics. The second involves only getting high and laying on your couch while watching movies. Over time, these two sets of behavior will lead to long-term changes, with the former being productive while the latter is potentially harmful. 

And so, it is critical to think about the tasks we perform while high. We must also be thoughtful of how getting high impacts our behaviors and tolerance for anxiety over time. Connecting this to our talk about dosing adds more critical takeaways. If you are heading toward a situation where distress may be problematic, stick to a low THC dose. If you’re safely at home and want to watch a movie, a higher amount of THC would be less problematic.

Dosing Tips to Avoid Complications

Cannabis can increase the enjoyment of sights, sounds, smells, and internal sensations. But, when these enhancements lead to stronger feelings of anxiety, this can be problematic. People who suffer from related issues should heed this caution and practice safe consumption habits.

For those with minor symptoms, getting high can help bring this discomfort to the surface to be addressed. Individuals with intense symptoms may find that cannabis increases the discomfort and level of concern. It is essential to balance the amount of cannabis and the ratio of cannabinoids you consume based on your situation.

Exploring the Impacts of THC

High doses of THC can reverse the benefits experienced at lower doses. This effect relates to the biphasic nature of how cannabis impacts us. ‘Biphasic’ describes how a small quantity may decrease a symptom while a larger amount flips and increases that same symptom. Research has shown that this flipping from symptom reduction to enhancement does occur with anxiety symptoms in rats.  

When it comes to the potential for cannabis to impact anxiety, we must focus on THC due to this biphasic tendency. It is the THC compound in cannabis that produces the familiar high of marijuana. THC also comes with unwanted side effects, including:

The Case for CBD

Research has shown that CBD can help people attain better sleep quality and lower anxiety levels. The evidence indicates that CBD has a calming effect on the nervous system. Furthermore, research has demonstrated how CBD can help reduce the anxiety produced by a simulated public-speaking event. These results have important considerations for those suffering from social distress who want to get out of their comfort zone. 

When it comes to anxiety, it is essential to consider how much CBD you are consuming alongside THC. Research has shown that CBD can reduce some of the unwanted effects of THC when taken together. Those who suffer from anxiety are encouraged to explore balanced strains or those that have at least modest levels of CBD. 

Melon Gum would be a great example of dried flower with a bit of CBD packed inside, with up to 2% CBD content. The impacts of having modest levels of CBD inside your bud appear to be beneficial when it comes to reducing the unwanted side effects of THC. 

When it comes to avoiding negative symptoms from consuming cannabis more broadly, there are three significant factors to consider: you, the situation, and the bud itself.

Focusing on You

When it comes to getting high on different strains of weed, the one consistent variable is you. If you are someone who never experiences anxiety, you will be unlikely to experience much of it while high. For someone who does have an anxiety disorder, your tolerance for handling weed may be lower and require adjustments to the other two critical factors.

Turning to the Situation

There is no doubt that your environment will impact your state of being. Whether you get anxious in social situations or while alone, getting high can make these specific situations worse. Always ensure that you are comfortable and with trusted companions when getting high to reduce the odds of feeling anxious.

The Bud Itself

After considering your state of health and your situation, the next critical variable in the bud itself. If you are prone to anxiety or heading into a potentially distressing experience, you may want lower THC content. Strains like our Northern Lights can provide lower levels of THC more suitable for this situation.

On the other hand, if you do not have a problem with anxiety, or if you’re just hanging out at home, you can probably tolerate more THC. In that case, our Tutti Frutti is a great high-THC strain. No matter which you pick, remember to not forget about dosing. Depending on the situation and how your mental health is doing, choose a strain with appropriate THC levels, and only consume as much as you need. 

Conclusion

In summary, we learned about the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety to understand the role of cannabis. By managing our dose and paying attention to both THC and CBD, we can practice safe consumption habits. Furthermore, focusing on you and your situation can play a large role in symptom management. Finally, we discovered how cannabis can help soothe symptoms and how to avoid the opposite response. 

Cannabis was unfairly associated with being lazy, among many more stereotypes. As you will soon learn, the much-maligned plant can also help you perform better in two areas – exercise and creativity.

Getting enough exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health daily. While you may think that getting high is antithetical to exercising, there is evidence suggesting that cannabis use can be beneficial alongside physical activities.

Creativity is another essential part of human life. The beneficial health effects of creativity are more intangible but critical to a fulfilled life. After discussing cannabis and exercise, we’ll shift to performing creative activities and how cannabis plays a significant role. 

Cannabis and Exercise Performance

Have you heard that cannabis makes you lazy? Sadly this stereotype has given many people the wrong idea. While cannabis is used to provide sedative and relaxing effects, there is so much more to cannabis. Depending on the strain, and the precise mixture of cannabinoids and terpenes, the results vary widely. 

If you are looking to get stuck on your couch, then go ahead and smoke some indica to get you there. But don’t think that is all cannabis can do. A recent study helped dispel this old weed stereotype.

Based on an online survey in US states with legal access to cannabis, researchers found that most people endorsed using cannabis alongside exercise. Over 80% of cannabis consumers said they exercised while high. Furthermore, the participants who used cannabis shortly before or after exercise reported enhanced enjoyment and recovery from exercise. 

Around half of the participants reported that cannabis increases their motivation to exercise. This supports the other major finding of this study. The participants who used cannabis alongside exercise reported more minutes of exercise per week. 

Others also use cannabis after exercise to encourage rest, relaxation, and recovery. A quick note here, as the focus is often directed toward THC.  We should not forget to mention CBD. High-CBD strains and oils do not produce the same high as THC strains do. The anti-inflammatory impacts of CBD lend nicely to using it as a post-exercise recovery aid. 

The type of exercise is an important consideration when talking about getting high. Performing any activity that involves dangerous situations or maximal performance is best done sober. Rock climbing or kayaking are activities better suited for a clear mind. On the other hand, repetitive, low-intensity, and safe activities provide much better opportunities for getting baked. This includes walking, jogging, and other aerobic activities. 

The sensory enhancements that occur while high also go well with exercise that requires good body awareness. This includes yoga, stretching, tai chi, and so on. Getting high can also increase your heart rate, which may be the boost you need to get up and going with your low-intensity exercise of choice. 

The Runner’s High

A fascinating and relatively new research area involves the role of the endocannabinoid system in the positive effects of exercise. The runner’s high is the term used to describe the feeling of euphoria, reductions in pain and anxiety, and relaxation that occur after moderate-intensity exercise over more extended periods. Those who love cannabis may notice how these effects seem very similar to what happens while high.

Well, evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system mediates and influences this physiological response to exercise. It does, therefore, seem like the science is indicating that the activity of THC on the endocannabinoid system may be closely related to the runner’s high. 

While we used to think that endorphins produced the runner’s high, we now know that this compound can’t cross the blood-brain-barrier to have these cognitive effects. Anandamide is the ‘bliss hormone’ that acts upon the endocannabinoid system to produce the runner’s high. THC is known to mimic anandamide inside the brain and function similarly inside the human body. 

This is a fertile area of research that should present some incredible findings in the coming years. At this point, it certainly seems like the term runner’s ‘high’ and the ‘high’ from cannabis share far more in common than people realized when coming up with these terms. 

Recommended Strains

The choice of cannabis strain may play a significant role in whether it helps you get off the couch. If you’re seeking stimulating daytime creativity, consider one of our fantastic sativa-dominant strains. 

For example, consider Cindy Jack, our award-winning sativa-dominant cross between Jack Herer and Cinderella 99. Another great option is our Lemon Z, which has a citrus aroma and was bred by crossing Las Vegas Lemon Skunk and Zkittlez strains.

On the other hand, if the hard work is done and it is time to relax, consider a calming indica strain. Great examples include our rich Wedding Cake, an indica-dominant cross between the classic Girl Scout Cookies and Cherry Pie, or Ice Cream Cake, Which is a snowy trichome-covered indica-dominant cross between Wedding Cake and Gelato.

Ultimately, what matters is that we all try to get healthy levels of exercise, whether high or not. The Government of Canada recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. Adults should strive for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more. The health benefits of adequate exercise levels are profound and worth your time. 

If you’d like more information, refer to the Canadian 24-Hour Movement & Activity Guidelines. Check out the WeedMe Cannabis 101 webpage in our learning centre if you’re seeking more marijuana knowledge. 

Cannabis and Creativity

Cannabis has been a source of inspiration for musicians and artists around the world. The list of world-renowned individuals who used weed to enhance creativity is too long to present here. Steve Jobs said he used weed to improve his creativity while on the journey to put an iPhone in every pocket. Carl Sagan used it to inspire his musings on the depths of space and time. 

When considering the impacts of cannabis on creativity, there are two approaches worth taking. The first involves the bigger picture and insights gained from experience. The second involves the findings of clinical research and evidence. We’re going to discuss both of these topics in detail below. 

Insights on Cannabis

Sebastian Marincolo explores the topic of creativity in his incredible book, High: Insights on Marijuana. Sebastian describes the role of cannabis with considerable depth and insightfulness. Here are some of the major takeaways that can help us here today.

Sebastian believes that a cannabis high can lead to insights and mind enhancements, including pattern recognition, imagination, creativity, introspection, episodic memory, and empathic understanding. Most of these terms are self-explanatory, but let’s narrow in on a few. 

Introspection is the process of looking inward and assessing our physical, mental, and emotional states. Pattern recognition involves combining different ideas or themes in ways that illuminate larger associations or trends. 

Episodic memory involves long-term recollection of situations, places, and experiences. If you’ve ever had vivid memories of situations long ago while high, you know what we are talking about. Empathic understanding is more than just recognition of another person’s experiences. It is about relating to their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. 

All of these factors combine in fascinating ways to inspire creativity while high. Countless artists, painters, and problem-solvers have taken advantage of the cognitive boost from getting high to inspire new ideas and works of art. The ability to recall some memory long passed may inspire original song lyrics. Noticing a pattern between unrelated facts may lead to a new business or scientific innovation. 

These are just examples of how the cognitive distortions and enhancements that occur while high lead to new creative outputs. Now that we’ve discussed the bigger picture let’s dive into the scientific evidence.

What does the Research Say?

While smart thinkers and anecdotal evidence support the claims around cannabis and creativity, what does the research tell us? This is an area where we have a lack of adequate studies to inform us. To be fair, it is hard to measure creativity in a laboratory under rigorously controlled research protocols. Getting the funding and regulatory approvals required to do such a study using cannabis is even harder to attain. 

Often, these studies focus on one psychological aspect of our cognitions to draw conclusions. One group of researchers explore the effects of getting high on divergent thinking. This term describes the type of thinking that leads to generating new ideas and exploring new possibilities that branch out and diverge. 

One research team concluded that low potency cannabis does not impact creativity, while highly potent cannabis impairs divergent thinking. The methods used are worth exploring, such as the THC dosages, which were 5.5 mg and 22 mg THC.

The participants were asked to list possible uses for two everyday household items and then ranked on the answers provided. Having to do this task while high and in a laboratory does not sound like an excellent environment for creativity, to be fair. One subject experienced anxiety and had to abort. Another refused to perform the task due to not liking its nature. 

We mention the details since the scope of this study and its limitations are worth exploring. It would be fair to say low amounts of cannabis do not impair your ability to list possible uses for everyday household items, while high amounts likely impair this task. This study alone should not be used to say that getting high is good or bad for creativity or why. 

While we await more research on the topic, focus on your performance, and what you need. There’s a good chance you already know when getting high can benefit your performance and when you should stay sober.

Concluding the Conversation on Cannabis and Performance

When it comes to using cannabis to help promote performance, the intention is critical. Whether we are talking about exercise or creativity, knowing when to get high and when to stay sober is essential. The same goes for the amount of cannabis consumed, as low or modest doses are likely your best to optimize performance. 

When it comes to getting high, and performing, generally, less is more. Start low and go slow, and you may just find yourself needing less than you realize. Finally, as always, keep safety in mind. Do not perform any high-intensity or potentially dangerous activities while high. 

Have you ever wondered why people talk about terpenes so much when it comes to cannabis? For many cannabis consumers, terpenes are just an afterthought. But, as we’ll learn today, they are so much more than that. Terpenes and cannabinoids work together to produce more intense effects than either of them alone.

This synergy between cannabinoids and terpenes is called the entourage effect. It was Mechoulam and his colleagues that coined this term in 1988, which can be visualized as ‘1 + 1 > 2’. Put into words, the idea is that two compounds work together better than each one separately.

Before diving too deep into the entourage effect, we should get on the same page. Whether this topic is new to you or just a review, we’ll go through everything you need to know. First, you’ll discover the world of terpenes. Second, we’ll briefly define cannabinoids. After that, you’ll learn how cannabinoids and terpenes combine to produce an entourage effect.

Breeders and seed banks have shifted their focus away from only producing as much THC as possible. In recent years, we have seen emphasis directed toward creating hybrids with better terpene profiles. More and more cannabis providers are listing the terpene percentages on the label right beside the THC and CBD content.

By the end of this article, you’ll understand why the entourage effect is so fascinating. And most importantly, we’ll explore why this concept is so important to your cannabis purchasing decisions.

So, what are terpenes?

The World of Terpenes

Terpenes are the smell-producing compounds found inside the cannabis plant. More specifically, cannabis flowers produce a resin filled with these organic compounds along with cannabinoids like THC and CBD. This resin is secreted by glands called trichomes. 

Some of the primary terpenes weed creates:

As you probably know, terpenes are produced by all sorts of different plants. Limonene is the stimulating compound found in lemons and other citrus fruits. Linalool is a major part of the soothing smell of lavender or Lavandula plants. Pinene is produced by pine trees to create that familiar fresh scent. Caryophyllene is a major part of what gives pepper its spice.

You may be wondering: Why does the cannabis plant produce terpenes?

Just like with the plants mentioned above, these terpenes are created for specific reasons. Terpenes help to repel herbivores that want to eat these plants. Furthermore, terpenes act as insecticides or fungicides to protect against these threats. The physical stickiness of cannabis resin also acts as a trap for numerous bugs. When looking at a terpenes chart, you can identify the specific actions performed by each type.

What About Us: Why Should We Care About Terpenes?

As far as humans are concerned, we experience vastly different effects from these marijuana terpenes. Some of them, for example, are stimulating to our senses, soothing and relaxing, or can help suppress appetite.

Terpenes impact the flavor and aroma of the weed we smoke, and this alone is a great reason to care about them. If you want a couch-locking, relaxing experience, you could choose strains rich in linalool or myrcene, like Blackberry Gum or Ice Cream Cake. Conversely, if you want a stimulating daytime high, you could seek limonene- and pinene-rich strains, such as Wedding Cake or Lemon Z. 

What about the medical or therapeutic impacts of terpenes? This is a more tricky question that requires further research and a good explanation. On their own, we do not attribute medical benefits to terpenes. But the conversation is a bit more complicated than that. Before discussing this topic further, we should first understand cannabinoids and the entourage effect.

Introducing Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids


As we mentioned above, cannabinoids are the other set of compounds produced by cannabis trichomes. The resin that is secreted by these glands is filled with cannabinoids as well as terpenes. So, what are cannabinoids?

Technically called phytocannabinoids, these compounds have widespread effects on the human body. The reason why these cannabinoids produce such significant impacts is due to the presence of our endocannabinoid system (ECS). This natural group of receptors, ligands, and enzymes is found throughout each of our bodies.

In brief, cannabinoids are similar to our naturally-produced endocannabinoids and can act upon the same receptor targets. The best example is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is known to be the primary compound producing the cannabis high. THC acts upon ECS receptors in the brain to alter our sensations and perceptions. The effects of THC include:

Even though cannabis plants produce over 100 different cannabinoids, we tend to focus most on THC and cannabidiol (CBD). While THC is psychoactive and does produce impairment, CBD shares none of these qualities. Instead, CBD appears to influence and moderate the ECS without directly acting upon the receptors. 

This modulation of the ECS and other physiological systems by CBD is what produces the known impacts. The beneficial health effects of CBD include:

Combining Cannabinoids and Terpenes

Cannabis flowers naturally produce hundreds of different cannabinoids and terpenes. The fact that cannabis produces cannabinoids is what makes it such a unique plant. On top of that, the variety of terpenes produced by cannabis plants is unparalleled in the plant kingdom. Combine these two together, and you start to understand why there are so many cannabis strains.

So, what is the importance of combining these two sets of compounds? As we mentioned above, there is a hypothesis called the entourage effect that describes the benefits of these formulations. The basic idea is that the sum of the parts is greater than the individual pieces alone.

One way to think about this is how combining butter and salt tastes better than either of these ingredients alone. Or we can consider how the smell of food combines with the taste to produce more intense satisfaction than either could alone.

The Entourage Effect 

While there is no debate that the scent of cannabis enhances the smoking experience, there is debate around the entourage effect. For example, aside from a few limited examples, the terpenes in marijuana do not act directly upon the same receptors as the cannabinoids.

This idea is an important point of clarity relating to the impact of terpenes on the ECS. The evidence demonstrates that the entourage effect does not occur as a result of terpenes acting on the same targets as the cannabinoids. Instead, the entourage effect arises from the separate actions of terpenes within the body.

What about those exceptions? Well, the primary example is β-caryophyllene. This terpene has been shown to interact with cannabinoid receptors inside our body alongside THC. While the evidence is lacking around other terpenes, future research may identify other terpenes that interact directly with the ECS, like caryophyllene.

Medical and Therapeutic Impacts of the Entourage Effect

The health benefits of cannabis are critical for medicinal cannabis patients, but they are also a central concern for recreational consumers. While a medical patient may focus more on relief from arthritis or headaches, a recreational consumer may care more about therapeutic outcomes like relaxation or sleep-promotion.

Whether we are talking about medical or recreational use of cannabis, the question to ask is: “what is the impact of the entourage effect?”

As far as therapeutic effects, there is no doubt that terpenes play a role. The stimulating or sedating effects of terpenes combine with the effects of THC or CBD to enhance obtaining specific therapeutic goals. Whether your goal is relaxation, stimulating creativity, promoting exercise, or enhancing sensory pleasures, terpenes can play a critical role.

Based on studies of the terpenes alone, there is evidence regarding medical benefits. For example, humulene has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and pain-reducing effects. Caryophyllene is an anti-oxidant that can help reduce pain, insomnia, and muscle spasms. Pinene can help open up the lung as a bronchodilator for those with asthma.  

With regards to the medical benefits of the entourage effect, there is not enough clinical evidence to draw any firm conclusions. While we await the hard work of researchers to illuminate answers, what do we know?

Well, if you want to reduce pain, your choice of terpenes may depend on the time of day. Your daytime dose could benefit from the stimulating effects of limonene, while your evening dose may be better suited for myrcene to promote sedation and sleep.

The same could be said for the treatment of anxiety disorders, epilepsy, or multiple sclerosis (MS). The terpenes you select may not directly treat these conditions, but they certainly impact the overall experience and behavioral outcomes.

Even if you only care about getting as high as possible, terpenes should not be overlooked. Subjective experiences of cannabis consumers all over the world suggest that THC is not the only factor that matters. If you’ve ever found a strain getting you more high than you’d expect from the THC content, check out the terpenes packed inside.

Better Together: The Entourage Effect

Great work making it through this guide to the synergy of cannabinoids and terpenes! By now, you should have a solid idea of how these two sets of compounds operate on their own. We’ve also discovered how combining them results in an entourage effect.

The entourage effect suggests greater recreational, therapeutic, and medical impacts from cannabinoids and terpenes combined than alone. While specific claims around medical cannabis treatments should be left to medical experts, as cannabis consumers we can say that terpenes play a critical role in the overall experience.