Cannabis 101
So you’re curious about cannabis?
The Cannabis Plant
Cannabis. Pot. While many terms are used to describe this powerful flower, it’s important to note that Cannabis is simply a plant. It’s an annual plant, meaning that it lives, then dies in one season (when it’s grown outdoors). For thousands of years, this versatile plant has been bred to produce plant, oils and of course, cannabinoids (we’ll get to this shortly). First things first – let’s dive into what makes the cannabis plant so captivating. The cannabis plant has two sexes – male and female. However, it is the female plant that is largely harvested for the cannabinoids it produces. You’ve probably heard of hemp – it’s produced from the cannabis plant for industrial purposes alongside its cannabidiol, CBD – the anti-inflammatory cannabinoid that is increasingly being used for therapeutic and wellness purposes. Hemp produces very little to no THC, the cannabinoid that has psychoactive effects.
This plant grows much taller than the indica plant, sprouting narrow leaves that are typically a lighter shade of green. They require more light and you guessed it - they take much longer to grow and flower.
These are bushy, stout plants that sprout wide leaves. They tend to grow faster while bearing larger quantities of flowers than sativa plants.
A hybrid plant has been bred from both an indica plant and a sativa plant - this means that it may carry features/characteristics of each. Most cannabis strains are hybrids, but can be sativa-dominant, indica-dominant or have closer to a 50:50 ratio of sativa to indica.
It’s important to note that while some cannabis products will lean as being either Sativa or Indica dominant, no one strain is completely either. Labelling a cannabis product as being Sativa-dominant simply means that the product’s genetics lean more toward those of Sativa plants.
Cannabinoids – what are those?
These are are a group of closely related chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, which blend with the brain’s receptors – leading to a variety of physical and mental effects. You’ve probably heard about THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and most recently, CBD (cannabidiol). While these two are the most recognized cannabinoids in relation to weed, you’ll be surprised to learn that there are over 100 found in a cannabis plant!
What are Terpenes?
Terpenes are the essential oils of a plant. They give cannabis its vast range of flavours and aromas such as pine, citrus and musk.
But in addition to stimulating the senses, terpenes could also play an important role in what researchers call “the entourage effect.” The idea is that the effects of a strain depend not just on THC content, but also on its synergy with other cannabinoids such as CBD, along with its terpene profile.
Because of this, some medical consumers and connoisseurs are paying much more attention to the terpene profile of a strain as part of the selection process. In fact, they may look for strains with high levels of myrcene, for example, because they find them more agreeable.
When you shop Weed Me’s products, a Terpenes Profile is included, listing the most dominant terpenes found in a specific strain!
Cannabis for recreational use
Cannabis for medical use
Online
All provinces and territories have online stores where Canadians of legal age can buy their cannabis. The site is either run privately or by the provincial or territorial government, depending on the region. Before entering the site, the customer must verify their age. They will also be required to provide ID once the product is delivered. For the first year of legalized cannabis, the only cannabis products available will be oil and flower and in some regions, seeds. An amendment to the Cannabis Act allows for the sale of edibles and concentrates “no later than 12 months” after legalization, which would be Oct. 17, 2019. This means products like edibles, beverages, concentrates, vape pens, oral sprays with higher potencies than the year one limit of 30 mg of THC per mL, and tinctures could be available some time in 2019, pending a review by Health Canada.
Brick-and-Mortar Stores
Many provinces and some territories have (or will have) brick-and-mortar stores that shelve cannabis. These stores are either privately or publicly operated, depending on the region. Unlike the liquor store, customers wishing to buy cannabis in store must be of legal age of purchase to enter. Anyone under the legal age of purchase will not be allowed to enter the store. As with online sales, for the first year of legalized cannabis, the only cannabis products available are oil and flower and in some regions, seeds.
Clinics
Despite popular misconceptions, clinics aren’t the same as dispensaries and do not sell or supply cannabis. Clinics are where you go to get official permission from a doctor to legally access cannabis for medical purposes, so you can then order product online.
There are several steps involved in getting registered for a medical marijuana license under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). First, you talk to a doctor or nurse about specific ailments. If they approve your request, they will fill out a form with your information, which is then sent to a licensed producer (LP). If they’re unfamiliar with the process, they could refer you to a cannabinoid clinic. You can also search our directory to find one. These clinics are staffed by doctors who specialize in prescribing cannabis.
Once authorized, you’ll legally be allowed to purchase a set amount of cannabis flower or oil per month, which varies with each individual depending on the condition being treated. When buying through an LP, the process involves signing up online and placing an order. Once your order is sent, it will be delivered to your address in a number of days.
Weed Me Inc. does not endorse illegal buying options for cannabis and other cannabis products.