Cannabis Terminology Guide: Key Terms Every User Should Know

1. Strains: The Types of Cannabis

Cannabis comes in different strains, each with its own effects, flavors, and properties. Here's a breakdown of the main categories:

• Sativa: Known for its energizing and uplifting effects, sativa strains are often associated with increased focus and creativity. They’re great for daytime use and social activities.

• Indica: Indica strains are popular for their relaxing, sedative effects. They're typically used for unwinding, reducing stress, or promoting sleep, often ideal for evening use.

• Hybrid: As the name suggests, hybrids combine traits from both sativa and indica strains. Depending on the dominant strain, hybrids can lean toward a more energizing or relaxing effect.

2. Cannabinoids: The Active Ingredients

Cannabinoids are the active compounds in cannabis that interact with your body to produce various effects. The most well-known cannabinoids are:

• THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol): This is the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects or the “high” associated with cannabis. It’s also used medicinally for pain relief, appetite stimulation, and nausea reduction.

• CBD (Cannabidiol): Unlike THC, CBD is non-psychoactive and known for its calming effects. It’s widely used for reducing anxiety, inflammation, and managing pain without the high.

• CBN (Cannabinol): A mildly psychoactive compound that’s formed as THC degrades, CBN is often used for its sedative effects, particularly for promoting sleep.

• CBG (Cannabigerol): CBG is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with potential therapeutic benefits, such as reducing inflammation and pain. It's often referred to as the "mother" cannabinoid because other cannabinoids are derived from it.

3. Terpenes: The Flavors and Aromas

Terpenes are the aromatic compounds found in cannabis (and other plants) that contribute to the plant’s scent and flavor. These compounds also have therapeutic effects:

• Myrcene: Known for its earthy, musky scent, myrcene is believed to promote relaxation and can enhance the sedative effects of indica strains.

• Limonene: This citrus-scented terpene is thought to elevate mood and reduce stress, adding a bright and uplifting effect to some strains.

• Pinene: With a sharp, pine-like aroma, pinene is known for improving focus and alertness, counteracting the short-term memory loss associated with THC.

• Linalool: This terpene has a floral, lavender-like scent and is commonly linked to its calming and anti-anxiety properties.

  4. Methods of Consumption

  There are many ways to consume cannabis, and each method offers a different experience in terms of onset and intensity:

  • Smoking: The most traditional method, smoking involves inhaling the smoke from cannabis flower through joints, pipes, or bongs. Effects are felt almost instantly.

  • Vaping: A healthier alternative to smoking, vaping involves heating cannabis flower or concentrates at a lower temperature, producing vapor instead of smoke. It provides fast-acting effects with less irritation to the lungs.

  • Edibles: Edibles are cannabis-infused foods or drinks, such as gummies, brownies, or beverages. They take longer to kick in (about 30 minutes to 2 hours), but the effects last much longer compared to smoking or vaping.

  • Tinctures: Tinctures are cannabis extracts in liquid form that can be taken sublingually (under the tongue) for quick absorption or mixed into food or drinks for a slower onset.

  • Topicals: Cannabis-infused creams, balms, or oils applied to the skin. Topicals provide localized relief for pain and inflammation without causing a high.