What Are Cannabinoids, THC, CBD and Terpenes?
Cannabinoids are the active chemicals in cannabis plants that affect our brain and body when we consume them. There are over 100 different cannabinoids in cannabis that interact with a system in our body called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Our bodies also produce natural chemicals called “endocannabinoids” that interact with the ECS. Cannabinoids look like these natural chemicals to our body and therefore interact with the ECS the same way endocannabinoids do. The ECS is important for our response to stress and mental health, immunity, and our overall wellness.
The two cannabinoids that are most common and tend to be present in higher amounts in cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Terpenes:
Terpenes are the natural chemicals present in cannabis that give each strain or variety its unique smell and taste. There are thousands of terpenes present in most types of plants and they give our favourite spices, teas, fruits and vegetables their unique aromas. Over 100 different terpenes have been identified in cannabis plants and there is some evidence to suggest that they play a role in the effects of a cannabis strain, however more research is needed in this area. Now that terpene analysis is commonly included in cannabis product descriptions, you can start to recognize which terpenes your favourite strains contain and it can help you find new strains to try that may give you similar effects. A few of the most common cannabis terpenes are: caryophyllene, myrcene, alpha- and beta- pinene, limonene, and terpinolene.
How to choose a cannabis product:
Generally, we can categorize all cannabis products into these main types to help with choosing the right one for you:
- THC-dominant cannabis products will contain THC (over 7% THC) and minimal amounts of CBD (0-2% CBD). This type of product will have a stronger “high” or euphoric effect. This type of product has the greatest chance of undesirable effects like paranoia and discomfort, depending on the dose and other factors.
- CBD-dominant cannabis products will contain CBD (over 7% CBD) and minimal amounts of THC (0-2% THC). This type of product will likely have little to no “high” or euphoric effect and be milder and more relaxing, depending on the dose and other factors.
- Balanced cannabis products can have a ratio of THC to CBD of either: 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3. The greater amount of CBD to THC means that the product will likely have a more relaxing, body-high effect and less of a stimulating “high”, depending on the dose and other factors.
Understanding Methods of Consumption
Understanding Methods of Consumption
Other consumption methods:
Topical application: These cannabis products are used mostly for medical purposes and come in the form of a lotion, cream, salve, bath products or other personal care products. Topical cannabis products are applied to the skin and work locally to help with specific areas of the body, like muscle pain for example. They are rarely psychoactive. Even so, it is wise to apply a small amount on your skin to start.
Juicing: If you have access to growing cannabis, fresh cannabis flowers, leaves and stems can be made into a juice using a juicer machine. You would still ingest the plant’s cannabinoids, vitamins and minerals through this method. There is no intoxicating effect from this method because the cannabinoids have not been heated and activated. Some people consume cannabis this way for its nutritional benefit.
Nasal spray: Similar to sinus medication, this method delivers a standardized dose of THC or CBD directly to the bloodstream. This medical product format is not currently available in the Canadian regulated market.
Suppositories: These may be used anally or vaginally for specific medical conditions. Currently, these types of products are only available if you make them yourself at home.
Transdermal patches: There are patches that you apply to the skin and leave on for several hours and the cannabinoids slowly enter the bloodstream and have a psychoactive effect.
Anatomy of Cannabis
Cannabis is in the same plant family as hops (the bitter aromatic used in beer) and has been cultivated by humans for thousands of years. There are three sub-groups part of the cannabis family – Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. You will mainly only hear about sativa and indica and not about ruderalis because ruderalis is typically only used for breeding purposes. Cannabis we consume today are not purely one type, but have been cross-bred in such a way that they always result in mixtures of these three groups of plants. There are no existing samples of pure-bred indica or sativa plants due to many years of interbreeding between the different types. Whether a plant is mainly sativa or indica describes the characteristics of how the plant grows and there is little evidence regarding the type of high you will get consuming one or the other (energetic vs couch-lock). Check out our interactive historical timeline of cannabis and legalization in Canada!
“Hemp” is also a term that used to mean psychoactive cannabis historically (either indica or sativa), however these days it is defined as cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC (the intoxicating cannabinoid). Check our section on THC, CBD and terpenes to learn more!
Industrial hemp is an environmentally sustainable crop grown for its fibre, seeds, and natural oils and can be used for many different products such as clothing, biofuel, foods, and cosmetics. Eating hemp seeds or cooking with hemp oil will not get you high and it has healthy types of fats, fibre and protein.
Cannabis plants are classified as either “male” or “female.” The ones we consume are considered “female” which means they produce large flowers with sticky resin rich in cannabinoids. Since “male” plants produce pollen sacs instead of large flower buds, they only contain very small amounts of cannabinoids and are only used for breeding purposes.
Male Plant
Female Plant
Branch of a Female Plant
Growing and Harvesting Cannabis
Growing cannabis from seed to harvest takes about 3-4 months total, depending on the strain and growing conditions.
Similar to how there are many different varieties of apples, such as Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, and Mackintosh, there are over 700 different varieties or strains of cannabis. Over years, growers bred different varieties together to make new ones based on the qualities desired, such as flavour, cannabinoid profile, potency, and terpene profiles. Terpenes are the natural chemicals present in cannabis that give each strain or variety its unique smell and taste. There have been over 100 different terpenes identified in cannabis plants and there is some evidence to suggest that they play a role in the effects of a cannabis strain, however more research is needed in this area. Now that terpene analysis is commonly included in cannabis product descriptions, you can start to recognize which terpenes your favourite strains contain and it can help you find new strains to try that may give you similar effects. Check out our section on CBD, THC and terpenes!
Canada, H. (2020, July 30). Cannabidiol (CBD), and industrial hemp [Education and awareness]. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/about/cannabidiol.html
Gloss, D. (2015). An Overview of Products and Bias in Research. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 731–734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0370-x
Haze, N. (2018, March 5). Learn How to Grow Cannabis Indoors. Grow Weed Easy. https://www.growweedeasy.com/basics
How to Harvest Cannabis
Step 1
Once the plant has matured and ready for harvest, the stalks are cut down to prepare it for the drying and curing processes.
Step 2
For the first part of the drying process, the plants are hung upside down for about one week.
Step 3
Next is curing where the buds are placed into sealed glass jars so that they will dry more slowly for the next 2-4 weeks. This step helps to preserve the buds and enhance their taste and smell.
Step 4
Technically, you can consume the cannabis as soon as it has reached maturity, but good things take time! A proper dry/cure will get rid of the green/grassy smell of newly harvested buds, which can make them harsh, and allows the cannabis smell and taste to re-emerge.
Cannabis Myth-Busting
People who consume cannabis are just trying to get high.
There are many reasons why someone may choose to use cannabis, including enjoyment of feeling high and this does not necessarily mean it is problematic. Moreover, not everyone who uses cannabis actually experiences a psychoactive high. Here is a list of some of the reasons why some people use cannabis:
- To relax, reduce stress, or help cope with personal issues
- To treat or help manage medical conditions (e.g., Cancer, migraines, glaucoma, pain, joint issues, anxiety, depression, attention-deficit disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, endometriosis, menstrual pain, Parkinson’s disease etc.)
- To avoid or reduce prescription medications
- Enjoy using cannabis
- Spiritual or cultural expression
- Explore new experiences/feelings
- To reduce or avoid using alcohol or cigarettes
- To reduce or avoid using illicit drugs
- To help manage withdrawal symptoms of opioid drugs or reduce the need for opioids
- As part of social activity
When someone starts using cannabis, they are at a higher risk of experimenting with harder drugs and cannabis is a “gateway drug”.
This is a common misconception with origins from the original “Reefer Madness” propaganda campaigns in the 1930s. Research has not found a causal link between people that use cannabis being more likely to try hard drugs.1 In fact, there has been evidence found that smoking cigarettes is more likely to precede both alcohol and cannabis use. Regarding patterns of initiation of cannabis, cigarettes, and alcohol, the least likely pattern observed was the smoking of cannabis prior to smoking cigarettes. While cannabis use may precede other substance use, the relationship likely involves multiple other factors, including social conditions, genetic and environmental factors, which makes understanding the gateway hypothesis complex.
Taking bigger inhalations and holding your breath in your lungs makes the effects better and stronger.
If you hold your breath after taking a hit, you may feel like the effects of cannabis are stronger, but actually, there is negligible difference in the amount of cannabinoids absorbed when inhaling for 0 seconds compared to holding for up to 20 seconds. What is actually happening is that by holding your breath you are reducing the amount of oxygen content to your brain, your blood must now pump faster to compensate, which makes you feel slightly light-headed and can lead to a tingling sensation in your skin and face. In addition, breath holding will increase the intake of hazardous byproducts into the lungs (e.g., carcinogens, tar carbon monoxide and other toxins).
Cannabis being legalized means we are allowed to grow and use any kind of cannabis products we want to.
Only regulated cannabis products from licensed producers are legal and not all provinces and territories have the same laws around growing, buying and using. Check out our chart with information about the cannabis laws in your area. There are still cannabis offences to target those acting outside of the legal framework, such as organized crime. Other offences include possession over the legal limit, illegal distribution or sale, producing cannabis beyond personal cultivation limits, producing cannabis products using organic solvents, taking cannabis across Canada’s borders, giving or selling cannabis to underage people, and using a youth to commit a cannabis-related offence.
Using bongs and water pipes are healthier because the water filters out the toxins in the cannabis smoke.
The research regarding which method of cannabis smoking is “healthiest” is inconclusive. However, there is evidence that bongs or bubblers can reduce the chances of burnt particle inhalation, but these methods do not reduce all the toxic compounds found in smoke. Evidence shows that any form of smoking is harmful to the lungs and results in the absorption of tar, carbon monoxide, and toxic compounds. Using a dry-herb vaporizer is a better option since there is no combustion (no smoke) so there are less toxins released in the vapor, which leads to fewer negative impacts on the lungs.
Hautala, D., Sittner, K., & Walls, M. (2019). Onset, Comorbidity, and Predictors of Nicotine, Alcohol, and Marijuana Use Disorders Among North American Indigenous Adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47(6), 1025–1038. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-018-0500-0
Reddon, H., DeBeck, K., Socias, M. E., Dong, H., Wood, E., Montaner, J., Kerr, T., & Milloy, M.-J. (2018). Cannabis Use is Associated With Lower Rates of Initiation of Injection Drug Use Among Street-Involved Youth: A Longitudinal Analysis. Drug and Alcohol Review, 37(3), 421–428. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12667
Whitbeck, L. B., & Armenta, B. E. (2015). Patterns of substance use initiation among Indigenous adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 45, 172–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.01.006
Hashibe, M., Straif, K., Tashkin, D. P., Morgenstern, H., Greenland, S., & Zhang, Z.-F. (2005). Epidemiologic review of marijuana use and cancer risk. Alcohol, 35(3), 265–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2005.04.008
Fischer, B., Russell, C., Sabioni, P., van den Brink, W., Le Foll, B., Hall, W., Rehm, J., & Room, R. (2017). Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines: A Comprehensive Update of Evidence and Recommendations. American Journal of Public Health, 107(8), e1–e12. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303818
Government of Canada, D. of J. (2018, June 20). Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/cannabis/
