Weed FAQs

When you eat weed, it gets metabolized in your digestive system to produce a different kind of THC than when you smoke.  The gut and liver form a product called 11-Hydroxy-Delta-9-THC, which then gets circulated in your bloodstream to your brain to take effect.  It takes longer to get high when you eat weed, but it can offer a longer-lasting and more intense body high than smoking.

Marijuana smoke, like any smoke, is carcinogenic, containing at least 6000 of the same chemicals found in tobacco. Complicating matters, the tendency of weed users to hold smoke in their lungs for longer periods of time increases tar deposits in the respiratory system by up to 400%. Having said this, both THC and CBD in non-smoke form have shown promising results in treating cancerous cells and tumors in rodents. Legality of experimentation remains an obstacle.

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is an umbrella term appropriated to describe several mood affecting mental disorders. Treatment of depression utilizing marijuana is invariably dependent upon the form and severity of depression, as well as the individual experiencing it. The amount of marijuana implemented to treat any mental mood disorder is also of paramount importance – producing markedly contradistinctive results for divergent dosages.

Terpenes are fragrant oils found in the resin glands of cannabis. When inhaled, they assist cannabinoids in penetrating the blood-brain barrier and have implications for the production and destruction of both serotonin and dopamine. There are several different kinds of terpenes, each with their own medical benefits. They are useful in treating inflammation, depression, anxiety, suppressing fluids, fighting bacteria and healing wounds. Though promising, legality of testing is an impediment to terpene research.

Dabbing refers to the consumption of highly concentrated doses of cannabis called dabs. Dabs are sticky oils made from extracting THC and other chemicals from cannabis using solvents like carbon dioxide or butane. Dabs can also be called butane hash oil, budder, wax, or shatter. Dabbing is considered the fastest way to achieve a very potent high, but it has been the centre of controversy because of dangerous production methods.

How marijuana looks will vary depending on what form it is in. In its plant form, it has a distinctive leaf pattern growing out of long thin stems, and eventually, flowers or buds. This is the part of the cannabis plant that contains its active ingredients. Once dried, marijuana looks like clusters of dried leaves, flowers and stems. If it is good quality, you should be able to see coloured hairs and crystals, or trichomes, on the buds.

There are currently three strains that have passed the thirty per cent THC mark: Chiquita Banana, a stavia-dominant strain that boasts 33 per cent THC; Chem Dog, an indica strain from Colorado weighing in at 32.1 per cent, THC; and Emperor Cookie Dough (a cross between Girl Scout Cookies and Emperor OG) at 31.1 per cent THC. All three have about ten per cent more THC than your average herb.

CAMH considers marijuana an addictive substance. Users who start below the age of eighteen are four to seven times more likely to form dependencies. Compared to other drugs like opiates, alcohol and tobacco, the dependency rate of marijuana users is lower and withdrawal symptoms are much less severe. For those who are addicted, rehabilitation methods include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Marijuana Rehab Centers.

To understand marijuana’s effects on the brain we look to how (phyto)cannabinoids from the marijuana plant mimic the (endo)cannabinoids created by our bodies. Something like marijuana’s Tetrahydrocannabinol can act like neurotransmitters but doesn’t give neurons a refractory period in between transmissions. This stimulation results in some pretty profound effects on the brain, like euphoria, intense thoughtfulness, compassion, anxiety, paranoia, and even pain mitigation

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis and is responsible for the feeling of “getting high.” THC intoxicates us by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, immune system and central nervous system causing a wide range of effects from euphoria to anxiety. From a medicinal perspective it can be used to treat a variety of conditions including PTSD, Insomnia, Chronic Pain, ADHD, Multiple Sclerosis and Glaucoma.

Cannabinoids work by binding to specialized receptors in the brain and other parts of the body.  This binding causes neurons to release different amounts of chemicals, such as dopamine.  Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in parts of the brain that deal with short-term memory, coordination, appetite, and mood.  Some cannabinoid receptors are also found in the immune system, which may be how marijuana helps regulate pain and inflammation.

Daily weed use has its risks and rewards. Concerning the risks, it has been shown to lower the amount of grey matter in the brain’s orbitofrontal cortex which governs decision making and mental processes. This depletion can lead to psychiatric problems and personality disorders. Addiction, car accidents, and pregnancy complications are also worth considering. On the plus side, daily marijuana use has a series of health benefits like pain relief, regulation of blood sugar, and weight loss.

Edibles are safer than smoking in that they don’t use harmful combustion to release cannabinoids into the bloodstream but there are some other complicated matters with edibles that could make them more dangerous. Those factors are namely dosage and labelling. Edible products should always indicate the exact dosage of THC within and attempt to deter children from consuming the tasty treat.

Anxiety often presents with feelings of dread, restlessness, and overreaction. It is often compared to the fear response, but unlike anxiety, fear is an appropriate cognitive and emotional response to a perceived threat. Anxiety is a behavior response to a perceived threat that is thought to be uncontrollable or unavoidable but unrealistically so. Marijuana consumption is commonly associated with this emotional distress and may be due to its chemical composition.

Smoking weed can increase the user’s heart rate, according to the United Sates National Institute on Drug Abuse. This side effect may make heart attacks and strokes more likely for weed smokers. People with pre-existing heart problems and older people might be at a higher risk of complications from an increased heart rate. The heart rate increase can last for up to three hours after smoking weed.

There is some evidence showing that CBD, a component of marijuana, may help protect brain cells from damage related to concussions. CBD might also promote brain cell growth. Repetitive brain trauma can lead to CTE, a degenerative brain disease that may lead to memory loss, depression, or suicide. More research is certainly needed, but it is possible that smoking weed could help prevent and heal the damage caused by concussions.

Sometimes discretion is needed when indulging in cannabis, which is known for having a very distinct smell. Dabs are one option to get high more discreetly. Dabs still smell like weed, but they do not smell as strongly as smoke from a joint. For best results, be sure that all the vapour from the dab goes out the window or — less ideally — into a vent.

CBD is a cannabinoid. It is one of the most common chemical compounds found in marijuana, and is known for its many medical benefits. However, CBD is nonpsychoactive, which means that it does not get you high. CBD still affects the human body, but not in the same intoxicating way that THC does. Strains that are high in CBD are a good choice for patients who do not want to get high.

Being high can make you feel a wide range of positive sensations like mental euphoria, inner calmness, increased appetite and sense of taste, increased sexual arousal and sensation. A bad high conversely, can make you feel both paranoid and anxious. An Indica high is more relaxing, while a Sativa high is more uplifting. THC-rich strains make you high, while CBD strains are more sober painkillers.

Marijuana does not cause dehydration, but it does accelerate it. THC binds to gland receptors in your mouth that produce saliva, which leads to a temporary halt in saliva development. It isn’t recommended that you combine marijuana with other products that cause dehydration, such as medication and alcohol. It’s important to stay hydrated while consuming or smoking marijuana.

The safety benefit of vaping is the inhalation of water vapor rather than actual smoke, which poses a bigger threat to one’s respiratory system. Vaping is also safer from a detection standpoint as a user will not smell like an illegal substance. Still, vaping has some unsafe components. When heated to high temperatures, the solutions in a vaporizer can emit propylene glycol, which converts into tiny polymers that can do great damage to lung tissue.

How marijuana looks will vary depending on what form it is in. In its plant form, it has a distinctive leaf pattern growing out of long thin stems, and eventually, flowers or buds. This is the part of the cannabis plant that contains its active ingredients. Once dried, marijuana looks like clusters of dried leaves, flowers and stems. If it is good quality, you should be able to see red, orange or white hairs and crystals, or trichomes, on the buds.

420 is a code word that refers to cannabis or cannabis consumption. It is pronounced “four twenty,” and it is sometimes written as 4/20 or 4:20. There are many different myths surrounding the origin of the term. What we know for sure is that 420 is important in weed culture. People often smoke up at 4:20 in the afternoon or morning, and celebrate April 20^th (4/20) by indulging in marijuana.

A cannabinoid is a chemical compound that alters the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. The three main types of cannabinoids are endocannabinoids, photocannabinoids, and synthetic cannabinoids.The two main cannabinoids are THC and CBD. THC has psychoactive effects, while CBD is a better medicinal fit for a wider range of ailments. When cannabis enters the human body, its physiological effects occur as it interacts with cell membranes known as cannabinoid receptors.

Dispensaries are storefront operations that sell marijuana to customers who have a medical need. In addition to dried weed, many dispensaries also sell pills, creams, cookies and other products made with marijuana. Medical documentations such as notes from doctors or health professionals are needed to purchase marijuana at these storefronts. Strictly speaking, dispensaries are not legal in Canada because the law prohibits selling marijuana outside the federal medical marijuana program.

Hotboxing is an activity where a user(s) smokes cannabis in an enclosed and unventilated space like a closet, car, shed, or blanket fort. A study at Johns Hopkins confirmed that smoking in this fashion can get users far more intoxicated.  They achieved this by placing non-smokers in the same environment as those who were inhaling the smoke first hand, then measuring the effects that the second hand smoke had on the non-smoking participants.  Some refer to this as a contact high.

The term vaping is short for vaporizing or vaporizer. It is a process of heating up dry cannabis or cannabis concentrates to a temperature that is below the combustion threshold. Vaporizers do not produce smoke, but instead, release cannabis’s active ingredients (THC and CBD) as an aerosol. Inhaling smoke can expose you to harmful toxins and cancer causing substances. While vaporizers do mitigate this, harms from its use still exist.