Weed FAQs

Coughing is not uncommon for marijuana smokers. One obvious reason is that your lungs are not designed to breathe in smoke. Consequently, your brain signals to your lungs to start coughing- the body’s reflexive response when the throat or breathing passage needs to be cleared of inhalants, microbes, irritants, fluids or mucus.

Cannabis has proven to be a great treatment for both concussions and post-concussive syndrome. The US government is such a believer that it holds a patent on the neuroprotective properties of CBD. Recently, a professor emeritus at Harvard University wrote an open letter to the NFL making them aware of Cannabis’ ability to treat concussions in their players, which has been a devastating and well-publicized issue over the years.

In cannabis culture, 420 refers to consuming cannabis at either 4:20am or pm, as well as on the date April 20th. The true origin of the term dates back to the early 70’s in the town of San Rafael, California, where a group of High School students, called “The Waldo’s”, heard about a mystery stash of weed hidden near their school. “420-Louis” became their code for scheduling secret meetings.

Yes. You can get a hangover from weed, although it’s root cause and effects may not be what you envision. Traditional hangovers have been linked to the over consumption of alcohol, and their manifested symptoms include headaches, nausea and general sluggishness.  A marijuana hangover can also occur when a user exceeds their recommended dosage and will have similar symptoms, however the causation and severity of the aftereffects greatly differ.

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.

Weed usually takes two to three hours to wear off when it is smoked. If you eat an edible, the effects will last much longer, typically from four to six hours. THC stays in a person’s system for several days or weeks after the user stops feeling the effects — that means that people can test positively for marijuana use even if they don’t feel high.

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

The body naturally produces Endocannabinoids, which are processed by the endocannabinoid system. The Endocannabinoid system is composed of two types of receptors; cannabinoid 1(CB1) and cannabinoid 2(CB2) receptors. These receptors are responsible for the associated physiological responses to both THC and CBD.  As such, weed can be used to relieve pain, combat mental health disorders and alleviate side effects from major disease states and their associated treatments.

Vaping is using a heating device to activate raw plant leaves without any fire or combustion. Since vapor is inhaled rather than toxic smoke, it is considered a far healthier method of intake for cannabis and tobacco. Vaporizers can be herb-based or oil-based, and use either convection or conduction methods.

THC and CBD are the two primary ingredients found in the marijuana plant. Each has very different characteristics. While THC is the chemical compound responsible for making one feel sedate and “high” while smoking marijuana, strains high in CBD offer a more uplifting high. Furthermore, CBD strains are toted for their medicinal benefits for conditions like epilepsy, cancer, and diabetic neuropathy, among others. From a legal standpoint, there are fewer laws and regulations surrounding the use of CBD.

By many accounts, the “war on drugs” mentality in Canada began with the release of a book called The Black Candle in 1922. Written by Emily F. Murphy under the pen name “Janey Canuck” in 1922, the book called for law enforcement to address the problem of Cannabis. Shortly afterwards, Cannabis was added to the Confidential Restricted List in 1923 under the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill when the government introduced the Act to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other Drugs.

Marijuana prescribed by a doctor to treat specific medical conditions. Patients obtain their medication from one of thirty-nine LPs (Licensed Producers) with pricing between $7-12 per gram. It is not covered by health insurance or any government plan. Patients can legally carry a maximum of 150g on their person within Canadian borders, but not while traveling outside the country. Medication can be written off as a tax expense.

“Dabbing” is the increasingly popular practice of smoking marijuana extracts, made by dissolving marijuana in butane. The extract’s greater concentration of THC means it provides a more euphoric high than conventional cannabis. While no research yet exists showing that dabbing is more dangerous than smoking regular weed, users need to beware of more pronounced side effects, such as poor coordination and judgment.

Marijuana is a mind and body altering drug that for decades has been ranked alongside some of the most addictive and harmful illicit drugs out there. It is only natural for one to question whether smoking marijuana could be as harmful as these other drugs.  To date, there have been no direct links uncovered which would suggest that smoking weed can lead to death, although, ingestion is not without risks entirely.

THC rich cannabis can be a very effective sleep inducer and also has the ability to cure sleep apnea. Strains high in CBD, however, have the opposite effect of making one feel energetic. The downsides of cannabis as a sleep aid are its capacity to interfere with REM sleep and the hangover users can feel the next morning, leaving them lethargic and unmotivated. Starting marijuana too early in life can also result in long-term sleep difficulties.

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.

Weed should feel at least a little bit sticky when you try to break it up. The stickiness comes from cannabis resin, an adhesive substance produced by glands on the cannabis plant. Resin contains many cannabinoids, medicinal chemicals that can interact with the nervous system, which means that the amount of resin (or how sticky the herb is) is a good indicator of how potent the weed will be.

Large-scale studies have not been able to link smoking weed to lung cancer or other serious respiratory conditions.  Marijuana smoke contains some cancer-causing compounds and deposits tar in the lungs, yet there has been little evidence linking moderate marijuana use to lung cancer.  Smoking weed can cause short-term respiratory irritation such as coughing and sore throat.  Weed can be consumed in other ways to reduce the impact on respiratory health.

The smell of weed varies, depending on the type of strain in question. Each Indica, Sativa or Hybrid strain has its own unique scent; therefore, it is hard to sum up the answer to this question in one word. Most users describe the scent as ‘skunky’, ‘woody’, ‘floral’ or ‘pungent’- the most common aromas that are inhaled when marijuana is smoked. Even then, most buds will vary in the intensity of these notes, depending on their chemical composition.

The idea that Marijuana kills brain cells is unfounded, and dates back to popular anti-drug campaigns of the 70’s and 80’s. Rather, the photo-cannabinoids in cannabis are shown to interact positively with CB1 receptors in the brain’s endocannabinoid system. This has benefits for seizures, Alzheimer’s and cell regeneration. A study done on animals shows that both THC and CBD promote the formation of new healthy cells in the adult brain.

Many factors play a role in the duration of a high, including method of ingestion, level of experience the user has, and strain of cannabis being consumed. When smoked or vaped, one can expect to stay high on cannabis for up to two hours after ingestion. Edibles take your body longer to process, but can last anywhere between 4-8 hours depending on dosage.

The term ‘Resin’ has several applications, and thus, definitions. In one sense, it is used to describe the natural, sticky substance produced by the cannabis plant. This substance contains THC, which is why high-grade cannabis is often sticky. Resin might also refer to the residue left over after smoking marijuana. This substance contains very little THC, although some users reclaim and smoke it again. Resin can also be a reference to certain extracts, which contain higher levels of THC than weed.

Wet weed is difficult to smoke because it is hard to light. Weed that has been damp might also be at risk of getting mouldy. Never smoke mouldy weed. Check for a strange smell and for visual signs of mould before smoking. Unfortunately, it may not taste as good as dry weed. Wet weed might also refer to weed laced with PCP, as PCP is sometimes called “wet” or “water.”

Cannabis is typically broken up into three different kinds of flower: indicas, sativas, and hybrids. Indica strains, have calming effects are a popular choice for nighttime use, while sativas are said to produce a functional and “creative” high ideal for daytime use. Hybrids then are a mix between indica and sativa genetics. This method of classifying strains is controversial in that it’s not the most accurate way of describing each genetic strain beyond the plant’s morphology, flowering time, yield, and terpene profile.

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.