Part 1: Types of Weed
Legalization is coming, and our shops have been buzzing like a beehive. Everyone wants to know exactly how things will shake out, and so do we! The future is fabulous, but we're not there yet. I want to talk about the past. You know who you are. You had a weed plant in your living room in your 20's, and you try to keep a straight face as your grown children are vaping their avocado toast. You're pretty sure you want to try smoking again, then you hear these reports that today's weed is 3 times more potent. And what the fuck is a dab? Well, sit tight, Ricky, because Lucy got some 'splaining to do. Over the next few weeks we're going to break it all down, and tell you what's changed, what's stayed the same, and empower you to get high in comfort and confidence.
This week we're talking about the actual cannabis plant. You may be familiar with the terms Indica and Sativa, but what do they mean with respect to today's product?
Cannabis Sativa was originally described as those plants with long skinny leaves, often causing a energetic or euphoric high. Indica was the one that glued you to your couch for the evening. Nowadays though hybrids have completely changed the game. You can no longer look at a plant and be able to guess at it's effects. But fear not, because now most commercially available pot will be tested for the two most relevant cannabinoids, THC and CBD. THC is the main psychoactive chemical that gets you “high”, while CBD reduces pain and anxiety. We now understand that there are over 100 different cannabinoids, so this research is still evolving, but growers have been able to selectively breed strains that are less than 0.3% THC, making them a safe option for anyone that wants to address medical concerns without getting a buzz.
If you're thinking of growing your own, you also need to be aware of male and female plants. Female plants are the ones that develop buds, while male plants need to be isolated or destroyed to prevent the females from producing seeds instead of smokeable buds. Luckily there are now feminized seeds available that should make home cultivating a breeze. If you are considering growing your own, I highly recommend checking out this book, and this one.
Next week we'll be taking on bongs, pipes, and papers, so follow us on Facebook, Twitter or IG (or all three!) so you can get the latest info, including our upcoming in-house primer course. Yeah, you read that right.
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