Marijuana: What Is Cannabis?

Cannabis, also referred to as marijuana, has been an integral part of human civilizations
for millennia. Both as a medicine and as a recreational substance, cannabis is the most
popular illicit drug in the world. Today, the legal landscape that has prohibited marijuana
for much of the twentieth century is giving way to decriminalization and full legalization.
Legal, commercial cannabis businesses are already making an enormous economic
impact.

Thus, marijuana is re-emerging as an important cultural, social and political force, yet
knowledge about the drug is incomplete, inconsistent and plagued by false information.
As a result, the demand for trustworthy, accurate information about cannabis is at an all-
time high.

This guide is an introduction to anyone looking to inform themselves about the reality of
cannabis. It covers basic information about the marijuana plant, cannabis preparations,
and the crucial elements of plant anatomy and science. This guide to marijuana also
gives an overview of the most popular medical and recreational uses of cannabis. It
offers a survey of the most important medical cannabis research while highlighting
emerging trends in the legal cannabis market. The guide also introduces those new to
cannabis to the many ways to consume marijuana, and much more.

Ultimately, this guide explains everything you need to know about marijuana, so you
can be fully informed next time you answer the question, what is cannabis?
Preparing Cannabis

Cannabis
Nug.

There are many ways to prepare cannabis for consumption. And while final marijuana
products may come in many forms, each aims to provide rich concentrations of the
terpenes, cannabinoids, and other desirable compounds the marijuana plant produces.
From the simple process of drying and curing marijuana flowers, to the sophisticated
chemistry of producing cannabis concentrates, here’s a guide to the most common
forms of cannabis.

Marijuana (Flower)

The most ubiquitous form of prepared cannabis is the dried and cured flowers of female
cannabis plants. The flowering portions of the marijuana plant contain the richest
concentrations of terpenes and cannabinoids, the most desirable compounds of the
plant for medical and recreational marijuana users.
Hashish

There are several types of cannabis concentrates offered on the legal market today.
One of the oldest forms of marijuana concentrate is hashish or hash. Hash is made by
compressing the cannabinoid-rich resin of the marijuana plant.

Tincture

Tinctures are liquid concentrates made through alcohol extraction, pulling out many of
the marijuana plant’s beneficial cannabinoids. In fact, until cannabis prohibition in the
early twentieth century, tinctures were the most common form of medical cannabis in
the United States.

Hash Oil

In addition to pressed hash, hash oil can be created using a variety of solvents like
butane that extract the resinous material from the marijuana plant’s flowers. Butane
extraction produces the concentrate BHO (butane hash oil), one of the strongest
concentrates.

Infusions

Not all forms of marijuana are for inhaling or eating. Cannabis topicals are products
designed for application on the skin. And they’re a major part of cannabis’ incorporation
into health and wellness lifestyles.
Methods Of Consuming Cannabis
Puffing on a marijuana joint.
The exploding recreational market for marijuana has rapidly popularized many methods
of consuming cannabis that was decidedly part of the fringe just a few short years ago.
Smoking marijuana remains the most widely embraced method, due to the greater
accessibility of marijuana flower. But legal recreational cannabis is introducing many
marijuana users to new forms of the drug, especially concentrates and edibles. Here’s a
brief overview of the major methods for consuming marijuana.

Smoking

Smoking marijuana is hands down the most widely used method of consuming
cannabis. It’s also the simplest: a rolling paper and some dried marijuana flower are all
you need. Other, more technological methods of smoking marijuana may be rising in
popularity. But for many people, the social experience of passing weed around with
some friends is what cannabis is all about.

Vaping Cannabis Oil

The onset of legal recreational markets for marijuana has led to a dramatic upsurge in
the method of vaporizing cannabis, aka “vaping.” In many ways vaping cannabis has
quite a bit in common with the process of vaping tobacco, such as the use of “e-
cigarette” batteries and heating elements.

Concentrates used in vaping are almost always in was or oil form. Vaporizing
herbaceous cannabis is also possible, though less efficient and portable than hand-held
vaporizing methods.

Eating and Drinking Cannabis-Infused “Edibles”

Cannabis culture has always taken pride in its epicurean delights. From the old standby
of the “special brownie” to advanced gastropub techniques, culinary cannabis has
attracted amateur and professional “cannachefs” alike.

Eating cannabis, however, does not involve simply ingesting dried marijuana flowers.
Instead, the process involves activating and then extracting THC and other
cannabinoids from ground marijuana flower using fatty substances like oils and, well,
fat.

After decarboxylation, which is the process of “activating” marijuana’s cannabinoids with

heat, THC and other cannabinoids become soluble in fats. Hence the enduring power of
the “pot brownie;” the fats in chocolate and butter excel at sucking up the cannabinoids
in the marijuana plant matter.

It’s also possible to drink cannabis. Again, drinking marijuana involves the use of oils,
tinctures, or other concentrates, which are added to the consumer’s beverage of choice.
From lemonade to coffee, drinkable cannabis is an easy and smoke-free way to dose.

One important thing to note, however, is that the metabolic pathway of THC is different
from that of inhaling. Digestion adds another “stop” on THC’s path to the brain and
produces a special form of THC, called THC-COOH, that’s longer-lasting and more
potent than THC’s other metabolites.

The effects of marijuana use on the human body are complex and incompletely
understood.

Acute Side Effects

Most of the perceptible side effects of marijuana use are a result of the body’s reaction
to the psychoactive THC cannabinoid. THC stimulates or “activates” specific
psychological responses generally, but not always, associated with euphoria and
relaxation.

Lungs

The results of a major, long-term study into marijuana use and lung health reveal no
substantive link between cannabis use and respiratory diseases like lung cancer.
Additionally, lifelong marijuana users had no significantly increased risk of breathing
problems.

Although marijuana smoke contains a number of carcinogens findings from a limited

number of well-designed studies do not suggest an increased risk for the development
of either lung or upper airway cancer from light or moderate use. However, the evidence
is mixed when it comes to the carcinogenic risks of heavy, long-term marijuana users,
according to this study.

Cardiovascular

Scientists simply do not know the overall impact of marijuana on cardiovascular health.
Researchers in California, Pennsylvania, and New York analyzed dozens of studies into
the effects of cannabis on heart health, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Their
analysis revealed more problems with previous studies than answers.

However, scientists do agree that marijuana use increases the heart rate anywhere
from 20 to 50 beats per minutes for up to 3 hours. Other studies have indicated links
between marijuana use and increased blood pressure and hypertension. But these
findings were contradicted by further studies.

Neurological

Multiple studies have concluded that the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD imparts
the significant neuroprotective effects of marijuana. This effect can shield nerve cells
from damage and deterioration, making medical marijuana a promising drug for treating
a range of neurological diseases.

Psychiatric

The relationship between marijuana use and mental health is not fully understood. On
the one hand, research suggests that cannabis can help treat certain mood disorders.
The effects of marijuana use on memory and cognition may also help patients suffering
from PTSD forget traumatic memories.

On the other hand, some studies suggest that cannabis use can contribute to the onset
of or exacerbate existing mental health problems. According to the WHO, marijuana use
can make schizophrenia and other psychoses worse. Some marijuana users also report
experiences of acute anxiety and paranoia as a side effect of the drug.
Plant Science

Cannabis plants growing sky high.

Knowing the anatomy of Cannabis sativa is crucial to understanding what distinguishes

high-quality marijuana from its lesser varieties. It also helps patients, caregivers and
recreational users understand what they’re consuming when they use cannabis, and
why.
The Anatomy Of A Cannabis Plant

Cannabis plants can be male, female, or hermaphrodite. The dried marijuana flowers
that humans consume, however, come from the female plant. That’s because female
plants produce large resin-secreting flowers that are rich in cannabinoids and free
of seeds. Hence, female plants are the ones growers prefer, though of course, male
marijuana plants are a requirement for pollination.

The flowers of female cannabis plants grow in large clusters called cola, with the main
cola at the top of the plant. These clusters contain the reproductive parts of the flower,
which impart the marijuana plant with vibrant strands of color but do little for potency
and taste.

Encasing these parts are green tear-shaped leaf-like structures called the bract. Bracts
are densely coated with resin-producing glands containing the highest concentration of
cannabinoids in the marijuana plant.

Finally, the entire marijuana flower structure is coated with resinous crystals called
trichomes. Trichomes are translucent, mushroom-like glands that form on the entire
flowering structure and even the stems of the marijuana plant. These bulb-shaped
glands secrete the rich, aromatic essential oils that give cannabis its smells and flavors.
Trichomes also contain cannabinoids.

Terpenes

Lovingly shortened to “terps,” terpenes are plant compounds found in all strains of

cannabis—and many other plants, besides.  They play a major role in the palette of the
cannabis plant, imparting smells and flavors ranging from sweet and floral to earthy and
cheesy.

Today, much speculation surrounds terpenes, their role in the effects of consuming
cannabis, and how to best cultivate and preserve them during production.

Knowledge about how terpenes interact with plant cannabinoids has grown significantly
over the years, however.
Cannabinoids

Cannabis plants are chemical powerhouses that produce more than 400 different
compounds. But of those 400 compounds, more than 100 of them are totally specific to
the plant genus Cannabis sativa. Scientists call these special compounds
“cannabinoids.”

Cannabinoids are chemicals that interact with cell receptors throughout the human
central nervous system. This specialized network of receptors, called the
endocannabinoid system (ECS), reacts to the presence of cannabinoids to produce a
variety of pleasurable and therapeutic effects.

Research into plant cannabinoids constitutes the main focus of studies into the possible
medical applications of marijuana.
The Most Important Cannabinoids In Marijuana
The chemistry and science behind cannabis and cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids naturally occur as acids. Heating them converts them to a neutral form

through a process called decarboxylation. Decarboxylated cannabinoids are able to
interact with receptors in the endocannabinoid system, where they stimulate and alter
the release of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Scientists have recorded the presence of more than 100 different plant cannabinoids in
marijuana. But only a few really matter; the ones that produce desirable and beneficial
effects for users.

Growing Marijuana Indoors

Indoor marijuana grows provide the most control over growing conditions. With a simple
setup including a tent, proper lighting, and an air circulation system, home marijuana
growers can produce consistent yields. Both soil and hydro systems can be utilized for
indoor marijuana grows. Soil setups are generally cheaper and more forgiving, but
hydro systems tend to be more common.

Growing marijuana indoors usually begins with cannabis seeds or a clone which has
already begun its initial growth phase. Planting cannabis seeds or rooting a clone is,
therefore, the first step. Using correctly calibrated plant nutrients is essential to
successful growth. Over-watering and overfeeding cannabis plants is an easy mistake
to make.

Marijuana plants will give signs when things are going wrong, giving growers a chance
to correct course. Indica strains of marijuana are more conducive to indoor growing due
to their more efficient use of available space. Sativa cannabis strains require trellising
for support and introduce the need for growth training, complicating the setup.

Growing Marijuana Outdoors

When privacy isn’t a requirement, outdoor cannabis grows can provide many
advantages over indoor operations. Sunlight is the single most important factor for
successful outdoor marijuana growing. It’s important to choose a plot with total sunshine
throughout the day. Therefore, cannabis growers in the northern hemisphere will want
plots with southern exposure, exposing marijuana plants to the sun’s arc across the sky.
The increased exposure to constant sunlight makes the feeding requirements of outdoor
cannabis plants somewhat less strict. Outside, nutrients should be applied to the grow
medium every third day.

Outdoor growing provides a significant advantage over indoor growing in one key area:
space. The greater availability of space allows marijuana plants to spread out and
produce much larger yields. A single cannabis plant grown to full-size outside can
produce between four and eight pounds of cannabis.

.
Medical Cannabis

Are marijuana prescriptions the future of cannabis?

For many, the medical and therapeutic potential of cannabis is what makes legalizing
the marijuana plant such an important political and social task. Federal prohibition has
established barriers to comprehensive cannabis research in the United States.
However, researchers in other countries continue to make significant contributions to
our knowledge of the cannabis plant and how it affects the human body.

Furthermore, medical cannabis use is legal in many more places than recreational
marijuana use. Current research, alongside patient and caregiver testimony, attests to
the many medicinal applications of marijuana. From pain to serious neurological
diseases, medical cannabis is emerging as a safe and viable alternative to many
common prescription medications.

Medical cannabis products come in many forms, from flower to concentrates. Products
with a high cannabidiol (CBD) content are more common among medical cannabis
patients, yet THC also offers a range of medicinal and therapeutic benefits.

The Legality Of Medical Marijuana

In the United States, the legality of medical marijuana varies in substantial ways from
state to state. There are currently 29 US states with legal medical cannabis laws, as
well as the District of Columbia. That leaves 21 states where medical marijuana is
entirely prohibited. Marijuana cultivation, possession, and use in any form is illegal at
the federal level.

Medical Cannabis Uses And Treatments

Many of the medical benefits of cannabis stem from its capacity to act as an anti-
inflammatory. Inflammation is a contributing and aggravating factor in a range of
diseases, including chronic pain and neurological illnesses.

Cannabis, especially the cannabinoid CBD, has also demonstrated its abilities as a
powerful anti-convulsant. This property is what accounts for cannabis’ ability to reduce
the severity and frequency of seizures, especially for people with epilepsy. In the United
States, epilepsy is the most widely adopted qualifying condition for medical cannabis
use, especially for children.

Scientists have also discovered a pathway whereby cannabis can act as a “neuro-
protectant,” shielding nerve cells from degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Multiple
Sclerosis and Parkinson’s.
Even more remarkably, cannabidiol has shown that it can inhibit the growth of tumors.
Landmark studies conclude that CBD can, therefore, slow the progression of many
types of cancer, including breast, lung, prostate and colon cancer.

State Of Cannabis Research

Patients need medical marijuana approved recommendations from licensed physicians.

Researchers in the United States face many challenges and barriers in conducting
cannabis research. Changes in state policy and increasing access to legal medical
marijuana has not altered the federal legal landscape, which still considers marijuana
“Schedule I” with no medical or social value.

As a result, there is limited reliable research on the health effects of cannabis and
cannabinoids produced in the US. Regulatory barriers, poor quality marijuana samples,
funding limitations and logistical problems beleaguer cannabis studies in the US.

However, other nations with less restrictive policies have emerged as global leaders in
medical cannabis research and development. Among them are Canada, which just
authorized $1.4 million for marijuana research projects.

Israel, another example, has led the way with ground-breaking research into cannabis
cultivation. The country recently recognized medical marijuana as an official part of the
nation’s branch of agriculture. Israel is already one of the world’s leading exporters of
medical-grade cannabis. Recognizing marijuana cultivation as an official branch of the
country’s agriculture will open up even more funds to support Israeli cannabis farmers.

Cancer

According to researchers, 25 percent of all cancer patients use medical marijuana.

Cancer patients are finding relief from medical cannabis. And they want to know more
about it. Research conducted at St. George’s University of London, found the two most
common cannabinoids in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol
(CBD), weakened the ferocity of cancer cells and made them more susceptible to
radiation treatment. Other studies have shown that medical marijuana treatments can
slow the growth of cancer cells and halt their spread to other parts of the body.

Dementia

Several animal studies have led researchers to believe that cannabis could reverse
signs of aging in the brain. Aging mice treated with small daily doses of THC showed a
reversal in cognitive decline. However, past studies on the effects of cannabis on
human memory show less promising results. Still, with few viable treatments for
dementia, medical marijuana is receiving increased attention in this area.
Diabetes

Cannabis research suggests medical marijuana could become an effective treatment for
diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is a debilitating and sometimes fatal condition
caused by diabetes. Diabetics suffer from high blood sugar due to insulin resistance,
and this damages nerve cells in the body, causing severe pain. Patients who consumed
THC as part of a study found they experienced less pain. Findings are not definitive,
however, and further research into cannabis as a treatment for diabetes and associated
symptoms is required.

Epilepsy

Few studies exist examining how cannabis affects epilepsy in humans. But studies on
animals offer rich and encouraging data about the effectiveness of medical marijuana as
a seizure medication. In animals, both the THC and CBD cannabinoids demonstrate
very potent anti-convulsant effects.

The CBD cannabinoid shows the widest effectiveness, capable of treating a variety of
epilepsies without actively causing seizures or increasing there severity. THC also
exerts anti-seizure properties. But in about 10 percent of cases, THC led to more and
severer seizures in animals.

Tourettes Syndrome

Researchers in New Zealand have studied whether cannabis can be used to treat
severe motor and vocal tics in those suffering from Tourette syndrome. The study
concluded that subjects who took a controlled THC-CBD medicated spray showed
marked improvement in the frequency and severity of motor and vocal tics post-
treatment. Although the study is only a small clinical trial, it is one of the first to
specifically analyze the effects of cannabis on Tourette syndrome.
Recreational Marijuana

Smoking the ganja.

Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug in the world, for no reason other than the fact
that it produces a psychoactive chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol. Still, recreational
marijuana use, which involves pursuing the euphoric sensations produced by cannabis
consumption, is steadily becoming more and more legal, both in the United States and
abroad.

Recreational cannabis cultivation and consumption continue to enter the mainstream as

a legal, regulated industry. And new and exciting trends have emerged in the
commercial marketplace. Legal marijuana also offers unprecedented investment
opportunities; the industry is the fastest-growing in the world.

Common Uses For Recreational Marijuana

Recreational cannabis use centers around one chemical: the psychoactive cannabinoid
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Consuming this chemical induces euphoric and stimulating
sensations commonly referred to as a “high.” For most marijuana users, these
sensations are pleasurable and enjoyable. For some, however, THC can induce
feelings of anxiety and paranoia, especially in large doses.

Emerging Trends In The Recreational Cannabis Market

Undeniably, one of the biggest trends in the recreational cannabis community has been
the surge in popularity of cannabis concentrates. From casual vaping to competitive
dabbing, the concentrate market has virtually dominated the conversation among
recreational users.

Going forward, another emerging trend among recreational users are wellness lifestyles
built around cannabis. This is certainly part of the influence of California’s new
recreational marijuana market, which went online January 1, 2018. California is already
an epicenter for health and wellness lifestyles and fads. Expect to see more of the same
now that cannabis is completely legal.

Whether it’s new cannabis strains boasting previously unheard of THC concentrations,
new devices for obtaining and consuming concentrates, or new techniques for produces
the highest quality edibles, the recreational marijuana market is no doubt one of the
most exciting emerging horizons in the cannabis industry worldwide.
Economic Impact Of Cannabis

Cannabis is one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer industries. It’s currently worth
$7.2 billion and expected to bloom to $20.5 billion by 2020. Legal cannabis companies
have also created over 300,000 jobs, according to the data firm New Frontier.

Startups are cropping up everywhere, and investors are cautiously optimistic about the
opportunities these businesses represent. Developments in technology, financing, and
media have completely transformed the landscape of commercial cannabis in the
United States and elsewhere.

The emerging legal marketplace is also highly competitive. Companies are vying to form
partnerships with tech companies offering solutions to increase bottom lines.

Legal Status of Recreational Marijuana

Only a handful of countries have legalized recreational marijuana. Uruguay was one of
the first, in 2013. The Netherlands is perhaps the country most known for legal
marijuana, yet the drug is illegal there. Spain has given its citizens the rights to grow
and consume cannabis privately. Peru also allows citizens to possess marijuana as long
as it is for personal, private use. As in Costa Rica, where people can have a “small
amount,” without legal trouble.

In the United States, 9 states and the District of Columbia have legalized adult
recreational marijuana use.

Usage Statistics For Marijuana

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), About 147 million people, 2.5
percent of the world population, consume cannabis. That’s compared with 0.2 percent
consuming cocaine and 0.2 percent consuming opiates. The most recent decade has
also seen the sharpest rise in marijuana abuse.
Public Perception of Marijuana In The United States

According to a 2017 Gallup poll, 64 percent of respondents said they support fully
legalizing cannabis. The total represents a 4 percent increase over the prior year. The
upward trend isn’t something new, either. Support for legal weed has grown steadily
since 2012. Interestingly, support for legal marijuana is rising among Republican voters