Ahh, the sweet smell of Mary Jane.
Defined by the Drug Enforcement Agency as
"[...] a mind-altering (psychoactive) drug, produced by the Cannabis sativa plant..." (DEA.gov)
One if God's greatest gifts to us has been around since the Assyrians, Greeks, Indian Hindus and the Romans. Despite its controversial presence over the past century, many consumers (and even non-consumers) know that the potential benefits, both medicinal and recreational, far outweigh the short- and long-term effects.
Simply put...
"Cannabis is a fascinating plant genus best known for its mind-altering and medicinal properties" (Leafly.com).
While there's still a lot we have to learn about weed and its broad spectrum of different effects, here's the basics of what we do know:
- Smoke it, eat it, drink it and more. Cannabis can be consumed in a variety of different ways, including smoking, vaporizing, ingesting, sublingual dissolution and topical application
- A major player in the effects of Cannabis are compounds native to the plant, like THC and CBD, known as cannabinoids
- Naturally-occuring aromatic compounds found in plants, food and more known as terpenes also help create the myriad of effects that cannabis may have
- Receptors in the human body meant for cannabinoids and terpenes to bind to belong to a branch of the Central Nervous System called the Endocannabinoid System. The ECS also plays a part in regulating mood, sleep, hunger and maintaining homeostasis
- The combination of effects from cannabinoids and terpenes on the human body is what's known as the Entourage Effect. This is the idea that the synergistic relationship of the various compounds in cannabis creates a unique experience for every user.
As legalization and reform continues to increase around the globe, cannabis research and exploration expands more and more every year. Lightyears away from what we knew at the dawn of even the 21st century, understanding the basics of what cannabis is and how it truly interacts with your body can have an everlasting impact on how you look at, smell, buy and consume everyone's best bud.