Smoke And Tell YQL

Lets talk lingo!

The world of cannabis is confusing enough but it seems that it also has it’s own secret language. Let’s break down a few terms so you can feel confident talking cannabis with anyone!

Cannabis – the botanical term for the plant itself, cannabis is the most respectful and correct term. You will never be wrong using this term!

Ma*****na – the word itself is controversial within the cannabis community; due to it’s history of being deliberately used to negatively associate cannabis with minority groups. Many find the term ma*****na unacceptable and offensive.

W**d – widely used and loved by many. Considered by some to be disrespectful to the plant itself.

Pot – another common word for cannabis. The word pot is not overly controversial and still used often in the media, but the term pothead can be insulting.

H**p – a variety of the cannabis plant. Contains virtually no THC (< 0.03%). Humans have been cultivating h**p for many years, primarily for its fibrous stalks.

Cultivar – A plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding. (better word to use than strain)

The entourage effect

This is the combined effect of cannabis chemical compounds on the human body. The entourage effect is used to explain that the effects from an isolated cannabis compounds (pure THC for example), are different from the effects felt if there are multiple cannabis compounds all working together. This shouldn’t be a surprise as we have discussed terpenes, cannabinoids, and the ECS. But, now you have a name to put to it!

Some examples of this are

THC & CBD – because they bind differently to the CB1 receptor it is helpful to have both compounds present. THC can bind to CB1 right away, where CBD needs to first bind with THC which signals the CB1 receptor to create a landing site for CBD. CBD can bind to 15 other receptors on its own and have positive effects, but in order for it to be powerfully effective, CBD needs THC.

Cannabinoids & Terpenes – As we discussed previously cannabinoids need terpenes to cross the blood-brain barrier. New studies are also showing that certain terpenes (Humulene, pinene, and geraniol so far) activate the CB1 receptor as well. Meaning that the interaction between these compounds produce greater effects.

Isolate products can be great but whole plant compounds are going to give the best synergistic effects.

Cannabis and the brain!

Let’s talk more about the physiology of getting high. Our brains have a blood-brain barrier (BBB) which functions like a filter around the brain, keeping out large and potentially toxic chemical compounds. The larger the compound the harder it is to cross the BBB. This barrier allows small and fat-soluble compounds to pass through.

Terpenes are tiny compounds so they can pass through easily. Cannabinoids are often big, chunky compounds that can’t pass through the BBB easily. So, when terpenes and cannabinoids are together, the terpenes can help the cannabinoids get across the barrier… (Cue the entourage effect?) This means more of the cannabinoids can enter your system and increases the effects of both compounds on the body.

When you inhale THC, you consume what is known as the delta 9 THC molecule, which is large. When inhaled this compound isn’t getting into your brain very easily because of its size, you are also likely burning off lots of the terpenes if you are not monitoring your combustion temperatures. However, when you eat an edible delta 9 THC is metabolized in the liver which transforms it into 11-hydroxy THC, which is a much smaller cannabinoid, so when gets to the brain it has an easier time crossing the barrier. This is why edibles can be so intense!

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds uniquely found in the cannabis plant. There are 113 known cannabinoids, but THC and CBD are the most well-known and sought after. The potency of each cannabinoid will help to determine your cannabis experience. But, as we discussed previously, cannabinoid percentages are not the only determining factor and they should be considered in conjunction with terpene profiles.

Different cannabinoids will have different effects on our bodies, and how we consume them will also make an impact. The chemical compound of cannabinoids can change depending whether they are raw, heated etc. and thus changing the effect.
Cannabinoids also impact each other, they don’t all have the same effects and can sometimes counteract or enhance each other. When CBD is present with THC it can help to tone down the effects of THC. If you’re uncomfortably high on THC a good dose of CBD may be able to calm you down. Blended strains and products offer a balance of CBD and THC and are a good option for those who are more sensitive to THC or those looking for a more well-rounded experience.

Three of the main cannabinoids we look at today are:

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)- The main psychoactive compound in cannabis. THC binds with the CB1 receptors in the brain and this is what produces your high.

CBD (cannabidiol)- CBD is psychoactive as well but not in the same way as THC. CBD only affects the brain as much as ni****ne or caffeine so while it is psychoactive it is not considered intoxicating. CBD needs THC to bind to the CB1 receptors, which is why it can help to counteract the effects.

CBN (cannabinol)- CBN comes from the breakdown of THC and is generally considered mildly intoxicating. There is not a lot of research into CBN at this time but it is known for its sedative effects.