Cannabis is one of the biggest wellness trends, and it’s currently the most tested and researched plant on the planet. Cannabis used to be associated with hippies, bongs, and joints, but today, it’s gaining momentum as the go-to medicine for various health problems.
It’s widely used to prevent epilepsy, help people battle depression and anxiety, and other health issues. The most popular compound in hemp is called CBD, and it’s currently sold all over the world in many different forms. It’s not psychoactive, but it does provide benefits many patients find helpful. If you’re new to cannabis, keep reading, and we’ll tell you all you need to know about this amazing plant.
The Cannabinoids
The cannabis plant has over 100 cannabinoids, with new ones discovered regularly. These cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in marijuana, but they are also a part of the endocannabinoid system found in our bodies.
Some of these compounds lead to a psychoactive state of mind, THC being the most prominent one, but the vast majority of them don’t change your state of mind. However, they affect how our organs work and can help treat many different diseases and health issues. The Toronto Cannabis Dispensary has a vast offer of the best cannabis products on the market, so make sure you check it out.
CBD Or Cannabidiol
CBD is one of the compounds found in the cannabis plant. It’s the most used cannabinoid as it proved to be very useful for people suffering from chronic inflammation, anxiety, depression, and other health issues. The compound doesn’t cause a high feeling, and it’s not addictive in any way, which is why many people prefer using it over prescription drugs.
Not only that, CBD doesn’t cause any negative side effects, and it’s a 100% natural substance without any unhealthy elements. Today, CBD products are often prescribed instead of drugs because they provide all kinds of health benefits without any psychoactive effects.
Some people make the mistake of thinking that CBD will help them relieve pain, but this compound doesn’t provide such effects. It could have such effects, but there’s still not enough research in the field.
The World Health Organization recognizes CBD as one of the substances that positively affect people who have epilepsy. The organization also said that CBD could help treat patients with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s disease, MS, pain, cancer, depression, nausea, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and many other diseases.
It’s usually used in the form of oil that you can either swallow or vape. The world is still waiting for sufficient research and results to prove the health benefits that this compound provides. Most of the proof we have today is based on user experience and similar anecdotal evidence.
THC Or Tetrahydrocannabinol
THC is another compound found in the cannabis plant, and it’s the one that leads to psychoactive effects. It also provides benefits that can help patients suffering from many different health problems. It’s widely used to stimulate appetite, control anxiety attacks, relieve pain, and improve the quality of sleep.
THC doesn’t provide powerful effects by itself, but when combined with other compounds, it can provide excellent results.
While CBD products are usually used as an isolated extract, THC is often used as the whole flower. Medicinal THC needs some time to get used to, so doctors always tell their patients to take it slow and increase the dosage over time. That is because of the psychoactive effects that can prove to be too intense for beginners.
Difference Between Cannabis, Marijuana, and Hemp
All three plants are cousins. They belong to the same family of plants, but they offer different health benefits. So, let’s take a quick look at the pluses and minuses of all three, so you can finally learn how to tell the difference between them.
Cannabis
Cannabis is the Latin name for hemp or marijuana. Doctors often use it as a more serious way of saying weed or pot. When they say cannabis, people are more willing to give this therapy a try than when they hear the word marijuana. So, cannabis is just a word used to describe either marijuana or hemp. Keep reading to understand the difference between these two plants.
Marijuana
Marijuana is usually tied to the cannabis Sativa species of the plant, and it usually has high THC levels and moderate levels of CBD. The name marijuana comes from the Mexican slang for cannabis, and it was used to stigmatize and make the plant illegal close to over 100 years ago.
Marijuana is the same as cannabis, but it earned a bad name because it leads to that high feeling many people don’t like. There is still no evidence to support the theory that marijuana causes long-term health issues, although it’s not healthy when smoked. In reality, it provides the same benefits as any CBD or THC oil tincture.
Hemp
Hemp is also the cannabis plant, but a mail version without flowers and less than 0.3% of THC. It’s easy to grow and cultivate, and it offers high levels of CBD. Most CBD products are made from organically grown hemp. Hemp can also produce over 25,000 different products like food, medicine, housing materials, soaps, fuel, paper, and many others.
The Bottom Line
When we consider the fact that cannabis was prohibited for decades until recently, it’s no surprise that we still don’t know enough about how it works and what benefits it provides.
However, cannabis is the most researched plant in the world for the past few years. We’ll soon have all the proof we need to finally allow widespread use of the cannabinoids that can help people improve their quality of life like no other plant on the planet. We hope our little overview helped you understand what this plant is and how it helps.
