The Basics of Cannabis

 

Wondering about the world of cannabis? Here is rundown of the different types of cannabis and how they can be used. Within each category are a variety of strains offered to the public. If you're still wondering, 'what do they sell in that cannabis shop', I would recommend taking a ride and stopping in a few shops and talking to their knowledgeable staff.

Since its legalization, cannabis is not the pot from the 60's and 70's. It's cannabis, and its legalization has opened more doors to hundreds of new, tested, and quality-controlled cannabis products. There are a variety of ways to enjoy it and many users considers its overall relaxing effect. Others use cannabis as a medicinal product when added to their health regime. It's been taken off the black market and into mainstream society.

Currently, Canadians can legally purchase fresh and dried cannabis flower buds, cannabis oils or capsules, seeds and plants for cultivation, pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes and accessories (e.g. rolling papers), cannabis edibles, extracts and topicals.

Beyond the territory of Akwesasne, Cannabis is legal in New York for adults 21 and older, but that doesn't mean you can use it anywhere you want. Cannabis can be consumed in a private home or at a state-licensed on-site consumption site (coming soon). The smoking of cannabis is prohibited anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited.

A landlord cannot refuse to rent to a tenant who uses cannabis, but landlords, property owners and rental companies can still ban the use of cannabis on their premises.

If you're traveling, hotel owners can ban the use and possession of cannabis on their properties, so you may not be able to use in a hotel room. Please note, that leaving the state or country with any cannabis product is against the law.

Since cannabis is still illegal under federal law in the United States, you can't use on federal land, including national parks and national forests.

TYPES OF CANNABIS

Dried cannabis, Edible cannabis, Cannabis oil, Cannabis extracts, Fresh cannabis, Cannabis topicals, Cannabis plants, Dried cannabis, Cannabis plant seeds, Fresh cannabis

CANNABIS PLANT SEEDS

All forms of marijuana are mind-altering. In other words, they change how your brain works by attaching to molecules on the brain and activating them, typically creating the effects of euphoria, relaxation, and sharper perception of things like colors, smells, and sounds. For some people, the effects are unpleasant and may result in paranoia, fear, panic, or anxiety.

All forms of marijuana also contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active chemical, as well as more than 500 other chemicals. Marijuana's effects on the user depend on the strength or potency of the THC it contains.

The potency of marijuana has increased since the early 1990s when the THC content was less than 4%. In 2018, potency was around 15%, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cannabis products can be catagorized into five types: dried cannabis, pre-rolled, extracts, beverages and edibles. Several factors should be considered when choosing a product. These include how the product will be used and how long the effects will last depend on each individual user.

DRIED FLOWER AND GROUND

Description - Often called buds, dried cannabis flowers can vary in appearance. They come in several colors, the most common being green, orange, red and purple. Ground cannabis is simply cannabis flowers that have been ground into fine pieces or powder.

Use - Inhaling

Recommendations

- Use small doses of a low-THC product

- Start with a small puff

- Do not use "as is" for cooking

Preparation and accessories - Grind for smoking in a joint or vaporizing. Break into pieces for use in a pipe or bong. Decarboxylate (heat) for later use in cooking.

PRE-ROLLED

Description - Rolled by hand or mechanically, pre-rolled joints of ground cannabis can be smoked "as is." Little or no intervention by the user is necessary.

Use - Inhaling

Recommendations

- Use small doses of a low-THC product

- Start with a small puff

EXTRACT

Sublingual oil, Oral spray

Description - Sublingual cannabis oil is obtained via the distillation or extraction of cannabis leaves and flowers. The oil is sold in three forms: liquid in a dropper bottle, oral spray and ingestible capsules.

Sublingual oil and cooking oil are different products and should not be used interchangeably.

Use - Dropping or spraying under the tongue or swallowing

Recommendations

- Use small doses of a low-THC product

- Start with a small drop or spritz

- Wait several hours before taking more, if necessary

Preparation and accessories - Drop or spray the oil directly in the mouth or under the tongue.

HASHISH

Description - Hashish usually comes in the form of a dense cube of dried resinous paste. Its color can vary, with dark green and brown being the most common. Hashish is extracted from cannabis flowers and leaves and usually has a stronger concentration of cannabinoids than dried cannabis.

Use - Inhaling

Recommendations

- Use very small doses

- For more experienced users

- Do not use in a vaporizer

Preparation and accessories - Break into pieces the size of a match head and expose to a heat source

Capsule

Description - The cannabis oil in capsules is obtained via the distillation or CO2 extraction of cannabis leaves and flowers. Encapsulation makes the oil easier to swallow.

Use - Ingesting

Recommendations - Effects may take a while to appear. To avoid overdosing, begin with a single low-dose THC capsule and wait several hours before taking another, if necessary.

Tincture

Description - Cannabis tinctures are a liquid food product obtained by macerating cannabis flowers in strong, flavorless spirits and then boiling the mixture several hours. A CO2 extraction process is also used. The resulting liquid is usually mixed with a neutral oil and packaged with a dropper.

Use - Ingesting

Recommendations

- Make sure all portions contain an equal amount of tincture

- Begin with a small dose (one drop) of low-THC product

- Wait several hours before consuming more, if necessary

Cooking ingredient

Description - The cooking ingredients available at the SQDC are in the form of cannabis oil specifically designed for cooking. Cannabis oil for cooking is obtained through a CO2 extraction process. It is then diluted in a neutral oil rich in triglyceride.

Cooking oil, unlike sublingual oil, can be heated, but is not recommended for frying. Like other cooking oils, it should not be burned. The maximum recommended cooking temperature is 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).

Use - Ingesting

Recommendations

- Begin with a small dose (one drop)

- Wait several hours before consuming more, if necessary

- Distribute the quantity well if you are cooking more than one portion at a time

- Do not fry or heat above 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius)

Preparation and accessories - Add the drops of oil to a cooking preparation (e.g. cake) or directly to a cold food (e.g. salad).

CONCENTRATE - Description

Cannabis concentrate is an emulsion obtained using a CO2 extraction process. Unlike oil, the concentrate is water-soluble, so it dissolves quickly in water.

Use - Ingesting

Recommendations

- Begin with a small dose (one drop)

- Wait several hours before consuming more, if necessary

- Do not heat

- Do not add this product to boiling water

- Do not smoke

Preparation and accessories - Add the drops of concentrate to a cold or lukewarm drink or directly to a cold food.

Kief

Description

Kief usually comes in the form of a powder with a sticky texture. Its color can vary, with yellow and green being the most common. Kief is extracted from the trichomes of the dried flowers of female cannabis plants. Kief usually has a stronger concentration of cannabinoids than dried cannabis.

Use - Inhaling

Recommendations

- Use very small doses

- For more experienced users

Preparation and accessories - Break into pieces the size of a match head and expose to a heat source

Beverage

Description - Ready-to-drink beverages and cannabis infusions contain pre-activated cannabinoids.

Use - Ingesting

Recommendations

- Start with a small mouthful

- Consume no more than one low-THC beverage and wait several hours before drinking another one, if necessary.

Where Marijuana is Fully Legal in the United States

Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Washington, D.C.

Where Medical Marijuana Only is Legal

Alabama (CBD only), Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia (CBD only), Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana (CBD only), Iowa (CBD only), Kansas (CBD only), Kentucky (CBD only), Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi (CBD only), Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina (CBD only), North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma (CBD only), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina (CBD only), Tennessee (CBD only), Texas (CBD only), Utah, Virginia (CBD only), West Virginia, Wisconsin (CBD only), Wyoming (CBD only).

Where All Marijuana is Illegal

Idaho, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Resource: The Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) is a subsidiary of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ). New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

Indian Time is not advocating the use of cannabis, but rather advocating for an informed Akwesasronon consumer.

 

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