Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStrainsForms of WeedFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Strains
Forms of Weed
Frequently Asked Questions
The intensity and character ofmarijuana’s effectsvary with strain, preparation, and method of consumption. Your metabolism and frequency of use will also influence how marijuana affects you. This article discusses the options and their pros and cons so you can determine which cannabis type and form might be right for you.Strains of WeedLike many plants, cannabis comes in many strains. Marijuana strains are generally categorized as sativa, indica, or a hybrid of both.Sativa strainstend to produce an energetic, euphoric buzz.Indica strainscan be calming and relaxing.Hybrid strainsare a blend of the two. Most modern strains are hybrid to some degree.Forms of WeedCannabis is available in several forms:
The intensity and character ofmarijuana’s effectsvary with strain, preparation, and method of consumption. Your metabolism and frequency of use will also influence how marijuana affects you. This article discusses the options and their pros and cons so you can determine which cannabis type and form might be right for you.
Strains of Weed
Like many plants, cannabis comes in many strains. Marijuana strains are generally categorized as sativa, indica, or a hybrid of both.
Cannabis is available in several forms:
Flower
Often calledweedorpot, this is the unprocessed form of cannabis.Weed consists of the dried leaves and buds of the femaleCannabis sativaandCannabis indicaplants.
It has a very pungent and recognizable odor, both in its unburnt state and while being smoked.This odor is quite unlike kitchen herbs, although weed is sometimes “cut” (mixed) with benign kitchen herbs such as oregano and parsley when sold in the underground market.
Weed is commonly smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes, known asjoints.The lumpy texture of weed can be felt through the tobacco rolling paper. This is one of the characteristics that can differentiate a joint from a hand-rolledtobacco cigarette.
Hashish and weed can be mixed with rolling tobacco, a soft, moist, sticky tobacco preparation designed for hand rolling. It may also be combined with the dry tobacco from deconstructed cigarettes. This mixture is referred to as a “spliff."(When cigars are hollowed out and filled with marijuana, it is called a “blunt.")
Weed, hashish, and hashish oil can be smoked in pipes, water pipes, and bongs, or mixed with tobacco and smoked in a chillum. Achillumis a straight, conical-shaped pipe made of clay or stone. Some people have also used e-cigarettes to inhaleTHC oilthrough “vaping.”
Edibles
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Marijuana can also be taken orally and is often cooked into food. In this form, they are commonly callededibles. A classic way to eat marijuana is in the form of brownies or cookies. However, marijuana can be added to many types of food, just like an herb, and may even appear in chocolate, gummy bears, and other forms of candy.
The next step is to infuse the decarboxylated cannabis into butter or oil and then add the infused fat into an edible product.
With edible forms of marijuana, it takes longer to feel the psychoactive effects, but they can be quite potent.
Anecdotal observations suggest that edibles may be helpful for conditions such as pain, nausea, epilepsy, sleep disorders, and mental health conditions such as PTSD anddepression. However, overconsumption of edibles is linked to motor impairment, cognitive problems, agitation, anxiety, vomiting, and sedation.
Concentrates
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Some of the processes used to produce cannabis concentrates include dry processing, dry ice processing, water-based processing, pressure/heat processing, and the use of flammable or non-flammable solvents. Once produced, a concentrate may look like liquid wax, a soft solid, or a hard solid.
These products can then be consumed in a variety of different ways depending on the form of the concentrate. Dabbing is one popular way to consume cannabis concentrates.
Dabbing
In this case,a little dab will do ya.(Sorry!)
Wax, Shatter, Oils
Waxis a malleable substance with a butter-like texture that can be smoked in a bong or pipe.
Oilis a liquid cannabis concentrate that can be consumed with a vape pen, taken sublingually under the tongue, added to edibles, or placed in a capsule.
Capsules
Tinctures
Hash
Hashish, or hash for short, is a preparation of marijuana made from the resin of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The resin is dried into blocks of hashish, producing an oily, solid substance.
Hash is often warmed, crumbled, and rolled together with tobacco. It may also be smoked in a pipe, bong, or chillum.
Distillate
Rick Simpson OilOne type of distillate is known as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), named after its creator. This type of oil contains higher levels of THC than other forms and is purported to offer benefits for conditions such as skin cancer, asthma, inflammation, depression, and infections.
Rick Simpson Oil
One type of distillate is known as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), named after its creator. This type of oil contains higher levels of THC than other forms and is purported to offer benefits for conditions such as skin cancer, asthma, inflammation, depression, and infections.
Some research has found that THC and CBD extracts may be helpful when used as a treatment alongside radiation therapy;however, more research is needed.
Frequently Asked QuestionsHow long marijuana remains in your system depends on a variety of factors, including how much you use and your physiology. For example, after using marijuana one time, it may be detectable in urine for up to 13 days. If you use marijuana heavily, it may be detected in urine and hair for up to 90 days.Learn More:How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?Yes, marijuana can be addictive. While most people who use marijuana will not become addicted, around 30% will develop a marijuana use disorder.Learn More:Is Marijuana Addictive?Edibles take longer to begin working than inhaling marijuana, but the effects can be more powerful and last longer. One study found that when taking THC orally, such as in an edible, it can take between 30 and 90 minutes for the effects to kick in.
How long marijuana remains in your system depends on a variety of factors, including how much you use and your physiology. For example, after using marijuana one time, it may be detectable in urine for up to 13 days. If you use marijuana heavily, it may be detected in urine and hair for up to 90 days.Learn More:How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?
How long marijuana remains in your system depends on a variety of factors, including how much you use and your physiology. For example, after using marijuana one time, it may be detectable in urine for up to 13 days. If you use marijuana heavily, it may be detected in urine and hair for up to 90 days.
Learn More:How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?
Yes, marijuana can be addictive. While most people who use marijuana will not become addicted, around 30% will develop a marijuana use disorder.Learn More:Is Marijuana Addictive?
Yes, marijuana can be addictive. While most people who use marijuana will not become addicted, around 30% will develop a marijuana use disorder.
Learn More:Is Marijuana Addictive?
Edibles take longer to begin working than inhaling marijuana, but the effects can be more powerful and last longer. One study found that when taking THC orally, such as in an edible, it can take between 30 and 90 minutes for the effects to kick in.
12 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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