Marijuana, Cannabis, Ganja, Pot are different names for the same substance. Marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes for at least 4000 years. More recently in Canada and some states in the USA, Medical Marijuana is now being used to treat different ailments and with good success too.
To put it simply, there are 3 main types of the marijuana plant.
- Indica strains: these are usually the type grown by most at home, and used for recreational purposes. It grows faster and the plants are shorter with wider leaves than Sativa strains. They usually have a higher level of THC (hence the ‘high’ effect) and are associated with sleep and feeling of relaxation
- The Sativa strain: these seem to be the bigger plant, they are taller and have thinner leaves than Indica strains. They would generally have higher levels of CBD and these would cause patients to feel uplifted and energized
- Hybrid strain is perhaps the best as it gives the grower the opportunity to customize the product to get the best of both Sativa and Indica Cannabinoids
When dry, the female cannabis flower contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids. The THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol) are major cannabinoids and are often associated with the therapeutic effects of marijuana.
A. THC is responsible for most of the psychoactive ‘high effect’ properties of marijuana. It is also used for reducing inflammation, pain relief, and regulation of the immune system.
B. CBD is being exploited for medical uses of pain relief, muscle relaxation, nausea, anxiety, and treatment of many other conditions especially because it doesn’t have the psychoactive properties of THC so patients can use it without getting the ‘highs’ of recreational marijuana.
If you are a first-time user, CBD would be a preferred choice and then you can add THC content to it gradually. I will discuss the use of medical cannabis subsequently in more detail.
