What Is Cannabis? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to It, Its Types, and Uses

A newbie in the world of cannabis, you have to gain an overall view on the spectrum to experience its benefits. From different types to varying components of a cannabis plant, there is a lot to it. But more than anything else, it is the naturally occurring psychoactive properties that keep people attracted to them the most!

For centuries, people in Asia and other parts of the world have harvested and dried the flowers of these plants and used them to get ‘high’ or to feel calm and relaxed. Smoking and ingesting cannabis had been a common practice across China, Egypt, Greece, and other parts of the world. However, cannabis has several uses, including medicinal and recreational uses.

Regardless of its medicinal effects, most people use cannabis to get a calm and relaxed feeling. But the effect may vary based on the type of cannabis you are using. If you are a beginner in the world of cannabis, it can be confusing to select the best option for you.

So, let’s understand what different types of cannabis are on the market.

Types of Cannabis

You can categorise cannabis based on its species, and also the major components in it. First, let’s discuss the different cannabis plants.

Different Cannabis Plants

Mainly, people know about the two major types – Indica and Sativa. Even though Sativa and Indica are referred to as cannabis, they require different climates to grow and offer different experiences. Apart from this, there is another type of cannabis plant – Ruderalis. Let’s know about them one by one.

Sativa

Sativa is best suited to grow in hot weather with sufficient sunlight. When you consume it, you get an energetic and mood-uplifting effect. This is why people prefer to use it during the daytime. As you feel energetic and creative, you can focus on work easily.

Special mention: Hemp – It is a type of Sativa cannabis which has a low level of THC. However, even when there is a low level of THC or CBD, there always remains a risk of severe impact on your health if you do not use it in restriction.

Indica

Indica is best for cold climate conditions. The plants look bushy with wider leaves. The cannabis effect you get after smoking includes a relaxed and calming effect. It can be a good choice of weed for anxiety.
However, it might have a relaxing effect on your body; do not use it as an alternative to anti-anxiety medication without a doctor’s suggestion.

Hybrid

It is a cross or mix of sativa and indica plant genes. It offers you a mixed effect of both Indica and Sativa. So, you get a relaxed and energetic effect.

Ruderalis

It is a wild variant of cannabis that has adapted to grow in a wild environment or wasteland. Using Ruderalis might give you a relaxing experience.

However, having a relaxing or energetic effect after smoking or consuming cannabis depends on the components it contains. Let’s discuss different types of cannabis based on their components.

Major Cannabis Components

There are more than 120 components in cannabis; however, how they affect the human body is yet to be determined. Two major types of components determine how you will feel after using cannabis: Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Cannabidiol (CBD)

It is that component or cannabinoid that does not give you a feeling of ‘high’. It is not intoxicating. Instead, you will get a relaxing and calming effect after consuming CBD.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

This is the main compound or cannabinoid that gives you the feeling of ‘being high’. If you use cannabis that has a high percentage of THC, you will get the euphoric feeling that people get. However, you might also experience anxiety and other severe effects.

Now, let’s see how cannabis is being used in modern society.

Common Uses of Cannabis

Modern cannabis is used in different ways. In some parts of the world, cannabis is legalised for its use in medical purposes. It has also been used for recreational purposes in different regions.

Medical applications

Cannabis can be used to treat or ease the symptoms of different medical conditions. These might include epilepsy and seizures, Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma, chronic pain, nausea or vomiting due to cancer treatment. However, the medical usage of cannabis can vary depending on the patient and the medical practitioner.

Industrial

In the UK, cannabis is also used for industrial purposes. It is commonly known as Hemp, and it contains a negligible percentage of THC. In the UK, farmers are eligible to cultivate hemp but not the flower. Hemp stalks are used for fibre production, hempcrete (lightweight concrete materials), highly nutritious hemp seed and others.

Recreational

Lastly, cannabis has been used for recreational purposes for a long time in different parts of the world. The components in cannabis – CBD and THC – are responsible for giving you that desired euphoric effect. You can smoke it or use the synthetically made CBD or THC-based products for recreational use.

Cannabis Legality Around the World

Despite the fact that cannabis has been used in several regions of the world for many years, the debate on its legality remains. In some parts, it is legal to use for medicinal purposes, but in some countries, it is not.

However, people are slowly getting to understand the benefits of cannabis and its two major components – CBD and THC. People are making use of these two components for medical purposes. Countries like New Zealand have legalised the use of cannabis since 2018 for patients with chronic pain. The country is also debating the legalisation of cannabis for adults over 20 years.

In the United States, cannabis use for medical purposes is legal in many states. Australia, Germany, Chile, and several other countries have also legalised the medical use of cannabis.

Cannabis Culture & Terminology

If you are new to the cannabis world, you might hear the following terms very often.

• Cannabinoids: Different chemical compounds that are found in cannabis. These compounds act differently on the receptors of the human body. More than 120 compounds are found in cannabis.
• Cannabis Strains: A variety of cannabis plants that can be identified during the time of cultivation. The most common types of strains are sativa, indica, and ruderalis.
• Weed/Ganja/Pot: All these are other names of cannabis that give you a mind-altering effect after you smoke it.

Summary

Cannabis is often used for recreational purposes due to the presence of psychoactive elements in it. Even if these elements are found in naturally growing plants, you need to use cannabis with control. You can use sativa, indica, or a hybrid cannabis to have a relaxed feeling.

Excited to See What Cannabis Has to Offer?

Select from a range of cannabis available on our website that suits your taste.