Learning any new language is challenging and the world of cannabis is no different...let's work it out together.
CANNABIS is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. If you are NOT a plant/animal science kind of person like me, that doesn't mean much. Here is the way I describe cannabis. It is the big umbrella name just like tomatoes or roses. If I say "rose" everyone reading will have a different vision or smell (terpene) that will come to mind. It might be of a rose garden at your great grandpa's house, or a beautiful bouquet from a florist, or a cluster of tea roses, or a climbing rose bush, or a "knockout" hybrid - my son calls them "knockup's" because they produce so easily...he cracks me up. Anyway, it is referring to something of a collection, but doesn't really get to the details.
HEMP is a variety of the cannabis plant species that is grown most specifically for industrial uses of its derived products. Hemp has lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD). In the US, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp can now be grown throughout most of the county under the USDA and so long as it contains less than 0.3% THC in testing, it can be sold in most states. Typically when sold, you will find one of 3 variations depending on the state.
1. Hemp isolate - meaning all THC has been removed from the product. This is the product that can be sold in all 50 states because there is no THC in it.
2. Hemp broad spectrum - may or may not have some THC in it. It is similar to full spectrum, but the manufacturer may have more of the THC removed than the full spectrum.
3. Hemp full spectrum, has not had any of the THC removed from the product. However, remember that to meet federal regulations, there can still not be more than 0.03% THC in the product. If the producer sends the sample for testing and it comes back higher than that, they are not legally able to sell it. Which leads us to the final category....
MARIJUANA among other names, is a member of the cannabis family that contains more than 0.3% THC in it (per US regulations). It is touted as the psychoactive drug form of the cannabis plant. and used primarily for medical or recreational purposes. As you read more/learn more, you know that "psychoactive" simply means a chemical substance that changes brain function and results in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior. These chemical substances can include, but are not limited to anesthetics, analgesics, anticonvulsant and antiparkinsonian drugs as well as antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and stimulant medications. So the next time you think about marijuana being a "trip" or "high" or "stoner" or "psychotropic" drug...think about what medications are already in your medicine cabinet that do the same things.
The information provided on the 2 Leaf Nurses website and blog is for educational purposes ONLY. If you have questions about what a cannabis nurse can do for you, please click here to contact 2 Leaf Nurses [SS1] or call 417-812-7676 today.