Cannabis: What’s All the Buzz?

by Antonia Teresa Amore-Broccoli, MSW, LCSW

Cannabis: What’s All the Buzz?

by Antonia Teresa Amore-Broccoli, MSW, LCSW

I will respectfully use the word cannabis to replace the more popular, but racist in origin, word marijuana.  Marijuana is one of the most controversial names in history referring to the cannabis plant. The  name for cannabis was changed to marijuana during the Mexican revolution which coincided with the prohibition of this sacred medicinal herb. Before the Mexican Revolution, cannabis was widely available, and valued as a credible medicine. This all changed during a period of time when Mexican immigrants crossed the border to the United States, bringing a local mixture of herbs called marihiana. Revolution in Mexico and a strong U.S. economy brought a tremendous increase in Mexican immigration rates. Between 1910 and 1930, the number of Mexican immigrants counted by the U.S. census tripled from 200,000 to 600,000. The U.S. government officials confused the term marihiana with locoweed and soon unitized it as a means to associate illegal drug-infected behavior; they blamed it on Mexican immigrants. The entire cannabis plant was demonized by the U.S. government. This is how the prohibition began. This is how and why the word marijuana is systematically racist in nature. From the demonization of cannabis came the demonization of the Mexican and Latinx cultures to which the word belonged. The government directly related drug use with Mexican immigrants, using marijuana (cannabis) as propaganda through the media to convince the American people that both are equally dangerous and illegal. [1]

[1] https://greenfo.rest/the-many-names-of-cannabis/

Hemp 

Hemp is a sacred plant. It is also one of the most promising plants of our century. Hemp is a variety of the cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for industrial use. It is the same species of plant as cannabis. 

Cannabis as a drug and industrial hemp both derive from the species Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they are distinct strains with unique phytochemical compositions and uses. Hemp has lower concentrations of THC and may have higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD), which decreases or eliminates its psychoactive effects. The legality of industrial hemp varies widely between countries. Some governments regulate the concentration of THC and permit only hemp that is bred with an especially low THC content.    [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp.

Industrial hemp contains very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)–less than 0.3%. It is legal to sell hemp and hemp products in the U.S. as long as the THC level is less than 0.3%. It is illegal to isolate cannabinoids from hemp to include in foods or nutritional supplements. This is likely because one of the many cannabinoids, called cannabidiol, is approved as a prescription drug.. Hemp flowers, leaves, seed, seed oil, and protein are all used as food or medicine.

In 2020, the United Nations recommendation to explicitly remove international control from hemp products containing predominantly cannabidiol and not more than 0.2% of THC was rejected by a majority of votes, meaning that hemp and extracts thereof will remain in some legal ambiguity under the current UN conventions.

There are a variety of names for hemp, including the following: cannabis sativa, cheongsam, fiber hemp, fructus cannabis, hemp cake, hemp extract, hemp flour, hemp flower, hemp heart, hemp leaf, hemp oil, hemp powder, hemp protein, hemp seed, hemp seed oil, hemp seed protein isolate, hemp seed protein meal, hemp sprout, hemp seed cake, industrial hemp, mazain, semen cannabis, shadanaj, and shahdaneh.

Hemp is used to make a wide range of products. Along with bamboo, hemp is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth. Hemp has served a wide variety of purposes for more than 10,000 years: fiber from the plant's stems, protein from its seeds, and oils and smokable portions from the leaves and flowers. Hemp fibers can be used to make items including paper, clothing, furnishing fabric, rope, building materials, cloth, cosmetics, printer's ink, wood preservative, detergents, soaps, and lighting oil. It is also believed to be one of the first plants that was spun into usable fiber 50,000 years ago. It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed. Medicinal hemp is used for constipation, high cholesterol, eczema, ectopic, dermatitis, arthritis, and other conditions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp [3] 

This is why my ancestors grew hemp along with raising sheep for cheese and wool. They also grew vegetables for food, grapes for wine, and olives for making olive oil. 

Cannabis Sativa 

    Hemp is a different part of cannabis, but nevertheless part of the same mythical plant. Cannabis [marijuana] refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the cannabis sativa or cannabis indica plant. It is the most commonly used illicit substance. It is now legal in many U.S. states for medical and recreational use. Some people use cannabis for its pleasurable high, but this drug also impairs short-term memory and learning, the ability to focus, and coordination. It also increases heart rate, harms the lungs, and increases the risk of psychosis in vulnerable people. 

[https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/most-commonly-used-addictive-drugs] [4]

           People like to use cannabis because the female cannabis contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, also called THC. This is a chemical that produces euphoria and other effects. The cannabis plant is a green, leafy bush with distinct five or seven-pointed leaves. While cannabis is a combination of dried leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds from the green leafy plant of cannabis, it is the sticky flower buds that are most sought after by consumers. The potent THC content of cannabis lies within fragrant sticky female flower buds laced with tiny purple or blue hairs.  

          Cannabis is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the United States, after alcohol. It is popular among all ages. In 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults reported that they used marijuana in the past year. 

         Cannabis is often referred to as pot, Mary Jane, kush, weed, chronic, ganja, herb, bud, budder, shatter, hash oil, dabs, and wax. These are the more common, contemporary slang words. Both the sativa and indica varieties are unique and firm, with purple, bluish buds. Some other common reference to cannabis include the following: 

Glossary 

Joint: a marijuana cigarette 

Doobie: a nickname for a joint 

Blunt: a marijuana cigar 

Roach: the butt of a joint or blunt 

Roach clip: a small metal clip used to hold the end of a joint or blunt so the user can smoke the entire thing without burning their hands 

Bong: a water pipe for smoking cannabis 

Bowl: a glass pipe for smoking cannabis 

Head shop: a store that sells cannabis paraphernalia like bongs, pipes, and rolling papers

Edibles: cannabis cooked into food with different levels of THC spending on the strain

Gummies: a form of edibles infused with cannabis with different levels of THC 

Dime bag: a $10 bag of marijuana (used in the past from the1960s-1980s) 

Nickel bag: a $5 bag of marijuana (these are more from the past in the1960s-1980s) Dabbing: The act of smoking THC resin 

420: slang for smoking cannabis after school; meeting friends to get high after school at 4:20 pm. 

4/20: April 20th, a notorious date for smoking marijuana to get high which is derived from the above time of 420 

K2 or Spice: synthetic cannabis brick; a large, compacted block of cannabis

   Cannabis is smoked in a variety of ways. One can use hand-rolled joints, hand-rolled cigarettes, glass pipes, clay pipes, small water pipes, or larger water pipes called bongs. Blunts are cannabis shake and bud rolled in cigar wraps. Sometimes tobacco and cannabis are combined. This is a common form popularly known as a blunt. Cannabis users have been known to make hand made pipes using the cardboard inside of paper towels, by hollowing out an apple or carrot, or even using a soda can as a pipe. Cannabis users are also very creative when making bongs. Some bongs can be homemade from a wine bottle or other glass bottle and plastic tubing. Cannabis is used in many other ways, such as by brewing it as tea. Particularly when it's sold or consumed for medicinal reasons, it is frequently blended into butter to make edibles such as brownies, gummy bears, chocolate bars, cookies, and candies.

Edible cannabis goods look virtually identical to the normal versions of the food. For example, pot brownies look exactly the same as regular brownies, except for a small difference in their smell and taste.

Dabs, a common street name for cannabis, can vary depending on the kind of extract it contains. The liquid form is often called hash oil or honey oil. It looks similar to other kinds of oils. Wax is a soft solid, similar to lip balm. Shatter is an amber-colored solid. Oils are normally sold in small bottles, while wax or shatter are sometimes sold in the shapes of small animals.

Much of the cannabis in the United States is grown locally. But, when it is imported into the United States from another country, cannabis typically comes from Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Jamaica, Thailand, Nigeria, South Africa, or Kazakhstan. Imported marijuana typically comes in bricks, but individuals buying the drug on the street typically buy in 1/4 or 1/8 of an ounce units. 1/8 ounce can run anywhere from $35-$100. The same is true in legal dispensaries. Either way, ingesting cannabis gives the user a relaxing, euphoric high that alters their senses, memory, perception of time, and motor skills.

Medical Cannabis Uses

    While cannabis is an illegal, commonly abused substance in many places around the world, there has been debate in the United States in recent years over cannabis’s medicinal value. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana.. Between 1996 and 2017, twenty-eight states and three territories passed comprehensive medical cannabis programs. At the time of publication, recreational use of cannabis is legal medically or recreationally in forty-six states with many more to follow suit. In medical cannabis states, MD’s may prescribe cannabis for patients who may benefit from its use. The US Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve medical cannabis as an official medicine. However, there are a few pill cannabinoids that have been approved by the US FDA. Cannabis contains over 100 cannabinoids—chemicals related to THC—that create powerful effects. The legality of cannabis in the last nearly thirty  years has  brought out a new budding light of political controversy around the substance. 

Health Effects and Benefits of Cannabis

     According to a study by The Institute of Medicine: “The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current Evidence and Recommendation for Research” (2017) [5] https://www.nap.edu/read/24625/chapter/1

This essay states the potential therapeutic benefits of THC and cannabinoid drugs include: pain relief, nausea control, and appetite stimulation. The study notes there may also be medicinal benefits to smoking cannabis such as sedation, anxiety reduction, and euphoria. While this may be beneficial for some, these same effects might be undesirable for other patients. Most state laws that allow medical cannabis have very specific conditions under which a doctor may prescribe it to patients. While the conditions for obtaining a marijuana card vary from state to state, many conditions overlap. Some of the common illnesses doctors prescribe medical cannabis for are AIDS, cachexia, cancer, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, HIV, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Having a medical cannabis registration card is important since the police may still pull drivers over and penalize them for carrying the substance if they don’t have a patient ID or registration card. 

Another health problem concerns older adults who are cannabis smokers; cannabis use is on the rise among older adults. A 2020 study found the numbers of American seniors over age 65 who now smoke cannabis or use edibles doubled between 2015 and 2018. Older adults often develop a number of chronic conditions by age 65 which appear to make the impact of cannabis worse, especially the higher risks of heart attacks and strokes. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, using cannabis every day can raise a person’s risk of coronary artery disease by one third compared with those who never partake. Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Also called atherosclerosis, CAD is the most common type of heart disease.

Ref: Marijuana use raises risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke, studies say

[6] By Sandee LaMotte, CNN, November 7, 2023

Cannabis is the only legal medicinal substance prescribed by MDs that does not have a standardized dosage, duration of use, or frequency of use. In fact, cannabis has no prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). People with a variety of medical conditions including physical, emotional, and psychological conditions are encouraged to try several types of cannabis hybrids. Walking into a dispensary is like walking into a  candy store; eager sales people educate the consumer on the many cannabis varieties. However, the sky's the limit for one’s quality and quantity of cannabis consumption.    

The Evolution of the Potency of THC in Cannabis

      In the mid-1970’s the THC percentage in cannabis was about 2%.  In the late 1970s’ and into the 1980’s cannabis sold on American streets was 2%-5% THC, except imported Colombia Gold, which was about 9%. This matched the estimated 7-10% THC content of cannabis plants grown in northern California in the early 1990’s. Today, the cannabis sold both on the street and in dispensaries has a wide range of 1%-50%, yet the bud is typically about 17%-35% THC, with an average of 20%.  

    As the horticulture of cannabis has evolved, it has been bred to contain higher levels of THC. This means it includes higher doses of cannabinoids and higher doses of other unknown chemical substances. Also, the production of many hemp crops includes pesticides, fertilizers, genetic modifiers, or other additives to enhance its growth and THC content. Growers go to great lengths to protect the cannabis plant until harvest time. Cannabis growers and botanists have a universal regard and reverence for the cannabis plant as sacred or special. This incentive for growers who are deeply financially invested is two-fold: for the production of cannabis for resale, and for its production for personal use. In the last five to ten years, the production and sale of cannabis has gone from an underground business to a legitimate one in more than twenty-five states.  The Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy is a reference for the evolution of the potency of THC in cannabis: 

The potency of marijuana (cannabis) that is generally available varies greatly, ranging from 1% to approximately 50% in typical cannabis plant material and 10%-20% in hashish. During the past two decades a steady increase in the potency of seized cannabis has been observed in illicit and “medical marijuana” to increase its attractiveness and risk of addiction.

The potency of smoked “medical marijuana” has multiplied due to increasing concentrations of THC from the plant preparations, grown by “caregivers” and “dispensaries.” The plant preparations today are able to achieve high concentrations of THC between 20%-50%. Decades ago the THC concentration was less than 5% as the psychoactive component found in marijuana which resulted in more mellow effects and less toxicity. However, because of the increased availability and potency of THC in “home gown” medical and “unrestricted” illicit marijuana, previously safer use is diminishing and significantly less achievable. [6]

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/marijuana-addictive-disorders-and-dsm5-substancerelated-disorders-2155-6105-S11-013.php?aid=84734

        The more potent form of cannabis, known as sensimilla, comes from female plants that are specifically tendered and kept seedless. Sensimilla is a female cannabis plant grown in the absence of male plants.

These female buds are sold today in American and Canadian dispensaries, as well as on the street. Thes buds have a THC level of 15% to 50% on average. These tendered sensimilla buds contain concentrated resins with high doses of the active ingredients in cannabis including honey-like hash oil, wax, and hard, amber-like shatter. Amber shatter is concentrated THC. Amber-like shatter resins are becoming increasingly popular both recreationally and medicinally.

The use of cannabis extracts, THC-rich resins extracted from the cannabis plant, is definitely on the rise. People call this practice dabbing. Dabbing is heating up a concentrated dose of cannabis and then inhaling the vapor. These concentrated extracts come in various forms such as hash oil, honey oil, a gooey liquid, wax, or butter. Other forms include a soft texture like lip balm, and shatter.. These extracts can deliver extremely large doses of THC to the body. Their use has sent some people to the emergency room.Preparing these extracts can be dangerous because it usually involves butane–lighter fluid. It can cause fires and explosions, seriously burning people.

Cannabinoids 

Cannabinoids is nicely explained from an article from Healthline:

Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — Written by Kimberly Holland on April 8, 2019[6]:

 Cannabis plants contain dozens of chemical compounds called cannabinoids. These naturally occurring components are responsible for producing many of the effects — both negative and positive — of cannabis use. Researchers still don’t understand what all of the cannabinoids do, but they have identified two main ones — tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) — as well as several less common compounds. These include:

 THC. THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis plants. It’s responsible for the “high” or state of euphoria associated with cannabis use. Levels of THC have been increasing as growers try to create hybrids with a greater concentration of the compound.

CBD. CBD is non-psychoactive. It doesn’t cause a “high.” However, it may produce many physical benefits, such as reducing pain and nausea, preventing seizures, and easing migraine. [This CBD can and is often be separated out [through] the production of industrial hemp with leaves less than 0.3%THC]

CBN. Cannabinol (CBN) is used to ease symptoms and side effects of neurological conditions, including epilepsy, seizures, and uncontrollable muscle stiffness.

THCA. Tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA) is similar to THC, but it doesn’t cause any psychoactive effects. Its potential benefits include reducing inflammation from arthritis and autoimmune diseases. It may also help reduce symptoms of neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease and ALS.

CBG. Cannabigerol (CBG) is thought to help reduce anxiety and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.

Indica and Sativa 

 So what do sativa and indica mean and what is the difference between the two?

Cannabis has been used for millennia, but has more recently been grouped into two different strains, namely, indica and sativa. Both strains are from the same species of cannabis plant. Each strain has its own benefits and adverse effects. As a result of the natural evolution of cannabis, no current strain is likely to be a pure landrace strain. The landrace cannabis strains are the original strains, named after the place in which they were developed. Instead, current strains are all hybridized versions of each other, developed through breeding and plant genetics. Within the cannabis industry, debate about the benefits of the indica strain versus the sativa strain is quite popular, especially for marketing and sales benefits. The common denominator is that cannabis strains differ in their effects.

 Regardless of the type of strain, all cannabis contains both THC and CBD along with a host of other cannabinoids. CBD is short for cannabidiol. CBD is the second most active ingredient in marijuana. Strains are classified as indica and sativa due to the rough similarities in the effects each of these groups of cannabis strains has.  

 Sativa

The major effects of the sativa medicinal strain include increased focus, creativity, and serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of learning, mood, sleep, anxiety, and appetite. Other effects commonly associated with the use of sativa are that it produces a “mind high,” or an energizing, uplifting, cerebral, anxiety-reducing feeling. Someone who uses sativa-dominant strains may feel productive and creative, not relaxed and lethargic. Since sativa strains tend to provide a more energizing effect, this tends to be popular with productive daytime users.

The Purple Haze cannabis strain is a psychedelic sativa flower. Berry-flavored and high in THC, this cerebral herb is a natural headache reliever. Named after the legendary Jimi Hendrix song, this old-school sativa provides a nearly psychedelic experience.

Indica

Indicas provide what has been called a “body high,” while sativas deliver more of a “mind high.” Sativa plants require longer to grow and yield less medicine (flowers) than indica varieties. Indica is said to be physically sedating. It is thought to be perfect for relaxing after a long day at work. Indica is often prescribed for insomnia and to calm nightmares.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that sativa is more energizing and indica is more relaxing, but the scientific reality is far more complicated. In fact, many different chemical compounds are involved in creating the medical and recreational effects of cannabis.

Although there may be some truth to the differences between the two plants, it is important for a person to look at the biochemical content of the individual strains in order to choose the strain most suited to their needs.

Even within the specific strains, research has proven that there is a huge possible variation in THC content, which suggests that the same is true for other cannabinoids.e https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/indica-vs-sativa#summary

These differences influence what cannabis strains someone chooses to use, based on what effect they need or prefer. These categorizations typically affect the choices experienced users make when they’re determining which product to purchase. Less experienced users may not be conscious of the difference, especially if they are purchasing it from friends and associates rather than the mass market cannabis dispensaries readily available in North America and Canada. These dispensaries often have trained staff available to assist with purchasing choices.

Some cannabis users are in search of a particular effect, rather than a specific strain. Some other cannabis users just take what they can get or what's most affordable to supply their habit. The more experienced cannabis user will tell you that the type of cannabis bud used has much more to do with the impact sought from the cannabinoids than whether or not the strain is indica, sativa, or a hybrid of the two.

References:

[1]  https://greenfo.rest/the-many-names-of-cannabis/

[2]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp

[3] [https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/most-commonly-used-addictive-drugs

[4] https://www.nap.edu/read/24625/chapter/1

[5] https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/marijuana-addictive-disorders-and-dsm5-substancerelated-disorders-2155-6105-S11-013.php?aid=84734

[6] HealthLine: Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — Written by Kimberly Holland on April 8, 2019

What’s The Buzz: Cannabis Explained©

by Antonia Teresa Amore-Broccoli, LCSW

updated 12/5/2023