What You Need to Know About Marijuana Strains

Marijuana usage has been a steady increase in the United States over the last few years. There are a lot of reasons for this, and the brunt of it lies in the fact that legislators and policy makers are finally starting to accept that it should be used as a form of medical treatment. The great thing about marijuana becoming more accessible to the general public is that it allows for greater advancement of the industry, including the types of cannabis products made as well as the different strains that have been cultivated over time. Not a lot of people know just how many cannabis strains are available, and how each one is different and unique in their own way. The truth about the marijuana industry is that it is no longer a closed circle.

Since most marijuana usage was illegal even a couple decades ago, you couldn’t really find a lot of resources to help you navigate what types of products you should use, and how much marijuana you should actually be smoking. However, medical marijuana programs have allowed the whole industry to become much more professional and safe. This is the reason why I think the federal government should go ahead and legalize cannabis throughout the country. Only then can we finally see more compassionate healthcare and alternative options for people with a variety of health conditions and such. Today I wanted to take some time to talk about different types of marijuana strains and what you need to know about each of them. I know that this can be overwhelming at first, but keep reading to the end of the article and I promise you that everything will make sense. 

The first thing that you need to know about different strains of cannabis is that they normally fall into three different categories: indica, sativa, and hybrid. In order to better understand what each of these strain types do, I will go ahead and describe them for you. Indica strains originally come from the Hindu Kush Mountains in India (you may have heard of the popular weed strains called Hindu Kush), and these strains are known to have extremely relaxing effects. Indica strains are commonly used by patients who want to relax and just chill on the couch. Indica is commonly used by medical marijuana patients to treat various symptoms of pain and anxiety, as well as helping treat things like insomnia. In contrast, sativa strains are much more of an energy-inducing high that one feels more in their head. These strains are generally associated with increased mood, euphoria, and can help promote levels of creativity. Hybrid strains, as the name suggests, are strains that involve both indica and sativa. Some hybrids are more dominant in one strain type than the other, and some are an even balance. Personally, I think that hybrid strains are the way to go, because you can usually find the most well rounded highs and experience from using both sativa and indica. Indica on its own can cause you to pretty much fall asleep, while sativa on its own can make your mind race and even cause more anxiety. A hybrid strain usually helps you to find that happy medium. Again, this is just my personal preference and opinion, and every person feels differently about this subject. 

If you head to your local dispensary, you will be able to find all different types of marijuana strains that range from indica to sativa to hybrids. My personal advice to you is to ask around and do some research and pick a few strains that sound good to you. Honestly, you can’t really go wrong with marijuana.

Specific Strains to Help with Anxiety

With a lot of people dealing with anxiety, and more and more suffering because of the pandemic and other stressors, cannabis has become one of the best, most viable options out there. According to a study from Washington state, they tracked the usage of medical cannabis, and almost all of them saw decreases in symptoms related to stress. The evidence for this is right there, but if you’re looking to treat the stress symptoms through cannabis, it’s worth noting that there are strains that are suited to help with treating various mental health conditions, and its something that can work well. Which strains work the best though? Let’s find out. 

Blue Dream 

Blue dream is a very popular one that’s used a lot in California. Being a blend of sativa and indica does offer a better more, better relaxation, and also can help you feel calmed down. Caryophyllene and some of the other terpenes including Mycenae and pinene also help. 

This can give you some great mood-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and relaxing results from this. It also is high in CBD, which makes it an effective strain for those who want strong medical cannabis usages.  You should use a lighter amount though, since there is a high level of THC in this, which can cause a higher heartbeat and anxiety. 

Girl Scout Cookies 

While you may think of the cookie when you read this, this is a hybrid that’s indica-dominant that’s perfect for relaxation. While similar to Blue Dream, this one is more dominant in indica, and also has a lot of caryophyllene, which is something that relieves pain along with anxiety. 

Also, similar to Blue Dream, a little goes a long way with this one. You don’t need a ton for THC level increases, and it can make you feel a little bit drowsy. But if you’re looking to treat insomnia and also boost your mood, you can also reduce depression and pain symptoms. 

OG Kush 

This is a very notable one and is associated with stress relief and other great things. Being almost split down the middle on sativa and indica, this is a balanced strain, offering energizing, relaxing results and also lowers anxiety and stress. 

You can feel relaxed without feeling super drowsy with this one and offers better focus. It also can mitigate nausea and migraines, and even help as an insomnia cure when you consume in low dosages. A little goes a long way to make sure that anxiety and stress are mitigated. 

ACDC 

This is something that you can try, since this is another good one for calming and feeling relaxing. While the name sounds like the opposite, this one is high in CBD, is good for feeling happy without getting the euphoric feelings that THC oftentimes provide. 

This is one that doesn’t necessarily give you a high, which may make you think twice about using it to relax, but it does, and it’s also good for helping with attaining and keeping focus. This is also something that can help with pain, anxiety, and epilepsy too, in order to make it easier for you to get the most out of this. 

When you’re looking to relieve stress, using cannabis is a great way to make it easier on you. These strains are some of the best out there for this, and the cool thing about this, is that a little goes a long way with this. So if you deal with heavy anxiety and stress, consider using cannabis to help aid with these problems, and make it easier for you as well.

Why we Should care about Male Cannabis Plants

Male cannabis plants are actually very important for cultivation. While most people want the females because you want the buds to smoke, most people don’t realize that male plants are just as important.  This is something that people keep away though, because of the stigma, to the point where they would keep all-male plants out of there for fear of pollinating, and they also may be regarded as worthless, especially in smaller operations. But they are useful, and in this, you’ll learn why male cannabis plants are vital for the success of your yield. 

The Difference 

Before they flower, there are different ways you can determine whether a plant is female or male. After the vegetative phase is done, and you start having plants that flower they usually will display whether or not they are female or male, usually within a couple of weeks. The indoor tends to be a lot faster than the outdoor ones for you to tell, and if they have some sacs, you can usually figure out that it’s male. If you notice bracts or hairs, then you’ve got a female plant. 

Male plants also have less leaves, thicker and bigger stalks. Male plants usually also have pre-flowers too. They’re basically flowers that are showing up in less than four weeks for male plants and then over four weeks for the female plants.  The pre-flowers are found at the V location where the stalk and stem meat, which is near the top part of where your plant is, nearest the light.  The pre-flowers in females also tend to have hairs and pistils on it, whereas the male plants have sacs which are small in it. 

Why Male plants 

You might wonder just why you should care about male plants. 

For starters, it offers better, more rewarding diversity in the gene pool. This is because cannabis does have dioecious features to it, which is something that tons of breeding programs take advantage of.  This is one that means that it’s got distinct characteristics of males and females, and they also can do the self-pollination. 

Some people actually like this and they use that to their advantage, especially when they want to have certain characteristics to be present in future plants, which is something that has become kind of popular. Not every single person wats to worry about hermaphroditism either, since it does weaken the nee pool and creates breeding. Good male plants that are kept well do ensure that the gene pool is something that’s kept nice and alive for the future generations, so you can keep the characteristics, the terpene profiles and the patterns of growth the same for people. 

It's also good for controlling pests. A lot of people will use the male plants because of the terpenes they create. Borneol, pinene, and limonene all work as insect repellents for the crops that are there. They can not fertilize the females if they do stay far enough away. Just make sure that you don’t handle female plants right after a male plant. 

Finally, they have some decent potency to it too. While yes, the females are what’s responsible for making the buds, they still have some HTC and CBD of their own inside their own flowers.  They also usually contain a more concentrated amount of cannabinoids than the flowers usually do, which is the opposite of females. They also make their own glands for resin, which is used to make some hashish, so it’s something that breeders can use, especially if they want to have high-yielding cannabis plants.

What Happens When You’re Too High - and how to sober up

If you have been using marijuana for a while, you have probably experienced a time or two when you are too high. Don’t get me wrong - being high is a great thing. However, we all have our limits, and when you hit yours, you could be facing some unpleasant side effects. The highest I have ever been would have to be near Thanksgiving when I was smoking with two of my friends for one of the first times ever. We smoked two joints in a row, basically about 4 or 5 grams in total. Let me tell you - I was absolutely blasted. If you have ever experienced getting too high, then you know that it can be a super unpleasant time. Maybe you had one too many gummies, or maybe you took a few too many hits from a pen while trying to impress your friends. Either way, you’re too high now. How on earth can you come back down to earth? Well, there isn’t exactly a perfect trick for sobering up, and the process is not always quick either. However, there are some things that you can do to try and get rid of your high more quickly, and therefore sober up more effectively. Maybe keep this boat bookmarked for the next time you are too high so that you don’t have to come searching for it.

One of the riskiest parts about using weed (there are not very many risks) is that the effects can be inconsistent. There is no exact science for determining how high you are going to get from a particular marijuana strain or product. Oftentimes, you just have to play with the cards you deal yourself. In my experiences, edibles generally last the longest and therefore take the longest time to sober up from. In fact, edibles can stay in your system for well over 24 hours, which can leave you feeling groggy and tired the next day. Concentrates with higher THC potencies also last a bit longer than regular smoking and such. Symptoms from being too high can include anxiety, paranoia, confusion, and more. So let’s talk about what you can do when you or someone around you is too high for their liking. 

The first thing that you need to do when you are feeling too high is to address the situation and not panic. Of course, this is much easier said than done, especially if you are high. However, you do not need to go to the hospital and you are not going to die. Having too much marijuana is not going to be the end of you. In fact, the effects should wear off within a few hours. Drinking water is probably the most important thing you can do if you are too high. Of course, it’s always a good idea to drink lots of water whenever you use marijuana, but especially if you are greening out. Even if you want to use a different beverage like juice or iced tea, it will help to ground you and hydrate you. In addition, you can try eating some light snacks to help calm down and reduce your blood sugar levels. Eating can be a way to ground yourself as well, which is important when coming down from a high.

Interestingly, one of the best ways to combat paranoia and anxiety caused by marijuana is to chew on or smell black pepper corns. While this is a super weird thing to suggest, it actually has worked in the past for many people. Lots of marijuana users swear by it!

What You Need to Know About THC-O

Now that weed is becoming more legal in the United States with each passing year, we are beginning to see an influx of new marijuana strains, THC types, and marijuana products that add to the diversity of cannabis products available to consumers in the United States. The world of marijuana can be quite confusing, especially because there are so many different types of products to keep track of. If you are new to marijuana strains, I suggest reading one of my other posts about some of the best strains that you can get for certain conditions like anxiety, chronic pain, and more.

There are about 700-750 different types of marijuana strains that have been developed and cultivated for a specific purpose. However, there is also more to the variety of cannabis than strains alone. Numerous types of THC have been developed that allow marijuana users to really test and try out different things. THC types can waver between organic, semi synthetic, and synthetic types, and there are important differences to note between each type.

Today I wanted to take some time out of my busy schedule to write about a new type of THC that is hitting the market in the United States: it’s called THC-O. You may have heard of this THC before, or you may not have. Either way, I am going to be telling you all that you need to know about it and more, so make sure that you keep reading to the end of this article. 

So what is THC-O and what makes it unique? Well, the first thing that you need to know about THC-O is that it is synthetically developed from regular THC. This means that it is not as natural as other forms of THC that you may be used to. However, compared to other semi synthetic types of THC like Delta-8 or Delta-9, THC-O is extremely potent and powerful. Delta-8 and Delta-9 products are relatively easy to find across the country due to the fact that they are technically legal under federal law, due to the fact that they are derived from hemp and classify as CBD.

The downside to these types of THC is that they lack some of the psychoactive effects of regular THC found in medical grade cannabis. THC-O could be the solution to this problem. If you are living in a state that has not yet legalized THC for medical or recreational users, THC-O could be the ticket to actually enjoying more psychoactive THC effects without breaking the law. Keep in mind that THC-O has to be created in a lab, unlike regular, naturally occurring THC that is found in the cannabis plant.

THC-O is created by extracted CBD from a hemp bud that has 0.30% THC potency or lower. Then, Delta-8 THC is extracted from the hemp derived CBD. Finally, a solvent of THC is applied to the Delta-8, and after a bunch of very fancy scientific occurrences, THC-O is left as an isolate. It has a thick consistency, almost like molasses. 

So, if you are thinking about trying this stuff out for yourself, I definitely recommend learning a thing or two more about it before you get too involved. There are some advantages and disadvantages that one should keep in mind when considering whether to use this product. The first advantage, as I mentioned earlier, is that THC-O is much higher potency than regular Delta-8 or marijuana.

If you are a medical users that needs some really strong stuff to manage your levels of pain, or you are a recreational user looking to get absolutely blitzed, then this is a good type of THC for you to try.

Marijuana Dabbing Guide

There’s a new craze sweeping the cannabis world, and that of course, is dabbing. Dabbing is something that involves vaping or smoking various concentrations of cannabis, using what’s called a dab rig. This became a super popular type of way to consume cannabis as of late, with more ad more US markets selling this, and more places carrying dabs. 

The most popular include the following: 

• Rosin 

• BHO or butane hash oil 

• Hash 

• Bubble has 

• PHO or propane hash oil which uses a propane solvent 

• Terp sauce 

They’re used in a bunch of different ways, which is what makes people excited to use them, since they have special rigs. You can also mix this with other types of ways to consume cannabis, including on top of a bowl or in a vape cartridge. 

Is Dabbing Safe? 

Some people are interested in using dabbing because supposedly, it’s an alternative to smoking that’s healthier. That’s because few of their concentrates do combust, and bongs do use chambers of water to cool down the vapor before you inhale it. However, there is some research that does suggest it can possibly lead to injury of the lungs, and it’s something that you should definitely be mindful of when choosing this kind of item. That’s partially due to the fact that it did cause some people to get to the ER, dealing with respiratory symptoms that come with this as well. 

However, there isn’t anything specific that suggests it does cause injury, but if you do have proper conditions, it might not be good. However, there are some concerns with using dabs. One of them being the pollutants, specially in the types of dabs used. For example, BHO is one that does contain about 34% butane in terms of pollutants. There is also overheating, which can be quite dangerous, especially if you’re consuming large amounts of these pollutants up to 480 degrees. 

Pros and cons of Dabs 

Dabs are both a blessing and a detriment for some people, and it’s something that a lot of people do struggle with when you’re choosing something that does work for people who want something like this.  The biggest pros include they’re strong, like really strong, and they tend to produce long-lasting effects than you would with just typical flower. There are more terpenes here too with this. Some of them also let you get the terps specifically when choosing this. 

Another benefit is that it’s something that gives you a high which is quite different, so you’ll get something that offers a very strong high, different level, so it’ll be something that’s definitely worth it. 

There is also a little that goes a long way with this. The cons however definitely are worth mentioning. First and foremost, the availability. It’s something that’s hard to purchase out of typical legal markets. They’re also not safe to make in your home. A lot of people can’t handle these due to the mere potency of this, since it’s something that can be almost too overpowering for a lot of users. 

Plus, it’s quite overwhelming too, and we do recommend that if you do try this, definitely take it slow to start with someone who is definitely way more experienced than you are if possible.  

With dabbing, the results do vary, and for many people, it can be something really great that’ll help you get the full gamut of benefits. You’ll be able to, with this as well, get real results, it’s also something quite nice that’ll really make it worth your while too.

Delta-8 Vs. Delta-10

More and more people are looking for alternatives when they are trying to use holistic means. While delta-9 is the favorite one, both delta-8 and delta-10 are also quite popular. What's the difference though? Are they similar? 

Delta-8 

Delta-8 is something that comes from cannabis, and is basically the analog of delta-9, where the atoms are arranged in a similar manner. This exists in much smaller concentrations, working similar to how delta-9 does in a few ways. But it doesn't work well with the CB1 receptors, so it’s a lot less psychoactive. The 2018 farm bill did allow this, so long as it was derived from hemp and purchased from different vape shops that are across the US.

 

The effects of this are similar to what you may get from delta 9, but a whole lot less. Relaxation, pain relief, euphoria, and less inflammation, it can all be from this. It also is less anxiety and paranoia-inducing too. This is also good especially if you want to get the THC benefits without the effects that usually come from this. It’s not as impairing, doesn’t create couch lock, and the high is functioning. 

What about Delta-10. 

This is another one that comes from the cannabis plant, and most cannabis has a trace amount of the delta-10 in it. It’s got even less of an affinity than delta-10, so if you want the benefits without worrying about the fact that you may get high, this is it. It’s mildly psychoactive, but mostly euphoric in the way that it makes you feel. 

So is this legal? Well according to the 2018 farm bill, this is legal in most states, and it sits on the legal gray area. But, if you can find it, you can use it in most cases. Right now, this one doesn’t have a lot of information on the effects of this. This is a good high for the daytime, is great for relieving stress, calms the body down, and boosts motivation and energy. This one does not make you as sleepy, and while we don’t have a ton of research on this, it may offer the same medicinal aspects as the THC variants do as well. If you’re looking at getting a more mild high, and you have depression and anxiety, and may be prone to this with cannabis consumption, then delta=10 is the best way to go about this. 

The Differences 

They both exist in quite trace amounts, but most consumers like delta=8, because it’s got a euphoric high, but delta-10 is much less intense, and far less  psychoactive. There are also far fewer reports of both paranoia and anxiety when you deal with delta=10 than delta 8, but this also may be due to the lack of research. Because of the way that delta-8 binds to the body’s receptors, this is way better at relieving inflammation and pain, especially when combined with the other cannabinoids that are there. 

But remember, right now the research on this is limited at best, most people have no idea what the effects of delta-8 and delta-10 can have on the body, and we’re still researching these to this day. For a lot of people, being able to understand the effects is important, which is why, for more and more people, learning about these can be helpful. We hope that with more and more research that comes down the pipeline with this, we get to understand the effects that delta=8 and delta-10 have, and the effects of what they have on the body, including the other benefits that might be there.