Education

The low down on the high

So How Does Cannabis Work?

Cannabis contains a variety of powerful compounds, which interact with your endocannabinoid system (ECS) to produce a broad range of effects, everything from increasing appetite (munchies, anyone?) to decreasing pain. The two most important are terpenes and cannabinoids, which work together (in what’s called the entourage effect) to affect the ECS.

Hard to pronounce,
but easy to understand

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are compounds that interact with the ECS. You’ve heard of two of the most common—THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol)—but there are more than a hundred known today, each of which lends its own effects.

Cannabigerol

CBG

POTENTIAL BENEFITS:
A non-psychoactive compound that may reduce nerve and deep tissue pain

Tetrahydrocannabinol

THC

POTENTIAL BENEFITS:
The primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis contributes to the high you feel; it also may help reduce nausea, pain, and inflammation

Cannabidiol

CBD

POTENTIAL BENEFITS:
A non-psychoactive compound that may help relieve pain, inflammation, and anxiety

Limonene

A strong burst of energy is often associated with cultivars that are high in this terpene.

Humulene

Often associated with a woody, spicy aroma, this terpene can work as an antifungal and antibacterial.

Pinene

One of the “Big Three” terpenes best for pain relief. A bronchodilator, this helps keep your lungs feeling free and clear.

Linalool

Linalool is known to have both anti-anxiety and sedating effects, depending on the level of concentration.

Myrcene

Myrcene can facilitate the flow of chemicals in the brain, thereby increasing the effects of cannabinoids and terpenes.

Caryophyllene

If you are feeling down, this terpene has been known to elevate mood and alleviate symptoms of depression.

The real magic makers

What Are Terpenes?

Terpenes are aromatic oils that give cannabis its taste and smell, as well as contributing to its therapeutic and medicinal effect. You’ll recognize many of them not by their name, but by the other places you’ve found them—in the items you use every day. You can explore some of the most common below.

Not as hard as it sounds

Strains

Put plainly, a cannabis “strain” or “cultivar” is a variety with its own unique characteristics—often due to the unique mix of cannabinoids and terpenes they contain. Some produce balanced effects, while others lean in one direction.

Hybrid

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Somewhere in the middle, depending on dominance

PHYSICAL EFFECTS
Promotes Creativity
Daytime Use
Nighttime Use
Pain Relief

Indica

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Plants are bushier
Leaves are short & wide
Dark green color

PHYSICAL EFFECTS
Sleep Time
Stimulates Appetite
Nighttime Use
Pain Relief

Sativa

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Plants are skinnier
Leaves are tall & thin
Light green color

PHYSICAL EFFECTS
Alertness
Increased Energy
Daytime Use
Promotes Creativity

VOCABULARY

Let’s start with the basics, here’s how to talk the toke:

BONG

A pipe for smoking cannabis (usually made of glass) that uses water to cool and diffuse smoke as it’s inhaled

BUD

Put plainly, it’s the “bud” of the marijuana plant, containing the highest concentration of active cannabinoids

RETAIL ASSOCIATE

The person working at your local dispensary, revered for their knowledge of cannabis (yeah, we said it)

CONCENTRATES

Cannabis concentrates are the product of distilling down the most desirable parts of the plant—removing the impurities, leaving behind the cannabinoids and terpenes

DANK

A word that's often used to describe cannabis that's sticky, stanky, and of high quality

EDIBLES

Edibles are food products infused with cannabis oil or butter. They can range from gummies and chocolates to drinks and capsules

HYBRID

A cross between two or more strains of cannabis, often producing its own effects

PHENOTYPE

Growers talk about a plant’s phenotype, its physical characteristics (like height, color, configuration of leaves, etc.)

PRE-ROLL

A marijuana cigarette that can be purchased pre-rolled from a dispensary; you might also call it a joint

TRICHOME

The glands on cannabis that give it its fuzzy look, and where many of a plant’s cannabinoids are produced

TINCTURES

Cannabis tinctures are alcohol-based cannabis extracts that can be administered orally, sublingually, or mixed in foods or beverages

TOPICALS

Topicals are cannabis-infused lotions and balms; they are a great way to get the pain-relieving benefits of cannabis without getting high

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