What is Cannabis?

The Basics

Cannabis is an annual, dioecious plant (meaning it has distinct male and female plants) from the Cannabaceae family. It has been cultivated for over 4,000 years and historically used for medicinal, recreational, and industrial purposes. In Canada, cannabis became legal on October 17, 2018, when the Cannabis Act (Bill C-45) came into effect, allowing for the legal use, sale, and possession of cannabis for adults of legal age.

Cannabis is best known for its psychoactive effects, which are primarily attributed to the cannabinoids it naturally produces. The two most famous cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), both of which interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce a range of physical and mental effects. While THC and CBD are the most well-known, cannabis actually contains over a hundred different cannabinoids, each with its own potential effects.

Cannabis products are available in many forms, including dried flower, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates, edibles, beverages, oils, capsules, and topicals. The experience someone has when consuming cannabis can be influenced by many factors, including the strain, dosage, and method of consumption. Since the same dose can affect different people in different ways, it’s always important to start low and go slow when trying cannabis for the first time, or when trying a new product. This approach helps ensure that you understand how various types of cannabis affect you personally.

Inhalation

Smoking or Vaping

Approximate Onset: Few Seconds
Approximate Duration: 1-4 Hours

Sublingual

Dissolved under tongue

Approximate Onset: 10-20 Minutes
Approximate Duration: 2-4 Hours

Ingestion

Eating or drinking

Approximate Onset: 30 minutes - 6 Hours
Approximate Duration: 4-10 Hours

Topical

Applied externally on skin

Approximate Onset: Few Minutes
Approximate Duration: 1-2 Hours

THC	Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. While typically consumed by smoking cannabis, it is also available in oils, edibles, tinctures, capsules and more.
CBD	Cannabidiol, commonly referred to as CBD is found primarily in extractions from the hemp plant, and is often sold in gels, oils, supplements and extracts. CBD is a nonpsychoactive compound, and does not produce a ‘high’.
Plant Type	Plant Type refers to the strain of plant, which impacts how it will affect you. i.e., sativa, indica, hybrid.