Are you new to cannabis? Maybe you’ve never tried it before, but you’re open to the idea. Welcome to being cannacurious. If you’re eager to learn, here are some interesting cannabis facts to expand your knowledge.
It Offers Multiple Health Benefits
You might already know that cannabis offers health benefits, but do you know just what it can do? Studies have found the plant to be helpful in the treatment of many issues, including:
- Chronic pain
- Arthritis
- Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, and rosacea
- Burns
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Insomnia
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Cancer
Not only are there countless health benefits, but there are also numerous ways to enjoy cannabis. If you don’t want to smoke, you can vape, consume edibles, use a tincture, apply a topical, or take a capsule.
It’s More Than THC and CBD
THC and CBD are the two most well-known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. While they get the most attention, they’re not the only things that make your experience. The plant has numerous other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. All of these compounds work together to produce various results, such as promoting sleep, boosting energy, and more.
It Affects Men and Women Differently
A study using rats found that there were differences in how cannabis affected male rats versus female rats. The study found that male rats had a higher THC tolerance. Female rats were more sensitive to the cannabinoid, particularly during ovulation.
When it comes to studies in humans, research is preliminary, and a majority of the studies use only male participants. The studies that do include women show that they are more sensitive, and that sensitivity increases as estrogen levels increase.
Sex hormones are just one reason why researchers believe cannabis affects men and women differently. Other factors that may result in different reactions include the number of brain receptors and metabolic differences.
Cannabis and Beer Are Cousins
Cannabis and hops are botanical cousins, both hailing from the cannabaceae family. While hops contains no cannabinoids, varieties like Humulus and H. lupulus do have fibrous stems filled with terpenes. It may be this reason why many US brewers have been adding cannabis flowers to their beer-making processes.
There’s No Magic Naming Formula
There are over 750 strains of cannabis, and new ones are constantly appearing. You may be wondering if there’s some sort of formula that growers use to name the new varieties they create. The truth, however, is that there is no such thing.
Early cannabis strains often derived their names from their geographic locations. Today, growers have their own systems when it comes to naming. Many combine the names of the parent strains in clever ways. Examples include:
- Harle-Tsu (Harlequin and Sour Tsunami)
- Berry White (Blueberry and White Widow)
- Critical Kush (Critical Mass and OG Kush)
Other growers name their strains based on the effects they produce or based on the physical traits of the plants.
Shakespeare May Have Smoked Cannabis
While not conclusive, there is some evidence that Shakespeare, one of the world’s most famous bards, may have enjoyed cannabis.
Back in the early 2000s, a South African anthropologist by the name of Francis Thackeray used gas chromatography mass spectrometry to determine what substances were present in fragments of Shakespeare’s tobacco pipe. Eight of those fragments had cannabis residue, and two had Peruvian cocaine.
The Growing Cannabis Industry Has Created Many New Jobs
The number of cannabis-related jobs increased by 445% in 2017. A report in the 2019 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide estimates that the industry will create 414,000 new jobs in the US by 2021.
There are so many interesting things about cannabis. If you’re cannacurious and ready to make your first trip to the dispensary, take some time to talk with your budtender to learn some other cool facts.
