10 interesting facts that most people don't know about weed
Cannabis is a fantastic plant that is useful in so many ways than people realize. While it’s most popular for its euphoric effects, there is much more to a marijuana plant than what first meets the eye. Here, you will find 10 of the least known and most useful facts about weed, that everyone should know about.
1. Eating fresh cannabis buds will not get you high
A lot of unknowledgeable people feared the introduction of marijuana legalization, based on the belief that children might unknowingly ingest cannabis bud flowers from either a garden or their parents’ stash. The problem with that theory is that cannabis cannot get you high until it undergoes a process called decarboxylation. Initially, THC is in a form called THCA, which cannot induce intense psychoactive sensations on its own. Only after the plant materials are introduced to a sufficient amount of heat will they activate and ready to use in this way.
2. The marijuana plant can produce well over 100 different cannabinoids
Most people know about the two primary cannabinoids that are found in cannabis, which are THC and CBD, but only a few have any idea that there are hundreds of other elements that work together to provide the incredible benefits. Many of these lesser-known compounds have been proven to have less overwhelming or noticeable effects, as they work with the body’s natural regulatory system to achieve a balance rather than getting you stoned.
3. Many cannabis strains have different growing periods
Marijuana plants are often compared to vegetable plants as they grow alongside one another in backyard gardens every single year, but just as it is with different strains of veggies, cannabis strains can fall within a wide range between 90 day-120 days. The type of seed also makes a world of difference, as some auto-flowering strains can produce up to 2 pounds in fewer than 90 days, which is pretty impressive.
4. Marijuana plants once grew everywhere
All plants at some point started out as a wild variety, sprouting up as far as the seeds and pollen could travel, but there are few places in the world today where you can go and find cannabis growing naturally in untouched glory. When prohibition first began, marijuana seedlings could often be found growing wild in ditches along highways and backcountry roads, hence the term ‘ditch weed’. They were eventually destroyed by the federal government after harsh changes in regulation, in an attempt to keep the benefits and effects out of the hands of normal everyday citizens.
5. There are more than 3000 documented weed strains
Breeding cannabis plants to create new strains is tricky business when you are invested in specific results, but it happens every single day by accident to home growers. Since cannabis was illegal for so many years, we do not have a current database of all existing strains, as doing so would have required citizens who were growing illegally to admit that. Right now, there are over 3000 well documented and researched cannabis strains, but the true number of variations is something that we will never know for certain.
6. Recreational and medical marijuana are often the same thing
Some people view medical cannabis through a different scope than products that are labelled for recreational consumption, but the truth is that the two aren’t so different from one another. While medical marijuana strains usually get that name due to a substantial amount of the medicinal element CBD, both medical and recreational cannabis contain THC, which can get you high. That is probably why so many people are self-medicating, as street weed is just as effective as anything that your doctor might suggest after obtaining a prescription.
7. CBD is great for more than health reasons
CBD works as an anti-inflammatory, system regulator and pain reliever, but it can be helpful for so much more than the media lends it credit for. Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown to be a powerful element when it’s taken in combination with THC, as it enhances the psychoactive effects through something that is called the entourage effect.
8. Cannabis seeds are the perfect addition to any diet
Marijuana seeds are hidden gems inside of the cannabinoid laden bud flowers, and they do not contain THC or CBD in any substantial amounts. What they do have to offer is a hearty dose of protein and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which can help to regulate weight and appetite and give you the fuel for energy that you need to make it through the day.
9. Juicing raw marijuana buds won't get you high, but it works other ways
Juicing is a relatively new trend that is quickly catching on as the ultimate superfood, and once you learn about what’s inside, it isn’t hard to comprehend why. As we mentioned earlier, ingesting cannabis in this form without applying heat will not get you high, but cannabis buds are full of all the same delightful health-boosting ingredients as seeds, plus more. Drinking raw cannabis juice can be beneficial for many reasons including:
- Antibacterial
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-seizure
- Anti-tumor
- Anti-nausea
- Pain reduction
- Mood improvement
- Anti-inflammatory
10. Terpenes determine the smell and taste of each weed strain
To the less exposed, individuals burning cannabis might always just smell like pot, which is a common misconception that can be forgiven due to the earthy aroma that seems to be present among most strains. However, the vast library of different aromas and flavors is thanks to an element called terpenes, which can also work to provide medicinal benefits for the consumer, and a barrier of protection for the plant, from harmful predators or harsh environments.
Some terpenes are rarer than others, but this compound is not cannabis-specific, as it is also found in many of the most delightful smells of vegetable and fruit plants. The amount of each terpene present in a particular strain will significantly present itself through smell, and which one you get might change just as frequently as you buy weed.
