Cannabis refers to the plant in its many forms: marijuana (dried and crushed leaves and flower buds), Hashish (the resin of flower buds), Cannabis extracts (oils, waxes, shatter). The cannabis plant has been used for thousands of years for medicinal, recreational and industrial purposes.
The two natural compounds found within cannabis that are most sought after are CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD is a non-psychoactive component that has been shown to exhibit many health benefits. THC is known for its psychoactive qualities that give you a ‘high’, but also comes with its own healing properties. Whether you are a grower, a consumer or just interested in learning more about the nation’s favorite plant (next to the Maple Tree, of course), cannabis has some interesting traits for any need.
Cannabis that you smoke is derived from flowering buds of the female weed plant and can range in colors, potencies and effects depending on their genetics (commonly referred to as “strains”). Why don’t we consume male weed plants like we do females? Like the old adage, there’s a stark divide between Males (from Mars) and Females (from Venus) – sometimes their only relations are the fact that they inhabit the same solar system.
Let’s look at the differences between the plant sexes, and get to understand the biology of cannabis a bit better.