What are cannabinoids? |
Q: What are cannabinoids?
Q: Can you tell me a bit more about the different cannabinoids, such as THC?
A: Cannabinoids are the (psycho)active ingredients in cannabis. The best-known cannabinoid is THC, which is instrumental in the recreative and medicinal usage of marijuana.
 THC is short for tetrahydrocannabinol, and it's this magic ingredient that causes you to feel 'high'. THC levels are highest when a plant's trichomes have turned cloudy. You can read more about this in the Knowledge Base article on harvesting times. Most modern cannabis strains have been bred to yield quite high amounts of THC, resulting in a strong high effect.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is an ingredient which, although not psychoactive, has analgesic and sedative properties which cause the dull, lethargic 'body stone' of marijuana. Cannabis sativa strains tend to contain less CBD than indica ones, which is why sativa is known to give a cerebral buzz and indica will produce a body stone. Often, users who are looking to produce marijuana with painkilling or sleep-inducing qualities will prefer higher levels of CBD. Users looking for an uplifting, energising high need a plant that's high in THC and low in CBD.
CBN, finally, is short for cannabinol. This ingredient is actually a byproduct of the deterioration of THC. It will be more present in marijuana that has not been stored dark, air-tight and completely dry, or in buds that were harvested too late. It is best to avoid this, as CBN diminishes the high effect and can make you feel unwell. This is why properly harvesting and storing is so important.
Different strains will have varying combinations of these active ingredients. Avoiding CBN is a good idea, but whether you prefer high THC/low CBD or vice versa, or even a plant that has high levels of both, is up to you. Remember the two ways of influencing these levels: the moment of harvesting and the choice of indica or sativa.
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Nirvana. This question has been viewed 588 times so far.
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