Cannabis in many forms

SATIVA	INDICA
If you want to go for a run, be the life of the party, or create art. Stimulates mind and senses Improves focus/concentration Increases energy Uplifts mood	If you want to relax after work and before bed. Relaxes mind and body Relieves pain and nausea Stimulates appetite Reduces anxiety
If you want a balanced effect that boosts and relaxes. The best of both Sativa & Indica Balance between euphoria and relaxation Can be sativa-dominant or indica-dominant Hundreds of options to choose from	If you’re looking for lasting relief for sore muscles. Little to no “high” Inflammation reduction Alleviates chronic pain Post-exercise recovery

Strains are different variations of the cannabis plant, much like there are different variations of tomatoes: cherry, Roma, heirloom, grape, beefsteak, etc.

Each strain has a unique chemical profile, a mix of different cannabinoids and terpenes. If you like the taste, smell, and effects of a certain strain, you will likely enjoy another strain with a similar chemical profile.  

The definitions of indicas, sativas, and hybrids are somewhat fraught, Even today, budtenders and consumers the world over still use the terms “indica,” sativa,” and “hybrid” to refer to effects—indicas are thought to be calm and sedating; sativas, energetic; and hybrids, a mix of the two. 

However, these terms actually refer to the plant’s physical structure, not its effects. Instead, a strain’s effects are a result of its chemical profile (its mix of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds). That chemical profile will also interact with each person’s body in a different way.

Cannabinoids and terpenes are the main compounds in the cannabis plant that get you high or provide medicinal benefits. The two main cannabinoids are THCand CBD. THC gets you high, whereas CBD is non-intoxicating. People consume both cannabinoids for medicinal benefits. Most strains you buy at the dispensary will be high in THC, and some will be high in CBD or have a balance of the two.

Terpenes are weed’s scent compounds, giving the plant its complex aromas. Hundreds of terpenes are found in trace amounts in the plant, and there are eight main ones:

• Myrcene
• Caryophyllene
• Limonene
• Pinene
• Linalool
• Terpinolene
• Humulene
• Ocimene 

Cannabinoids and terpenes work together synergistically through a process called the entourage effect, and they interact with and activate the body’s endocannabinoid system, a cellular system which maintains balance in your body. This is how you feel high and experience symptom relief or other effects of cannabis.  

Dosing cannabis can be tricky because cannabis effects plateau at a certain point and if you take more, it won’t necessarily increase effects. This plateau level is different for everyone based on body chemistry, the weed strain’s chemical profile, and how much you consume.

THC is the main compound in the cannabis plant, responsible for feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and many of the other effects of cannabis. We can study THC’s effects on the brain and body by looking at a similar cannabinoid the body produces called anandamide, the bliss molecule.

Many people also consume cannabis for creativity or focus, as it can help one think outside the box and not worry about other distractions in life. 

Cannabis can cause paranoia, anxiety, and other negative feelings in some, which is thought to happen in the amygdala, the part of the brain involved in emotional processing and the fear response. 

Many things contribute to how cannabis affects you and makes you feel, including:

• Your body chemistry
• Type of strain consumed (its chemical profile)
• How much you consume (dosage)
• Method of consumption (joint, bong, dab, edible, etc.)
• Set and setting—are you having a good or bad day? Are you outside, inside, at a concert, or out to dinner?  
• Intention—are you consuming to watch a movie, do art, or go for a run? Do you want to get a little high or very high?  

The biggest concern with consuming weed is that a majority of people smoke it, and inhaling any type of smoke negatively affects your body, particularly your heart and lungs. Many people vaporize it or consume edibles, which are less harmful to your body. There are no known cases of an overdose on cannabis. 

Cannabis is usually infused into a fat-soluble medium, such as butter or oil, which is called an infusion. Examples of infusions include cannabutter, cannabis coconut oil, cannabis cooking oil, and more. 

A cannabis infusion is then used to make food, such as baked goods like brownies, cookies, and more. Weed can also be infused with alcohol and made into a tincture, and one of the most popular edibles, gummies.

Edibles are known to be potent, so be careful when consuming them—we’ve all known someone who has eaten too many edibles and had an unpleasant evening.

We always recommend new consumers and seasoned stoners alike “start low and go slow” when consuming edibles—take a little at first to determine potency, and wait until effects kick in before taking more. 

Check out more on edibles, their benefits, dosing, and more, in our guide to cannabis edibles.  

Cannabis is usually infused into a fat-soluble medium, such as butter or oil, which is called an infusion. Examples of infusions include cannabutter, cannabis coconut oil, cannabis cooking oil, and more. 

A cannabis infusion is then used to make food, such as baked goods like brownies, cookies, and more. Weed can also be infused with alcohol and made into a tincture, and one of the most popular edibles, gummies.

Edibles are known to be potent, so be careful when consuming them—we’ve all known someone who has eaten too many edibles and had an unpleasant evening.

We always recommend new consumers and seasoned stoners alike “start low and go slow” when consuming edibles—take a little at first to determine potency, and wait until effects kick in before taking more. 

Check out more on edibles, their benefits, dosing, and more, in our guide to cannabis edibles.  

• Canola
• Vegetable
• Coconut
• Olive
• Avocado
• Sesame
• Peanut

When picking a base cooking oil, consider how you’ll use it and what foods you’ll cook with it. You can use a neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil, or something with a specific flavor, like sesame or peanut oil. It all depends on your flavor preferences and the dishes you plan on cooking. 

Additionally, oils have different consistencies at room temperature, so consider how you’ll be storing the oil. 

If you’re looking for an oil that can be used in a stir fry as well as a pie crust, coconut oil is a great option—it adds great flavor to veggies and remains solid enough at room temperature to hold up as a pie crust.

Vegetable and canola oil are great options if you want something with a mild flavor. They are also versatile and work with most recipes that call for oil.

For something a little more robust in flavor, infuse olive or avocado oil with cannabis. Both stand up well to the cannabis flavor and can be stored in your pantry. 

Recipe for cannabis cooking oil

Materials

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Oven
• Saucepan, stock pot, double-boiler, or slow cooker
• Mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Container for cannabis oil
• Cannabis grinder (optional)

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooking oil of your choice
• 1 cup (7-10 grams) of ground cannabis, decarboxylated

When making cannabis cooking oil, we recommend a 1:1 ratio of cannabis to oil. If you want milder effects, use less cannabis.

Directions

1. Decarb the cannabis. We recommend decarboxylating your weed first, and then putting it in oil. Decarbing turns THCA in the plant into THC, the psychoactive compound that will get you high. Set your oven to 245ºF and put buds on parchment paper on a baking pan. Heat for 30-40 minutes. 
2. Grind or break up the cannabis. Grinders break weed down to the same consistency and will save you time, but you can just as easily break up the weed with your hands. Keep in mind that anything small enough to fit through the mesh strainer or cheesecloth will end up in your finished product, so don’t grind the weed into a fine powder.
3. Heat oil and decarbed cannabis. Add oil and decarbed cannabis to double-boiler, slow cooker, or saucepan, and simmer on low for 2-3 hours. Make sure the temperature of the oil stays between 160-200ºF.
4. Strain and store the oil. Put mesh strainer or cheesecloth over container for oil and pour the oil/cannabis mixture through it. Do not squeeze it out—this will add more chlorophyll to your oil and make it taste more vegetal. Discard the plant material. The oil will have a shelf life of at least two months and can be extended with refrigeration.

Cannabis cooking oil is versatile and easy to make. You can infuse any type of oil, such as canola, vegetable, olive, peanut, sesame oil, and others—all you need is some weed, cheesecloth, and a sauce pan or slow cooker.

Consuming food made with cannabis cooking oil is similar to consuming edibles or anything made with cannabutter—compared to inhalation methods, effects will take longer to kick in, and they will usually last longer and be stronger. 

As will all cannabis edibles, we recommend to “start low and go slow”: Eat a little bit and wait at least 45-60 minutes until effects kick in, and only eat more if you want stronger effects. 

Benefits of using cannabis cooking oil

Dosing edibles is notoriously tricky. Everyone’s body chemistry is different and many other factors contribute to the intensity of an edible experience. 

Two people may respond to the same dose of weed edible differently: If two people eat a 5 mg weed gummy, one could get completed stoned and the other not very stoned at all.

Why do edibles take longer to kick in than smoking?

When cannabis is smoked or vaporized, that inhaled smoke or vapor goes into the lungs and then the bloodstream, and the consumer will feel the effects of weed within minutes. 

When eating edibles, weed has to be digested and metabolized in your stomach and liver before you feel effects. This takes a bit longer than smoking or vaping, and leads to a more potent experience. 

Because this process takes much longer, we recommend people “start low and go slow” when consuming edibles—take a low dose of edibles and wait until the effects kick in, at least 45-60 minutes, or even longer. If you want more effects after that time period, then take more edibles.

If you are new to cannabis or have a low tolerance, start with 2.5 mg of edibles or even less. If you want stronger effects after an hour, try another 2.5 mg or less.

If you take more edibles before waiting for the initial dose’s effects to kick in, both doses will kick in later and you could potentially feel too high.

Factors that can impact how long edibles take to work

Several factors are involved in how strong the effects of an edible will be.

Type of edible

Edibles such as gummies, baked goods, drinks, and others are digested in the stomach and liver and usually take 45-60 minutes for effects to kick in.

Certain edibles such as mint strips, lozenges, and lollipops are absorbed sublingually, under the tongue. Effects will occur within minutes this way, as THC is directly absorbed into the bloodstream. 

Dosage

Edibles with a high dosage, such as 10 mg or more, may kick in more quickly than ones with a low dose.

Tolerance

How much cannabis you consume on a regular basis will greatly affect how potent an edible is for you. If you smoke weed every day (high tolerance), 5 mg of edibles might not feel that strong; if you rarely smoke (low tolerance), 5 mg may feel like a lot. 

Body weight and metabolism

How quickly or slowly your body processes or metabolizes food and edibles will affect how long it takes to kick in, how long it lasts, and how strong it will be. 

How to make edibles work faster

If you like the benefits of edibles but not how long they take to kick in, here are a few options to speed up the onset of effects.

• Sublinguals: Try tinctures, mint strips, lozenges, lollipops, or any other edible that is absorbed sublingually; THC is absorbed much more quickly under the tongue and effects will kick in within minutes
• Empty stomach: How full you are can affect how quickly an edible kicks in and consuming edibles with little food in your stomach can lead to faster effects—just be sure to have some munchies around when the effects do kick in
• Tolerance break: Taking a break from consuming cannabis for a day or two beforehand can make the effects of an edible kick in quicker and feel stronger

search for “how to pass a drug test” on the web can sometimes feel like an overwhelming mix of information including quick fixes, myths, and, of course, bad advice from strangers.

So what is a stoner (or casual cannabis consumer, or medical patient, for that matter) to do when all you need is a single, reliable option?

If you have to pass a drug test for weed, it is important to understand how drug tests and detoxing works in order to put yourself in the best position to pass. We broke it all down for you here so you don’t have to ask the internet anymore.

How long does weed stay in your system?

Answer:

• Urine Test: 30-45 days (daily consumer)
• Blood Test: 45-60 days
• Hair Test: 90-120 days (daily consumer)
• Saliva Test: 1-7 days (daily consumer)

What factors determine the time window for THC still being in your body?

Answer:

• Body Mass (BMI)
• Metabolism
• Levels of THC in your body

The natural timeline for THC leaving your system is different for everyone, as it is dependent on a number of factors that include age, body mass, metabolism, frequency of exposure, duration of exposure, and the potency of the cannabis consumed.

For most people, it can take as long as 4-6 weeks for traces of THC from cannabis to naturally exit your system from the last point you consumed. Unlike other testable substances, THC is fat-soluble which means it gets stored in your fat cells and organs.

Generally speaking, the less frequent you consume and less body fat you have the lesser amount of time it will take you to cleanse. As you may have guessed, the more frequent and concentrated your consumption is and the higher your body fat levels are will have the opposite effect, making it a longer process to getting THC out that often requires detoxing with a hardcore diet plan.

Do these common methods for passing a drug test really work?

Answer:

• Natural Cleanse: can take 30-60 days
• Detox Kits: can flush THC in 5-10 days
• Detox Drinks: can temporarily flush THC the same day for a few hours
• Synthetic Urine: can work but is detectable and risky
• Home Remedies: magical at-home fixes like Niacin, Certo, Vinegar are BOGUS
• Other Urine: pee from your straight edge friend won’t be the right temperature

When it comes to cannabis, detoxing is a process that can take some time. The more days or even weeks you have to detox the better. Unfortunately, not everyone has ample amounts of time.

To help speed up your body’s detoxification process, there are a number of different options, just note that some work better than others. To help you make an informed decision when picking the right option or product for your detoxification needs, check out this primer on the different types of detox solutions available:

Natural cleanse

Most people can complete a natural cleanse in 30-60 days. It requires you to change your lifestyle as well as your eating habits to make sure that your body is eliminating the THC that is stored in your system.

Everyone detoxes at a different pace. Although, most people can get completely detoxed within a few weeks; and since cannabis is stored in fat cells, heavy daily users have reported it taking over 90 days to test clean of any THC after their last puff.

If you are in a situation where you are not able to do a full natural detox, the following options are designed to help people that do not have the luxury of time. These will not completely cleanse; however, they can help you get a negative test result. It is important to note that several states have laws that make it illegal to lie on a drug test. Be sure to check your local laws!

Detox drinks

Same-day detox drinks can be helpful for stimulating your body’s natural detoxification process; however, they can also be helpful in creating a window in which you can test clean. Just be warned, some detox products can strip urine of the indicators that testers are looking for to ensure the samples are genuine. Remember, for urine tests, your sample needs to be the proper color, the right temperature, have the correct creatinine level, the correct ph level, and contain uric acid.

Detox kits

A quality detox kit will ensure that THC is absent from your urine sample without stripping it of other indicators. As opposed to same-day detox drinks that will ensure your urine is clean for a few hours, a detox kit will permanently flush your system of traceable THC levels. Generally ranging between five and ten days, detox kits use herbal supplements to assist your body’s natural detoxification process. If you don’t know which type of test you are getting, you might want to check out a full body detox that includes a detox shampoo. You must completely stop consumption during the course of your detox. After the completion of your detox kit and you pass the at-home test kit you will be permanently free of traceable THC levels. This is, of course, until you consume cannabis again.