What Is CBD?
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is an active ingredient in the cannabis family. Like THC, CBD is naturally occurring. As a result, it’s present in almost every cannabis variety, with some strains offering amazingly high levels.
CBD is an anti-inflammatory substance that’s been the subject of fascinating research. Cannabidiol has been researched to fight pain, swelling, insomnia, plus mental concerns like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. With some people experiencing promising results, it’s no wonder people are asking, what is CBD?
CBD vs THC
Does CBD get you high? If you’ve ever asked this question, it’s time to clear things up. CBD isn’t psychoactive, which means it can’t get you high. However, you’ll need to consume a very small amount THC to help the CBD absorb into your body to achieve optimal efficiency. THC is psychoactive, meaning it has mind-altering capabilities. People who compare CBD vs THC report that THC makes them feel euphoric, giggly, and relaxed. They might also feel an energy boost or a wave of lethargy, depending on the strain.
Comparing CBD vs THC is like comparing apples to oranges. Sure, each grows on a tree, but they have very different qualities. The same is true when you’re figuring out what CBD feels like. It’s sourced from the same plants as THC, but it creates a unique range of sensations.
What Does CBD Feel Like?
What does CBD feel like, anyway? This question can be tricky to answer. CBD’s magic lies in its ability to take sensations away. Many feel the compound relieves unpleasant symptoms like aches, pain, stress, anxiety, and depression. We’ve already covered the concern of whether CBD gets you high, so you already know that CBD doesn’t drastically alter your world experience. Instead, CBD just helps you feel better.
Most CBD users report that they can’t tell when their CBD kicks in. Instead, they simply notice that they feel better after taking it. What does CBD feel like? Using CBD feels like moving quickly, sleeping better, feeling calmer, and generally finding more comfort in the world. Remember that everyone experiences CBD differently and what one person may feel is not the same as what you may experience. At Canada Buds we have a wide range of CBD products, come in and ask one of out trained budtenders about which cbd product will be right for you or order CBD online and let us deliver it right to your door!
]]>Now that cannabis is legal in Canada you can not look anywhere without seeing a brick and mortar legal cannabis dispensary close to your home. With the increase of store popping up near you some may see it as a negative consequence due to lack of rules for distance between stores. However, at Canada Buds we feel that in this congested market that it is an amazing opportunity to combat the Black Market, and all the misconceptions that go along with it. Below let's go over the positive notes that we like to highlight to customers asking the burning question, why choose to legally buy cannabis in Canada vs. the Black Market.
Cutting Out the Black Market
Up until recent years, the black market was really the only place to find marijuana. Sure, everyone knows “a guy” or a friend’s cousin had the hookup, but where did they get it from?
Chances are they knew someone who knew a neighbour who knew that buddy who was a drug dealer or involved in organized crime. Some of those drug dealers even had ties to more dangerous organizations in other countries.
The legalization of marijuana either put them out of business or made them go legit. Now, the black market is shrinking and that’s a fact, only 40% of cannabis consumers turn to the black market in Canada for their marijuana needs. Cannabis dispensaries are licenced, registered and regulated provincially. They are also taxed which helps the economy in this crazy time in the world. That is excellent for your normal day to day consumer bad news for the criminals.
True Quality Control
With the recent fentanyl/opioid problem thriving throughout the country, it makes it hard for the customer to know exactly what they’re getting when they purchase marijuana off the street. Legalizing marijuana, on the other hand, immediately creates a set of standards for quality and safety control.
Now, users will know they’re getting exactly what they’re paying for. With real and accurate testing and quality control of every product that goes on the market, the consumer can sleep easy at night knowing that they have consumed the safest top quality marijuana in Canada.
Improved quality and safety control also translates into less of a burden on the medical system. There is less of a risk of serious problems occurring due to overdoses on unknown substances hidden in the marijuana that is sold on the streets.
Tax Revenue
One of the biggest pros that have come from the legalization debate is that of increased tax revenue. That money can be used to fix roads, fund public projects, improve schools, hire more police and firefighters…the list goes on and on.
Since 2018, Canadians have purchased $11 billion worth of cannabis, while the companies responsible for the production and sale of legal pot have spent $29 billion in capital expenditures during that time. Of the tax revenue generated, about $1 billion came from direct contributions to government revenue, while another $2.9 billion was sourced from sales and excise taxes. The remaining $11.2 billion was modelled from both indirect and induced tax sources.
Cutting Down on Drug Related Violence
Gang drug violence is very real part of life in many urban areas around the country. But the legalization of recreational marijuana would remove one of those sources of dispute.
Provinces have seen a decrease in crimes involving marijuana. That benefits not just their safety, but the safety of the public at large who were often innocent victims of gang-related drug violence. In 2020, the rate of cannabis-related incidents under the Cannabis Act and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act dropped 25% from the previous years. Police reported a total of 12,591 incidents, representing a rate of 33 incidents per 100,000 population. Also in 2020, the rate of offences related to importation or exportation accounted for the largest decrease among Cannabis Act offences, dropping 31% from 29 incidents per 100,000 to 20 incidents per 100,000. In total, there were 3,211 fewer incidents of importation or exportation under the Cannabis Act in 2020.
Allowing the Courts and Police to Deal with Major Crime
Legalization of medical and recreational marijuana would do two very important things: Provide the police and the courts with more money (through tax revenue). Also give them more time to focus on more violent crimes
Better funding means more individuals to handle the load. And more time means more attention paid to preventing violent crimes. Too often, both the police and the court system are overwhelmed with handling individuals brought in for simply possessing marijuana.
The problem was, under the law, those individuals had to be treated as though they were carrying meth, heroin, or cocaine. That flooded the court system and overcrowded our prison system. Legalizing marijuana relieves the pressure on these already-overworked public servants.
In Conclusion
Allowing legal cannabis to thrive is one of the best things that the government could have done to combat the black market. There have been struggles in the legal side, from supply chain issues to inventory issues and now over supply and saturation. Even with all these problems the industry, businesses and community are much better off than they were a few years ago. There is still lots of work to still to ensure the smooth transition from Black market to Legal. With Health Canada Reviewing their policies and regulations on the legal cannabis system we can see how the things that issues are now are slowly going to start to disappear as the legal cannabis industry goes mainstream.
At Canada Buds we welcome Health Canada’s revisions to the Regulations Under the Cannabis Act. We strive to be knowledgeable and proactive in our understanding of the laws that surround legal cannabis!!!
]]>The most Common way to consume cannabis is by burning cannabis flower and inhaling the smoke! With that being said there are many different ways to inhale cannabis! Whether it is through smoking a joint, bong, pipe, vaporizer, or vape pen the out come is generally the same. You get high! The different high comes from the specific strain.
]]>
Bong- A filtration device used for smoking Cannabis or tobacco. A Bong is filled with water which helps to filtrate and cool the smoke before inhalation.
Blunt- Cannabis wrapped in a tobacco leaf cigar. Typically comes in a variety of different flavours and lasts longer than a joint.
Bubbler- A hybrid between a pipe and a bong. Being a bit larger than a pipe it has one or more chambers for water to diffuse the smoke before inhalation.
Bud– refers to the actual flower of the Cannabis plant. Buds are the part of the Cannabis plant that contains Cannabinoids.
Cannabidiol (CBD)– Accounts for up to 40% of the Cannabis plant. Popular for its medical benefits, effectively treats pain, inflammation and anxiety. Unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive properties.
Cannabinoids– Are the chemical compounds found in the Cannabis plant that act on the brains Cannabinoid receptors. Existence of Cannabinoid receptors in the brain was established in 1988 by William Devane. Cannabis’ most well known Cannabinoid is Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC) due to its euphoric and psychoactive effects. Another Cannabinoid is Cannabidiol(CBD) known for its health benefits.
Cannabis– A tall plant with a stiff upright stem, divided serrated leaves, and glandular hairs. Dried preparations of the flowers on this plant can be smoked. There are three different species of the Cannabis plant known as Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis.
Concentrates– Are made by dissolving Cannabis from its plant form into a solvent. The result is a concentrate with very high levels of THC.
Crystals– The part of the Cannabis plant that contains the most THC.
Dabbing– Is a way to consume Cannabis concentrates. The process includes placing a small amount of concentrate (a “dab”) on to the heated surface of an oil rig pipe, vaporizing the concentrate.
Edibles– Are baked goods, drinks or candies infused with Cannabis extracts. Edibles usually take longer to take effect so you should always take them slowly and wait for them to take effect before consuming more.
Flower– The flowers of the Cannabis plant refer to the hairy and often sticky buds which are the parts of the plant harvested to consume.
Hash– Is made from the resin of the Cannabis plant and is typically consumed with tobacco.
Hemp– Made from the stem of male Cannabis plants. It can be used to manufacture rope, paper, etc.
Hybrid– A cross between two genetically different strains of Cannabis. Most Cannabis on the market today is some sort of Hybrid.
Indica– A species of Cannabis that is typically smaller and broader. The majority of Indicas offer a very relaxing physical effect.
Joint– A cannabis filled cigarette
Percolator– typically an extra water chamber or added tube that allows for more filtration and smoother inhalation.
Ruderalis– A species of Cannabis with low THC. It is an auto-flowering variety which means it flowers with age and not light. Very high in CBD.
Sativa– A species of Cannabis most known for their energetic and cerebral effects. They tend to grow taller and take longer to flower.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)– Most recognized Cannabinoid in the Cannabis plant. THC is the
component of the Cannabis plant that is responsible for the psychoactive effects.
Tincture– Is a liquid form of Cannabis typically made with alcohol or glycerol. Can be flavoured and is distributed using a dropper. Most people find using tinctures that results can be felt in minutes.
Topical– Are balms, lotions or creams infused with Cannabis. They are known to help ease pain when they are applied.
Vaporizer– heats flower or oils to a specific temperature that then activates the Cannabinoids and turns them into a vapor to be inhailed.
]]>The earliest cultivations of the plant were used for fishing lines and nets. By
1753 Swedish Botanist, Carl Linnaeus, identified Cannabis Sativa.
In 1785 Jean-Baptiste Lamarck identified Cannabis Indica as a second species.
A third species was found later called Cannabis Ruderalis, a low THC cannabis plant that many consider a sub species of the Sativa Cannabis plant.
England and France discovered Cannabis largely through their colonies, where they learned that Cannabis had been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years.
Prescriptions for Cannabis based medicines peak in North America, between 1890 and 1920.
The decline initially started due to the rise in synthetic medicines such as aspirin.
Inconsistent potency led to too weak Cannabis preparations and by 1923 Cannabis was added to the Confidential Restricted List under the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill in Canada.
By the 1960s the view on Cannabis was changing, head lined by the hippie movement, promoting peace, love and drugs, as a way for people to turn war into peace.
In the 1990s research was being conducted across North America on the benefits of Cannabis in patients of long term diseases and in 1999, two patients were given the okay by the federal government to consume Cannabis for medical purposes .
The Liberal Party of Canada proposed legalization of Cannabis in 2012 by party leader Justin Trudeau.
On April 13, 2017 Bill C-45 also known as the Cannabis Act was introduced to Parliament allowing national use of Cannabis by people 19 and older, and the possession of 30 grams.
The Bill was passed in the Canadian House of Commons and Senate on June 7, 2018, and on October 17, 2018 Cannabis was legalized on a Federal level across Canada.
The first year of legalization was made intentionally slow with the available products being limited to dried flower, tinctures and capsules.
On October 17, 2019 we saw the start of Cannabis 2.0 which legalized edibles, beverages, vapes, topicals and extracts.
]]>