The dried flower or bud from the manicured,mature female plant is the most widely consumed form of cannabis in the U.S. Elsewhere in the world, extracts or concentrates of the cannabis plant are more commonly used. Concentrates are made from cannabinoid-rich glandular trichomes, which are found in varying amounts on cannabis flowers, leaves and stalks .The flowers of a mature female plant contain the most trichomes.

Many methods are used to separate the trichomes from the plant:

• Sift the cannabis flower and/or leaves through a fine screen either via a mechanicaVmotorized tumbler or by hand. Called "dry sift." What passes through the screen is primarily the oil-rich glandular heads.
• Roll the cannabis flowers between the fingers to rupture the trichomes and collect the resin that sticks to the fingers. Called "finger hash."
• Submerge cannabis leaves in ice water and agitate mixture to solidify trichomes. Filter mixture through series of increasingly fine screens or bags. Dry the trichornes and press into blocks. Called "bubble hash." This method has increased yield.

There are other ways to separate the trichomes from  other plant material, such as butane extractions, but consult your local medical cannabis laws concerning restrictions on certain types of preparations and use caution as some methods can create serious combustion dangers.

Kief

Kief is a powder  made from trichomes removed from the leaves and flowers of cannabis plants. Can be compressed to produce cakes of hashish, or consumed (typically smoked) in powder  form in a pipe or with cannabis bud or other herbs.

Hashish

Hashish (also known as hash or hashisha) is a collection of compressed or concentrated resin glands (trichomes). Hash contains the same active cannabinoids as the flower and leaves but typically in higher concentrations (in other words, hash is more potent by volume than the plant material from  which it was made).

• Hashish usually is a paste-like substance with varying  hardness. Good quality is typically described as soft and pliable. It becomes  progressively harder  and less potent as it oxidizes and oil evaporates.
• THC content of hashish  ranges  from 15-70%.
• Often smoked with a small pipe. Can be used in food, in a hookah, vaporizer, mixed with joints of cannabis bud or aromatic  herbs.
• Color varies from black to brown to golden or blonde. Color typically reflects methods of harvesting, manufacturing, and storage.

MYTH: The effects from  smoking hash are different

FACT: The effects of hash vary in the same way strains of cannabis do.This stems from  differences in potency of hash and the regional variations between cannabis strains used for making it.

Hash oil

Hash oil is a mix of essential oils and resins extracted from mature cannabis foliage through the use of various solvents such as ethanol or hexane.The solvent is then evaporated,which leaves the oil. Hash oil tends to have a high proportion of cannabinoids-a range from 30 to 90% THC content can be found.

Can be smoked with a specialty pipe (specifically for hash oil or hash), with a vaporizer, with cannabis bud in a pipe, joint, or added to food.

Cannabis Edibles

Cannabis can be ingested or eaten when added to cake, cookies, dressings, and other foods. It can also be brewed into a tea or other beverage. To be effective,cannabis and its extracts or concentrates must be heated in order  to convert the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinolic acid into active THC.

Digestive processes alter the metabolism of cannabinoids and produce a different metabolite of THC in the liver. That metabolite may produce markedly different effects or negligible ones, depending on the individual. Onset of effects are delayed and last longer due to slower absorption of the cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids are fat-soluble, hydrophobic oils, meaning they dissolve in oils, butters, fats and alcohol, but not water. Processes using oil, butter, fat or alcohol can extract the cannabinoids from  plant material.

Various forms of converted cannabis can be used for edible medicating. Each can be made from  cannabis flowers, leaves of concentrates such as hash.The potency of the edible will depend on the material used in making it and the amount used. Edibles made with hash will be stronger than those made from leaf trim.

Cannabis Oil

Cannabis Oil (cannaoil): is cooking oil infused with cannabinoids.Various means to extract include heating the oil and cannabis mixture at low temperature in a frying pan or pot, double boiler, or slow cooker then straining out the plant material. Can be used in any recipe that includes oil and that doesn't go over 280 degrees Fahrenheit (evaporating point). Think cookies,cakes, candies, and other food items.

Cannabis Butter

Cannabis butter (cannabutter) is butter infused with cannabinoids.Heat raw cannabis with butter to extract cannabinoids into the fat Various means to extract include heating the butter and cannabis mixture at low temperature in a frying pan or pot,double boiler, or slow cooker then straining out the plant material. Can be used in any recipe that includes oil and that doesn't go over 280 degrees Fahrenheit

Tincture

Tinctures use ethanol alcohol (e.g. pure grain alcohol, not rubbing alcohol) to extract the cannabinoids. You use droplet amounts,and it is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth.

Spray

Sublingual sprays is another way of using a tincture. Use ethanol alcohol to extract the cannabinoids.You use a pump to spray cannabis-alcohol solution under your tongue.

Cannabis Liquor

Liquor may be infused with cannabinoids. Best to cook stems and leaves into  brandy or rum. Can be added to coffee and other beverages.

Cannabis Topicals (applied to the skin)

Cannabinoids combined with a penetrating topical cream can enter the skin and body tissues and allow for direct application to affected areas (e.g.allergic skin reactions,post-herpes neuralgia,muscle strain, inflammation,swelling,etc.).

• Cannabinoids in cannabis interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors that are found all over the body, including  the skin.

• Both THC and Cannabidiol (CBD) have been found to provide  pain relief and reduce  inflammation.

• Topical cannabis  use does not produce a psychoactive effect, which is different  from eating or inhaling  the medicine.

Different types of cannabis topicals include:

• Salve: cannabinoids heated into coconut  oil combined  with bees wax and cooled. Rub directly on skin.

• Cream: cannabinoids heated into shea butter combined  with other ingredients and cooled. Rub directly on skin.

Topicals may produce anti-inflammatory and analgesic or pain relief effects..Research has to date been limited to studies on allergic  and post-herpes skin reactions and pain relief.Anecdotal reports on topical treatment efficacy include:

• Certain types of dermatitis (including atopic) and psoriasis

• Balm for lips, fever blisters, herpes

•  Superficial wounds, cuts, acne pimples, furuncles, corns, certain nail fungus

• Rheumatism and arthritic  pains (up to the 2nd degree  of arthritis)

• Torticollis,  back pains, muscular  pains and cramps, sprains  and other contusions

• Phlebitis, venous  ulcerations

• Hemorrhoids

• Menstruation pains

• Cold and sore throat, bronchitis

• Asthmatic problems  with breathing

• Chronic  inflammation  of larynx (application in the form of a Priessnitz compress)

• Migraine,  head pains, tension headaches

Pharmaceutical Cannabis or Cannabinoids

Pharmaceutical cannabis or cannabinoid drugs are those that have been standardized in composition, formulation and dose. That means you always know exactly what and how much you are getting with each pill or spray. These are drugs which  have been developed to meet regulatory requirements for prescribing by physicians.

Dronabinol(Marinol®)

Dronabinol (Marinol®) is a prescribed capsule classified as a Schedule Ill drug used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and loss of appetite and weight loss in people who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).It is a synthetic version of THC suspended in sesame oil and does not contain CBD (cannabidiol) or other cannabinoids.

Sativex®

Sativex® is a prescribed oromucosal (mouth) spray to alleviate various symptoms of MS and cancer, including neuropathic pain, spasticity, overactive bladder and other symptoms, depending on the country. Derived from  two strains of cannabis, the principal active cannabinoid components are THC and CBD suspended in ethanol. Each spray of Sativex® delivers a fixed dose of 2.7mg THC and 2.5mg CBD.

Last updated on October 1, 2015 by Kind Deliveries, Inc.