Frequently
WHAT ARE YOU WONDERING?
People tend to have lots of questions about cannabis, from the general to the nitty-gritty. Here are some of the things we get asked a lot. If you are curious about something that’s not included here, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We love talking about this stuff, and we love getting to hear from you.
CBD and THC are the most commonly known compounds within the cannabis plant, and they are found in the crystals that cover the flower.
CBD and THC are two chemical messengers that imitate our own body’s cannabinoids, directly and indirectly attaching to receptors that are responsible for regulating pain, sleep, digestion, mood, inflammation, and immune function. Receptors are sensory nerves that receive and transmit signals within the body from chemical messengers (like CBD and THC).
CBD is considered non-euphoric and non-intoxicating.
In fact, CBD can minimize the intoxication and sedation of THC while increasing the effectiveness of the relief of pain, nausea, vomiting, and anti-cancer effects.
In addition, CBD may provide relief from Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, autism, epilepsy, Crohn’s, PTSD, and acne.
THC is the cannabinoid that gives a euphoric sensation. THC may be helpful to relieve pain, muscle spasms, pressure in the eye, induce sleep, stimulate appetite, and reduce nausea.
THC may also provide therapeutic benefits for arthritis, migraines, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s, glaucoma, PTSD, MS, and sleep apnea.
CBD and THC and all of the plant’s compounds are most effective when working together. Look for “full spectrum” or “whole plant” for optimal therapeutic effects.
CBD and THC are two specific cannabinoids found in the cannabis flower that have different effects on our body. Each has the potential to help with a wide range of illnesses.
Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid are broad categories used to differentiate varieties of the cannabis plant. Think about it like apples, there are a few distinctly recognizable colors: red, green, and yellow. Like different colored apples, the main varieties of cannabis grow in specific ways, those differences provide information like the region of origin. Just as there are thousands of varieties of apples, there are thousands of strains of cannabis.
Though many attach a “body high” with Indica strains and a “head high” with Sativa strains, most strains available for purchase are actually hybrids of the two. Very few “pure” Sativa or Indica strains exist today.
The effects of those strains are determined by two main things: the plant and the patient. Each strain has a unique chemical makeup of terpenes and cannabinoids. A patient’s “taste palate” or endocannabinoid system determines how that patient’s body will interact with the plant. Sometimes, the same species of apple tastes different between people because of their unique taste palate. Just like apples, it takes some experimentation to know what strains are best for a patient’s needs.
Affinity associates can help patients select which strains might be best suited for their needs.
Cannabis often enhances what a patient is already feeling. Affinity recommends that new patients consume in familiar and comfortable environments. For patients feeling nervous about using an unfamiliar product, ask a trusted friend or family member for company during the duration of effects.
People have receptors all over their bodies primed to interact with cannabis. When consuming cannabis, cannabinoids from the plant bind with the receptors all over the body which make up a person’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The reason a patient’s body processes edible MIPs (Marijuana Infused Products) differently than inhaled flower is due to varying levels of bioavailability. The “intensity” of a high is influenced by the bioavailability of a product, the concentration of cannabinoids (i.e. % of THC), and how much work it takes to process (uptake rate).
The ECS helps regulate many physiological processes such as movement, mood, memory, appetite, and pain. Each person’s system is unique. Some may over or under express a receptor, making one more or less sensitive to the effects of cannabinoids.
Affinity offers an expansive menu with a variety of products all with differing effects. Variance in experience depends on a number of factors: quantity consumed, method of consumption, tolerance level, and an individual’s unique biological responses. Creating the best experience requires intention and controlled experimentation.
Each strain has a unique makeup of terpenes and cannabinoids providing various benefits. There are 20,000 known terpenes present in various plant and animal species on earth and there are over 100 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Here we have a few of the most commonly occurring terpenes and cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
Types of product offered:
THC dominant: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the most prevalent compound in the cannabis plant, known for its psychoactive effects.
CBD dominant: CBD (cannabidiol) is the second most prevalent compound in the cannabis plant, known for its therapeutic effects. Clinical studies have focused on CBD’s effect on anxiety, cognition, movement disorders, and pain. CBD has been known to have anti-inflammatory properties, provide pain relief, help with sleep, and lower the frequency of seizures.
THC: CBD ratio products: Affinity offers products with varying ratios of THC:CBD. This is because the two cannabinoids work together in the body creating their own unique effect, often combining to create a less psychoactive experience.
There are many names for the cannabis plant. Affinity defaults to using cannabis, the scientific term for the plant, unless referring to state or federal regulations that specifically use the term marijuana.
Bioavailability: The degree to which a cannabinoid becomes available for the body to process.
Cannabinoid: Concentrated in the trichomes of the cannabis flower, cannabinoids provide a variety of therapeutic effects.
Decarboxylation: The process of activating cannabinoids with heat to convert them into a form that the body can process. For example: in the plant’s raw form the cannabinoid THCA is abundant, but if consumed before decarboxylation, the body could not process it. When activated by heat, THCA converts into THC, which can then bind to receptors in the body.
Endocannabinoid system (ECS): The ECS, initially an evolutionary development meant to maintain equilibrium and homeostasis in the body is made up of neurotransmitters and cannabinoid receptors. With receptors across the human body, the ECS can interact with cannabinoids naturally produced in the human body (endocannabinoids), cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant like THC and CBD (phytocannabinoids), and cannabinoids produced in lab settings (synthetic cannabinoids).
Terpene: Also known as terpenoids, these compounds determine a strain’s smell, flavor, and additional therapeutic effects.
Strain: the colloquial name for a specific “type” of cannabis within the Indica, Sativa, and hybrid categories. The scientific name for a strain is cultivar.