What are Terpenes and their Medicinal Uses?
Terpenes, or terpenoids, are aromatic compounds found in thousands of plant species. They are responsible for the different flavours and fragrances of cannabis. In nature, terpenes protect plants from animal grazing and infectious germs. The plant sources of terpenes include thyme, tea, cannabis, and citrus fruits, such as orange, lemon, mandarin, etc.
Among the many natural products that provide medicinal benefits for an organism, terpenes play a major role. It gives each strain of cannabis a unique scent and flavour apart from adding a therapeutic effect.

What Do Terpenes Do?
Terpenes deliver a powerful scent and flavour. It has two essential roles in the life of a plant. First, it protects the plant from predators, diseases and fungus. Second, it releases resin, used for producing essential oils such as those found in beauty products and aromatherapy. Its therapeutic properties enhance the medicinal benefits of cannabis.
Similar to CBD, terpenes work with the body by binding to the brain’s receptors. They interact with the endocannabinoid system and aid the CBD in entering the body’s bloodstream.

Myrcene, a type of terpene, for instance, increases cell permeability making the absorption of cannabinoids into the bloodstream easier and faster. This process is the ‘Entourage Effect.’ The effect occurs when several natural plant compounds interact together within the human body to deliver a more powerful impact than what a compound can create individually.

Medicinal Uses of Terpenes
The common cannabis terpenes present in terpenes herb pouches and terpenes strain profiles available in the market include limonene, myrcene, pinene, linalool, and caryophyllene.

Limonene helps to uplift mood and reduce stress levels. It has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also helpful in weight loss and the treatment of acid reflux and ulcers. Myrcene eases chronic pain and inflammation, induces sedative effects, and aids muscle relaxation.

Pinene helps in opening airways in the respiratory system and is suitable for asthma patients. Moreover, it protects the lungs against viral infections like bronchitis. Linalool has analgesic, anti-convulsant, anaesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is the principal compound in lavender, popular for sedative, calming, and soporific powers. As a result, linalool is great for insomniacs and one of the effective treatments for anxiety and stress.
Summing up

Terpenes are natural compounds capable of delivering a multitude of medicinal benefits. Some terpenes help in relieving stress; others help in relaxing and inducing sleep. Some work well when you want to improve your focus; others have the potential to kill respiratory pathogens.

Disclaimer:
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website and the above article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
The Vape Joint also does NOT engage in the supply of cannabis in any shape or form. The above article is purely for the purpose of consumer knowledge and understanding. For all queries regarding medical cannabis, please contact your local GP or health authority directly.

The cannabis plant lifecycle comprises various stages. At each stage of the cultivation process, the plant has unique demands, including different quantities of light, water, and nutrients. A cannabis plant can take between 4 and 8 months to bloom, depending on where it grows.

The plant’s quality depends on the grower’s knowledge of the cannabis growth phases and the lifecycle. Before understanding the different cannabis growth phases, let’s discover some essential details about cannabis seeds.

Cannabis seeds are inactive till they receive light and water. They are comparatively stronger and survive dark, cool places like refrigerators. You must know that if temperatures are extremely low or fall below freezing, the seeds can die or get damaged.
Typically, cannabis plants are dioecious, which means that male and female reproductive organs exist in different individuals. Nevertheless, in certain cases, cannabis plants show intersex characteristics and are known as hermies.

Only female cannabis plants can produce buds that one can harvest for dabbing, smoking, vaping, and ingesting. The grower must remove the male plants and hermies before the flowers open to maintain the cannabis’ quality and keep it free from seeds. When dual-sex or male plants grow with females, they pollinate them. As a result, females don’t need to use their energy to feed buds and can focus on producing seeds, which leads to lowered and sometimes a ruined harvest.

After understanding cannabis seeds and their care and maintenance, let’s look at the cannabis growth stages.

1. Germination Stage
Germination of cannabis seeds requires air, water, warm temperature, and humidity. Pick a dark, warm, and humid place to initiate key metabolic processes that begin sprouting a seedling. As soon as the seed opens and begins to show the first white tap root, shift it to its next growing medium in a small pot.
Depending on the seed’s age, initial germination can take three to ten days. The roots begin to develop, and finally, the plant produces the first two oval leaves, known as cotyledons. Now, it is time for the next stage of the seedling.

1. Seedling Stage
The seedling stage is fragile. Plants require 18 to 24 hours of sunlight, mild humidity, and moist soil for rapid growth. Since the seedling has a small root system, do not drown it by overwatering. After the plant becomes a seedling, you will see more traditional-looking cannabis leaves developing. These are digitated leaves with serrated borders. When these leaves appear, the plant is in the vegetative stage. The seedling stage can take up to three weeks.

1. Vegetative Stage
During the vegetative stage, the Cannabis plant grows in size and height as much as possible in the given conditions. You will see more leaves and stems. At this time, you can see pre-flowers to signal sex, but the growth of the buds will start only when the days get shorter during Autumn or the photoperiod changes to 12/12.

1. Flowering Stage
For the flowering stage, the plant requires less than 12 hours of light per day. To enter the stage, the plant needs 10 to 12 hours of complete darkness. The plant is ready for harvesting when the pistils’ colour on the cola buds becomes reddish-orange from white, and the trichome heads become milky from transparent and then amber from opaque. The amber colour signifies that the resin has a higher CBD to THC cannabinoid ratio.
The right conditions for the flowering stage are warm weather and medium humidity. You must provide blooming nutrients intermittently. You must harvest the plant when half the trichomes are opaque. At this time, the plant produces the lowest levels of CBD and the highest amount of THC.

1. Harvesting Stage
To harvest the cannabis plant, cut it down into smaller branches for an easy drying process. Tie the pieces on a string and hang them upside down in a cool, dark room. Let the plants hang for 7 to 14 days. It is vital to dry the plant completely to avoid fungal and bacterial growth. The removal of moisture helps to preserve the life of cannabis. Do not complete the drying process in haste, as it can lead to harsh cannabis.

Summing up
We hope this guide helps you learn more about the Cannabis plant stages and its lifecycle. Each stage requires a different length of time and external conditions.

Disclaimer:
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website and the above article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
The Vape Joint also does NOT engage in the supply of cannabis in any shape or form. The above article is purely for the purpose of consumer knowledge and understanding. For all queries regarding medical cannabis, please contact your local GP or health authority directly.

Cannabis has an interesting and colorful history. The medicinal properties of its plant were discovered thousands of years ago in western China or central Asia. Long ago, in 2800 BC, it was used for treating many medical conditions and listed in Emperor Shen Nung’s pharmacopoeia. Emperor Shen Nung is recognized as the father of Chinese medicine. There are also mentions of Cannabis’ therapeutic benefits in the texts of Romans, Greeks, Indian Hindus, and Assyrians. They report its use for treating health concerns like inflammation, asthma, lack of appetite, pain, depression, amenorrhea, and arthritis.

The Cannabis Plant - A Brief Introduction

Cannabis is a plant of the Cannabaceae family. Medicinal cannabis focuses on using the cannabis plant for treating an evolving list of health conditions, including multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and epilepsy. The plant has uses as a recreational drug and is also used as hemp fiber to prepare food, biofuel, clothing, and paper.

The cannabis plant consists of over 400 molecules, of which 100 of these are known as cannabinoids. There are several other chemicals as well, including omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, flavonoids, and terpenoids.

Cannabis-based products are extracted from the seeds, stems, leaves, and dried flowering tops of the Cannabis sativa (hemp) plant.
Cannabis Plant Life Cycle
Cannabis is a dioecious flowering plant. It takes one year to germinate from seed, grow to its sexual maturity, reproduce, and die. The flowers are unisexual, which means there are distinct plants for males and females.
The various stages in the cannabis plant life cycle include germination, seedling, vegetation, flowering, and harvesting. The duration for each stage differs based on the environmental and nutritional needs and the individual methods growing, harvesting, and curing techniques.

What are CBD and THC?
There are at least 120 active ingredients or cannabinoids in cannabis, of which the most abundant ones are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Some cannabinoids can have psychoactive and euphoric effects, while THC has both.
CBD is available in different forms:
• oil for application to the skin
• capsules as supplements
• gummy candies

Ways to Use Cannabis
There are different ways to use cannabis, and its effect varies as per the method of use.

Smoking or inhaling
If you smoke or inhale cannabis, you can feel a sense of elation within minutes and reach the peak after 10 to 30 minutes. The feeling lasts for around 2 hours.

Ingesting
The effects are felt within one hour if you consume cannabis orally. The sensations are at their peak after 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours.

Topical
If you use transdermal patches, the ingredients enter the body over a long period. This constant infusion is beneficial for people using cannabis for treating inflammation and pain.

How do Cannabinoids work?
Cannabinoids are naturally produced by the human body through the endocannabinoid system. CBDs function like neurotransmitters. They send messages and signals throughout the nervous system. These neurotransmitters have an impact on brain areas responsible for movement, memory, concentration, thinking, sensory and time perception, pleasure, and coordination.

The receptors reacting to these cannabinoids also respond to THC and other cannabinoids. Therefore, external cannabinoids can alter and disrupt normal brain function.
THC affects areas of the brain that play a role in attention and memory, reaction time, coordination, posture, and balance.

Since cannabis produces these benefits in the body, a person must not drive a car, engage in risky physical activities, or operate heavy machinery after its consumption.

Benefits of Cannabis
CBD has been linked to medicinal purposes with many promising results. Here are five ways CBD benefits health.

• Lowers blood pressure

CBD lowers the resting blood pressure and the blood pressure after stress tests. These tests include isometric exercise, cold pressor tests, and mental arithmetic.

• Reduces inflammation

According to studies, CBD can reduce inflammation and related neuropathic pain.

• Treats anxiety disorders

The most popular affliction for which CBD is used is anxiety. CBD is beneficial in the treatment of social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• Fights cancer

CBD helps in alleviating the effects of chemotherapy. The plant chemical has many anti-cancer effects that can prevent different cancers, treat tumours, and improve the immune system.

• Treats gastrointestinal disorders

CBD and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids can help prevent and treat gastrointestinal disorders. These include Crohn’s, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and more.
Special Precautions and Warnings

• Oral consumption

If you’re taking cannabis by mouth, its consumption in large amounts or long-term can be possibly unsafe. Edible cannabis with more than 50 mg of THC has been associated with severe side effects. Its regular consumption can lead to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), which has been known to cause severe vomiting and nausea that is difficult to treat with regular anti-nausea drugs. Moreover, if you consume cannabis for 1 to 2 weeks, it can result in dependency.

• Inhaling

Similar to oral consumption, it is possibly unsafe to inhale cannabis in large amounts or long-term. Vaping or smoking cannabis can lead to breathing problems. In severe cases, vaping products with THC have caused severe lung injury. Smoking cannabis regularly can also result in CHS or dependency.

• Pregnancy

It is not safe to use cannabis during pregnancy. Cannabis passes through the placenta. Thus, it can increase the risk of abnormalities, childhood leukaemia, stillbirth, premature birth, and the need for intensive care after birth. It can also slow down fetus growth. Moreover, pregnant women can be at risk of high blood pressure and anaemia.

• Breastfeeding

If you are breastfeeding, it is not safe to take cannabis. Cannabis chemicals pass into breast milk and remain there for over six weeks, even if you are not using cannabis any longer. These chemicals slow down the baby’s development. Therefore, do not consume any cannabis if you have to breastfeed.
Takeaway
Cannabis is composed of chemicals that can affect the human body in different ways. It is a popular recreational drug with medicinal benefits. Before you start consuming cannabis for any of its effects, remember to check its legal status in your state. Moreover, keep in mind its possible effects on physical and mental health. You can consume cannabis in various forms, such as dry herbs, oils, liquids, and concentrates.

Disclaimer:
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website and the above article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
The Vape Joint also does NOT engage in the supply of cannabis in any shape or form. The above article is purely for the purpose of consumer knowledge and understanding. For all queries regarding medical cannabis, please contact your local GP or health authority directly.

Cannabis and its use by humans date back as far as 2800 BC. The plant’s medicinal properties are known for millennia because it was used for treating a variety of health conditions. It was also added to Emperor Shen Nung’s pharmacopeia.
The history of cannabis is long and vibrant. It was used for the first time in western China or central Asia. During this period, most of its usage was for its potential healing properties. Its first use is documented in 2800 BC when the father of Chinese medicine, Emperor Shen Nung, listed it in his pharmacopeia. Many Greek, Roman, Assyrian, and Hindu texts mention the therapeutic demonstrations of cannabis. They report the use of cannabis for the treatment of a wide range of health problems, such as pain, inflammation, asthma, depression, arthritis, amenorrhea, and poor appetite.

In Hindu legend, the supreme Godhead of many sects, Shiva, received the title ‘The Lord of Bhang’ since his favourite food was the cannabis plant. The ancient Hindus believed to experience the medicinal benefits of cannabis by pleasing Shiva and other gods. According to some Hindu texts, fever was an outcome of the ‘hot breath of the gods’ released toward those whose behaviour angered them. The use of cannabis in religious rites was a way to gratify the gods, thereby reducing the fever.

As per recent scientific evidence, there is an alternative explanation. The Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in cannabis works on the hypothalamus to lower body temperature.

During the 19th century, cannabis was introduced to Western medicine. It became increasingly popular in the last decade of the century with the usage and availability of cannabis tinctures or extracts. The beginning of the 20th century saw a significant decline in the Western medical use of cannabis, mostly because it was not possible to attain consistent results from plant materials of different potencies.

Cannabis Research - A Brief Timeline
2800 BC - Emperor Shen Nung added cannabis to his pharmacopeia.
2800 BC - Shiva received the title ‘The Lord of Bhang’ for his love for the cannabis plant, as per Hindu legend.
129-200 AD - Cannabis was used by Galen for its mood-enhancing and therapeutic properties.
1841 - After spending time in India, William Brooke O’Shaughnessy added cannabis to Western medicine. He documented the various therapeutic uses of cannabis, including its use in preventing convulsions in a child.
1898 - Henry and Dunstan separated cannabinol (CBN).
1936 - The movie, Reefer Madness, was released, which showed cannabis as a highly addictive drug that led to violence and mental disorder.
1937 - The Marijuana Tax Act levied taxes on cannabis use for recreational and medicinal purposes outside of existence in the USA.
In the 1940s - Todd and Adams separated cannabidiol (CBD) independently.
1964 - THC was separated from the cannabis plant by Mechoulam.
1970 - The Controlled Substance Act by the US denied any medicinal accepted use of cannabis and identified it to have a high potential for abuse.
1988 - The discovery of CB1 receptors in the rat brain by Howlett.
1992 - The discovery of anandamide by Mechoulam and Devane.
1993 - CB2 receptors were discovered.
1995 - The independent discovery of 2-AG by Sugiura and Mechoulam.
1996 - Legalization of medical cannabis by California with the introduction of the Compassionate Use Act.
1999 - It was discovered that endocannabinoids activated TRPV1 receptors.
2007 - It was learnt that endocannabinoids activated GPR55.
2012 - CBD could alleviate schizophrenia symptoms like a conventional antipsychotic drug.
2016 - Medicinal cannabis and its cultivation for medical use were legalized in Australia.
2017 - The use of CBD was shown to lower seizures in childhood epilepsy.