The development of new strains and thus new experiences sometimes happens by accident, but it also emerges from intensive efforts around plant genetics. Research in cannabis genetics occurs in laboratory settings—the scientific pursuit of the perfect high—and also in less formal settings. Individuals who pride themselves as experts or pioneers in this endeavor—working around the world, but particularly in Canada, California, Colorado, and the Netherlands—are producing some of the most sought-after strains.
The three species also differ physically. Indica plants tend to be shorter, stockier plants, whereas sativa plants can grow to significant heights. The stems of sativas are a bit more firm, so hemp is derived from these plants. Ruderalis plants tend to be the smallest of the cannabis group in height and girth. This species also tends to be less potent because of years of natural cross-breeding in its native Central Russia.4 It functions more like a wild cannabis, whereas indica, sativa, and their hybrids are usually produced under very controlled environments.
The diverse characteristics of cannabis plants and their specific needs as an agricultural product suggest how much time and thought must be committed to ensure cultivation expertise. I have provided only a glimpse of the technical requirements of growing marijuana. In “Cannabis Grow Revolution,” Danny Danko details the numerous considerations that a cannabis cultivator faces.5 He explores hydroponic growing methods, soil requirements, fertilization, pest control, and the choice between indoor and outdoor cultivation. Danko details why cultivating cannabis properly to produce high-quality marijuana is an art.
Cannabinoids
Few people are familiar with the word “cannabinoid,” but every person who has used marijuana has experienced its effects. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant that interact with the human body in ways that cause specific sets of reactions. Whatever one feels when using marijuana—excited, mellow, funny, confident, paranoid, hungry, pain-free—is caused by the effect that cannabinoids have on the brain.
Cannabis plants contain dozens of these chemicals, but just one or two are commonly known: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC and CBD are prominent in commercialized marijuana: dispensaries in marijuana-legal states often list the percentages of each in a product. THC is the psychoactive component that most users want and that contributes to making the user feel high. CBD, on the other hand, is often associated with medical marijuana, especially in the treatment of conditions such as epilepsy. CBD has been found to have anticonvulsive and antispastic properties that can relax muscles and regulate the brain in ways that can prevent minor and major seizure events. CBD has a variety of qualities, including anti-inflammatory and other properties. The precise combination of THC, CBD, and the more than sixty other identified cannabinoids work together to create the type of effect one gets from using marijuana.
The way cannabinoids interact with the human body is quite interesting and is actually a modern medical discovery. In 1988 a pharmacology researcher named William Devane and his colleagues discovered something interesting: the human body is built to smoke pot. Well, maybe not exactly. But it is built to be receptive to the effects of pot. There are receptors in the brain and elsewhere that are sensitive to cannabinoids and produce, or hinder, chemical responses in reaction to the presence of cannabinoids. This system was dubbed the endocannabinoid system. What’s more, subsequent researchers identified “endogenous cannabinoids,” which are molecules that the human body produces naturally and that interact with endocannabinoid receptors. When external cannabinoids such as THC or CBD from the cannabis plant are present, they work with the endogenous molecules and the body’s own receptors to produce a variety of effects within the human body.6
It is not fully known how the human body reacts to or benefits from these chemicals. Research shows that the endocannabinoid system can produce neuroprotective responses that can assist in dealing with seizures or brain injuries. It can assist in blunting pain receptors. The chemicals have an impact on the biological processes that cause anxiety. Additional and ongoing research, which are needed now more than ever, will help the scientific community better understand cannabinoids and the responses of the endocannabinoid system. Such research will become more likely as more and more responsible, innovative entrepreneurs are allowed to operate within a strict regulatory environment.
Marijuana Strength
The strength or potency of marijuana is measured by how rapidly the body takes up the chemicals and how intensely the user feels their effects. The strength of marijuana is an interesting concept. Anyone who has used marijuana multiple times has likely encountered “strong stuff,” which typically refers to marijuana that gets you high faster or has a stronger effect. This effect is typically measured by the level of THC, the main psychoactive chemical compound in marijuana. Higher levels of THC can cause more intense effects or speed up the desired effect.
Marijuana, particularly smoked marijuana, has a self-regulating effect because the onset of the psychoactive experience is so rapid that the smoker is quickly satisfied and is not motivated to continue to smoke. This differs from the common experience with alcohol, where large quantities can be consumed before the full effects are felt, at which point one may have drunk too much.
The rise of marijuana edibles, however, particularly in marijuana-legal states, has posed challenges for both self-regulation and the consistent experiences of users. Marijuana edibles come in many countless forms, including cookies, brownies, candies, granola, salad dressing, and even pasta sauce. Edibles on the commercial market often come with significant amounts of THC because one unit—a single candy bar or cookie—may contain multiple servings. In Colorado, for example, a standard edible serving has 10mg of THC. Some products for purchase contain five or ten servings, which amounts to 50mg or 100mg of THC.
The onset of edible marijuana’s psychoactive effects is dramatically slower than that of smoked marijuana—sometimes thirty minutes to an hour or more. Because of this delay, users—especially naïve users—can overconsume, believing the edible is weak. This can cause unpleasant effects and a very intense high when all of the THC is absorbed. This has come to be called the “Maureen Dowd effect,” after the New York Times columnist who famously and irresponsibly overconsumed marijuana edibles in Colorado, had a bad reaction, and wrote about it in her column, blaming the products rather than the consumer.7 In this case, the product is not “stronger.” Instead, the product is overconsumed.
Some argue that marijuana has gotten much stronger over time, but this claim is controversial. Dr. Mahmoud ElSohly, a researcher at the University of Mississippi and one of the nation’s leading experts on the cannabis plant and the effects of marijuana, runs the only marijuana grow operation approved by the federal government. Part of his job is also to test the strength of marijuana seized by federal law enforcement agents. He notes that since 1970, the THC content of seized marijuana has increased from an average of around 3 percent to around 7 to 8 percent in the late 2000s.8 Recent evidence suggests that this figure now averages about 13 percent THC.9
ElSohly’s findings, however, do not tell the whole story about changes in the strength of marijuana. His research tells us only about the strength of seized marijuana. The reality is that as states have legalized marijuana, cannabis genetics have taken off and entrepreneurs have invested in development and become more innovative. And consumer tastes for stronger marijuana have had genuine market effects—legal marijuana varieties can be quite strong. Street weed in 2016 may be slightly stronger than it was in 1970, but the commercial product can be quite a bit stronger. In marijuana-legal states, some strains have a THC content higher than 20 percent. The black market just has to deliver marijuana; the legal market must meet consumer demand.
Delivery Systems: The New World of Marijuana Products
If you have used marijuana from an illegal source and have never bought it in a legal medical or recreational market, your familiarity with marijuana probably extends to smoking it and eating brownies laced with
