The 4 Types Of Marijuana: Cannabis And Its Characteristics
Cannabis is the most consumed illegal drug in the world , its most well-known and popular form being marijuana. Used for millennia as a medicinal element, today it is mainly used as a recreational drug or as an auxiliary method in the fight against the effects of certain ailments.
But we have to keep in mind that there is not just one type of marijuana, but both nature and human action have caused the existence of hundreds of varieties. In this article we are going to learn about some of the types of marijuana that exist, as well as their basic characteristics.
Cannabis is a substance with psychoactive properties. Along with its derivatives, including marijuana, it is part of the group of psychodysleptics. It is a type of substance that produces alterations in psychic activity and perception
Cannabis consumption tends to produce an increase in activation and a feeling of euphoria at first and then leave the consumer with a relaxing effect (being used by many users in order to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress). It also causes a feeling of hunger and has antiemetic and anticonvulsant effects and even reduces the sensation of pain by having analgesic effects. Disorientation and alterations in consciousness may appear, and in some cases hallucinations may even appear.
Marijuana
Cannabinoids are extracted from the cannabis plant, which has different varieties In practice, the derivatives of this plant receive different names depending on what part of the plant they come from, or how the consumed product is obtained.
We speak of marijuana when the element consumed is the leaves and stem of the plant, being generally consumed in a smoked form (although sometimes it is also ingested orally, as is the case with those known as “marie cakes” or in the form of infusion).
As we said, There are a large number of variants of marijuana, depending on the plant from which the leaves and stem are obtained Regardless of its origin, there are other factors that can alter the existing types of marijuana, such as the amount of light the plant requires, the type of flowering it has (it can be a regular, feminized or autoflowering plant) or the time of year. in which it is obtained. An example is the time at which it is collected or the amount that each variety requires. For example, purple marijuana is produced due to the accumulation of certain substances during sudden temperature changes.
Next We indicate the three main types that can be found naturally from which the hundreds of varieties that currently exist have been hybridized and developed through artificial selection.
1. Cannabis sativa
Native to countries with tropical climates, cannabis sativa is one of the best-known varieties of cannabis plants. In fact, the typical leaf that people usually imagine when talking about marijuana is usually of this variety. This is one of the most consumed types of marijuana, generally coming from South America or Asia. They are usually tall plants, being the most common to see in outdoor plantations.
The psychoactive effects of marijuana extracted from this variety tend to be activating and psychoactive due to its high amount of delta-9-tetraidrocannabinol or THC. It stimulates appetite and physical and social activity, causing feelings of euphoria. In many cases, its consumption is also associated with the presence of hallucinations, which can increase the possibility of triggering psychotic episodes and even contribute to the manifestation of disorders such as schizophrenia.
Of Asian origin, it is one of the types of marijuana that can be found naturally, especially in countries like India or Pakistan. This variety has an intermediate size, also having much wider leaves than other varieties.
Regarding the type of effects, The indica variety usually has a slightly narcotic effect more linked to physical relaxation and analgesia , having a high content of cannabidiol or CBD and low in THC. This variety is the one that is usually indicated medically, its use being frequent in the treatment of pain caused by different diseases, as well as for its anticonvulsant and relaxing effects.
3. Cannabis Ruderalis
In countries like Russia or Siberia, a third natural variety can be found, cannabis ruderalis. This plant, although sometimes considered a variety of cannabis sativa, has the peculiarity that it has great resistance and the ability to flower regardless of the level of light. It is usually used in hybridization to create other varieties due to this.
Small in size, it has a low THC content and a high CBD content, so its effects are more relaxing than activating and sometimes it is used medicinally.
4. Hybrids
The three previous varieties of cannabis and marijuana can be found naturally. However, Based on them, human beings have been creating different varieties in order to obtain different effects or increase resistance or proliferation through artificial selection in nurseries and plantations.
The type of effect obtained in each case depends on the type of hybrid that has been created and its origin. That is why this category is much more heterogeneous than the previous ones, since the combinations and crossing of genes make the variety of products obtained very wide.
Uses and risks of marijuana
As mentioned above, marijuana consumption has very different uses. Its effects, together with the social perception that it does not cause as many adverse effects as other drugs, means that despite being an illegal drug, it is consumed very frequently by a large part of the population.
Recreational use of different types of marijuana can be harmful , especially when consumption is high and frequent. It is usually used as an element that helps you relax or to obtain a feeling of well-being. Although dependence on this substance is not common, requiring almost daily consumption, and withdrawal syndromes have not generally been described, it is not strange that situations of intoxication and abuse appear.
Delusions and hallucinations (especially in the case of the sativa variety), disorientation, flashbacks or even reactions opposite to those that the substance should produce (depression and inhibition in the case of sativa and agitation and anxiety in indica) are phenomena that can occur after prolonged consumption and/or in high quantities. The so-called amotivational syndrome has also been described, in which extreme passivity, decreased judgment, apathy and demotivation appear.
However, If this substance is used medically, it also provides relief for many people who suffer from different disorders Since it stimulates appetite, they have sometimes been used to combat anorexia and weight loss secondary to other diseases (such as AIDS), as well as to relieve problems such as fibromyalgia or pain caused by cancer or discomfort associated with some of his treatments. Its anticonvulsant effects are also interesting, and can be used to regulate different types of seizures. You can even see some cases of individuals with Parkinson’s whose tremors have been reduced or even temporarily eliminated during the action of the drug.
