Description and composition of cannabis

Cannabis is a plant that contains psychoactive substance (PSA). The main active ingredient is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), classified as a central nervous system disruptor.

Cannabis can come in many forms, including:

• Dried plant material: cannabis flowers (buds), weed (marijuana, pot, weed)
• Solid concentrates: hashish (or hash), resin, dabs (a.k.a. wax, shatter)
• Liquid concentrates: resin oil, vaping cartridges (wax pen), oral cannabis oil

Cannabis can also be added to certain foods, such as brownies, cookies, and chocolate.

Another type of product is synthetic cannabinoids. These are manmade chemicals that mimic the effects of cannabis. They go by various names, such as Spice and K2, and have different effects from THC.

Cannabis may be a plant-based product, but that does not mean it is harmless. Using it can cause a number of health risks. It is composed of over 500 different substances. We will focus on two:

• Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• Cannabidiol (CBD)

THC is the main active ingredient in cannabis. It works by disrupting the nervous system of the person taking it (e.g., euphoria, stimulating or relaxing effects, etc.). The THC is not psychoactive in its natural state; it has to be heated to be activated.

The more THC there is in a product, the stronger its effects. Over the past few decades, the average THC potency in cannabis flower has steadily increased.

Increasing THC concentrations mainly stem from:

• Better selection of cannabis plants and strains
• New cultivation methods
• Crossbreeding
   

The final potency of THC varies between the different forms of cannabis:

• Dried cannabis flower: 5% to 25%
• Hash (concentrated): up to 35%
• Hash oil: up to 60%
• Other solid concentrates (e.g., wax, shatter): up to 90%

The Cannabis Regulation Act imposes strict conditions on the THC content of products in order to limit health risks. For example, for products other than those that are eaten or drunk, the maximum THC content allowed is 30% by weight (300 mg of THC per gram of dried cannabis).

CBD is a substance that is also found in cannabis but does not have the disruptive properties characteristic of THC. Some products contain only CBD. It is usually consumed in the form of dried flower or infused oil.

CBD is mainly consumed to relieve certain symptoms such as pain. However, scientific evidence is currently insufficient to conclude that it is effective for this purpose.

For more information, see the pages Effects of cannabis and Health risks of cannabis use.