What is cannabis?
Cannabis comes from the hemp plant. There are 2 species of farmed cannabis. These species are cannabis Sativa and cannabis Indica. It is believed that this plant originated in central and south Asia. At the time it was an annual crop. There are indications that this plant was used 6500 years ago in Chinese neolithic culture. For ages, this plant was also farmed in Europe for the most diverse purposes. It was for example used for medicinal purposes like mania, hysteria, delirium, cholera and tetanus. Hemp was used for the production of rope, textiles, paint, varnish and paper. Seeds were used as fish and bird feed. Nowadays, the plants can be used for this and many more products, even car parts.
Cannabis has also been used throughout the ages for recreational purposes. The story of a Hashish-eater is mentioned in the 143rd story of 1001 Arabian Nights.
Indica and Sativa were broken down throughout the ages into many other types. At the present time there is a tremendous number of other types, all with their own Indica/Sativa ratio, all with their own characteristics and effects.
Nowadays, this plant is still famous for its many uses and more and more new studies are published in which it is proven that cannabis has an active effect on certain conditions.
Cannabis is produced as an intoxicant in different forms.
The most well-known forms are:
- Weed: dried flowers of the female hemp plant. THC is the active ingredient in this plant.
- Hash: the tops with THC crystals are smashed on sheer or canvas. Then they are sieved and mixed with the plant’s sap/oil. It is then pressed, producing what we call hash. The first strike is the best quality.
- Hash oil: This is produced by dunking plant matter in alcohol. That way the active ingredient is dissolved. Then the alcohol is distilled and a viscous liquid is produced. This oil contains an extremely high amount of THC.