Cannabis Sativa: The Wonder Plant With Superhero Qualities
June 7, 2021
Author: Ersilia Pompilio RN, MSN,PNP
The medicinal world of cannabis can be incredibly confusing for a newbie user. There are so many strains, so many terms, and oh so many ways to consume it. But, if a strain of cannabis could be a superhero, it would be Cannabis Sativa. Many experts boast it in the medical marijuana field as a ‘wonder plant’ containing enormous valuable attributes.
Cannabis sativa, also known as marijuana, contains psychoactive properties that give a mental high. The subspecies to cannabis Sativa is known as hemp, the non-psychoactive form of cannabis currently used in the manufacturing of products such as oil, cloth, and fuel.
Known as one of humanity’s oldest cultivated plants, Cannabis Sativa has been around for over 12 thousand years. It has been known to be used as a medicine as well as a spiritual drug. Central east Asia has used it as a folk medicinal remedy and as a textile fiber. Burned cannabis seeds have been found in burial sites in Siberia, dating back to 3,000 B.C. Large quantities of mummified psychoactive marijuana have been found in tombs in China and Siberia, dating back to 2500 B.C.
In the 18 century, a Swedish botanist named Carl Linnaeus was the first person to identify psychoactive cannabis plants as Cannabis Sativa. The major producers of hemp fiber were once Russia and Ukraine after the Second World War. Today, China and the EU are the largest producers of Cannabis Sativa in the world.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Cannabis Sativa arrived in the southwest states from Mexico with Mexican immigrants who left the country due to the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1911. Harry Aslinger, in 1930 was the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and made several efforts to make marijuana illegal in all states. The Marijuana Tax Act enacted in 1937 criminalized the possession of Cannabis Sativa throughout the United States.
Today, Cannabis Sativa is considered a schedule 1 drug from the United States Drug Enforcement Association (DEA). Schedule 1 drugs are considered to have no accepted medical use and are considered high for potential abuse. President Joe Biden plans to change the DEA schedule for Cannabis Sativa to a schedule 2 drug.
Cannabis Sativa is an important herbaceous species that flowers annually. Hemp is the most common term that describes Cannabis Sativa, which describes the plant or its product.
Due to its multiple uses, Cannabis Sativa is considered to be a treasure trove. At an estimated $35.8 billion per year, cannabis is by far the largest cash crop in the United States. Many farmers in California and surrounding states where medicinal marijuana is legal are encouraged to grow Cannabis Sativa.
What Makes Cannabis Sativa Give You That Mental High?
The cannabis plant is a complex plant made of various compounds. Cannabis Sativa is a plant that grows tall and erect. Cannabis Sativa does have a higher THC content than Cannabis Indica. For hemp to be legal, it must contain 0.3% of THC or less.
It is a complex plant with about 426 chemical entities, of which more than 60 are cannabinoid compounds. The four major compounds are d-9-THC, CBD, d-8-THC, and cannabinol.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is what gives you the feeling of feeling “high.” THC is available in many different forms, including oils, edibles, tinctures, capsules, and many others.
THC works on the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoids are naturally occurring molecules similar to cannabinoids but are produced by your body. The primary role of the endocannabinoid system is to main balance in the body called homeostasis.
Endocannabinoids are linked to the following processes that may occur in the body:
- Appetite and digestion
- Metabolism
- Chronic pain
- Mood
- Learning and memory
- Motor control
- Sleep
- Cardiovascular function
- Muscle formation
- Bone remodeling and growth
- Reproductive function
- Stress
- Skin and nerve functions
Cannabis Sativa contains lower doses of CBD. CBD is cannabidiol, and unlike its sibling THC, it does not give the same feeling of being high. However, people using CBD products feel relief from a list of ailments that include pain, seizures, and many others.
Some of the side effects of using Cannabis Sativa include:
- Dry mouth
- Dry Eyes
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Lethargy
- Increased heart rate
- Decreased blood pressure
Smoking and vaping Cannabis Sativa can irritate your lungs. Oral cannabis that comes in edible forms like gummies or cookies is less likely to affect your respiratory health. The effects of edibles are felt more slowly, and caution must be taken when consuming them.
When consuming medical cannabis for medical purposes, it is always best to consult with a physician or a practitioner who can help guide you to the most appropriate strains for your medical ailment.
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