<p>Terpenes are one of the many compounds in the cannabis plant, and they serve an important purpose. Whether you use cannabis or its by-products or grow the plant, you should familiarize yourself with what terpenes are and why they matter.</p><h2>Defining Terpenes</h2><p>Terpenes are aromatic oils that you can find in cannabis plants. These aromatic oils give each strain its distinctive flavor. The same gland of the plant that creates cannabinoids also produces terpenes.</p><h3>The Variety</h3><p>So far, experts have discovered over 100 terpenes in the cannabis plant. Each strain of cannabis has its unique terpene composition and type. Although there are over 100 terpenes in cannabis plants, some experts believe that there are more than 20,000 terpenes across all kinds of plants.</p><h3>Prevalence</h3><p>You are more likely to find higher quantities of terpenes in female plants’ flowers than those of male plants.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Terpenes Interact With Other Compounds</h2><p>Scientists know that the terpenes in cannabis plants interact with the other compounds found in these plants as well. Specifically, terpenes interact with cannabinoids synergistically.</p><p>Some experts believe that terpenes are essential for determining the effects of a cannabis strain. This idea comes from the way that people have bred cannabis recently so that it has high THC content. That breeding reduced quantities of CBD and other cannabinoids.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What Terpenes Do</h2><p>Terpenes serve multiple roles in the cannabis plant. They are important for telling the various cannabis strains apart from each other. Depending on the terpene, they can serve specific functions, from relaxation to focus.</p><h3>The Evolutionary Purpose</h3><p>Despite the various benefits of terpenes for humans, the cannabis plant did not evolve this compound for our benefit. Instead, cannabis plants developed terpenes as an adaptive element. The terpenes initially repelled predators while attracting pollinators. This helped the cannabis plants stay safe and reproduce. Terpenes also help protect the flowers of plants from fungus and bacteria.</p><p>Terpenes can even protect the plants from the sun’s harmful UV rays</p><h3>It Varies by Terpene</h3><p>The critical thing to remember is that each terpene will have its own set of benefits on humans. The terpenes in some strains of cannabis will promote stress-relief and relaxation. Linalool, for example, is a sleep aid. Terpenes in certain strains of cannabis will improve acuity and focus. Certain terpenes, such as humulene, can suppress appetite. The list of potential effects of terpenes is extensive, with the impact depending on the terpene in question.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>The Entourage Effect</h2><p>The entourage effect is also important for terpenes. This effect refers to the way that a terpene’s effect profile can change when other compounds are present. It can also refer to the intensification of the effects of various cannabis elements when other cannabis compounds are present.</p><p>This happens because the terpenes found in cannabis encourage cannabinoids to pass into your bloodstream. This can speed up the benefits of the cannabinoids.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What Influences Terpene Development</h2><p>Many factors will influence how many terpenes a plant develops. These include age and maturation, weather, climate, soil type, and fertilizers. There may even be different levels of terpenes in cannabis plants depending on the time of the day.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Common Cannabis Terpenes</h2><p>To ensure you fully understand what terpenes are and the variations in roles they can play, take a look at a few of the more common cannabis terpenes.</p><h3>Alpha-bisabolol</h3><p>Alpha-bisabolol also goes by the names bisabolol or levomenol. It is present in the candeia tree and the chamomile flower. This terpene is particularly common in cosmetics, but it has gain attention due to potential medical benefits. It is an antioxidant that also has analgesic and anti-irritation properties, making it potentially useful for treating wounds and bacterial infections.</p><h3>Alpha-pinene</h3><p>Alpha-pinene, sometimes called pinene, is also found in dill, parsley, basil, rosemary, and pine needles. There is also a beta-pinene terpene. It may be useful in treating ulcers, pain, asthma, inflammation, cancer, Crohn’s, arthritis, and anxiety. It counteracts some of the effects of THC and produces effects like memory retention and alertness. This terpene smells like pine and vaporizes at 311 degrees Fahrenheit (155 degrees Celsius).</p><h3>Beta-caryophyllene</h3><p>Beta-caryophyllene is also present in black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. It has an aroma that is spicy or woody, reminiscent of cloves or pepper. This terpene provides stress relief, and its potential medical applications include treating depression, ulcers, anxiety, and pain.&nbsp; It vaporizes at 266 degrees Fahrenheit (130 degrees Celsius).</p><p>Some experts believe that beta-caryophyllene is the only terpene that directly activates one of the cannabinoid receptors in the body. It does this by binding to the CB2 receptors.</p><h3>Borneol</h3><p>Borneol has an herbal and minty scent and is found in camphor, rosemary, and mint. It works well as a natural insect repellent, helping prevent mosquito-borne diseases. It is also common in traditional Chinese medicine.</p><h3>Camphene</h3><p>Camphene is the terpene that smells like damp woodlands, musky earth, and fir needles. Its smell sometimes has people confuse it with myrcene, the most common terpene in cannabis. Camphene has potential as an antioxidant, particularly when combined with vitamin C. It also has the potential for lowering triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood, which reduces cardiovascular risk.</p><h3>Delta-3-carene</h3><p>Delta-3-carene is present in cedar, pine, bell peppers, basil, and rosemary. It has a sweet aroma similar to that of the cypress tree. The chief medical application of delta-3-carene is in healing broken bones. This may mean that it can help those with osteoporosis, arthritis, or fibromyalgia. There is also evidence that this terpene helps with memory retention, giving it promise for treating Alzheimer’s.</p><h3>Eucalyptol</h3><p>Eucalyptol, or cineole, is, unsurprisingly, the primary terpene found in the eucalyptus tree. It can also be found in some cannabis strains, although most only have small quantities. In most cases, it will account for about 0.06 percent of the complete terpene profile of a strain. Eucalyptol is commonly used in medicine and cosmetics. For the former application, it can relieve pain while slowing down fungal and bacterial growth. There is also some early research that eucalyptol may help with Alzheimer’s.</p><h3>Humulene</h3><p>Humulene is also in hops, cloves, basil, and coriander. It smells earthy or woody, similar to hops. It may have anti-inflammatory applications in medicine. It also has anti-fungal properties that protect the cannabis plant, preventing it from growing fungi. The smell of humulene also makes this one of the terpenes that repel pests that could threaten the plant. This terpene vaporizes at 222 degrees Fahrenheit (106 degrees Celsius). You can find very low levels of humulene in many strains of cannabis, but the key here is that it is in low amounts.</p><h3>Limonene</h3><p>Limonene is also present in juniper, peppermint, rosemary, and fruit rinds. It smells like citrus, hence the name. It can elevate the mood of the consumer and relieve stress. There are medical applications for it to potentially treat depression, anxiety, pain, inflammation, and even cancer. It is also commonly used for weight loss and is common in a range of flavorings, including bubblegum. Limonene vaporizes at 348 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius).</p><h3>Linalool</h3><p>Linalool is also present in lavender and has a floral scent. It enhances your mood and can have sedative effects. There is potential for it in treating inflammation, neurodegeneration, depression, anxiety, pain, and insomnia. There is also some evidence that linalool has anticonvulsant effects, helping those with seizures. Studies with mice showed that this terpene reduced seizure severity. It vaporizes at 388 degrees Fahrenheit (198 degrees Celsius).</p><h3>Myrcene</h3><p>When most people think of a cannabis terpene, they imagine myrcene. This is the most common terpene in marijuana and the one responsible for the main fragrance associated with cannabis.</p><p>Myrcene is a terpene that is also present in thyme, hops, lemongrass, and mango. It smells herbal, earthy, musky, or like cloves or cardamom. It produces relaxing or sedating effects. This terpene has medical potential as an antioxidant and for treating inflammation, pain, and insomnia. It vaporizes at 332 degrees Fahrenheit (167 degrees Celsius).</p><p>Myrcene is one of the primary terpenes in cannabis. Some plants even have as much as 65 percent of their terpene profile as myrcene. Myrcene can also help determine the classification of a strain as sativa or indica. If the plant has over 0.5 percent myrcene, it will be indica.</p><h3>Ocimene</h3><p>You can also find ocimene in mint, pepper, parsley, mangos, basil, kumquats, and orchids. It smells sweet, woody, or herbal. Medicinal potentials for this terpene include anti-viral, antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and decongestant. It vaporizes at 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius).</p><h3>Terpinolene</h3><p>Terpinolene is also present in lilacs, cumin, apples, conifers, tea tree, and nutmeg. It smells herbal, piney, and floral. Its potential medical value includes sedative, anti-fungal, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant properties. It vaporizes at 366 degrees Fahrenheit (186 degrees Celsius).</p><h3>Trans-nerolido</h3><p>Trans-nerolido is a secondary terpene that is common in tea tree oil, lemongrass, and jasmine. It smells like apples, citrus, and rose, with a floral, woody, and citrus scent. It has anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and anti-parasitic properties.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Terpene Vaporization</h2><p>You will notice that all of the above terpenes have distinct vaporization points. This is important because carbonization will destroy many terpenes, which it also does to cannabinoids. The ideal temperature for terpenes varies. Because of this, those who want to get the most from a range of terpenes should consider a portable vaporizer that has temperature control.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Legality of Terpenes</h2><p>Given the complex legal status of cannabis, many wonder whether terpenes are legal. Before wondering this, keep in mind that terpenes are not just found in cannabis plants. Since terpenes are in a full range of plants, such as lavender, hops, and pine, it would be impractical and ridiculous for them to be illegal.</p><h3>The FDA Says Terpenes Are Safe</h3><p>Not only are terpenes legal, but the FDA says they are safe to consume.</p><h3>Why They Cannot Be Illegal</h3><p>It would only be impractical to make terpenes illegal. Otherwise, it would not be legal to have flowers, citrus fruits, or certain trees. It is not even practical to make the terpenes found in cannabis plants illegal and allow for others. This comes from the large overlap between terpenes in cannabis and other plants. For example, the government is not going to ban peppermint by making limonene illegal just because it is found in some strains of cannabis.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>How Terpenes Affect Your Choice of Strain</h2><p>When you decide which strain of cannabis to use, you should be sure to consider the terpene profile. You can even find terpene profiles for many products made from cannabis, such as CBD oils. This information is not always available, but an increasing number of manufacturers include it. But why should you care about the terpenes in your cannabis or cannabis product?</p><h3>Scent</h3><p>One of the biggest reasons to pay attention to the terpene profile in your chosen cannabis is because of the scent. You want to enjoy the smell of the cannabis you use since you will be exposed to the scent for a long time. Carefully choosing based on terpenes can help ensure you are happy while smoking your cannabis or using your marijuana-based product.</p><h3>Effects</h3><p>The major reason to consider terpenes when choosing your cannabis is that they all have different effects. As mentioned, some terpenes will help you focus while others will help you relax. Some will help you fall asleep while others will help you stay energetic. This means that you can ensure you get what you want out of your cannabis by choosing one with the appropriate terpenes. If, for example, you want to use marijuana to boost your mood, look for a strain with limonene. If your goal is pain relief, look for beta-caryophyllene.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>Terpenes are compounds in the cannabis plant that give it its distinctive smell. There are over 100 different cannabis terpenes, with each strain having a unique terpene profile. Each terpene produces various additional benefits, such as relaxation, memory retention, or pain relief. Terpenes also interact with cannabinoids to increase their effectiveness. Terpenes are not unique to the cannabis plant as thousands of types of plants have them. As such, terpenes are legal, and you encounter them daily, even on days you do not use cannabis.</p>

Terpenes are one of the many compounds in the cannabis plant, and they serve an
important purpose. Whether you use cannabis or its by-products or grow the
plant, you should familiarize yourself with what terpenes are and why they
matter.

DEFINING TERPENES
Terpenes are aromatic oils that you can find in cannabis plants. These aromatic
oils give each strain its distinctive flavor. The same gland of the plant that
creates cannabinoids also produces terpenes.

THE VARIETY
So far, experts have discovered over 100 terpenes in the cannabis plant. Each
strain of cannabis has its unique terpene composition and type. Although there
are over 100 terpenes in cannabis plants, some experts believe that there are
more than 20,000 terpenes across all kinds of plants.

PREVALENCE
You are more likely to find higher quantities of terpenes in female plants’
flowers than those of male plants.



TERPENES INTERACT WITH OTHER COMPOUNDS
Scientists know that the terpenes in cannabis plants interact with the other
compounds found in these plants as well. Specifically, terpenes interact with
cannabinoids synergistically.

Some experts believe that terpenes are essential for determining the effects of
a cannabis strain. This idea comes from the way that people have bred cannabis
recently so that it has high THC content. That breeding reduced quantities of
CBD and other cannabinoids.



WHAT TERPENES DO
Terpenes serve multiple roles in the cannabis plant. They are important for
telling the various cannabis strains apart from each other. Depending on the
terpene, they can serve specific functions, from relaxation to focus.

THE EVOLUTIONARY PURPOSE
Despite the various benefits of terpenes for humans, the cannabis plant did not
evolve this compound for our benefit. Instead, cannabis plants developed
terpenes as an adaptive element. The terpenes initially repelled predators while
attracting pollinators. This helped the cannabis plants stay safe and reproduce.
Terpenes also help protect the flowers of plants from fungus and bacteria.

Terpenes can even protect the plants from the sun’s harmful UV rays

IT VARIES BY TERPENE
The critical thing to remember is that each terpene will have its own set of
benefits on humans. The terpenes in some strains of cannabis will promote
stress-relief and relaxation. Linalool, for example, is a sleep aid. Terpenes in
certain strains of cannabis will improve acuity and focus. Certain terpenes,
such as humulene, can suppress appetite. The list of potential effects of
terpenes is extensive, with the impact depending on the terpene in question.



THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT
The entourage effect is also important for terpenes. This effect refers to the
way that a terpene’s effect profile can change when other compounds are present.
It can also refer to the intensification of the effects of various cannabis
elements when other cannabis compounds are present.

This happens because the terpenes found in cannabis encourage cannabinoids to
pass into your bloodstream. This can speed up the benefits of the cannabinoids.



WHAT INFLUENCES TERPENE DEVELOPMENT
Many factors will influence how many terpenes a plant develops. These include
age and maturation, weather, climate, soil type, and fertilizers. There may even
be different levels of terpenes in cannabis plants depending on the time of the
day.



COMMON CANNABIS TERPENES
To ensure you fully understand what terpenes are and the variations in roles
they can play, take a look at a few of the more common cannabis terpenes.

ALPHA-BISABOLOL
Alpha-bisabolol also goes by the names bisabolol or levomenol. It is present in
the candeia tree and the chamomile flower. This terpene is particularly common
in cosmetics, but it has gain attention due to potential medical benefits. It is
an antioxidant that also has analgesic and anti-irritation properties, making it
potentially useful for treating wounds and bacterial infections.

ALPHA-PINENE
Alpha-pinene, sometimes called pinene, is also found in dill, parsley, basil,
rosemary, and pine needles. There is also a beta-pinene terpene. It may be
useful in treating ulcers, pain, asthma, inflammation, cancer, Crohn’s,
arthritis, and anxiety. It counteracts some of the effects of THC and produces
effects like memory retention and alertness. This terpene smells like pine and
vaporizes at 311 degrees Fahrenheit (155 degrees Celsius).

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE
Beta-caryophyllene is also present in black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. It has
an aroma that is spicy or woody, reminiscent of cloves or pepper. This terpene
provides stress relief, and its potential medical applications include treating
depression, ulcers, anxiety, and pain. It vaporizes at 266 degrees Fahrenheit
(130 degrees Celsius).

Some experts believe that beta-caryophyllene is the only terpene that directly
activates one of the cannabinoid receptors in the body. It does this by binding
to the CB2 receptors.

BORNEOL
Borneol has an herbal and minty scent and is found in camphor, rosemary, and
mint. It works well as a natural insect repellent, helping prevent
mosquito-borne diseases. It is also common in traditional Chinese medicine.

CAMPHENE
Camphene is the terpene that smells like damp woodlands, musky earth, and fir
needles. Its smell sometimes has people confuse it with myrcene, the most common
terpene in cannabis. Camphene has potential as an antioxidant, particularly when
combined with vitamin C. It also has the potential for lowering triglycerides
and cholesterol in the blood, which reduces cardiovascular risk.

DELTA-3-CARENE
Delta-3-carene is present in cedar, pine, bell peppers, basil, and rosemary. It
has a sweet aroma similar to that of the cypress tree. The chief medical
application of delta-3-carene is in healing broken bones. This may mean that it
can help those with osteoporosis, arthritis, or fibromyalgia. There is also
evidence that this terpene helps with memory retention, giving it promise for
treating Alzheimer’s.

EUCALYPTOL
Eucalyptol, or cineole, is, unsurprisingly, the primary terpene found in the
eucalyptus tree. It can also be found in some cannabis strains, although most
only have small quantities. In most cases, it will account for about 0.06
percent of the complete terpene profile of a strain. Eucalyptol is commonly used
in medicine and cosmetics. For the former application, it can relieve pain while
slowing down fungal and bacterial growth. There is also some early research that
eucalyptol may help with Alzheimer’s.

HUMULENE
Humulene is also in hops, cloves, basil, and coriander. It smells earthy or
woody, similar to hops. It may have anti-inflammatory applications in medicine.
It also has anti-fungal properties that protect the cannabis plant, preventing
it from growing fungi. The smell of humulene also makes this one of the terpenes
that repel pests that could threaten the plant. This terpene vaporizes at 222
degrees Fahrenheit (106 degrees Celsius). You can find very low levels of
humulene in many strains of cannabis, but the key here is that it is in low
amounts.

LIMONENE
Limonene is also present in juniper, peppermint, rosemary, and fruit rinds. It
smells like citrus, hence the name. It can elevate the mood of the consumer and
relieve stress. There are medical applications for it to potentially treat
depression, anxiety, pain, inflammation, and even cancer. It is also commonly
used for weight loss and is common in a range of flavorings, including
bubblegum. Limonene vaporizes at 348 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius).

LINALOOL
Linalool is also present in lavender and has a floral scent. It enhances your
mood and can have sedative effects. There is potential for it in treating
inflammation, neurodegeneration, depression, anxiety, pain, and insomnia. There
is also some evidence that linalool has anticonvulsant effects, helping those
with seizures. Studies with mice showed that this terpene reduced seizure
severity. It vaporizes at 388 degrees Fahrenheit (198 degrees Celsius).

MYRCENE
When most people think of a cannabis terpene, they imagine myrcene. This is the
most common terpene in marijuana and the one responsible for the main fragrance
associated with cannabis.

Myrcene is a terpene that is also present in thyme, hops, lemongrass, and mango.
It smells herbal, earthy, musky, or like cloves or cardamom. It produces
relaxing or sedating effects. This terpene has medical potential as an
antioxidant and for treating inflammation, pain, and insomnia. It vaporizes at
332 degrees Fahrenheit (167 degrees Celsius).

Myrcene is one of the primary terpenes in cannabis. Some plants even have as
much as 65 percent of their terpene profile as myrcene. Myrcene can also help
determine the classification of a strain as sativa or indica. If the plant has
over 0.5 percent myrcene, it will be indica.

OCIMENE
You can also find ocimene in mint, pepper, parsley, mangos, basil, kumquats, and
orchids. It smells sweet, woody, or herbal. Medicinal potentials for this
terpene include anti-viral, antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and
decongestant. It vaporizes at 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius).

TERPINOLENE
Terpinolene is also present in lilacs, cumin, apples, conifers, tea tree, and
nutmeg. It smells herbal, piney, and floral. Its potential medical value
includes sedative, anti-fungal, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant
properties. It vaporizes at 366 degrees Fahrenheit (186 degrees Celsius).

TRANS-NEROLIDO
Trans-nerolido is a secondary terpene that is common in tea tree oil,
lemongrass, and jasmine. It smells like apples, citrus, and rose, with a floral,
woody, and citrus scent. It has anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-fungal,
antioxidant, and anti-parasitic properties.



TERPENE VAPORIZATION
You will notice that all of the above terpenes have distinct vaporization
points. This is important because carbonization will destroy many terpenes,
which it also does to cannabinoids. The ideal temperature for terpenes varies.
Because of this, those who want to get the most from a range of terpenes should
consider a portable vaporizer that has temperature control.



LEGALITY OF TERPENES
Given the complex legal status of cannabis, many wonder whether terpenes are
legal. Before wondering this, keep in mind that terpenes are not just found in
cannabis plants. Since terpenes are in a full range of plants, such as lavender,
hops, and pine, it would be impractical and ridiculous for them to be illegal.

THE FDA SAYS TERPENES ARE SAFE
Not only are terpenes legal, but the FDA says they are safe to consume.

WHY THEY CANNOT BE ILLEGAL
It would only be impractical to make terpenes illegal. Otherwise, it would not
be legal to have flowers, citrus fruits, or certain trees. It is not even
practical to make the terpenes found in cannabis plants illegal and allow for
others. This comes from the large overlap between terpenes in cannabis and other
plants. For example, the government is not going to ban peppermint by making
limonene illegal just because it is found in some strains of cannabis.



HOW TERPENES AFFECT YOUR CHOICE OF STRAIN
When you decide which strain of cannabis to use, you should be sure to consider
the terpene profile. You can even find terpene profiles for many products made
from cannabis, such as CBD oils. This information is not always available, but
an increasing number of manufacturers include it. But why should you care about
the terpenes in your cannabis or cannabis product?

SCENT
One of the biggest reasons to pay attention to the terpene profile in your
chosen cannabis is because of the scent. You want to enjoy the smell of the
cannabis you use since you will be exposed to the scent for a long time.
Carefully choosing based on terpenes can help ensure you are happy while smoking
your cannabis or using your marijuana-based product.

EFFECTS
The major reason to consider terpenes when choosing your cannabis is that they
all have different effects. As mentioned, some terpenes will help you focus
while others will help you relax. Some will help you fall asleep while others
will help you stay energetic. This means that you can ensure you get what you
want out of your cannabis by choosing one with the appropriate terpenes. If, for
example, you want to use marijuana to boost your mood, look for a strain with
limonene. If your goal is pain relief, look for beta-caryophyllene.



CONCLUSION
Terpenes are compounds in the cannabis plant that give it its distinctive smell.
There are over 100 different cannabis terpenes, with each strain having a unique
terpene profile. Each terpene produces various additional benefits, such as
relaxation, memory retention, or pain relief. Terpenes also interact with
cannabinoids to increase their effectiveness. Terpenes are not unique to the
cannabis plant as thousands of types of plants have them. As such, terpenes are
legal, and you encounter them daily, even on days you do not use cannabis.

What Are Cannabis Terpenes?

Whether you use cannabis or its by-products or grow the plant, you should familiarize yourself with what terpenes are

<p>People have been growing cannabis plants for thousands of years. If you live in an area where it is legal to possess and grow cannabis, then you can grow the plants. There are two main methods of growing cannabis, from seeds or cuttings. If you choose to grow from seeds, the first step to the process will be to germinate the seeds. The process can be more intuitive than you may realize at first.</p><h2>How Long It Takes</h2><p>Before you start germinating cannabis seeds, make sure you understand how long this task will take. Most cannabis seeds will germinate within between three and seven days. Some other types, however, may take longer, with some taking up to 10 or 15 days.</p><h2>How to Tell When Germination Is Complete</h2><p>Once the seeds germinate, they will have small white taproots that come out of one end. This is a sign that you are ready to plant the seeds.</p><h2>The Basics to Control</h2><p>Keep in mind that for the cannabis seeds to germinate, you will need to provide it with the proper temperature light and humidity or moisture. You should be able to control these factors enough to germinate seeds without any special equipment. Even so, investing in monitoring and control equipment for these factors can increase the chances of your seeds growing.</p><h2>Choose Your Seeds</h2><p>Before you can germinate your cannabis seeds, you will have to select the seeds that you want to grow. There are over 100 cannabinoids in cannabis, so you can choose a strain that has substantial amounts of the ones you want. Of these, you will be most interested in CBD and THC. CBD is non-psychoactive and associated with most of the benefits of cannabis, such as relief from pain and nausea. THC is psychoactive and can enhance the effects of CBD when the two are used together, something known as the entourage effect.</p><p>In addition to choosing the seeds based on the content of cannabinoids like THC and CBD, you should also think about the aroma, and whether you prefer Sativa, Indica, or Ruderalis.</p><h3>Regular Vs. Feminized Seeds</h3><p>Your seeds will either be regular or feminized. Regular seeds include both males and females while feminized seeds only have females. Feminized seeds can save you the time and effort in identifying the sex of the seeds during growth. You never want to grow male and female cannabis seeds together unless your goal is producing more plants. The males will pollinate the females, causing the females’ energy to focus on reproduction instead of producing buds. The resulting buds are less potent and desirable.</p><h3>Do You Want Autoflowering Seeds?</h3><p>You should also consider whether you want autoflowering cannabis seeds. These will automatically move to the flowering stage of growth from the vegetative stage as they age. This is opposed to the change occurring based on the amount of light received. Some autoflowering seeds will also grow more quickly.</p><h2>Choose Between Indoor and Outdoor Growing</h2><p>Most people who choose to grow cannabis will do so indoors. The only issue with indoor growing is that it can be highly inefficient, causing an increase in energy bills. However, outdoor growing also has issues, including fluctuating weather conditions and potential legal restrictions. In most states, you cannot legally grow cannabis outside, eliminating the choice for you.</p><p>Regardless of where you plan to grow your cannabis plants, you will need to germinate the seeds indoors. You can still decide at this stage if you will grow the plants inside. This gives you time to prepare the growing area so you can plant your germinated seeds immediately.</p><p>In addition to legal restrictions that may require you to grow your cannabis indoors, most people choose this method thanks to the ability to control the growing conditions. By controlling light, humidity, and temperature, you can grow cannabis inside all year round.</p><h2>Germinate With a Wet Paper Towel</h2><p>The most popular method of germinating cannabis seeds is to use wet paper towels. You will need your seeds, distilled water, clean plates, paper towels, tweezers to handle the seeds, good potting soil, compact fluorescent lights, a grow light timer, a seed tray, and a pH test kit. Always handle the seeds with the tweezers instead of your hands, as this will improve their chances of flourishing.</p><h3>Soak the Seeds</h3><p>Start the process by soaking your seeds in distilled water. Before doing so, use pH test strips to confirm the water’s pH is somewhere from 5.8 to 6.5.</p><p>The seeds should float when you first place them in the water, but they will start to sink eventually. You can encourage this by tapping the seeds using your tweezers. Many growers consider this step of soaking the seeds optional.</p><h3>Lay Out the Seeds</h3><p>After soaking the seeds, lay two layers of paper towels on a dinner plate. Moisten the towels using room temperature distilled water, but drain off the excess moisture. Spread the seeds out in the center of your paper towels. Make sure there is some distance between each, giving them room to start germinating. Once you spread the seeds out, cover them with two paper towels (also moistened with distilled water) then place another dinner plate over it. The second plate will ensure your seeds stay warm.</p><h3>Storing and Checking</h3><p>Put the plates with the paper towels and seeds somewhere that is dark and warm. The seeds’ ideal temperature of germination is between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.</p><p>Make sure to check the seeds regularly throughout the entire germination process. You will likely need to remoisten the paper towels a few times. Whenever you remoisten the towels, make sure you drain the excess water afterward.</p><h3>Planting the Germinated Seeds</h3><p>Once germination is done, you are ready to plant the seeds. Fill your seed tray or plastic cups using quality potting soil. Saturate the soil with water. Create one-fourth inch holes in each slot of the seed tray. Place each seed inside, ensuring the taproot faces down. Cover the seeds using loose soil, never tapping it down. Keep the soil moist with a spray bottle.</p><p>Within about four to six days, you will likely see sprouts. By 10 to 14 days, the seedlings will likely have leaves. You should put the seed tray underneath fluorescent grow lights. Remember that seedlings and germinated seeds will need 24 hours of light. After you spot the leaves, you can reduce this to 16 hours.</p><h2>Germinate With Rockwool Cubes</h2><p>Another popular option for germinating cannabis seeds is to use Rockwool cubes. The cubes do better at water retention compared to paper towels. They also make transplantation after planting easier, and the cubes keep the pH consistent. This method of germinating the seeds requires similar tools, including a pH test kit, tweezers, good potting soil, your grow light timer, compact fluorescent lights, and a seed tray. You will also need the cannabis seeds, one-inch Rockwool cubes, pH balancing chemicals, plastic or metal tweezers, a waterproof tray, and a small pointed object, like a clean nail or toothpick.</p><h3>Prepare the Rockwool Cubes</h3><p>Before you start germinating your seeds with this method, stabilize and hydrate your Rockwool cubes. This is necessary since cannabis seeds prefer a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, but Rockwool cubes naturally have a pH of 7.8.</p><p>To prepare the Rockwool cubes, start by testing the water you plan to use. If the pH is not ideal, you can decrease its pH value, acidifying it, by adding small quantities of lime juice. Add a few drops, then measure again. Take this process slow since a pH of under five will need you to raise the pH or for you to start over.</p><p>Once the pH reaches the proper level, soak your Rockwool cubes in the water for an hour. Take the Rockwool cubes out of the water, without draining them at all. Store the leftover water in a spray bottle or something similar. It has the perfect pH level for watering your cannabis seeds.</p><h3>Set Up the Rockwool Cubes</h3><p>Once the Rockwool cubes are soaked, you can go ahead and prepare them for your seeds. Place the soaked cubes in your waterproof tray. If your cubes do not come with preformed holes, poke some using a clean, pointy object. The holes should be about one-fourth inch and wide enough for a seed to fill it.</p><h3>Set Up the Seeds</h3><p>Now, you can place a cannabis seed in every hole. Remember to complete this process with the tweezers, so you do not touch the seeds. Use the tweezers, or a toothpick, to push the seeds gently down to the bottom of the hole. Finally, cover each hole with another tiny piece of Rockwool. This will create the moist, dark environment the seeds need to germinate.</p><p>Cover your tray using saran wrap or a clear plastic dome. This will further help with the humid environment, as it retains heat and traps moisture. Put the covered tray under a 40-watt fluorescent tube, with two to three inches between the light and plants. Leave the light on 24/7. The seeds will not need the light until the sprouts poke through the cube, but since you cannot monitor them 24/7, it is best to have the light ready ahead of time.</p><h3>Maintaining and Germinating the Seeds</h3><p>Keep a thermometer by the tray’s neck, under your saran wrap or dome. This will let you check if the temperature stays between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Check on the Rockwool cubes two or three times every day. Use your pH-balanced water to remoisten the cubes if necessary. Remember to keep the cubes damp, not drenched.</p><h3>Transplanting the Germinated Seeds</h3><p>The roots of the germinated seeds should start poking out of your Rockwool cubes after two to three weeks. This is the ideal time to transplant the seeds, as you do not want the roots to start tangling. Grab a slab of Rockwool and cut holes that are one-inch deep and 1 1/4-inch wide. Carefully place your Rockwool cubes with the seedlings into each of those holes. Use tongs with extreme caution, so you do not damage or touch the roots of the cannabis seeds.</p><p>When placing the cubes in the Rockwool slab, ensure that the cubes are not lower than the surface around it. If it cannot fit at the same height, have it stick out slightly. If you place the cube too low, water can pool, leading to stem rot.</p><h2>Germinate Directly in Soil</h2><p>Another option is to germinate the cannabis seeds right into your soil. This will reduce the chances of damaging the seedling during transplantation. To make this easy, get a seed propagation kit and follow its instructions. You can also create your own with the seeds, a waterproof tray, small peat cups, a 40-watt fluorescent grow light, pH test strips, pH-balanced water, a thermometer, and saran wrap.</p><h3>Get the Right Soil</h3><p>For this process, start by choosing the right soil. The pH should be 5.5-7. It should also drain well. You may want to add a mycorrhizae mixture to the soil, as it provides fungi that help with the growth of plant roots.</p><h3>Prepare the Soil and Seeds</h3><p>Use the soil mix to fill your peat cups. Then make a hole in the center of each cup about one-fourth inch deep using your finger. Place one seed in the hole before loosely covering it with soil. Put the cups in your waterproof tray and moisten the soil without drenching it using the pH-balanced water. Make a dome on the tray with saran wrap, supporting it with toothpicks.</p><p>Place your tray and cups with seeds and soil three inches under your light. Leave the light on for 24 hours until you notice sprouting.</p><h3>Monitoring the Seeds</h3><p>Check the set-up two or three times each day to ensure it stays moist, spraying it with the pH-balanced water if necessary. Make sure also to monitor the temperature of the area. Once the seeds sprout, you can continue growing them like you normally would, transplanting them to larger pots when necessary.</p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>No matter which method you choose for germinating your cannabis seeds, make sure to provide the seeds with the proper pH level and the proper temperatures, humidity, and moisture. You should notice the seeds germinating within just a few days or a week, getting you ready for your next step in growing cannabis.</p>

People have been growing cannabis plants for thousands of years. If you live in
an area where it is legal to possess and grow cannabis, then you can grow the
plants. There are two main methods of growing cannabis, from seeds or cuttings.
If you choose to grow from seeds, the first step to the process will be to
germinate the seeds. The process can be more intuitive than you may realize at
first.

HOW LONG IT TAKES
Before you start germinating cannabis seeds, make sure you understand how long
this task will take. Most cannabis seeds will germinate within between three and
seven days. Some other types, however, may take longer, with some taking up to
10 or 15 days.

HOW TO TELL WHEN GERMINATION IS COMPLETE
Once the seeds germinate, they will have small white taproots that come out of
one end. This is a sign that you are ready to plant the seeds.

THE BASICS TO CONTROL
Keep in mind that for the cannabis seeds to germinate, you will need to provide
it with the proper temperature light and humidity or moisture. You should be
able to control these factors enough to germinate seeds without any special
equipment. Even so, investing in monitoring and control equipment for these
factors can increase the chances of your seeds growing.

CHOOSE YOUR SEEDS
Before you can germinate your cannabis seeds, you will have to select the seeds
that you want to grow. There are over 100 cannabinoids in cannabis, so you can
choose a strain that has substantial amounts of the ones you want. Of these, you
will be most interested in CBD and THC. CBD is non-psychoactive and associated
with most of the benefits of cannabis, such as relief from pain and nausea. THC
is psychoactive and can enhance the effects of CBD when the two are used
together, something known as the entourage effect.

In addition to choosing the seeds based on the content of cannabinoids like THC
and CBD, you should also think about the aroma, and whether you prefer Sativa,
Indica, or Ruderalis.

REGULAR VS. FEMINIZED SEEDS
Your seeds will either be regular or feminized. Regular seeds include both males
and females while feminized seeds only have females. Feminized seeds can save
you the time and effort in identifying the sex of the seeds during growth. You
never want to grow male and female cannabis seeds together unless your goal is
producing more plants. The males will pollinate the females, causing the
females’ energy to focus on reproduction instead of producing buds. The
resulting buds are less potent and desirable.

DO YOU WANT AUTOFLOWERING SEEDS?
You should also consider whether you want autoflowering cannabis seeds. These
will automatically move to the flowering stage of growth from the vegetative
stage as they age. This is opposed to the change occurring based on the amount
of light received. Some autoflowering seeds will also grow more quickly.

CHOOSE BETWEEN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GROWING
Most people who choose to grow cannabis will do so indoors. The only issue with
indoor growing is that it can be highly inefficient, causing an increase in
energy bills. However, outdoor growing also has issues, including fluctuating
weather conditions and potential legal restrictions. In most states, you cannot
legally grow cannabis outside, eliminating the choice for you.

Regardless of where you plan to grow your cannabis plants, you will need to
germinate the seeds indoors. You can still decide at this stage if you will grow
the plants inside. This gives you time to prepare the growing area so you can
plant your germinated seeds immediately.

In addition to legal restrictions that may require you to grow your cannabis
indoors, most people choose this method thanks to the ability to control the
growing conditions. By controlling light, humidity, and temperature, you can
grow cannabis inside all year round.

GERMINATE WITH A WET PAPER TOWEL
The most popular method of germinating cannabis seeds is to use wet paper
towels. You will need your seeds, distilled water, clean plates, paper towels,
tweezers to handle the seeds, good potting soil, compact fluorescent lights, a
grow light timer, a seed tray, and a pH test kit. Always handle the seeds with
the tweezers instead of your hands, as this will improve their chances of
flourishing.

SOAK THE SEEDS
Start the process by soaking your seeds in distilled water. Before doing so, use
pH test strips to confirm the water’s pH is somewhere from 5.8 to 6.5.

The seeds should float when you first place them in the water, but they will
start to sink eventually. You can encourage this by tapping the seeds using your
tweezers. Many growers consider this step of soaking the seeds optional.

LAY OUT THE SEEDS
After soaking the seeds, lay two layers of paper towels on a dinner plate.
Moisten the towels using room temperature distilled water, but drain off the
excess moisture. Spread the seeds out in the center of your paper towels. Make
sure there is some distance between each, giving them room to start germinating.
Once you spread the seeds out, cover them with two paper towels (also moistened
with distilled water) then place another dinner plate over it. The second plate
will ensure your seeds stay warm.

STORING AND CHECKING
Put the plates with the paper towels and seeds somewhere that is dark and warm.
The seeds’ ideal temperature of germination is between 70 and 90 degrees
Fahrenheit.

Make sure to check the seeds regularly throughout the entire germination
process. You will likely need to remoisten the paper towels a few times.
Whenever you remoisten the towels, make sure you drain the excess water
afterward.

PLANTING THE GERMINATED SEEDS
Once germination is done, you are ready to plant the seeds. Fill your seed tray
or plastic cups using quality potting soil. Saturate the soil with water. Create
one-fourth inch holes in each slot of the seed tray. Place each seed inside,
ensuring the taproot faces down. Cover the seeds using loose soil, never tapping
it down. Keep the soil moist with a spray bottle.

Within about four to six days, you will likely see sprouts. By 10 to 14 days,
the seedlings will likely have leaves. You should put the seed tray underneath
fluorescent grow lights. Remember that seedlings and germinated seeds will need
24 hours of light. After you spot the leaves, you can reduce this to 16 hours.

GERMINATE WITH ROCKWOOL CUBES
Another popular option for germinating cannabis seeds is to use Rockwool cubes.
The cubes do better at water retention compared to paper towels. They also make
transplantation after planting easier, and the cubes keep the pH consistent.
This method of germinating the seeds requires similar tools, including a pH test
kit, tweezers, good potting soil, your grow light timer, compact fluorescent
lights, and a seed tray. You will also need the cannabis seeds, one-inch
Rockwool cubes, pH balancing chemicals, plastic or metal tweezers, a waterproof
tray, and a small pointed object, like a clean nail or toothpick.

PREPARE THE ROCKWOOL CUBES
Before you start germinating your seeds with this method, stabilize and hydrate
your Rockwool cubes. This is necessary since cannabis seeds prefer a pH between
5.5 and 6.5, but Rockwool cubes naturally have a pH of 7.8.

To prepare the Rockwool cubes, start by testing the water you plan to use. If
the pH is not ideal, you can decrease its pH value, acidifying it, by adding
small quantities of lime juice. Add a few drops, then measure again. Take this
process slow since a pH of under five will need you to raise the pH or for you
to start over.

Once the pH reaches the proper level, soak your Rockwool cubes in the water for
an hour. Take the Rockwool cubes out of the water, without draining them at all.
Store the leftover water in a spray bottle or something similar. It has the
perfect pH level for watering your cannabis seeds.

SET UP THE ROCKWOOL CUBES
Once the Rockwool cubes are soaked, you can go ahead and prepare them for your
seeds. Place the soaked cubes in your waterproof tray. If your cubes do not come
with preformed holes, poke some using a clean, pointy object. The holes should
be about one-fourth inch and wide enough for a seed to fill it.

SET UP THE SEEDS
Now, you can place a cannabis seed in every hole. Remember to complete this
process with the tweezers, so you do not touch the seeds. Use the tweezers, or a
toothpick, to push the seeds gently down to the bottom of the hole. Finally,
cover each hole with another tiny piece of Rockwool. This will create the moist,
dark environment the seeds need to germinate.

Cover your tray using saran wrap or a clear plastic dome. This will further help
with the humid environment, as it retains heat and traps moisture. Put the
covered tray under a 40-watt fluorescent tube, with two to three inches between
the light and plants. Leave the light on 24/7. The seeds will not need the light
until the sprouts poke through the cube, but since you cannot monitor them 24/7,
it is best to have the light ready ahead of time.

MAINTAINING AND GERMINATING THE SEEDS
Keep a thermometer by the tray’s neck, under your saran wrap or dome. This will
let you check if the temperature stays between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check on the Rockwool cubes two or three times every day. Use your pH-balanced
water to remoisten the cubes if necessary. Remember to keep the cubes damp, not
drenched.

TRANSPLANTING THE GERMINATED SEEDS
The roots of the germinated seeds should start poking out of your Rockwool cubes
after two to three weeks. This is the ideal time to transplant the seeds, as you
do not want the roots to start tangling. Grab a slab of Rockwool and cut holes
that are one-inch deep and 1 1/4-inch wide. Carefully place your Rockwool cubes
with the seedlings into each of those holes. Use tongs with extreme caution, so
you do not damage or touch the roots of the cannabis seeds.

When placing the cubes in the Rockwool slab, ensure that the cubes are not lower
than the surface around it. If it cannot fit at the same height, have it stick
out slightly. If you place the cube too low, water can pool, leading to stem
rot.

GERMINATE DIRECTLY IN SOIL
Another option is to germinate the cannabis seeds right into your soil. This
will reduce the chances of damaging the seedling during transplantation. To make
this easy, get a seed propagation kit and follow its instructions. You can also
create your own with the seeds, a waterproof tray, small peat cups, a 40-watt
fluorescent grow light, pH test strips, pH-balanced water, a thermometer, and
saran wrap.

GET THE RIGHT SOIL
For this process, start by choosing the right soil. The pH should be 5.5-7. It
should also drain well. You may want to add a mycorrhizae mixture to the soil,
as it provides fungi that help with the growth of plant roots.

PREPARE THE SOIL AND SEEDS
Use the soil mix to fill your peat cups. Then make a hole in the center of each
cup about one-fourth inch deep using your finger. Place one seed in the hole
before loosely covering it with soil. Put the cups in your waterproof tray and
moisten the soil without drenching it using the pH-balanced water. Make a dome
on the tray with saran wrap, supporting it with toothpicks.

Place your tray and cups with seeds and soil three inches under your light.
Leave the light on for 24 hours until you notice sprouting.

MONITORING THE SEEDS
Check the set-up two or three times each day to ensure it stays moist, spraying
it with the pH-balanced water if necessary. Make sure also to monitor the
temperature of the area. Once the seeds sprout, you can continue growing them
like you normally would, transplanting them to larger pots when necessary.

CONCLUSION
No matter which method you choose for germinating your cannabis seeds, make sure
to provide the seeds with the proper pH level and the proper temperatures,
humidity, and moisture. You should notice the seeds germinating within just a
few days or a week, getting you ready for your next step in growing cannabis.

How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds

This guide will help you to germinate cannabis seeds through various mediums -- rockwool cubes, paper towel, or soil.

<p>If you plan on growing cannabis plants, then you should take the time to learn how long the seeds can last. You do not want to spend money on seeds and then wait too long to use them and waste your money. You also do not want to risk growing cannabis of poor quality because you waited too long to use the seeds. So, how long do cannabis seeds last and what happens if you try to grow them after this date?</p><h2>Specific Numbers</h2><p>Most people will find that marijuana seeds can still sprout without a problem after a few years. You can likely get them to sprout even if you store the seeds for five or six years. Many people have experienced success in growing seeds that are of this age. There are also articles from experts that indicate you can grow seeds that are 15-20 years old. There is a consensus that you can expect seeds in the fridge to last at least a decade when cared for properly.</p><p>If you have patience and are willing to waste time and resources on seeds that may not sprout, you can try to grow any seeds. There are some stories of universities germinating an ancient cannabis seed. You can also easily find people on forums who claim to have successfully grown seeds that were at least several decades old. Of course, for an old seed to successfully grow, it must have been stored in the ideal conditions, and you need some luck.</p><h2>Ask the Seller</h2><p>Depending on where you buy your cannabis seeds, you may be able to ask the seller how long the seeds will last. Large companies should have a reasonable idea of the lifespan of their seeds. This is less likely to be the case if you get the seed from someone you know, as they will be unlikely to provide consistent quality for the seeds.</p><h2>It Depends on the Strain</h2><p>It is also important to keep in mind that not all strains will last for the same amount of time. Some strains will have hardier seeds, while others will have weaker seeds. You can probably find information on the hardiness of the more common strains in forums online, but otherwise, you will have to guess and hope for the best or determine it yourself.</p><h2>Ideal Storage Conditions</h2><p>To preserve the life of your cannabis seeds, and have them remain viable as long as possible, store them in the proper conditions.</p><h3>A Cool, Dark, Dry Place</h3><p>The most important factors in deciding where to store your cannabis seeds are light, moisture, and temperature. You want to choose a spot that is cool and dark. Warmer temperatures give the seeds signals to sprout. The same is true of moisture. As such, you want to avoid moisture and heat.</p><p>Ideally, you want the relative humidity to be about 20-30 percent and the temperature to be around 6-8 degrees Celsius.</p><h3>Store With Drying Gel</h3><p>To ensure that the seeds do not get any moisture, consider including a pouch of silica gel or something similar inside the container. This will ensure that no moisture interferes with your seeds.</p><h3>Suggested Locations</h3><p>Since you want to store the cannabis seeds in a dry, cool, dark place, consider your basement or the fridge. Just make sure that whatever location you choose is free from moisture.</p><h3>You Can Freeze Seeds</h3><p>In cases where you know that you will not use the seeds anytime soon, then you may want to consider freezing them instead. Place the seeds in a bag and vacuum seal it so that there is no extra air. Then, put this vacuum-sealed bag inside another airtight container. Stick the entire thing in your freezer, setting the temperature to about 25 degrees Fahrenheit.</p><h3>What to Know When Freezing Seeds</h3><p>Freezing seeds is straightforward, but you need to keep a few things in mind. You cannot refreeze seeds. If you try to freeze them after thawing them out, the seed will almost always die. You will also need to give yourself enough time to thaw out the frozen seed before you plant it. This should take around 12 hours, but the time can vary based on the conditions you froze it in and the conditions of the room where you thaw it out.</p><h2>Differences in Growing Older Seeds</h2><p>If you try to grow cannabis seeds that have been stored for too long, they will struggle to sprout. You should expect them to take longer to sprout and fewer of them to successfully sprout. As more time passes, fewer seeds will germinate successfully.</p><p>There is also the fact that at a certain age, a race begins between decay and germination. The seeds will be more prone to decay as they are older, so the extended time required for germination may be too long. In this case, you will plant them and introduce the proper conditions for growth, but the seed will begin decaying before it can germinate.</p><h2>The Basic Steps for Growing Old Seeds</h2><p>The main difference when growing older seeds compared to new cannabis seeds is that the shells will be harder. This means that they will require longer exposure to water to penetrate the thick shell.</p><h3>Germinating in a Glass</h3><p>You should start by putting your seeds in a glass of water for about 24 hours. You can add several drops of hydrogen peroxide to help soften the shell. By softening the shell, you speed up the process of the water penetrating the shell.</p><p>While growing the seeds, ensure that your liquid is around 22 degrees Fahrenheit, not cold. You should also be sure to keep it away from light sources. Keep an eye on your seeds during the 24-hour soaking period. If you notice them opening up, take them out of the glass. Otherwise, the seeds may drown. After 24 hours, move the seeds to a wet paper towel.</p><h3>Germinating With Wet Paper Towels</h3><p>Another popular option for germinating the cannabis seeds is to use wet paper towels and some dishes. Soak a paper towel in water and place it on top of a plate. Put the cannabis seeds on top of the paper towel, making sure you space them out enough. Place another wet paper towel on top.</p><p>This method is incredibly common, but there is some debate with purists. Those purists argue that the paper towels may have chemicals like chlorine that could get in the way of germination. The benefit of using paper towels is that you cannot accidentally drown your seeds like you could with the glass of water method.</p><h3>Germinating in the Soil</h3><p>If you want, you can also choose to germinate your cannabis seeds right in the soil. You will need to choose soil that is well-nourished and an area with plenty of light. You can also encourage the germination by using a teaspoon of fulvic acid diluted in a liter of water to wet your location. Instead of the fulvic acid in the water, you could also use carbonated water. The CO2 from the carbonated water will encourage the liquid to get into the seed, speeding up germination</p><h3>Products to Enhance Germination</h3><p>For those who are concerned about the ability of their old seeds to germinate, you can buy something to help. There are enhancers and enzymes designed to encourage germination. These products should also help with the very early development of the seeds.</p><p>One of the most popular of these products is Jiffy 7. This is a compressed pill made up of dried peat. You soak it for a few minutes until it becomes soil in a small sack. This soil was developed to encourage germination thanks to its sterilization, inclusion of key nutrients, pH neutrality, and ideal structure. If you are struggling to get older seeds to germinate, this can be a good option.</p><h3>How Long Germination Will Take</h3><p>For normal seeds, germination takes about 48 to 72 hours. For old seeds, this will take even longer, possibly up to five or six days. In some cases, it may even take weeks.</p><h2>Tips to Grow Old Seeds</h2><p>In the case of seeds that you want to grow, but are too old, there are some tricks you can try to increase their chances.</p><h3>Use Hydrogen Peroxide</h3><p>Some people suggest using diluted hydrogen peroxide to help your older seeds grow. The key is to use a diluted solution since you do not want to expose the seeds to a highly concentrated solution. The idea is that the hydrogen peroxide will help reduce the risk of bacteria starting the decomposition process.</p><h3>A Last Resort: Use Sandpaper</h3><p>If all else fails and your seeds are still not germinating, you can take matters into your own hands with some sandpaper. Use it to scrape off the seed’s outer layer. This will create micro-abrasions that could give water a chance to enter. Just ensure that you create minor micro-abrasions.</p><p>To use this method, get very fine sandpaper and roll it up with the rough side facing in. Secure it in place using tape. Put your seeds inside and place your hands over the openings of your sandpaper roll. Shake it for a few minutes, and you should hopefully see results.</p><h3>A Last Resort: Use a Knife</h3><p>Another last resort method is to grab a knife and cut your seed transversely. Only cut the seed very lightly. As with the sandpaper, the goal is to provide an opening that will encourage the water to get into the shell so that germination can occur.</p><h2>Growing Old Seeds Past Germination</h2><p>Once you get your old seeds to germinate, the hardest part is done. You should handle the newly germinated cannabis plants carefully for a few days. After about a week, the plant should grow just like any other cannabis plants in your garden.</p><h2>The Ideal Timeframe</h2><p>With all of the information given, there is still an ideal period in which to use your cannabis seeds. You should generally try to use them within about two years and store them in the proper conditions. This means a dry, dark, and cool place in an airtight container. If you use the cannabis seeds within about two years, you are unlikely to experience germination problems due to the age of the plant. There should also be no other ill effects when growing the seeds.</p><h2>Where to Get Seeds</h2><p>Now that you know how long your cannabis seeds will last for, where do you get them? A quick online search will show you dozens, if not hundreds, of online retailers that sell cannabis seeds. You might be able to buy cannabis seeds at a local shop, but this is not always a given. If you have a favorite local cannabis shop, ask if they sell seeds or could they get you some through their channels. If not, consider ordering online.</p><p>No matter where you choose to get your seeds, make sure you do your research. You should buy seeds from the strain of cannabis that has the features you want, such as aroma and potency. You will also want to pay attention to whether the seeds are regular, autoflowering, or feminized, as these are all different and appeal to different types of growers.</p><p>Of course, you should also look into the reputation of the seller you buy seeds from. If you buy online, look for guarantees and a reasonably long history.</p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>When you store them properly in a dark, cool, and dry environment, cannabis seeds should still be in peak condition after about two years. There is no set time limit as to how long cannabis seeds last. With a bit of luck and proper storage, you can successfully grow seeds that are decades old, or even older. Increase your chances of long-lasting seeds by storing them properly. If you know you will not use them soon, consider freezing the seeds so they last longer. Just remember that if your seeds get older, you may need more patience when you start the germination process.</p>

If you plan on growing cannabis plants, then you should take the time to learn
how long the seeds can last. You do not want to spend money on seeds and then
wait too long to use them and waste your money. You also do not want to risk
growing cannabis of poor quality because you waited too long to use the seeds.
So, how long do cannabis seeds last and what happens if you try to grow them
after this date?

SPECIFIC NUMBERS
Most people will find that marijuana seeds can still sprout without a problem
after a few years. You can likely get them to sprout even if you store the seeds
for five or six years. Many people have experienced success in growing seeds
that are of this age. There are also articles from experts that indicate you can
grow seeds that are 15-20 years old. There is a consensus that you can expect
seeds in the fridge to last at least a decade when cared for properly.

If you have patience and are willing to waste time and resources on seeds that
may not sprout, you can try to grow any seeds. There are some stories of
universities germinating an ancient cannabis seed. You can also easily find
people on forums who claim to have successfully grown seeds that were at least
several decades old. Of course, for an old seed to successfully grow, it must
have been stored in the ideal conditions, and you need some luck.

ASK THE SELLER
Depending on where you buy your cannabis seeds, you may be able to ask the
seller how long the seeds will last. Large companies should have a reasonable
idea of the lifespan of their seeds. This is less likely to be the case if you
get the seed from someone you know, as they will be unlikely to provide
consistent quality for the seeds.

IT DEPENDS ON THE STRAIN
It is also important to keep in mind that not all strains will last for the same
amount of time. Some strains will have hardier seeds, while others will have
weaker seeds. You can probably find information on the hardiness of the more
common strains in forums online, but otherwise, you will have to guess and hope
for the best or determine it yourself.

IDEAL STORAGE CONDITIONS
To preserve the life of your cannabis seeds, and have them remain viable as long
as possible, store them in the proper conditions.

A COOL, DARK, DRY PLACE
The most important factors in deciding where to store your cannabis seeds are
light, moisture, and temperature. You want to choose a spot that is cool and
dark. Warmer temperatures give the seeds signals to sprout. The same is true of
moisture. As such, you want to avoid moisture and heat.

Ideally, you want the relative humidity to be about 20-30 percent and the
temperature to be around 6-8 degrees Celsius.

STORE WITH DRYING GEL
To ensure that the seeds do not get any moisture, consider including a pouch of
silica gel or something similar inside the container. This will ensure that no
moisture interferes with your seeds.

SUGGESTED LOCATIONS
Since you want to store the cannabis seeds in a dry, cool, dark place, consider
your basement or the fridge. Just make sure that whatever location you choose is
free from moisture.

YOU CAN FREEZE SEEDS
In cases where you know that you will not use the seeds anytime soon, then you
may want to consider freezing them instead. Place the seeds in a bag and vacuum
seal it so that there is no extra air. Then, put this vacuum-sealed bag inside
another airtight container. Stick the entire thing in your freezer, setting the
temperature to about 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

WHAT TO KNOW WHEN FREEZING SEEDS
Freezing seeds is straightforward, but you need to keep a few things in mind.
You cannot refreeze seeds. If you try to freeze them after thawing them out, the
seed will almost always die. You will also need to give yourself enough time to
thaw out the frozen seed before you plant it. This should take around 12 hours,
but the time can vary based on the conditions you froze it in and the conditions
of the room where you thaw it out.

DIFFERENCES IN GROWING OLDER SEEDS
If you try to grow cannabis seeds that have been stored for too long, they will
struggle to sprout. You should expect them to take longer to sprout and fewer of
them to successfully sprout. As more time passes, fewer seeds will germinate
successfully.

There is also the fact that at a certain age, a race begins between decay and
germination. The seeds will be more prone to decay as they are older, so the
extended time required for germination may be too long. In this case, you will
plant them and introduce the proper conditions for growth, but the seed will
begin decaying before it can germinate.

THE BASIC STEPS FOR GROWING OLD SEEDS
The main difference when growing older seeds compared to new cannabis seeds is
that the shells will be harder. This means that they will require longer
exposure to water to penetrate the thick shell.

GERMINATING IN A GLASS
You should start by putting your seeds in a glass of water for about 24 hours.
You can add several drops of hydrogen peroxide to help soften the shell. By
softening the shell, you speed up the process of the water penetrating the
shell.

While growing the seeds, ensure that your liquid is around 22 degrees
Fahrenheit, not cold. You should also be sure to keep it away from light
sources. Keep an eye on your seeds during the 24-hour soaking period. If you
notice them opening up, take them out of the glass. Otherwise, the seeds may
drown. After 24 hours, move the seeds to a wet paper towel.

GERMINATING WITH WET PAPER TOWELS
Another popular option for germinating the cannabis seeds is to use wet paper
towels and some dishes. Soak a paper towel in water and place it on top of a
plate. Put the cannabis seeds on top of the paper towel, making sure you space
them out enough. Place another wet paper towel on top.

This method is incredibly common, but there is some debate with purists. Those
purists argue that the paper towels may have chemicals like chlorine that could
get in the way of germination. The benefit of using paper towels is that you
cannot accidentally drown your seeds like you could with the glass of water
method.

GERMINATING IN THE SOIL
If you want, you can also choose to germinate your cannabis seeds right in the
soil. You will need to choose soil that is well-nourished and an area with
plenty of light. You can also encourage the germination by using a teaspoon of
fulvic acid diluted in a liter of water to wet your location. Instead of the
fulvic acid in the water, you could also use carbonated water. The CO2 from the
carbonated water will encourage the liquid to get into the seed, speeding up
germination

PRODUCTS TO ENHANCE GERMINATION
For those who are concerned about the ability of their old seeds to germinate,
you can buy something to help. There are enhancers and enzymes designed to
encourage germination. These products should also help with the very early
development of the seeds.

One of the most popular of these products is Jiffy 7. This is a compressed pill
made up of dried peat. You soak it for a few minutes until it becomes soil in a
small sack. This soil was developed to encourage germination thanks to its
sterilization, inclusion of key nutrients, pH neutrality, and ideal structure.
If you are struggling to get older seeds to germinate, this can be a good
option.

HOW LONG GERMINATION WILL TAKE
For normal seeds, germination takes about 48 to 72 hours. For old seeds, this
will take even longer, possibly up to five or six days. In some cases, it may
even take weeks.

TIPS TO GROW OLD SEEDS
In the case of seeds that you want to grow, but are too old, there are some
tricks you can try to increase their chances.

USE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Some people suggest using diluted hydrogen peroxide to help your older seeds
grow. The key is to use a diluted solution since you do not want to expose the
seeds to a highly concentrated solution. The idea is that the hydrogen peroxide
will help reduce the risk of bacteria starting the decomposition process.

A LAST RESORT: USE SANDPAPER
If all else fails and your seeds are still not germinating, you can take matters
into your own hands with some sandpaper. Use it to scrape off the seed’s outer
layer. This will create micro-abrasions that could give water a chance to enter.
Just ensure that you create minor micro-abrasions.

To use this method, get very fine sandpaper and roll it up with the rough side
facing in. Secure it in place using tape. Put your seeds inside and place your
hands over the openings of your sandpaper roll. Shake it for a few minutes, and
you should hopefully see results.

A LAST RESORT: USE A KNIFE
Another last resort method is to grab a knife and cut your seed transversely.
Only cut the seed very lightly. As with the sandpaper, the goal is to provide an
opening that will encourage the water to get into the shell so that germination
can occur.

GROWING OLD SEEDS PAST GERMINATION
Once you get your old seeds to germinate, the hardest part is done. You should
handle the newly germinated cannabis plants carefully for a few days. After
about a week, the plant should grow just like any other cannabis plants in your
garden.

THE IDEAL TIMEFRAME
With all of the information given, there is still an ideal period in which to
use your cannabis seeds. You should generally try to use them within about two
years and store them in the proper conditions. This means a dry, dark, and cool
place in an airtight container. If you use the cannabis seeds within about two
years, you are unlikely to experience germination problems due to the age of the
plant. There should also be no other ill effects when growing the seeds.

WHERE TO GET SEEDS
Now that you know how long your cannabis seeds will last for, where do you get
them? A quick online search will show you dozens, if not hundreds, of online
retailers that sell cannabis seeds. You might be able to buy cannabis seeds at a
local shop, but this is not always a given. If you have a favorite local
cannabis shop, ask if they sell seeds or could they get you some through their
channels. If not, consider ordering online.

No matter where you choose to get your seeds, make sure you do your research.
You should buy seeds from the strain of cannabis that has the features you want,
such as aroma and potency. You will also want to pay attention to whether the
seeds are regular, autoflowering, or feminized, as these are all different and
appeal to different types of growers.

Of course, you should also look into the reputation of the seller you buy seeds
from. If you buy online, look for guarantees and a reasonably long history.

CONCLUSION
When you store them properly in a dark, cool, and dry environment, cannabis
seeds should still be in peak condition after about two years. There is no set
time limit as to how long cannabis seeds last. With a bit of luck and proper
storage, you can successfully grow seeds that are decades old, or even older.
Increase your chances of long-lasting seeds by storing them properly. If you
know you will not use them soon, consider freezing the seeds so they last
longer. Just remember that if your seeds get older, you may need more patience
when you start the germination process.

How Long Do Cannabis Seeds Last?

If you plan on growing cannabis plants, then you should take the time to learn how long the seeds can last. 

<p>You may have heard of the Cannabis Cup, which is a major event in the world of marijuana. The Cannabis Cup offers prestigious rewards and is a big event, where the best of the best in the industry get to show off.</p><h2>Founding the Cup</h2><p>Steven Hager founded the Cannabis Cup in 1988, also known as the “High Times” Cannabis Cup. He created the Cup as a way for product manufacturers and cultivators of cannabis to show off their products. It also gives them a chance to compete to earn titles and status.</p><h3>It Includes Everything</h3><p>From the start, the Cannabis Cup has honored every single step in the process of producing and using cannabis. There is judging for plants, final products, and accessories. You can find a range of products related to marijuana during the expo, as well as various businesses that interact with cannabis in some way.</p><h3>Participation Requirements</h3><p>To participate in the Cannabis Cup, manufacturers and cultivators must submit their products for independent testing. This verifies their potencies for both THC and CBD.</p><h3>Educational</h3><p>In addition to showcasing cannabis and cannabis-related products, the Cannabis Cup also provides educational seminars. These workshops and seminars are perfect for spreading knowledge about cannabis to the public. Topics include everything from uses to history to growing.</p><h2>Judging</h2><p>No competition would be complete without judging, and the Cannabis Cup features judging for multiple categories. The event organizers gather a group of expert judges that come from various locations around the world. This diversity eliminates bias and provides multiple perspectives during the judging.</p><h2>Categories</h2><p>Some of the most popular categories of the Cannabis Cup include Best Sativa, Best Indica, Best Hybrid, Best Imported Hash, Best Nederhash, Best Hash, Best New Product, Best Glass, and Best Booth. Some categories encourage the attendees to vote on the winner, including those for Best Glass, Best Booth, and Best Products.</p><h2>Location</h2><p>The first Cannabis Cup took place in Amsterdam, a city known for its openness to marijuana. Over the years, nearly every single annual Cannabis Cup occurred in Amsterdam, the last of which was in 2014. After27 years of hosting the Cannabis Cup, a decision to switch locations was made due to a combination of factors. Those concerns included uncertainty regarding the future of cannabis laws in the country and the improved climate towards cannabis in other areas of the world.</p><p>As cannabis spreads in legality, other cities have also started holding their version of the Cannabis Cup. Many of these events focus on medical cannabis instead of or in addition to recreational cannabis.</p><p>Some of the current Cannabis Cups that you may see include those held in Southern and Northern California, Jamaica, Las Vegas, Colorado, Rhode Island, Portland, and the U.S. Midwest.</p><h3>Variations Across Locations</h3><p>The first Cannabis Cup to take place in the United States was in 2010. The “High Times” Medical Cannabis Cup was created to celebrate states with legal medical marijuana. It provides the expected activities and products, but the focus is all on medical marijuana.</p><p>The U.S. Cannabis Cup is for those states that legalized recreational use of marijuana. It includes very similar events to those in the main Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam. In other words, judges give out trophies for various categories after testing strains, and attendees vote for some categories.</p><h2>The Film</h2><p>You can experience the Cannabis Cup without attending thanks to DVDs made to document the events. Following the 2003 festival, producers made “High Times Presents: The Cannabis Cup.” During the summer of 2008, there was a film of the previous year’s event, which marked the 20th anniversary. That particular Cannabis Cup was hosted by Redman and Tommy Chong.</p><h2><strong>The 2010 Amsterdam Cannabis Cup Police Raid</strong></h2><p>In 2010, police raided the location of the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup for the first time. This experience did not end well and contributed to the location of the Cannabis Cup changing after 2014.</p><p>The raid was incredibly controversial and followed conservatives coming into power in the Netherlands that year. Those conservatives had already closed some of the country’s coffee shops, venues known for their cannabis in addition to coffee.</p><p>At the time of the event, most of the information regarding the raid came from tweets. The police told the authorities that they had seen booths giving out cannabis, which was against the rules. Based on that, they shut the event down and made everyone leave except the exhibitors.</p><p>Following the drama, one of the “High Times” attorneys released a statement. According to David Holland, the problem came down to a permit misunderstanding. No one was arrested, and the attendees were never in any danger of being arrested or otherwise harmed. According to him, the police were only ensuring that no vendor gave out more cannabis than allowed. The Opium Law required that all vendors be within a 500-gram limit at the venue, and only one was slightly over.</p><p>The police, organizers of the Cannabis Cup, and the vendors worked everything out amicably. The event continued the next day. Even so, the police presence brought a stigma and negative media attention to the event.</p><h2>A Look at Past Winners</h2><p>Many of the previous winners of the Cannabis Cup are still in business today, doing very well for themselves. If you look at the past winners of the Cup, you will also notice some repeat winners, showing which companies consistently produce quality products. Here are just a few of the winners over the years:</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>1st Cannabis Cup in 1988</strong></td><td>Skunk #1 – Cultivator’s Choice</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2nd Cannabis Cup in 1989</strong></td><td>Early Pearly/Skunk #1 and Northern Lights #5/Haze – Seed Bank, Snocap – David Swenson</td></tr><tr><td><strong>3rd Cannabis Cup in 1990</strong></td><td>Northern Lights #5 – Seed Bank</td></tr><tr><td><strong>4th Cannabis Cup in 1991</strong></td><td>Skunk – Free City</td></tr><tr><td><strong>5th Cannabis Cup in 1992</strong></td><td>Haze and Skunk #1 – Homegrown Fantasy</td></tr><tr><td><strong>6th Cannabis Cup in 1993</strong></td><td>Haze and Northern Lights #5 – Sensi Seed Bank</td></tr><tr><td><strong>7th Cannabis Cup in 1994</strong></td><td>Jack Herer – Sensi Seed Bank</td></tr><tr><td><strong>8th Cannabis Cup in 1995</strong></td><td>White Widow – Green House</td></tr><tr><td><strong>9th Cannabis Cup in 1996</strong></td><td>White Russian – De Dampkring</td></tr><tr><td><strong>10th Cannabis Cup in 1997</strong></td><td>Peace Maker – De Dampkring</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The most recent Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam was in 2014. First-place winners at that event included:</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Best Coffeeshop Strain</strong></td><td>Cookies Kush – Barney’s Coffeeshop</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best Sativa by a Seed Company</strong></td><td>Tangie Crockett’s Cut – Crockett Family Farms</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best Indica by a Seed Company</strong></td><td>Colorado Bubba – The Vault Genetics</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best Hybrid by a Seed Company</strong></td><td>Larry OG – The Vault Genetics</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best Import Hash by a Coffeeshop</strong></td><td>Super Lemon Haze Cream – The Green House</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best Import Hash by a Seed Company</strong></td><td>Super Lemon OG Concentrate – Loud Pack Extractions &amp; Greenwolf, LA</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best Nederhash by a Coffeeshop</strong></td><td>Barney’s Coffeeshop – Cookies Ice-Cream</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li><strong>Best Nederhash by a Seed Company</strong></li></ul></td><td>The Kong 73 Non-Solvent Hash – The Vault Genetics</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Highest CBD – Concentrates</strong></td><td>CBD Simple: CannaVest</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Highest CBD – Flowers</strong></td><td>CBD Rene by House of the Great Gardener</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best Product</strong></td><td>The Loud Seeds Gift Bag</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Best Glass</strong></td><td>Roor – Sublimator</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Looking at the winners from the 2014 Amsterdam Cannabis Cup gives you a good idea of how much the various categories have expanded over the years. There were a dozen categories, each with honors for first, second, and third place. Only two of these categories, the highest CBDs, only had a single winner. This shows that the Cannabis Cup was sizable enough to attract enough vendors to justify requiring so many winners and categories. It also indicates enough diversity in products and offerings. After all, the Cannabis Cup did not give honor to every vendor, so offering 36 titles shows significant participation.</p><p>The most recent Cannabis Cup event with results listed on the official website is the So-Cal 2018 event. Categories for that event included:</p><ul><li><strong>Best Indica Flower</strong></li><li><strong>Best Hybrid Flower</strong></li><li><strong>Best Sativa Flower</strong></li><li><strong>Best Indica Concentrate</strong></li><li><strong>Best Hybrid Concentrate</strong></li><li><strong>Best Sativa Concentrate</strong></li><li><strong>Best Non-Solvent Hash</strong></li><li><strong>Best Edible</strong></li><li><strong>Best Topical</strong></li><li><strong>Best CBD Flower</strong></li><li><strong>Best CBD Concentrate</strong></li><li><strong>Best Medically Infused Product</strong></li><li><strong>Best Vape Pen Cartridges</strong></li><li><strong>Best Preroll</strong></li><li><strong>Best CBD Edibles</strong></li><li><strong>Best CBD Cartridges</strong></li><li><strong>Best Booth</strong></li><li><strong>Best Product</strong></li><li><strong>Best Glass</strong></li><li><strong>Best Vape Pen</strong></li></ul><p>The wide range of categories, once again most with winners for first, second, and third places, indicates a high level of participation.</p><h2>The Counterculture Hall of Fame</h2><p>In addition to the Cannabis Cup, there are other cannabis-related events and honors throughout the world. The Counterculture Hall of Fame is designed to honor those who influenced the shaping of the cannabis industry. This Hall of Fame began in 1997. Bob Marley was among the first to be inducted, with his induction occurring that same year. In 2012, Steve Hager was inducted. Other inductees include Louis Armstrong, Peter Tosh, Tommy Chong, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan, Cheech Marin, Tom Forcade, Coke La Rock, Jack Herer, John Grigs, Ben Dronkers, Alexander Shulgin, and Ann Shulgin.</p><h2>Other Cannabis Events</h2><p>It should come as no surprise that the Cannabis Cup is not the only major marijuana event. There are various events around the world throughout the year, with a focus on countries with more marijuana-friendly laws.</p><h3>Cannabis Business Summit and Expo</h3><p>The next of these annual events will be in June 2020 in San Francisco. It is a business-to-business event that provides commerce and education to empower the industry. The National Cannabis Industry Association hosts this event</p><h3>Cannabis Conference</h3><p>This year’s Cannabis Conference was in April in Las Vegas, but you can already get a super early bird ticket for the next year’s event in April 2020, also in Las Vegas. This event offers insights into cannabis business operations and cultivation, customer engagement, and retail management. It also began offering insights on cultivating and selling hemp and products derived from hemp.</p><h3>Cannabiz Expo</h3><p>May 2019 also saw the most recent Cannabiz Expo in Sacramento, California. This was the second time the annual event was held. Instead of focusing on the plants and products like the Cannabis Cup, the Cannabiz Expo focuses on businesses in the marijuana industry. It is an opportunity for networking and connecting with legal experts, grow operations, dispensary owners, and anyone else in the industry. The next event will be in May 2020, also in Sacramento.</p><h3>CannaGrow Expo</h3><p>The most recent CannaGrow Expo was in August in Palm Springs, California, with the next one planned for November 2020, marking the tenth year of the expo. The expo dedicates itself to the science and art of growing cannabis. It prides itself on being open to everyone over 18 years old. It tries to appeal to cannabis growers, grow managers, grow enthusiasts, and extractors. There are dozens of cultivation-focused educational sessions, a vendor expo hall, and plenty of networking opportunities.</p><h3>HempFest Cannabis Expo</h3><p>HempFest Cannabis Expo is a Canadian event with multiple events in cities like Winnipeg, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Halifax, and Edmonton throughout the year. It is a chance for people to learn about and try products as well as an opportunity for businesses in the industry to connect. Upcoming events include October dates for HempFest CUP and Calgary and 2020 dates for Edmonton and Saskatoon.</p><h3>MJBizCon</h3><p>MJBizCon is one of the biggest cannabis events, greatly appealing to marijuana businesses. There are more than a thousand exhibitors, networking events, and high-profile speakers. This convention is more expensive to attend than other events, but those in the business agree that it is worth it. The next event is in September in Toronto, with others planned for September and October in Bogota, and December in Las Vegas. There will also be at least three events in 2020, including the MJBizCon NEXT, MJBizDaily’s European Cannabis Symposium, and The Hemp Industry Daily Conference.</p><h3>Some Events Include Awards</h3><p>Some of these other cannabis events also include awards and competitions. MJBizCon, for example, honors companies and individuals that have strong market influence or success, or have made significant advancements in the industry.</p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>The Cannabis Cup was created in 1988 as a way to honor those who participate in the cannabis industry while also spreading education. The event began in Amsterdam and now occurs in multiple cities throughout the world, still going strong. While the Cannabis Cup is an important event in the cannabis industry, it is far from the only one.</p>

You may have heard of the Cannabis Cup, which is a major event in the world of
marijuana. The Cannabis Cup offers prestigious rewards and is a big event, where
the best of the best in the industry get to show off.

FOUNDING THE CUP
Steven Hager founded the Cannabis Cup in 1988, also known as the “High Times”
Cannabis Cup. He created the Cup as a way for product manufacturers and
cultivators of cannabis to show off their products. It also gives them a chance
to compete to earn titles and status.

IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING
From the start, the Cannabis Cup has honored every single step in the process of
producing and using cannabis. There is judging for plants, final products, and
accessories. You can find a range of products related to marijuana during the
expo, as well as various businesses that interact with cannabis in some way.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
To participate in the Cannabis Cup, manufacturers and cultivators must submit
their products for independent testing. This verifies their potencies for both
THC and CBD.

EDUCATIONAL
In addition to showcasing cannabis and cannabis-related products, the Cannabis
Cup also provides educational seminars. These workshops and seminars are perfect
for spreading knowledge about cannabis to the public. Topics include everything
from uses to history to growing.

JUDGING
No competition would be complete without judging, and the Cannabis Cup features
judging for multiple categories. The event organizers gather a group of expert
judges that come from various locations around the world. This diversity
eliminates bias and provides multiple perspectives during the judging.

CATEGORIES
Some of the most popular categories of the Cannabis Cup include Best Sativa,
Best Indica, Best Hybrid, Best Imported Hash, Best Nederhash, Best Hash, Best
New Product, Best Glass, and Best Booth. Some categories encourage the attendees
to vote on the winner, including those for Best Glass, Best Booth, and Best
Products.

LOCATION
The first Cannabis Cup took place in Amsterdam, a city known for its openness to
marijuana. Over the years, nearly every single annual Cannabis Cup occurred in
Amsterdam, the last of which was in 2014. After27 years of hosting the Cannabis
Cup, a decision to switch locations was made due to a combination of factors.
Those concerns included uncertainty regarding the future of cannabis laws in the
country and the improved climate towards cannabis in other areas of the world.

As cannabis spreads in legality, other cities have also started holding their
version of the Cannabis Cup. Many of these events focus on medical cannabis
instead of or in addition to recreational cannabis.

Some of the current Cannabis Cups that you may see include those held in
Southern and Northern California, Jamaica, Las Vegas, Colorado, Rhode Island,
Portland, and the U.S. Midwest.

VARIATIONS ACROSS LOCATIONS
The first Cannabis Cup to take place in the United States was in 2010. The “High
Times” Medical Cannabis Cup was created to celebrate states with legal medical
marijuana. It provides the expected activities and products, but the focus is
all on medical marijuana.

The U.S. Cannabis Cup is for those states that legalized recreational use of
marijuana. It includes very similar events to those in the main Cannabis Cup in
Amsterdam. In other words, judges give out trophies for various categories after
testing strains, and attendees vote for some categories.

THE FILM
You can experience the Cannabis Cup without attending thanks to DVDs made to
document the events. Following the 2003 festival, producers made “High Times
Presents: The Cannabis Cup.” During the summer of 2008, there was a film of the
previous year’s event, which marked the 20th anniversary. That particular
Cannabis Cup was hosted by Redman and Tommy Chong.

THE 2010 AMSTERDAM CANNABIS CUP POLICE RAID
In 2010, police raided the location of the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup for the first
time. This experience did not end well and contributed to the location of the
Cannabis Cup changing after 2014.

The raid was incredibly controversial and followed conservatives coming into
power in the Netherlands that year. Those conservatives had already closed some
of the country’s coffee shops, venues known for their cannabis in addition to
coffee.

At the time of the event, most of the information regarding the raid came from
tweets. The police told the authorities that they had seen booths giving out
cannabis, which was against the rules. Based on that, they shut the event down
and made everyone leave except the exhibitors.

Following the drama, one of the “High Times” attorneys released a statement.
According to David Holland, the problem came down to a permit misunderstanding.
No one was arrested, and the attendees were never in any danger of being
arrested or otherwise harmed. According to him, the police were only ensuring
that no vendor gave out more cannabis than allowed. The Opium Law required that
all vendors be within a 500-gram limit at the venue, and only one was slightly
over.

The police, organizers of the Cannabis Cup, and the vendors worked everything
out amicably. The event continued the next day. Even so, the police presence
brought a stigma and negative media attention to the event.

A LOOK AT PAST WINNERS
Many of the previous winners of the Cannabis Cup are still in business today,
doing very well for themselves. If you look at the past winners of the Cup, you
will also notice some repeat winners, showing which companies consistently
produce quality products. Here are just a few of the winners over the years:

1st Cannabis Cup in 1988Skunk #1 – Cultivator’s Choice2nd Cannabis Cup in 1989
Early Pearly/Skunk #1 and Northern Lights #5/Haze – Seed Bank, Snocap – David
Swenson3rd Cannabis Cup in 1990Northern Lights #5 – Seed Bank4th Cannabis Cup in
1991Skunk – Free City5th Cannabis Cup in 1992Haze and Skunk #1 – Homegrown
Fantasy6th Cannabis Cup in 1993Haze and Northern Lights #5 – Sensi Seed Bank7th
Cannabis Cup in 1994Jack Herer – Sensi Seed Bank8th Cannabis Cup in 1995White
Widow – Green House9th Cannabis Cup in 1996White Russian – De Dampkring10th
Cannabis Cup in 1997Peace Maker – De DampkringThe most recent Cannabis Cup in
Amsterdam was in 2014. First-place winners at that event included:

Best Coffeeshop StrainCookies Kush – Barney’s CoffeeshopBest Sativa by a Seed
CompanyTangie Crockett’s Cut – Crockett Family FarmsBest Indica by a Seed
CompanyColorado Bubba – The Vault GeneticsBest Hybrid by a Seed CompanyLarry OG
– The Vault GeneticsBest Import Hash by a CoffeeshopSuper Lemon Haze Cream – The
Green HouseBest Import Hash by a Seed CompanySuper Lemon OG Concentrate – Loud
Pack Extractions & Greenwolf, LABest Nederhash by a CoffeeshopBarney’s
Coffeeshop – Cookies Ice-Cream * Best Nederhash by a Seed Company

The Kong 73 Non-Solvent Hash – The Vault GeneticsHighest CBD – ConcentratesCBD
Simple: CannaVestHighest CBD – FlowersCBD Rene by House of the Great Gardener
Best ProductThe Loud Seeds Gift BagBest GlassRoor – SublimatorLooking at the
winners from the 2014 Amsterdam Cannabis Cup gives you a good idea of how much
the various categories have expanded over the years. There were a dozen
categories, each with honors for first, second, and third place. Only two of
these categories, the highest CBDs, only had a single winner. This shows that
the Cannabis Cup was sizable enough to attract enough vendors to justify
requiring so many winners and categories. It also indicates enough diversity in
products and offerings. After all, the Cannabis Cup did not give honor to every
vendor, so offering 36 titles shows significant participation.

The most recent Cannabis Cup event with results listed on the official website
is the So-Cal 2018 event. Categories for that event included:

 * Best Indica Flower
 * Best Hybrid Flower
 * Best Sativa Flower
 * Best Indica Concentrate
 * Best Hybrid Concentrate
 * Best Sativa Concentrate
 * Best Non-Solvent Hash
 * Best Edible
 * Best Topical
 * Best CBD Flower
 * Best CBD Concentrate
 * Best Medically Infused Product
 * Best Vape Pen Cartridges
 * Best Preroll
 * Best CBD Edibles
 * Best CBD Cartridges
 * Best Booth
 * Best Product
 * Best Glass
 * Best Vape Pen

The wide range of categories, once again most with winners for first, second,
and third places, indicates a high level of participation.

THE COUNTERCULTURE HALL OF FAME
In addition to the Cannabis Cup, there are other cannabis-related events and
honors throughout the world. The Counterculture Hall of Fame is designed to
honor those who influenced the shaping of the cannabis industry. This Hall of
Fame began in 1997. Bob Marley was among the first to be inducted, with his
induction occurring that same year. In 2012, Steve Hager was inducted. Other
inductees include Louis Armstrong, Peter Tosh, Tommy Chong, William S.
Burroughs, Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan, Cheech Marin, Tom Forcade,
Coke La Rock, Jack Herer, John Grigs, Ben Dronkers, Alexander Shulgin, and Ann
Shulgin.

OTHER CANNABIS EVENTS
It should come as no surprise that the Cannabis Cup is not the only major
marijuana event. There are various events around the world throughout the year,
with a focus on countries with more marijuana-friendly laws.

CANNABIS BUSINESS SUMMIT AND EXPO
The next of these annual events will be in June 2020 in San Francisco. It is a
business-to-business event that provides commerce and education to empower the
industry. The National Cannabis Industry Association hosts this event

CANNABIS CONFERENCE
This year’s Cannabis Conference was in April in Las Vegas, but you can already
get a super early bird ticket for the next year’s event in April 2020, also in
Las Vegas. This event offers insights into cannabis business operations and
cultivation, customer engagement, and retail management. It also began offering
insights on cultivating and selling hemp and products derived from hemp.

CANNABIZ EXPO
May 2019 also saw the most recent Cannabiz Expo in Sacramento, California. This
was the second time the annual event was held. Instead of focusing on the plants
and products like the Cannabis Cup, the Cannabiz Expo focuses on businesses in
the marijuana industry. It is an opportunity for networking and connecting with
legal experts, grow operations, dispensary owners, and anyone else in the
industry. The next event will be in May 2020, also in Sacramento.

CANNAGROW EXPO
The most recent CannaGrow Expo was in August in Palm Springs, California, with
the next one planned for November 2020, marking the tenth year of the expo. The
expo dedicates itself to the science and art of growing cannabis. It prides
itself on being open to everyone over 18 years old. It tries to appeal to
cannabis growers, grow managers, grow enthusiasts, and extractors. There are
dozens of cultivation-focused educational sessions, a vendor expo hall, and
plenty of networking opportunities.

HEMPFEST CANNABIS EXPO
HempFest Cannabis Expo is a Canadian event with multiple events in cities like
Winnipeg, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Halifax, and Edmonton throughout the
year. It is a chance for people to learn about and try products as well as an
opportunity for businesses in the industry to connect. Upcoming events include
October dates for HempFest CUP and Calgary and 2020 dates for Edmonton and
Saskatoon.

MJBIZCON
MJBizCon is one of the biggest cannabis events, greatly appealing to marijuana
businesses. There are more than a thousand exhibitors, networking events, and
high-profile speakers. This convention is more expensive to attend than other
events, but those in the business agree that it is worth it. The next event is
in September in Toronto, with others planned for September and October in
Bogota, and December in Las Vegas. There will also be at least three events in
2020, including the MJBizCon NEXT, MJBizDaily’s European Cannabis Symposium, and
The Hemp Industry Daily Conference.

SOME EVENTS INCLUDE AWARDS
Some of these other cannabis events also include awards and competitions.
MJBizCon, for example, honors companies and individuals that have strong market
influence or success, or have made significant advancements in the industry.

CONCLUSION
The Cannabis Cup was created in 1988 as a way to honor those who participate in
the cannabis industry while also spreading education. The event began in
Amsterdam and now occurs in multiple cities throughout the world, still going
strong. While the Cannabis Cup is an important event in the cannabis industry,
it is far from the only one.

History of the Cannabis Cup

A household name amongst the cannabis community; find out how this festival started and some of the cannabis cup winners

<p>THC is the main psychoactive component and one of the cannabinoids found in cannabis. But you may not realize that there are various types of THC. Take a closer look at delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC to see how they are similar and different.</p><h2>Understanding Delta-9-THC</h2><p>Most people who only know about a handful of the cannabinoids found in cannabis will be aware of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, abbreviated as delta-9-THC. When most people use the term THC, this is the specific cannabinoid they mean.</p><h2>Understanding Delta-8-THC</h2><p>Delta-8-THC is an analog of THC that has neuroprotective, analgesic, appetite-stimulating, anxiolytic, and antiemetic properties. Most importantly, it has a reduced psychotropic potency compared to delta-9-THC.</p><p>There are our major cannabinoids in dried cannabis, including both delta-9-THC and delta-8-THC. Delta-8-THC, however, has very low concentrations, typically around 0.01 percent, in the dried flower.</p><h2>Main Differences</h2><p>Compared to delta-9-THC, delta-8-THC only has a few atomic bonds that are different. Although less strong, it is still potent and offers a “high.” The effects also tend to be less sedative. It is also important to note that concentrations of delta-8-THC in cannabis are much smaller than those of delta-9-THC.</p><h2>Comparing Potency</h2><p>Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are psychoactive, but delta-9-THC is slightly more psychoactive. Research agrees that comparing the strength of delta-8-THC to delta-9-THC in terms of potency would give you a 2-3 ratio. This makes delta-8-THC more potent than THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin). THCV is about 25 percent as potent as THC and gives the energetic “high” to certain strains.</p><h2>Comparing Structure</h2><p>Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC have the same number of atoms in their molecular structure. The difference is where the double bond is positioned on the molecule, with “delta” indicating the location of that double bond.</p><h2>Comparing Landing Sites</h2><p>If you look at where delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC end up in the body, you will not spot many differences. Both have the same primary landing site, which is CB1 or cannabinoid receptor 1. This receptor is responsible for sleep, pain, movement, mood, and other functions.</p><p>The difference comes from the fact that delta-8-THC can also connect to CB2 or cannabinoid receptor 2. CB2 is part of the immune system’s communication.</p><h2>Comparing Reactions and Effects</h2><p>Using delta-8-THC or delta-9-THC will give you similar reactions, including the psychoactive effects, pain relief, and being relaxed. The difference is that the slightly reduced potency of delta-8-THC tends to make users feel more clear-headed and lucid. It also tends to have more of an energetic feel to it than delta-9-THC.</p><p>Most people who use delta-8-THC also report that they do not notice a loss of focus or productivity when using it. By contrast, a loss of productivity or focus is common with delta-9-THC users.</p><p>You will hear descriptions of people who have used both types of THC. They indicated that delta-8-THC gave them a less impaired “high” and that they were clear-headed, engaged, and without anxiety or fogginess.</p><h2>Research on Delta-8-THC</h2><p>Some studies in rodents indicate that delta-8-THC increases acetylcholine. This is a brain chemical responsible for memory and learning. Experts believe that acetylcholine deficiencies contribute to cognitive and memory issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease. As such, delta-8-THC may eventually provide a treatment or prevention strategy for these types of conditions.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1159836" target="_blank">A 1975 study</a> explored the impact of delta-8-THC on rats with cancer. They discovered that the cannabinoid shrank the tumor size. That same study also showed dose-dependent reductions in tumor growth and size from delta-9-THC, a decrease in tumor size from CBN, and no changes from CBD. In other words, delta-9-THC reduced growth while delta-8-THC not only reduced growth but also shrank the tumors.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7776837" target="_blank">A 1995 study</a> in Jerusalem involved giving kids between ages 3-13 with hematologic cancers delta-8-THC. They had previously received different treatments for their disease. Before and after chemo, the kids received the delta-8-THC treatments, which successfully prevented nausea and made side effects negligible. This shows the promise of delta-8-THC, even though the study is now old and had a small sample size of just eight patients. The research did repeat the experiment for 480 treatments, with a 100-percent effective rate.</p><h2>Delta-8-THC May Help Hangovers</h2><p>Some people claim that using delta-8-THC could help them overcome hangovers, with some clinical science supporting this claim. The ability of delta-8-THC to help with hangovers likely comes from its combined ability to provide energy and reduce nausea. Because of its slightly reduced potency compared to delta-9-THC, using it for hangovers can leave you clear-headed.</p><h2>Extracts of Both Exist</h2><p>Most of the THC extracts that you find on the market today will feature delta-9-THC. Unless the extract specifies otherwise, you should always assume that the THC within it is delta-9-THC.</p><p>However, some companies are creating extracts or distillates of delta-8-THC. This is growing in popularity as a way to get the same benefits of delta-9-THC extracts but with reduced psychoactive effects.</p><h3>Oleum’s Delta-8-THC Distillate</h3><p>One of the companies offering a delta-8-THC extract is Oleum. This company makes the product via thin-film distillation, which is fractional distillation. The process isolates delta-8-THC by controlling scientific equipment, vacuums, and temperature. It developed a process that lets its team convert delta-9-THC into delta-8-THC. The process also lets it isolate and purify cannabinoids by getting rid of undesirable compounds, like impurities and solvents.</p><p>The unique method used by Oleum lets it create a much more concentrated delta-8-THC product than other available products. Most of the dried cannabis flower you come across will have less than 1 percent delta-8-THC. As such, companies that want to create a higher concentration need to convert, isolate, extract, and refine the dried cannabis flower. In the case of Oleum’s AquaTek D8 Distillate, the product contains 58 percent delta-8-THC. It also has 7.9 percent delta-9-THC and 0.35 percent CBD.</p><p>The company does not include any additives or preservatives in this product. Instead, the ratios come about naturally based on the starting material and the processes that the dried cannabis undergoes. The company also keeps each distillation specific to a particular strain. This lets it record the resulting concentrations and profiles so it can create consistent products in the future.</p><h3>Evolab’s Vaporized Delta-8-THC</h3><p>Another one of the many companies offering delta-8-THC products is Evolab. Those who use its product report slightly reduced psychoactive effects as well as having more energy compared with vaporizing delta-9-THC. According to Ecolab, delta-8-THC is more upbeat, productive, and energetic than delta-9-THC.</p><h3>Other Products</h3><p>A quick online search will show you numerous other products that focus on delta-8-THC. Just some of the other companies offering these products include Empire Experience, Marley Naturals, and C&amp;D Farms. More are likely to keep arising.</p><h2>Converting Delta-9-THC to Delta-8-THC</h2><p>One of the common themes among companies that offer products with delta-8-THC is that they will convert some of the delta-9-THC in cannabis into delta-8. Without this step, the concentrations of delta-8-THC would be too low.</p><h3>Spinning Band Distillation System</h3><p>The most common method of converting delta-9-THC to delta-8-THC involves using a spinning band distillation system. You start by extracting and winterizing crude cannabis oil. Combine this with 4 percent acidic alumina silicate. You then distill the cannabis oil, collecting the resulting THC distillate as normal. The combination of the boiling heat flask with the acidic alumina silicate will cause a change to the THC’s molecular structure. This method leads to a conversion rate of 90 to 95 percent at a minimum.</p><h3>Leave It to the Professionals</h3><p>Of course, you should not try converting delta-9-THC to delta-8-THC yourself. This is something that requires professional equipment and chemicals that could be dangerous if used incorrectly. You do not want to hurt yourself during the process. You also do not want to create a dangerous substance instead of delta-8-THC accidentally and then ingest it.</p><h2>Finding Each</h2><p>Even with the increase in the availability of delta-8-THC products, it is much easier to find delta-9-THC. This starts with the fact that delta-9-THC appears in cannabis in higher concentrations. That means that if you smoke marijuana or consume a cannabis edible, you will automatically ingest higher quantities of delta-9-THC than delta-8-THC.</p><p>From there, the number of product offerings of each is not equal. Since delta-9-THC appears in cannabis in higher concentrations, it is easier for manufacturers to create products that include it. Nearly any product on the market that says it contains THC will have delta-9-THC. By contrast, delta-8-THC requires special care to increase its concentration since cannabis plants naturally have such limited quantities.</p><p>Even so, the two are among the four major cannabinoids found in cannabis. This means that cannabis has them in higher concentrations than other cannabinoids. In other words, simply smoking cannabis will give you more delta-8-THC than it would most other cannabinoids, although you will still get more delta-9-THC.</p><h2>Why Delta-8-THC Matters</h2><p>Experts feel that delta-8-THC has a great deal of potential. It provides similar benefits to delta-9-THC, such as pain reduction and nausea relief, but is more stable and efficient. The reduction in the potency of psychoactive effects can also make it useful in the future, especially in applications when people do not want the psychoactive components.</p><p>The main reason that delta-8-THC is so important is its potential benefits. Experts believe that like delta-9-THC, it can stimulate appetite, relieve pain, enhance memory, protect the brain from inflammation and stress, reduce anxiety related to stress, and help with vomiting and nausea.</p><p>Experts believe that delta-8-THC could help people with inflammatory brain conditions, nausea, mood-related problems, loss of appetite, cancer, anxiety, and dementia, among other conditions.</p><h3>Entourage Effect</h3><p>The reduced potency also makes it a strong choice for those who cannot get full symptom relief with just CBD and need a small quantity of THC to help. This benefit plays off the entourage effect, which is how CBD combined with THC can frequently produce better outcomes than just CBD alone. That applies to everything from pain relief to nausea.</p><p>Some people will even notice that adding delta-8-THC to delta-9-THC produces the entourage effect. This would let you spend less on the cannabis products you take or take smaller quantities while getting enhanced effects.</p><h3>Offering an Alternative</h3><p>The best thing about delta-8-THC is that it may offer an alternative to delta-9-THC for those who react poorly for some reason. Although the difference in potency is slight, this may be enough to make delta-8-THC a possibility without negative reactions for those who have poor reactions to delta-9-THC.</p><h2>The Future of Delta-8-THC</h2><p>Unfortunately, cannabis’s Schedule I classification makes it nearly impossible to research delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC in the United States. This means that experts cannot conduct clinical studies with humans, holding back the advances in using these types of THC.</p><h2>What About Other Delta-THCs?</h2><p>Considering that both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC have products now available and ongoing research, it is natural to wonder about other delta-THCs. Scientists know that delta-1-THC, delta-2-THC, etc. exist but they are not that important for humans. This comes down to the location where those compounds’ chemical bonds occur. It is chemically impossible for humans to be affected by these other delta-THCs. As such, you should not expect to hear about them anytime soon.</p><h2>Summary</h2><p>Delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are incredibly similar, with slight differences in chemical structure. When most people discuss the THC found in cannabis, they refer to delta-9-THC. This is the better-known type of THC, and it is present in larger concentrations in cannabis. Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are present in higher quantities than most other cannabinoids, as both are considered in the four major cannabinoids. Even so, there is a vast difference in the quantities present.</p><p>While delta-9-THC is typically present in cannabis in full percentages, delta-8-THC is only present in fractions of a percent. This makes it harder to find delta-8-THC products as manufacturers must increase the concentration. They achieve this through various methods, including converting delta-9-THC to delta-8-THC.</p><p>Either of these two forms of THC produces similar benefits, like pain relief and a “high,” but in different ways. Delta-8-THC is a bit less potent and produces a “high” that lets you keep your clear head.</p><p>The bottom line is that delta-8-THC is still less known but holds a great deal of promise in treating a range of conditions.&nbsp;</p>

THC is the main psychoactive component and one of the cannabinoids found in
cannabis. But you may not realize that there are various types of THC. Take a
closer look at delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC to see how they are similar and
different.

UNDERSTANDING DELTA-9-THC
Most people who only know about a handful of the cannabinoids found in cannabis
will be aware of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, abbreviated as delta-9-THC. When
most people use the term THC, this is the specific cannabinoid they mean.

UNDERSTANDING DELTA-8-THC
Delta-8-THC is an analog of THC that has neuroprotective, analgesic,
appetite-stimulating, anxiolytic, and antiemetic properties. Most importantly,
it has a reduced psychotropic potency compared to delta-9-THC.

There are our major cannabinoids in dried cannabis, including both delta-9-THC
and delta-8-THC. Delta-8-THC, however, has very low concentrations, typically
around 0.01 percent, in the dried flower.

MAIN DIFFERENCES
Compared to delta-9-THC, delta-8-THC only has a few atomic bonds that are
different. Although less strong, it is still potent and offers a “high.” The
effects also tend to be less sedative. It is also important to note that
concentrations of delta-8-THC in cannabis are much smaller than those of
delta-9-THC.

COMPARING POTENCY
Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are psychoactive, but delta-9-THC is slightly
more psychoactive. Research agrees that comparing the strength of delta-8-THC to
delta-9-THC in terms of potency would give you a 2-3 ratio. This makes
delta-8-THC more potent than THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin). THCV is about 25
percent as potent as THC and gives the energetic “high” to certain strains.

COMPARING STRUCTURE
Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC have the same number of atoms in their
molecular structure. The difference is where the double bond is positioned on
the molecule, with “delta” indicating the location of that double bond.

COMPARING LANDING SITES
If you look at where delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC end up in the body, you will
not spot many differences. Both have the same primary landing site, which is CB1
or cannabinoid receptor 1. This receptor is responsible for sleep, pain,
movement, mood, and other functions.

The difference comes from the fact that delta-8-THC can also connect to CB2 or
cannabinoid receptor 2. CB2 is part of the immune system’s communication.

COMPARING REACTIONS AND EFFECTS
Using delta-8-THC or delta-9-THC will give you similar reactions, including the
psychoactive effects, pain relief, and being relaxed. The difference is that the
slightly reduced potency of delta-8-THC tends to make users feel more
clear-headed and lucid. It also tends to have more of an energetic feel to it
than delta-9-THC.

Most people who use delta-8-THC also report that they do not notice a loss of
focus or productivity when using it. By contrast, a loss of productivity or
focus is common with delta-9-THC users.

You will hear descriptions of people who have used both types of THC. They
indicated that delta-8-THC gave them a less impaired “high” and that they were
clear-headed, engaged, and without anxiety or fogginess.

RESEARCH ON DELTA-8-THC
Some studies in rodents indicate that delta-8-THC increases acetylcholine. This
is a brain chemical responsible for memory and learning. Experts believe that
acetylcholine deficiencies contribute to cognitive and memory issues, such as
Alzheimer’s disease. As such, delta-8-THC may eventually provide a treatment or
prevention strategy for these types of conditions.

A 1975 study [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1159836] explored the impact
of delta-8-THC on rats with cancer. They discovered that the cannabinoid shrank
the tumor size. That same study also showed dose-dependent reductions in tumor
growth and size from delta-9-THC, a decrease in tumor size from CBN, and no
changes from CBD. In other words, delta-9-THC reduced growth while delta-8-THC
not only reduced growth but also shrank the tumors.

A 1995 study [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7776837] in Jerusalem involved
giving kids between ages 3-13 with hematologic cancers delta-8-THC. They had
previously received different treatments for their disease. Before and after
chemo, the kids received the delta-8-THC treatments, which successfully
prevented nausea and made side effects negligible. This shows the promise of
delta-8-THC, even though the study is now old and had a small sample size of
just eight patients. The research did repeat the experiment for 480 treatments,
with a 100-percent effective rate.

DELTA-8-THC MAY HELP HANGOVERS
Some people claim that using delta-8-THC could help them overcome hangovers,
with some clinical science supporting this claim. The ability of delta-8-THC to
help with hangovers likely comes from its combined ability to provide energy and
reduce nausea. Because of its slightly reduced potency compared to delta-9-THC,
using it for hangovers can leave you clear-headed.

EXTRACTS OF BOTH EXIST
Most of the THC extracts that you find on the market today will feature
delta-9-THC. Unless the extract specifies otherwise, you should always assume
that the THC within it is delta-9-THC.

However, some companies are creating extracts or distillates of delta-8-THC.
This is growing in popularity as a way to get the same benefits of delta-9-THC
extracts but with reduced psychoactive effects.

OLEUM’S DELTA-8-THC DISTILLATE
One of the companies offering a delta-8-THC extract is Oleum. This company makes
the product via thin-film distillation, which is fractional distillation. The
process isolates delta-8-THC by controlling scientific equipment, vacuums, and
temperature. It developed a process that lets its team convert delta-9-THC into
delta-8-THC. The process also lets it isolate and purify cannabinoids by getting
rid of undesirable compounds, like impurities and solvents.

The unique method used by Oleum lets it create a much more concentrated
delta-8-THC product than other available products. Most of the dried cannabis
flower you come across will have less than 1 percent delta-8-THC. As such,
companies that want to create a higher concentration need to convert, isolate,
extract, and refine the dried cannabis flower. In the case of Oleum’s AquaTek D8
Distillate, the product contains 58 percent delta-8-THC. It also has 7.9 percent
delta-9-THC and 0.35 percent CBD.

The company does not include any additives or preservatives in this product.
Instead, the ratios come about naturally based on the starting material and the
processes that the dried cannabis undergoes. The company also keeps each
distillation specific to a particular strain. This lets it record the resulting
concentrations and profiles so it can create consistent products in the future.

EVOLAB’S VAPORIZED DELTA-8-THC
Another one of the many companies offering delta-8-THC products is Evolab. Those
who use its product report slightly reduced psychoactive effects as well as
having more energy compared with vaporizing delta-9-THC. According to Ecolab,
delta-8-THC is more upbeat, productive, and energetic than delta-9-THC.

OTHER PRODUCTS
A quick online search will show you numerous other products that focus on
delta-8-THC. Just some of the other companies offering these products include
Empire Experience, Marley Naturals, and C&D Farms. More are likely to keep
arising.

CONVERTING DELTA-9-THC TO DELTA-8-THC
One of the common themes among companies that offer products with delta-8-THC is
that they will convert some of the delta-9-THC in cannabis into delta-8. Without
this step, the concentrations of delta-8-THC would be too low.

SPINNING BAND DISTILLATION SYSTEM
The most common method of converting delta-9-THC to delta-8-THC involves using a
spinning band distillation system. You start by extracting and winterizing crude
cannabis oil. Combine this with 4 percent acidic alumina silicate. You then
distill the cannabis oil, collecting the resulting THC distillate as normal. The
combination of the boiling heat flask with the acidic alumina silicate will
cause a change to the THC’s molecular structure. This method leads to a
conversion rate of 90 to 95 percent at a minimum.

LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS
Of course, you should not try converting delta-9-THC to delta-8-THC yourself.
This is something that requires professional equipment and chemicals that could
be dangerous if used incorrectly. You do not want to hurt yourself during the
process. You also do not want to create a dangerous substance instead of
delta-8-THC accidentally and then ingest it.

FINDING EACH
Even with the increase in the availability of delta-8-THC products, it is much
easier to find delta-9-THC. This starts with the fact that delta-9-THC appears
in cannabis in higher concentrations. That means that if you smoke marijuana or
consume a cannabis edible, you will automatically ingest higher quantities of
delta-9-THC than delta-8-THC.

From there, the number of product offerings of each is not equal. Since
delta-9-THC appears in cannabis in higher concentrations, it is easier for
manufacturers to create products that include it. Nearly any product on the
market that says it contains THC will have delta-9-THC. By contrast, delta-8-THC
requires special care to increase its concentration since cannabis plants
naturally have such limited quantities.

Even so, the two are among the four major cannabinoids found in cannabis. This
means that cannabis has them in higher concentrations than other cannabinoids.
In other words, simply smoking cannabis will give you more delta-8-THC than it
would most other cannabinoids, although you will still get more delta-9-THC.

WHY DELTA-8-THC MATTERS
Experts feel that delta-8-THC has a great deal of potential. It provides similar
benefits to delta-9-THC, such as pain reduction and nausea relief, but is more
stable and efficient. The reduction in the potency of psychoactive effects can
also make it useful in the future, especially in applications when people do not
want the psychoactive components.

The main reason that delta-8-THC is so important is its potential benefits.
Experts believe that like delta-9-THC, it can stimulate appetite, relieve pain,
enhance memory, protect the brain from inflammation and stress, reduce anxiety
related to stress, and help with vomiting and nausea.

Experts believe that delta-8-THC could help people with inflammatory brain
conditions, nausea, mood-related problems, loss of appetite, cancer, anxiety,
and dementia, among other conditions.

ENTOURAGE EFFECT
The reduced potency also makes it a strong choice for those who cannot get full
symptom relief with just CBD and need a small quantity of THC to help. This
benefit plays off the entourage effect, which is how CBD combined with THC can
frequently produce better outcomes than just CBD alone. That applies to
everything from pain relief to nausea.

Some people will even notice that adding delta-8-THC to delta-9-THC produces the
entourage effect. This would let you spend less on the cannabis products you
take or take smaller quantities while getting enhanced effects.

OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE
The best thing about delta-8-THC is that it may offer an alternative to
delta-9-THC for those who react poorly for some reason. Although the difference
in potency is slight, this may be enough to make delta-8-THC a possibility
without negative reactions for those who have poor reactions to delta-9-THC.

THE FUTURE OF DELTA-8-THC
Unfortunately, cannabis’s Schedule I classification makes it nearly impossible
to research delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC in the United States. This means that
experts cannot conduct clinical studies with humans, holding back the advances
in using these types of THC.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER DELTA-THCS?
Considering that both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC have products now available
and ongoing research, it is natural to wonder about other delta-THCs. Scientists
know that delta-1-THC, delta-2-THC, etc. exist but they are not that important
for humans. This comes down to the location where those compounds’ chemical
bonds occur. It is chemically impossible for humans to be affected by these
other delta-THCs. As such, you should not expect to hear about them anytime
soon.

SUMMARY
Delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are incredibly similar, with slight differences in
chemical structure. When most people discuss the THC found in cannabis, they
refer to delta-9-THC. This is the better-known type of THC, and it is present in
larger concentrations in cannabis. Both delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are present
in higher quantities than most other cannabinoids, as both are considered in the
four major cannabinoids. Even so, there is a vast difference in the quantities
present.

While delta-9-THC is typically present in cannabis in full percentages,
delta-8-THC is only present in fractions of a percent. This makes it harder to
find delta-8-THC products as manufacturers must increase the concentration. They
achieve this through various methods, including converting delta-9-THC to
delta-8-THC.

Either of these two forms of THC produces similar benefits, like pain relief and
a “high,” but in different ways. Delta-8-THC is a bit less potent and produces a
“high” that lets you keep your clear head.

The bottom line is that delta-8-THC is still less known but holds a great deal
of promise in treating a range of conditions.

Delta 8-THC Vs. Delta 9

Did you know there are various types of THC? Find out the differences between Delta 8 vs Delta 9 THC.

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A blend of the fragrant strains Lavender and Appalachia originally created by
Bodhi Seeds, this indica-dominant bud is calming and thoroughly uplifting.

Due to this strain's genetics, Wookie has a bountifully earthy and skunky
fragrance, and this strain's similar flavor is brightened by a burst of sweet,
tangy berries.

Wookie's high tends to be hard-hitting, and it often leaves those who use it in
a state of relaxed, giggly bliss.

Each of Wookie's bulbous sea green buds is long and lumpy, and coating the
surface of these buds is a glaze of shimmering trichomes and in between each
calyx neon orange pistils.

<p>A blend of the fragrant strains Lavender and Appalachia originally created by Bodhi Seeds, this indica-dominant bud is calming and thoroughly uplifting.</p><p>Due to this strain's genetics, Wookie has a bountifully earthy and skunky fragrance, and this strain's similar flavor is brightened by a burst of sweet, tangy berries.</p><p>Wookie's high tends to be hard-hitting, and it often leaves those who use it in a state of relaxed, giggly bliss.</p><p>Each of Wookie's bulbous sea green buds is long and lumpy, and coating the surface of these buds is a glaze of shimmering trichomes and in between each calyx neon orange pistils.</p>

Wookie

A fuzzy, fragrant, indica-dominant child of Appalachia and Lavender

Named to honor the famed scientist Nikola Tesla, Tesla is a primarily sativa
cannabis strain derived from Gobstopper and Harle-Tsu.

Tesla is naturally rich in CBD, though the exact potency of this strain varies
depending on the quality of care it received during its growth.

Often, this strain's attractive deep green buds have a jasmine-like floral
scent, and when smoked Tesla takes on a sweet blueberry, strawberry, and spicy
pepper flavor.

Cannabis enthusiasts have noted that Tesla's high is mellow and uplifting and it
provides a focusing cerebral buzz to those who use it.

<p>Named to honor the famed scientist Nikola Tesla, Tesla is a primarily sativa cannabis strain derived from Gobstopper and Harle-Tsu.</p><p>Tesla is naturally rich in CBD, though the exact potency of this strain varies depending on the quality of care it received during its growth.</p><p>Often, this strain's attractive deep green buds have a jasmine-like floral scent, and when smoked Tesla takes on a sweet blueberry, strawberry, and spicy pepper flavor.</p><p>Cannabis enthusiasts have noted that Tesla's high is mellow and uplifting and it provides a focusing cerebral buzz to those who use it.</p>

Tesla

A mostly sativa CBD-rich blend of Harle-Tsu and Gobstopper

Supergirl is a heroic indica-dominant backcross of the big-budded cannabis
strain Skunk #1 that was created by esteemed breeders Nirvana Seeds.

Much like this strain's Skunk parentage, Supergirl has a super musky odor, but
the flavor of these buds combines subdued notes of coffee, sandalwood, and
spice.

The effects of Supergirl are superb, as she brings a soothing state of physical
and mental relaxation that is accompanied by a pleasantly uplifted cerebral
buzz.

Supergirl's buds have a light sea green color, and their cone-shaped flowers
tend to be decorated with auburn pistils and translucent, crystalline trichomes.

<p>Supergirl is a heroic indica-dominant backcross of the big-budded cannabis strain Skunk #1 that was created by esteemed breeders Nirvana Seeds.</p><p>Much like this strain's Skunk parentage, Supergirl has a super musky odor, but the flavor of these buds combines subdued notes of coffee, sandalwood, and spice.</p><p>The effects of Supergirl are superb, as she brings a soothing state of physical and mental relaxation that is accompanied by a pleasantly uplifted cerebral buzz.</p><p>Supergirl's buds have a light sea green color, and their cone-shaped flowers tend to be decorated with auburn pistils and translucent, crystalline trichomes.</p>

Supergirl

This Skunk #1 backcross provides super soothing effects

South Indian Indica is a term that refers to the huge variety of landrace indica
strains that naturally occur in Southern India.

Flowers of strains from Southern India are fluffy and a deep hue of mossy green,
though each of their cone-shaped calyxes is uniformly covered in a dew of
glittering pistils and furry red pistils.

South Indian Indica strains' effects tend to be relaxing with a tingly body
buzz, meanwhile bringing a euphoric and giggly head high.

<p>South Indian Indica is a term that refers to the huge variety of landrace indica strains that naturally occur in Southern India.</p><p>Flowers of strains from Southern India are fluffy and a deep hue of mossy green, though each of their cone-shaped calyxes is uniformly covered in a dew of glittering pistils and furry red pistils.</p><p>South Indian Indica strains' effects tend to be relaxing with a tingly body buzz, meanwhile bringing a euphoric and giggly head high.</p>

South Indian Indica

A name for the variety of indica strains native to Southern India

Sour Chocolate is an intriguing sativa-dominant cannabis strain best known for
the blissful and energetic high it delivers.

Expect flowers of this chocolatey strain to be fluffy, leafy, and a saturated
pine tree green hue, and each of Sour Chocolate's beautiful buds is covered in a
fur of auburn pistils and sparkling trichomes.

Some say that Sour Chocolate is derived from a cross of Chocolope and East Coast
Sour Diesel, and you can expect this strain to have a seductive coffee scent and
a rich chocolatey flavor.

Allegedly, the effects that Sour Chocolate provide are cerebrally uplifting,
euphoric, and bring a creative state of mind, but physically this strain can be
quite sedative.

<p>Sour Chocolate is an intriguing sativa-dominant cannabis strain best known for the blissful and energetic high it delivers.</p><p>Expect flowers of this chocolatey strain to be fluffy, leafy, and a saturated pine tree green hue, and each of Sour Chocolate's beautiful buds is covered in a fur of auburn pistils and sparkling trichomes.</p><p>Some say that Sour Chocolate is derived from a cross of Chocolope and East Coast Sour Diesel, and you can expect this strain to have a seductive coffee scent and a rich chocolatey flavor.</p><p>Allegedly, the effects that Sour Chocolate provide are cerebrally uplifting, euphoric, and bring a creative state of mind, but physically this strain can be quite sedative.&nbsp;</p>

Sour Chocolate

A mostly sativa cannabis strain with a chocolatey flavor and a blissful head high

B.O.G. Seeds created Sour Bubble, the indica-dominant child of the
bubblegum-flavored cannabis strain BOG Bubble.

Cannabis enthusiasts who have been lucky enough to try Sour Bubble report that
it produces an uplifting yet sedating high, which makes this strain well suited
for evening use.

Sour Bubble flowers tend to be a pale green color, though each calyx's surface
is completely obscured by a blanket of beautiful trichomes and deep red pistils.

You can generally expect Sour Bubble's buds to have an unignorable earthy
pungency, and when you smoke or vaporize this strain you might notice it has a
sweet yet sour bubblegum-like flavor.

<p>B.O.G. Seeds created Sour Bubble, the indica-dominant child of the bubblegum-flavored cannabis strain BOG Bubble.</p><p>Cannabis enthusiasts who have been lucky enough to try Sour Bubble report that it produces an uplifting yet sedating high, which makes this strain well suited for evening use.</p><p>Sour Bubble flowers tend to be a pale green color, though each calyx's surface is completely obscured by a blanket of beautiful trichomes and deep red pistils.</p><p>You can generally expect Sour Bubble's buds to have an unignorable earthy pungency, and when you smoke or vaporize this strain you might notice it has a sweet yet sour bubblegum-like flavor.</p>

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