Cannabis For Dummies

Kim Ronkin Casey has been a communications professional for more than 20 years and recently took a year-long leap into the world of cannabis as the communications manager for one of the leading dispensaries in North America. She now consults for companies in the industry on internal and external communications. Joe Kraynak is a professional writer who has contributed to numerous For Dummies books.

• Introduction 1About This Book 1Foolish Assumptions 2Icons Used in This Book 3Beyond the Book 4Where to Go from Here 4Part 1: Getting Started with Cannabis 5Chapter 1: Taking the Nickel Tour 7Exploring the Basics of Marijuana Consumption 8Considering medical use 8Looking into adult recreational use 10Acknowledging the potential drawbacks 10Knowing What Makes Cannabis So Special 11Recognizing the Diversity of Cannabis Strains 13Buying Cannabis 14Knowing where and where not to get it 14Understanding what you’re buying 15Avoiding rip-offs 16Exploring Different Consumption Methods 16Smoking or vaping 16Edibles 17Tinctures 17Topical or transdermal applications 18Getting Up to Speed on Cannabis Laws 18Being a Safe and Responsible User 19Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Production 20Growing cannabis 20Harvesting and curing cannabis 21Creating cannabis, extracts, concentrates and infused products 22Making Money in the Cannabis Industry 22Recognizing the challenges 23Getting a job in the industry 23Starting your own cannabis business 24Exploring ancillary business 25Investing in the industry 25Chapter 2: Brushing Up on Cannabis Anatomy and Chemistry 27Getting to Know the Plant from Top to Bottom 27Examining the structure of the two primary strains 28Checking out the buds and flowers 28Taking a peek at the seeds 29Combing through the trichomes 30Considering the lesser parts of the plant 31Taking a Crash Course in Cannabinoid Chemistry 32Assessing factors impacting individual effects 32Exploring the endocannabinoid system 33Getting high with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 35Feeling better with cannabidiol (CBD) without getting high 37Reaping the sedative effects of cannabinol (CBN) 37Exploring the potential health benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) 37Discovering the potential health benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) 38Using terpenes to anticipate effects 38Exploring Cannabis Concentrates and Extracts 39Concentrates 39Extracts 40Products made from concentrates and extracts 42Chapter 3: Steering Clear of Legal Trouble 45Knowing the Laws: Federal, State, Local and International 46Keeping abreast of U.S federal law and enforcement 46Getting up to speed on state laws 48Considering local laws too 51Knowing your employer’s rules 52Researching international laws 52Knowing Your Limits 54Age limits 54Purchase limits 55Grow limits 55Dosing limits 56Driving limits 56Consumption locations 56Your own personal consumption limits 57Avoiding Encounters with Law Enforcement 59Responding Appropriately in Encounters with Law Enforcement 60Taking Responsibility as a Parent 61Chapter 4: Tackling Cannabis Politics and Culture 63Checking the Nation’s Pulse 64Acknowledging the drivers of change 64Recognizing differences in attitudes about medical and recreational use 65Keeping pace with evolving attitudes 66Debunking Misconceptions of Cannabis and Users 66Examining Activism 67Tuning in to Cannabis Culture 69Part 2: Buying, Storing, and Using Cannabis 71Chapter 5: Buying and Storing Cannabis 73Evaluating Your Vendor Options: Where to Buy 74Buying from a dispensary 74Buying cannabis online or over the phone 75Checking out cannabis “gifting” businesses 77Steering clear of the black market 77Making Two Key Decisions 78Getting Quality Product 79Buy from a reputable dispensary and be willing to pay more 79Check for third party testing 79Stick with trusted strains and brands 80Read the label 80Inspect the goods 81Avoiding Common Cannabis Scams 83Storing Your Cannabis 84Chapter 6: Choosing and Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 85Choosing a Cannabis Dispensary 86Comparing medical and recreational dispensaries 86Finding a reliable and legal place to shop 89Comparing purchase/delivery/pickup options 92Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 95Knowing what to expect 95Sizing up the budtender 97Getting a Medical Marijuana Card 98Chapter 7: Consuming Cannabis 101Going Old School: Smoking or Vaping 102Smoking cannabis 102Vaping cannabis 110Dabbing 112Eating and Drinking Cannabis: Edibles 115Using Topical and Transdermal Products 117Using Cannabis Tinctures or Pills 118Taking Pharmaceutical Preparations 119Chapter 8: Using Cannabis Safely and Responsibly 121Recognizing the Health and Safety Risks 122Checking out undesirable transitory effects 122Looking ahead to potential long-term complications 123Making Dosing Decisions 124Defining your desired experience 125Considering the chemical composition of products 125Comparing methods of consumption 129Accounting for other medications or substances used 130Examining your body’s biochemistry 131Considering the environment or setting and your mood or mind-set 132Keeping Safety in Mind 132Using cannabis in moderation 133Making rational decisions 133Committing to no impaired driving 133Dealing with Overconsumption 134Distinguishing overconsumption from overdose 134Avoiding overconsumption 135Responding to overconsumption 135Considering Underage Development 136Part 3: Reaping the Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana 139Chapter 9: Using Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes 141Understanding the Current and Ongoing Status of Medical Marijuana 142Choosing Medical Marijuana Products 143Seeking Symptom Relief for Specific Conditions 145Acne 146Addiction 146Alzheimer’s 147Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 148Anxiety 149Appetite loss 149Arthritis 150Asthma 151Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 151Autism spectrum disorders 151Autoimmune disorders 152Bipolar disorder 153Cachexia (Wasting) 153Cancer 154Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) 155Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity 155Depression 156Diabetes 157Eating disorders 158Epilepsy 158Fibromyalgia 159Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 159Glaucoma 160Hepatitis C 161HIV/AIDS 161Huntington’s disease 162Inflammation 162Insomnia 163Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 163Lupus 164Menopause 165Migraines and headaches 166Multiple sclerosis (MS) 166Nausea and vomiting 167Pain 167Parkinson’s disease 168Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 168Restless legs syndrome 169Schizophrenia/psychosis 170Sexual dysfunction 170Skin conditions 171Sports medicine 172Tourette syndrome 172Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease 173Accounting for Potential Adverse Side Effects 174Chapter 10: Using Pot for Pets 175Recognizing the Potential Benefits of Cannabis Treatment 176Consulting Your Veterinarian First 177Treating Specific Conditions in Pets 178Anxiety 178Appetite loss 178Cancer 179Digestion issues 180Epilepsy/seizures 180Nausea/vomiting 181Pain 181Palliative care 181Tumors 181Noting the Potential Adverse Effects of Cannabis on Pets 182Administering Cannabis to Pets 182Deciding on a way to administer it 183Choosing an initial dose 183Monitoring your pet’s reaction 184Adjusting the dose 184Preventing and responding to overconsumption 185Obtaining Commercial Cannabinoid Products 185Preparing Your Own Concoctions 186Part 4: Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Cultivation, Post-Harvest, and Production 187Chapter 11: Growing Cannabis 189Wrapping Your Brain Around the Cannabis Growth Cycle 190Choosing a Cultivation Method 191Indoor 191Outdoor 192Hydroponics 193Soil 193Creating a Grow Room for Indoor Cultivation 194Tackling the initial setup 194Simulating the desired climate 195Focusing on air flow 195Setting up grow lights 198Deciding on a watering/fertilizing system 201Using a hydroponics system 202Keeping your grow room impeccably clean 204Preparing for Outdoor Cultivation 204Choosing a site 204Hardening off your plants 207Supporting and protecting your plants 207Prepping Your Soil or Other Grow Medium 208Planting Seeds or Cuttings 209Acquiring seeds or cuttings 209Germinating seeds 211Planting seedlings 212Cloning plants 212Transplanting 214Keeping Your Plants Healthy 214Ensuring proper temperature, humidity, and lighting 214Watering and fertilizing your plants 215Checking and adjusting the pH 216Battling common pests 216Preventing and treating common diseases 217Pruning your plants 218Training your plants to maximize yield 218Prepping Plants for Harvest 221Stop spraying the foliage 221Flush your grow medium 222Cultivating Cannabis in an Industrial Setting: Special Considerations 222Considering space locations and rules 222Considering the use of pesticides and nutrients 223Handling green waste 223Arranging third party testing 223Tracking plants from seed to sale 224Chapter 12: Harvesting and Post-Harvest 225Deciding When to Harvest: Timing is Everything! 226Keeping an eye on the trichomes 226Observing the pistils and stigmas 227Tracking leaf senescence 228Find out the strain’s expected time-to-harvest 228Harvesting Your Plants 228Weighing and Calculating Your Yield (Dry/Wet Weights) 229Determining the plant’s wet weight 229Weighing after bucking or shucking and maybe rough trimming 230Weighing green waste and wet bud 231Drying, Curing, and Trimming Flower Post-Harvest 232Drying your plant or buds 232Curing dried cannabis 236Trimming bud 238Storing your buds 239Packaging for commercial use 239Chapter 13: Making Concentrates and Marijuana Infused Products (MIPs) 241Grasping Concentrate Basics 242Exploring Different Extraction Methods 242Non-solvent extraction methods 243Solvent extraction methods 244Creating Your Own Concentrates 247Making kief (dry sift) 247Making dry sift hash 248Making bubble hash 248Making dry ice hash 250Making rosin 252Making charas 253Make your own cannabis butter 253Make your own tincture 256Cooking Up Edibles 257Preparing Tinctures, Lotions, and More 258Part 5: Getting Down to Business 259Chapter 14: Starting Your Own Cannabis Business 261Working with a Federal Schedule I Drug 262Choosing a Business Type 263Grower 264Retailer 264Manufacturer of infused products (MIP) 265Processed product brand 267Profiting from cannabis with an ancillary business 268Addressing Common Challenges 268Dealing with money issues 269Adhering to state and local laws 272Applying for licenses in other states 276Staffing for Success 278Filling key positions 279Providing the necessary training 281Getting your people certified: Badging 282Setting Up Shop 282Choosing a facility 282Establishing your supply chain 283Tackling transportation issues 283Acquiring the necessary equipment 284Creating a website/blog 286Building your point of sale (POS) system 287Maintaining a Positive Public Image 287Attending community hearings 288Handling public affairs 288Communicating with the press 288Catering to the customer 289Chapter 15: Finding Work in the Cannabis Industry 291Scoping Out Job Opportunities 292Grow master or grower 292Cultivation technician 292Trimmer 293Joint roller 293Cure associate 293Nutrient chemist 293Extractor 294Quality assurance manager 294Dispensary manager 294Budtender/sales associate 295Dispensary receptionist or cashier 295Packager 296Edibles chef 296Courier/delivery driver 296Buyer 297Sales representatives 297Compliance manager 298Communications director 298Human resources (HR) manager 299Trainers 299Public affairs administrator 300Laboratory worker 300Security manager or officer 300Accountant 301Marketing manager or team members 301Facilities manager 301Technology manager 302Exploring Jobs in Ancillary Industries and Professions 302Finding Employers 303Improving Your Odds of Getting Hired 304Brush up on cannabis culture and law 304Attend industry events 305Get your cannabis badge or state clearance 305Become a cannabis activist 306Chapter 16: Investing in Cannabis 307Sizing Up Current and Future Investment Opportunities 308Considering the current market 308Exploring publicly traded stock on the Canadian market 310Looking ahead to the future market 312Performing Your Due Diligence 312Seeking Private Investment Opportunities 313Considering Investments in Ancillary Businesses 314Investing in Cannabis Real Estate 314Part 6: The Part of Tens 317Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Growing More and Better Weed 319Choose the Right Strain 319Choose Top-Quality Seeds 321Use High-Quality Soil 321Upsize Your Containers 321Maximize Bud Production with Topping, Training, and Scrogging 322Use the Right Nutrients in the Right Amounts at the Right Times 323Get the Lighting Right 323Ensure Proper Ventilation and Circulation 324Be Patient Near Harvest Time 325Dry and Cure Your Weed Properly 325Chapter 18: Ten Tips to Enhance Your Cannabis Experience 327Choose Top-Quality Products 327Experiment with Different Strains 328Try Different Consumption Methods 328Try Hash and Other Concentrates 329Set the Mood 329Chill Your Bong 330Boost Your High with Certain Foods 330Exercise Regularly 331Break the Monotony 331Take a Tolerance Break 331Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Buying Cannabis 333Choose the Right Dispensary for You 333Find a Knowledgeable and Helpful Budtender 334Describe the Specific Effect You Desire 335Buy Legal Cannabis 335Visually Inspect the Product 336Smell It 336“Feel” It 337Taste It 337Ask About the Cultivation Method 338Compare Prices 338Appendix: Cannabis Recipes 339Index 361