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Types of Cannabis Products

Flowers

Commonly referred to as ‘buds’, the flowers of the cannabis plant are the most potent for medicinal properties. The leaves of the cannabis plant also contain some cannabinoids, but in much lower concentration. The flowers and leaves of the plant can be smoked, vaporized, or used to prepare edibles.

Concentrates (Hash)

Hash or Hashish is manufactured by separating the trichomes from the cannabis flowers, to create a concentrated dose of this specific part of the cannabis plant. (The trichomes are the reddish ‘hairs’ that you see on dried cannabis flowers.) The trichomes are then processed into a relatively solid paste or block. Hash can be somewhat powdery or more solid and sticky, depending on exactly how it was processed.

Kief

Kief is also made from the trichome part of the cannabis flower. Kief is just the dried trichomes, without any further processing. It comes as a dry powder. It can be smoked or vaporized or used to make edibles. It is often sprinkled on the top of cannabis before smoking or vaporizing, to augment the trichome content in the flowers. Some grinders (used to evenly cut up the cannabis flowers before vaporizing or smoking) have a small-mesh screen at the bottom for the purpose of collecting kief over time.

Edibles

Edibles are foods cooked with butter or oil that has been infused with cannabis. Edible cannabis usually takes longer to take effect (20 minutes to an hour or more) and the effects generally last longer than smoking or vaporizing. Edibles taken on an empty stomach will take effect significantly faster than if taken immediately following a meal. It is difficult to know how strong an edible medicine will be, and because it can take an hour or more to feel the full effects, it is easy to over-medicate. Use caution! If you have taken your medicine in an edible form, wait at least an hour to be sure you know how strongly it will affect you before taking more.

Tinctures

A tincture is a concentrated form of cannabis in an alcohol solution. Tinctures can be taken under the tongue or mixed into water or other beverages.

Oils and Honeys
Cannabis infused oils can be used directly in foods, consumed in capsules, or mixed with honey to be used in tea or on other foods.