Marijuana, THC, CBD, and Hemp in Tallahassee

Sun Aug 18th, 2019
Resources, Self Discovery

As we walked into the Village Square Publix last week, We was stopped short by the latest sale display. Right there, just inside the door, was a veritable monument to hemp products. How times have changed, we thought.

So, we took a detour through the health supplements section… where a very helpful lady, apparently dedicated to this location in the store, showed me what was available for all that ails me, through shelf after cooler of edible, topical, ingestible, drinkable, and convenience items.

We have since started to pay attention to the same products in other stores. Somehow, in a really short timespan, terms such as CBD, THC, and hemp have stepped forward in our consumer awareness, while the old terms… pot, weed, marijuana, etc… have taken a step back.

The terms Pot/Grass/Ganja/Green/Weed all refer to marijuana, but we don’t even need euphemisms any more, because as science and medicine catches up, we have approved three-letter acronyms to stand in their place.

But with so many new terms flooding us, it’s really easy to get confused. Let’s unconfuse things…

Cannabis Sativa

First of all know that we are talking about a naturally grown plant, around since the days of the Bible. Marijuana and hemp are two varieties of plants in the cannabis sativa genus. The cannabinoids of the plant - the chemical compound that makes up CBD and THC - is what decides what your usage will look like.

Cannabis Sativa is the only known source of the psychoactive cannabinoids THC and CBD. These cannabinoids are concentrated around the plant’s sticky, resinous flowers to serve as a protective layer against predators.

To make things more confusing, you sometimes see the word “sativa” used to describe a strain of marijuana, even though the overall genus has the word “sativa” in it.

Marijuana Marijuana

Marijuana (Cannabis) grows fast, produces a flower, is native to Asia on the Indian subcontinent has been used in textiles, medicine, ritual, farming, and manufacturing. Diverse and therapeutic benefits have continued its use across all countries for millenia. Despite this ubiquity, marijuana has been prohibited almost everywhere for most of the 20th century. Making it illegal has significantly set back research, but fortunately, thinking has evolved around this natural plant.

Marijuana has been recently decriminalized and legalized and reports have been flooding in of people being able to achieve appetite while undergoing chemo, lessen or stop seizures, go off heavy-duty narcotics, anxiety medication and much more.

Beer or Tequila? CBD or THC, Indica or Sativa?

Let’s look at a common, legal vice - alcohol. A small quantity of alcohol can make you buzzed, and more quantity or strong alcohol can make you drunk. Similarly, different types of cannabis result in different effects. Knowing what effect each type will achieve will help you choose what you want or need. The Indica strains are generally more sedative and generally suggested for evening as they are calming. Sativas are often suggested for daytime as they generally provide more energy

As you go down this rabbit hole, you’ll see two terms used to describe two strains of marijuana, dispensed to treat two different sets of symptoms and promote two different sets of health benefits. They are Indica and Sativa, but sometimes you’ll see them as Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa, which can be confusing because it’s all in the Cannabis Sativa genus.

Indica

Indica is a wide-leafed, short, bushy plant that is a fast grower and high producer of high CBD buds (flowers) that have lower THC quantity.

Indica promotes:

  • increased mental relaxation
  • muscle relaxation
  • decreases nausea
  • decreases acute pain
  • increases appetite
  • increases dopamine (a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers)
  • for night time use

Sativa

Sativa is a slow-growing, narrow-leafed, thin plant that grows taller than Indica, and has light green narrow leaves. Sativa plants are lower in CBD and higher in THC.

Sativa promotes:

  • anti-anxiety
  • anti-depressant
  • treats chronic pain
  • increases focus and creativity
  • increases serotonin (a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of learning, mood, sleep, anxiety and appetite)
  • for day time use

Hybrids

Hybrid varieties are blends of Sativa and Indicas and can be produced either Sativa dominant or Indica dominant, taken for both relaxation and boosted mood.

How does marijuana work? How Does Marijuana Work

Remember - CBD’s will not make you high. Hybrids can, if they have a higher degree of THC in them. THC will make you high. And this is how:

“THC’s chemical structure is similar to the brain chemical anandamide. Similarity in structure allows the body to recognize THC and to alter normal brain communication. Endogenous cannabinoids such as anandamide function as neurotransmitters because they send chemical messages between nerve cells (neurons) throughout the nervous system. They affect brain areas that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, and sensory and time perception. Because of this similarity, THC is able to attach to molecules called cannabinoid receptors on neurons in these brain areas and activate them, disrupting various mental and physical functions and causing the effects described earlier. The neural communication network that uses these cannabinoid neurotransmitters, known as the endocannabinoid system, plays a critical role in the nervous system’s normal functioning, so interfering with it can have profound effects.” - Courtesy of drugabuse.gov

About Hemp

Hemp has been on and off in the U.S. market for a long time, suffering varying states of approval and acceptance due to association with its sibling, marijuana. It’s amazing how many people assume they are the same thing. It hasn’t even been a year since TPD raided Natural Life for selling hemp products, but politics is about perception and the only thing that can change that is Education and Awareness..

So, to be clear, hemp is only related to marijana, or cannabis, by being on the same family tree… cannabis sativa. Hemp has hundreds of industrial uses… insulation, paper, clothing among a few. It does have trace amounts of THC in it (less than .3% to be sold legally), but because of that low volume it would be extremely inefficient to use raw CBD hemp as a source of THC. (We’re sure it’s been tried, however.)

Hemp produces CBD at the 20% levels, though… making it ideal for use as the retail source of the compound.

It’s important to note that in 2018, the Hemp Farming Act passed, also known as the Farm Bill (though there have been others with the same name). This bill made industrial derived CBD legal nationwide, which is why we are now seeing so many CBD products in the mainstream.

Hemp Seed & Hemp Seed Oil

So where does hemp seed and hemp seed oil fit in?

Hemp seeds are the seeds of plants in the cannabis sativa family, but not specifically cannabis or marijuana. Hemp oil is derived from these seeds. They have no THC and only trace amounts of CBD. They are used as an ingredient in health food, paint, and beauty products.

Please know that hemp seed and hemp seed oils do not contain CBD (unless specifically added), so be careful when making purchase decisions.

Why Consume CBD?

Cannabinoids- the active chemicals in medical marijuana- are similar to chemicals the body makes that are involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain. The active cannabinoids in the plant are known as phytocannabinoids. The other cannabinoids are endocannabinoids, which exist in your body. Yes, you have a system already in your body to interact with cannabis.

Research suggests cannabinoids might:

  • Reduce anxiety
  • Reduce inflammation and relieve pain
  • Control nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy
  • Kill cancer cells and slow tumor growth
  • Relax tight muscles in people with MS
  • Stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS

CBD compound can be put into oils and tinctures for sublingual delivery, as well as beverages, and can be vaped.(courtesy Web MD)

Buying CBD CBD

So, with all these terms flying about in a largely unregulated consumer ecosystem, it’s really easy to make mistakes, especially when purchasing CBD. Since CBD and hemp seed oil swim in the same gene pool and have a lot of names in common, they are frequently marketed as the same thing, so keep these things in mind...

  • Just because a product has hemp seed oil in it does not mean it has any CBD. Read the label.
  • Lots of products have pictures of cannabis leaves on them. Again, read the label.
  • Hemp seed oil is often called cannabis sativa seed oil. Accurate, but misleading.
  • It’s not (yet) required to put actual milligrams of CBD on bottles, but it has become common. Stick to products that actually list the CBD amounts.
  • Beware low prices. CBD is expensive to produce, period. If it’s too good to be true… well, you know.
  • Buy online only after you’ve tried a locally acquired product first.

The best route is to purchase from a local store sanctioned for medical marijuana… they are the only actual regulated sources of CBD.

Keep in mind that, even in legitimate quality CBD products, dosages and effects vary. If you are taking CBD to regulate pain, take the minimum amount of product you need and graduate up. The same is especially true for anxiety.

Remember that studies on CBD are very new. We are relying on the mass anecdotal evidence of the world for the efficacy of this product. It’s seems like a good bet, and we’re hoping for a massive “We told you so” to the legal and conservative medical world, but until then we need to be our own guides.

Marijuna and CBD in Tallahassee

Marijuana can be consumed in many ways, from dried flowers (or buds), which is commonly found in rolling papers as a joint, or in a bong, pipe, or vaporizer. Extracted resin is used to make oils (commonly found in cooking butter and used in brownies and other edibles you’ll see for sale), hash or hashish, tinctures, dabs, shatter, butter (or budder).

Prescribing and Dispensary Locations in Tallahassee (as of this writing)

Medical Marijuana Treatment Clinics of Florida - Tallahassee

Medical clinic

2777 Miccosukee Rd

(850) 906-5000 https://www.mmtcfl.com/tallahassee/

MEDCAN Medical Marijuana Card Certifying Clinic

Medical clinic

1849 Capital Medical Ct

(850) 222-2222 http://www.med-can.com/

DocMJ Doctors Marijuana - Thomasville Rd

Alternative Medicine Practitioner

1902 Thomasville Rd #2 and 800 Capital Cir SE Unit 10

(888) 908-0143 https://weedmaps.com/doctors/docmj-2

Harvest House of Cannabis

Cannabis Clinics, Cannabis Dispensary, Alternative Medicine

1800 W Tennessee St

(850) 329-5361, harvestinc.com

Knox (Cannabis Dispensary)

Cannabis Dispensary

1902-2 Thomasville Rd

(850) 466-877, getfluent.com

Curaleaf Tallahassee

Cannabis Dispensary

1345 Thomasville Rd

(850) 848-4768, https://curaleaf.com

VidaCann

Cannabis Dispensary

1212-2 N Monroe St.

(800) 977-1686, https://www.vidacann.com/

Trulieve - Tallahassee

Cannabis Dispensary

800 Capital Cir SE

(850) 512-1968, www.trulieve.com/dispensaries/tallahassee-fl

Surterra Wellness - Tallahassee

Cannabis Dispensary

1639 Village Square Blvd

(850) 385-1101, www.surterra.com/stores/Tallahassee/

Terms You Should Know

From Wired

Cannabinoids
Compounds that bind to receptors in the human body’s endocannabinoid system, producing both psychoactive effects, in the case of THC, and non-psychoactive effects, in the case of CBD.

Chemotype
The distinct chemical makeup of an individual cannabis plant, which varies both because of genetics and because of environmental factors. Researchers are now experimenting with how to tweak light and soil composition to express or suppress certain chemical components.

Hemp
A variety of the cannabis plant that contains vanishingly small amounts of THC. Its use to humanity lies in its extremely strong fibers.

Marinol
A synthetic form of THC used to treat ailments like nausea and low appetite. Its cousin is Sativex, which also includes a dose of CBD that may help offset the psychoactive effects of THC.

Terpenes
A family of compounds that give cannabis its unique smell. However, terpenes are not limited to the cannabis plant—citrus plants have them as well. Many plants use these volatile compounds to ward off insects.

The Entourage Effect
The anecdotal, though increasingly data-backed, theory that different compounds in cannabis contribute to the high the plant produces.

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It is believed that the first Christmas celebrated in the United States was celebrated at the site of the DeSoto encampment in what is now Tallahassee.
Tallahassee has the honor of being the only capital city of the south that is positioned east of Mississippi to never be taken by Union Forces during the Civil War.
In 1988, Money Magazine name Tallahassee as one of the top three cities in the southeast to live in.
In 1992, the National Arbor Tree Foundation awarded Tallahassee the tile of “Tree City USA” and in 1999, the National Civic League awarded Tallahassee the All American City Award.
In 2006 the National Recreation and Park Association honored Tallahassee with the award of Best in America for Parks and Recreations.
Tallahassee residents celebrated a white Christmas in 1989. This is a rare occurrence in this sub-tropical climate.
Tallahassee has ninety five square miles of land and over two square miles of water.
Tallahassee is home to the third tallest capital building located in the United States. The building is a twenty three story one that was designed by Edward Durell Stone.
The city is home to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which is the world’s largest magnet laboratory and also the highest powered. The equipment in the laboratory is capable of generating a magnetic field that is one million times stronger than the magnetic field of the earth.
“Tallahassee” is a Muskogean word approximately meaning “old fields.”
Tallahassee was founded in 1821 and it became Florida's capital city in 1803. It was selected because it was roughly centered between Pensacola and St. Augustine, the capitals of West Florida and East Florida, two former Spanish colonies.
Tallahassee came close to losing capital status in the 1960s with a push to move it to Orlando, which is considerably closer to major growth spots in the state like the Tampa Bay and Miami areas.
The city's second and current capitol building, built in 1977, is the third-tallest capitol building in the U.S. (after Washington, D.C. and Austin). It's 22 stories high.
If you go to the top floor, there's an art gallery and large windows all around providing panoramic views of the city.
While camped out in what's now Tallahassee in the winter of 1539, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his group are believed to have been the first people to celebrate Christmas in the continental U.S.
Florida's capital city is known today as a college town, but it's been that way for well over 150 years. In 1843, the Tallahassee Female Academy was founded and in 1854, The Florida Institute was founded. Two seminaries were also built in the early 1850s.
All these schools eventually became part of Florida State University, the city's largest college.
Tallahassee is also home to the country's biggest historically black university by enrollment, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, AKA Florida A&M or FAMU.
Tallahassee is one of the hottest places in the state in the summer. It's one of the few Florida cities that hits temperatures over 100 from time to time.
However, it's also one of the coldest places in the state during the winter.
In 1899, Tallahassee temps hit -2 degrees during a historic blizzard. It's the only recorded instance of a below-zero reading in all of Florida.
The city's record snowfall accumulation is 2.8 inches on February 13, 1958.
On average, Tallahassee gets a measurable quantity of snow once every 17 years.
The city, and Leon County as a whole, consistently has one of the highest voter turnout percentages in all of Florida's 67 counties.
For the general election in 2008, the county set a state record with an 86 percent turnout.
The Tallahassee Police Department is the third oldest in the nation. Founded in 1841, only the Philadelphia and Boston PDs predate it.
FSU's Doak Campbell Stadium holds 82,300 spectators. It's the biggest Atlantic Coast Conference football stadium.
FSU's Doak Campbell Stadium is the country's biggest continuous brick structure.
The university also offers students the opportunity to tour the world as circus performers if they join the extracurricular FSU Flying High Circus.
FSU has a long history of student activism and is believed to be where streaking was invented.
The highest powered magnet laboratory on Earth is at FSU's National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
FSU's National High Magnetic Field Laboratory's magnets can produce a magnetic field one million times more powerful than our planet's magnetic field.
Tallahassee hosts one of the world's top equestrian eventing competitions. It's called the Red Hill Horse Trials.
Tallahassee hosts one of the largest, most attended festivals in the South, Springtime Tallahassee, which has been running annually since 1967.
The Tallahassee Automobile Museum has Abraham Lincoln's horse-drawn hearse on display.
The 68,000-acre St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, founded in 1931, is one of the nation's oldest wildlife refuges.
You can see the historic St. Marks Lighthouse there, which was completed in 1842.
In the early 20th century, the St. Marks railroad transported cotton and other products to the coast for shipping. The route's been paved and is now a 20.5-mile long nature trail.
The John G. Riley House, built in 1890, is the last remaining piece of history from the middle-class African American community that thrived in downtown Tallahassee at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, it's a museum.
The Tallahassee Automobile Museum is home to the real Batmobiles from "Batman Forever" and "Batman Returns," as well as replicas of a number of other Batman-related vehicles.
The Tallahassee Automobile Museum has steam-powered cars and amphibious vehicles.
You can see Tallahassee's oldest resident- an approximately 10-foot tall mastodon skeleton named Herman- at The Museum of Florida History. He's over 12,000 years old.
Lichgate on High Road is a little-known fairy tale cottage and historic site open to the public. The land was bought by FSU literature professor Dr. Laura Pauline Jepsen in large part to protect a majestic, ancient live oak now known as the Lichgate Oak.
The Railroad Square Art Park district hosts the monthly First Friday gallery hop. About 2,000 people usually show up for the three-hour event.
Creed, one of the biggest bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s, was formed in Tallahassee.
Singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, and actor T-Pain also comes from Tallahassee. In fact, that's what the “T” stands for.
Wally Amos, founder of Famous Amos Cookies, was born and raised in Tallahassee, too.
Ted Bundy was indicted in Tallahassee.
The Mission San Luis de Apalachee was one of the first Spanish missions in North America. It was built in 16. It was destroyed in 1704.
Today, The Mission San Luis de Apalachee is the state's only reconstructed Spanish mission and it operates as a museum.
Tallahassee has Florida's most educated population. About half the residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Elizabeth Budd-Graham's final resting place is the most visited tomb in the City Cemetery. She died in 1889 at the age of 23, and her elaborate grave is marked by a very large, expensive tombstone that instantly attracts attention.
Local lore claims that Elizabeth, better known as Bessie, was a witch. Hers is the only grave in the cemetery facing west and the tombstone bears an inscription quoting part of Edgar Allan Poe's poem “Lenore.”
Unlike most Florida cities, Tallahassee isn't generally associated with the beach. However, it's only 20 miles away from the Gulf of Mexico and several popular beaches are within a couple of hours' drive.
Though by no means mountainous, Tallahassee is one of the hillier spots in Florida. Its highest peak is a little over 200 feet above sea level.
The State of Florida employs more than 11 percent of Tallahassee's population.
FSU is the city's second-largest employer, with almost 14,000 people on its payroll.
Tony Hale grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, where he attended the Young Actors Theatre and participated in numerous theatrical and musical productions.