Romantic Cannabis Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for Valentine’s Day

Get ready and surprise your significant other with the perfect box of cannabis infused chocolate covered strawberries this Valentine’s Day! While there is a strain called Chocolate Covered Strawberries, we’re talking about the real deal. Fresh juicy strawberries coated in rich decadent chocolate!

Whether you have a romantic candlelit dinner date planned or an intimate evening at home, chocolate covered strawberries are a great way to set the right tone. And when infused with cannabis, they’re even better by adding that little extra oomph! Cannabis can help you relax and get you in just the right mood for any romantic evening. Indulgent, relaxing, cute and delicious, this decadent treat will be sure to please your date! 

Here are some fool proof ways and recipes to infuse cannabis into your chocolate to make the perfect batch of chocolate covered strawberries!

Different Ways to Infuse Cannabis into Chocolate

There are a number of ways you can infuse weed into your chocolate. However, perhaps the easiest way to incorporate cannabis into your chocolate is by adding a concentrate to melted chocolate and stirring to blend. The most popular and simplest concentrates to use for making canna-chocolate are

Decarbing Cannabis Flowers for Edibles

Decarboxylation, also known as decarbing, is a process in which you gradually heat cannabis flowers to activate and extract its active components. This process is especially important in making edibles! It is different from when you smoke cannabis because active ingredients like THC are activated instantly as the flowers are burned. Concentrates like an infused oil, kief, hash or rosin would have already been decarbed during the extraction process. So when making or eating edibles, simply adding cannabis flowers into your recipe would not get you high. You would also have to wait for a while for any effects to take place. If you did want to use your favourite cannabis flowers in an edible recipe, they would have to be activated by decarboxylation first! You can read more about how to decarboxylate cannabis flowers here.

Arousing Strains that Will Get you in the Right Mood

If you do plan on using cannabis flowers for your chocolate dipped strawberries, you can use your favourite strain! If you want to be adventurous, it is always fun to try out new strains too! There are also actually some cannabis strains that have commonly been regarded as more arousing than others. This is not only due to their varying pleasurable effects like relaxation, calming and euphoric. Their unique terpene profiles also play a huge role in how they make you feel. Linanool, for example, commonly found in other plants like jasmine and lavender, can help reduce stress and moderate your serotonin levels. Another terpene like Myrcene, on the other hand, which can be prominent in things like mango, lemongrass, thyme, is extremely relaxing. In this way, cannabis can be a sort of aphrodisiac! Perfect for adding to your Valentine’s dessert treat!

  • Wedding Cake
  • Mimosa
  • Do-Si-Dos
  • Granddaddy Purps (Granddaddy Purple or GDP)
  • Sour Diesel
  • Trainwreck
  • Strawberry Cough
  • OG Kush
  • Atomic Northern Lights

Most of these along with a large assortment of concentrates are available on Green Society so order them now to get them delivered to your door in time for V-Day!

Making the Chocolate

The Best Chocolate Bars for Baking | Epicurious
What you’ll need:
  • Strawberries
  • 4 teaspoons of cannabis concentrate oil OR 2 teaspoons of kief/hash/rosin OR ¼ cup of ground up decarbed flowers 
  • 1 ½ chocolate chips (your chocolate of choice, or feel free to mix and match)
  • Toppings of choice like chopped nuts, sprinkles, marshmallows, etc.
  • Food colouring optional for decoration if using white chocolate
  • Spatula
  • Microwave safe mixing bowl
  • Parchment paper 
  • Tray for cooling
  • Storage container

You can of course lessen the dosage here for a lighter high. This recipe is enough chocolate for around 20-25 strawberries to be dipped, but this amount can vary depending on how much chocolate you want to use to decorate! If you’d rather not use chocolate chips, you can also sub for another chocolate of your preference. If you have a particular favourite chocolate bar, for example, you can simply chop it up, though you may need to use a little more than 1 ½ cups if it is a bar that has a sort of filling that isn’t chocolate since that might not melt. In this case, please be wary if it has a filling that could easily be burned when heating. Just remember to keep an eye on the chocolate as you heat it!

Steps:
  1. Wash your strawberries and pat dry. If still wet, it may be difficult for the melted chocolate to properly coat the berries.
  2. Put your chocolate into a bowl and microwave for 10 seconds. 
  3. Stir the chocolate and blend so that the heat can evenly distribute. 
  4. Repeat the microwaving and stirring, still timing at 10 seconds.
  5. If chocolate still hasn’t completely melted, microwave again. We suggest maintaining 10 seconds maximum at a time to avoid burning as overheating can ruin both chocolate and the cannabis product.
  6. Once completely melted, add your concentrate or ground flowers.
  7. Stir to distribute and blend everything evenly.
  8. Your chocolate is done, and now you’re on to dipping!

Decorate Your Strawberries!

Now that you’ve made your chocolate, you’re onto the fun part. Decorating! Before you start dipping, place parchment paper onto a tray. This will make for easier cleanup. It would also allow for the strawberries to be easily removed once the chocolate is dry. 

Dip, drizzle, sprinkle! Have fun with this process and decorate as you please! If you opted for white chocolate, you can portion it into different bowls and add food colouring to make fun colour options! Feeling in the Valentine’s mood? Make some pinks and reds! Your significant other has a favourite colour? Go for it! Wanting a cannabis theme? Make your chocolate green! 

You can double dip for an extra layer of chocolate for an added crunch. You can even do one coat of milk or dark plus one coat of white chocolate for extra flavour! Or, simply drizzle if you prefer a little less chocolate on your berries.

For some added texture and flavour, add little candies, marshmallows, sprinkles or chopped almonds over top while the chocolate is still wet. Chopped pistachio nuts are a tasty pairing with chocolate, and its green colour would suit the weed theme! You can even dust a bit of ground up decarbed flower over top to garnish! Just be careful with adding too much of this since the chocolate is already infused.

If you want fully loaded strawberries instead of just a garnish over the top, you can roll or dip the chocolate covered strawberries while still wet directly into the bowls of candy, sprinkle or nut toppings for an entire layer of yummy goodness! 

Then, let them rest and cool so that the toppings stick to the chocolate coating.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Tutorial – Sugar Geek Show

Ready to Eat!

And voila! You’ve got your cannabis infused chocolate covered strawberries! (Or cannaberries!)

They can stay fresh in a sealed container in the fridge for up to one week. When ready to gift, you can package in a goodie bag or a box and they’ll be ready to be devoured!

Alternatives for Edible Chocolates

If you don’t have time in your schedule to make a box of canna-chocolate dipped strawberries for your Valentine’s date, no worries! We’ve got you covered! Select from an array of delicious cannabis infused edibles online with Green Society here. From a wide selection of weed chocolate to cookies and gummy candies, there is bound to be something for your significant other as well as yourself!

Enjoy and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Weed in Ancient China

Green Society loves the holidays, and while Christmas and NYE might be over, there is much to celebrate and look forward to with the upcoming Lunar New Year! Also commonly referred to as Chinese New Year, this blog post is inspired by this holiday and will feature weed usage throughout ancient China as well as other parts of Asia!

What is the Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring throughout East and Southeast Asia. It also coincides with the beginning of the new lunisolar calendar year. Festivities traditionally last for 16 days! Celebrations can vary between cultures. A common thread is that this time is spent with family gatherings. Popular traditions also include sharing a large family dinner (dumplings, anyone?), offering sacrifices in the form of food, tea, incense and prayers to your ancestors, and more. The days preceding the celebrations often include house cleaning as a symbolic way to prepare for a fresh new year. Many often also decorate the house and wear a lot of red as it is a colour of good fortune. Red envelopes filled with money notes are also given for further fortune and good luck. This is a custom catered towards children but can also be given to friends and elders.

Who Celebrates Lunar New Year?

Despite it often being called Chinese New Year, this tradition and celebration is not restricted to China. It is an extremely important holiday in China, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. In fact, you could even call it Vietnamese New Year or South Korean New Year, etc. depending on who you are speaking with.

There are also variants of the holiday. In Japan, there is a similar celebration called Little New Year. In Mongolia and Tibet, they celebrate the new lunar year off of their respective Mongol and Tibetan calendars, which also tends to fall around a month later but, depending on the year, can still coincide with the Chinese calendar year. Of course, the festive holiday is celebrated by respective Asian diasporas throughout the rest of the world! 

There are also lunar new year or new moon celebrations throughout the Middle East and India, though these fall on different dates due to the use of different calendars. They also go by different names, such as the Islamic New Year in the Middle East and West Asia, Diwali in India, or the Hobiyee celebrated by the Nisg̱a’a Indigenous peoples of Canada.

How Was Weed Used in Ancient China?

While weed is currently illegal in China, the nation has had a long history with this historic plant. In fact, some of the oldest records of human usages of weed traces back to ancient China! And it was used for much more than just smoking and getting high!

Medicine And Healing

Cannabis has been recorded in ancient Chinese medical texts as far back as 2000 years ago. It has been used as an anesthetic in the second century AD by the surgeon, Hua T’o. It was also used for its healing properties to treat conditions such as gout, rheumatic pain, constipation, malaria, gynecological disorders and more. These uses have been noted in the Pen Ts’ao, a medical book compiled by the ancient emperor, Shen-Nung, who is considered the father of Chinese medicine. It’s interesting to see such old records of medicinal usage of cannabis and how similarly weed is used to treat such ailments today! Some things just don’t change.

In Textiles and War

Hemp was heavily relied on in textiles due to its strong durability, making it particularly important in warfare where it was used in crafting bowstrings. Some argue that it would have been stronger than bamboo. Apart from such weapons, hemp fibers were also used to craft rope, clothing and even paper!

A Food Staple

There is evidence that cannabis was also a food supply. We’re not talking about edibles exactly, but rather as a crop. It was considered so important that it was actually listed as one of the five crop staples in medical texts. They have also been found buried in pots amongst other staple crop seeds in tombs of important figures like war generals. Some tombs found are as ancient as 6,600 years old! 

Ceremonial and Funerary Rites

2,500-Year-Old Bong Suggests Ancient Chinese Got High with Weed at Funerals | Leafly

While cannabis seeds are already considered a part of funeral or ceremonial practice by being buried in tombs of the dead, they served yet another purpose in this sort of ritual. Recent discoveries of wooden braziers, similar to bongs, have been found at burial sites as well. Heated rocks would have been placed inside to help the burning process. Traces of burned cannabis residue have been found in these braziers. Experts suggest that these tools were used to get high at funeral ceremonies as a sort of ritual, spiritual or cultural practice. Even if they weren’t used to smoke, it is apparent that cannabis was burned for some sort of funerary rite.

Weed in China Today

Despite all of these multi-purpose uses of weed throughout ancient China, it is illegal in the country today. That is not to say that it is completely absent there, however. It is still used for industrial purposes like hemp in medicine or textiles. In fact, China supplies around 50% of the world’s hemp supply! Chinese landrace strains like the China Yunnan can also be found on the market! While not exactly rare, they may be hard to find.

After legalization of marijuana in Canada and the United States, cannabis consumption has actually risen in China as well. There are individuals who grow, trade, sell and smoke weed but these activities would be done in secret and on black markets. This is of course due to harsh anti-marijuana criminal laws that could result in up to 15 years of a prison sentence or even a death penalty. 

Weed Throughout Asia 

As of now, medical and recreational marijuana is illegal in almost all of Asia. Thailand is the first country to have legalized and decriminalized medicinal marijuana usage recently back in 2020. This is a great win for the popular vacation destination country! South Korea has moved towards legalizing medical marijuana, though it still forbids recreational usage and has strict laws against it. It is considered a risky pastime there due to potential punishment and jail time of up to 5 years. Israel on the other hand, similar to Thailand, also allows the medicinal usage of marijuana and recreational usage has been decriminalized. 

Conclusion

In sum, there is much progress to be made for weed throughout Asia despite its long history for its many uses. From medicine, food, clothing, weapons and sacrificial offerings, cannabis has served many purposes to human culture for thousands of years. This is a cultural practice that can be continued and celebrated in Canada, especially with the upcoming Lunar New Year!

Make this ancient plant a part of your festive celebrations with Green Society, and share your favourite flowers or edibles and concentrates with friends and families–even your ancestors–as you welcome the new year ahead!

Sweet, Fruity, Candy Cannabis Strains and Edibles To Try in 2022

It is no secret or surprise that cannabis users often fall victim to cases of the munchies during their marijuana high. What exactly are munchies? These are sudden pangs of hunger or desire for food and snacks, often a side effect of many weed strains! In a fit of euphoria and relaxation, users often find themselves succumbing to such cravings for sweets and treats!

There are also so many options when it comes to cannabis that can trigger your cravings. You have your skunky gas strains, your chocolately strains, and your classic, earth pine strains. Though what if you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth? What if you are wanting to go back a few steps and get your high on with something tasty and sugary to start before you really dive in and indulge? Well, fellow candy lovers, we’ve compiled a list of some the most exciting fruity and candy flavoured cannabis strains and edibles for you to try!

Crunch Berries by Exotic Genetix

Buy Crunch Berries Strain Online Green Society
Crunch Berries by Exotic Genetix

The exact lineage of this strain remains to be confirmed. Though, it is widely believed to be a phenotype or descendent of the legendary OG Kush! Others believe it is created by crossing Triple OG and the ever so popular Blueberry strain. Crunch Berries is an indica hybrid that offers users peaceful and relaxing effects. It is backed by THC levels that range from 18% to 20%. It is also known as Crunch Berry Kush, Crunchberry, or Captain Crunch, named after its flavour profile that is strongly reminiscent of the classic cereal! With notes of fruity berries, creamy vanilla and a candy-like aftertaste that are accented by undertones of herbs and pine, Crunch Berries will have you wanting to pour a big bowl of your favourite fruity cereal! Who doesn’t love that sweetness of cereal milk?

Candyland

Let this strain take you back to sweet and sugary nostalgia with its candy-like flavours! Candyland is a precious sativa hybrid a deeply mentally stimulating high. You’ll be feeling as energized as if you were having a sugar rush! It was created by crossing two cult classics:  Granddaddy Purps and Platinum Cookies. Its THC levels sit anywhere from 18% potency to 24%. It also contains around 1% CBD which make it ideal for users seeking to further reap the medical benefits of cannabis! With a sweetness comparable to honey and vanilla accented by notes of fruity berries, the Candyland is perfect for anyone who’s got a sugar tooth! 

Watermelon Zkittlez by Barney’s Farm

Tropical skittles over regular skittles any day! This one originally hails from Los Angeles. Fun and fruity tutti, this craft strain batch was masterfully grown by professional breeders over at Barney’s Farm. The Watermelon Zkittlez was first originally made by 3rd Gen Family and Terp Hogz through a crossing of Grape Ape, Grapefruit and a third mysterious strain. However, Barney’s Farm have revamped this. Their phenotype was created by crossing Gorilla Glue #4, Cali Glue along with the original Zkittlez. With a THC levels that average as high as 20% to 25% paired with a terpene profile that pays honour to the classic rainbow candy, the delicious Watermelon Zkittlez strain is an indica hybrid that took the West Coast by storm from its inception! It is bursting with a fruit medley of grapes, berries and, of course, watermelon! You’ll be left wanting to take endless tokes as you taste the rainbow!

Orange Push Pop by Pluto Craft Cannabis

Everyone has their favourite sorbet or gelato strain!

For those of you who are frozen dessert aficionados, the Orange Push Pop by Pluto Craft Cannabis is an exclusive and exotic hybrid that you don’t want to miss out on! Orange Push Pop is a small batch craft strain bred for the finest quality! This is to be expected. Many of the craft strains from Pluto Craft Cannabis are AAA+ and top notch. Like Gelato #33 and Fruity Pebbles! Averaging around 21% to 23% THC, it is fairly potent. But, it isn’t considered overpowering by most users and isn’t debilitating. The strain is an indica hybrid that is often considered to be a balanced hybrid due to its well rounded effects. These include an uplifting happiness with an utterly relaxing body high! With a swirl of flavours that balance creamy vanilla and sweet and sour orange citrus, you’ll be thinking back to times of ice cream trucks and hot summer sunshine!

Blueberry Bomb

This bomb of a strain is known to be atomic for its bursts of fruity flavour and heavy hitting effects! An indica hybrid, Blueberry Bomb was a creation of Palomar Craft Cannabis. It is made through a cross of the classic Afghan landrace and the award-winning Blueberry! With THC levels that can be found to test from 16% to 23% on average, its effects are ultra relaxing and soothing that make it highly sought after for effective pain relief and relaxation. It also offers uplifting effects that can alleviate stress and depression. Give yourself a peace of mind as you succumb to its bodily sedation! With flavours of fresh citrus and fruity berries, this bomb will set you off in all the right ways!

Faded Cannabis Co. Gummy Edibles

Buy Faded Cannabis Co Edibles Online Green Society
Faded Cannabis Co. Edibles Bundle

There are many edibles to choose from out there. However, when it comes to quality, potency and variety, Faded Cannabis Co. is the way to go! They have taken classic candies and given them a bit of a modern cannabis twist. By infusing them with THC and CBD concentrates, they offer a wide assortment of delicious, re-invented gummies and chewables! With nostalgic candies and flavours like Rainbow Belts, Peach Drops and Fizzy Colas, you’ll be able to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings. Plus, you’ll be getting high and receiving the medical benefits of cannabis all in one go! Sugary candies aren’t your thing? Faded Cannabis Co. also has an assortment of hot chocolate, ice teas, cookies, chocolate bars and more! With an extensive array of different flavours and edibles, there’s really something for everyone with Faded Cannabis Co.!

SugarTits Gummies

Lychee Hooters, SugarTits

No need to be shy around these SugarTits! These gummy edibles are making waves. Not only because of their alluring and feisty name, but also because of their exciting and unique flavours! From Lychee to Passionfruit, SugarTits gummies are bringing newness and an exotic splash to the cannibis edible scene! 

Conclusion

We don’t judge which terpene profile fits your fancy when it comes to fruity and candy cannabis strains and edibles. We love all flavours and aromas! And we do care about having our inventory stocked for your needs! Whether it be fresh citrus, sweet berries, creamy vanilla or sugary candy, you can bet to find one–or a few–that you’ll enjoy at Green Society’s Green Room or Edible shops!

Cannabis Terpenes: What Are They and What Do They Do?

You’ll often hear about cannabis terpenes in regards to the scents and aromas of different strains of cannabis flowers. While it is not exactly incorrect, there is a common misunderstanding that terpenes and aromas are interchangeable. In fact, terpenes are responsible for much more than just the distinct scents of your favourite cannabis flowers! So what exactly are cannabis terpenes, and what do they do? 

What Are Terpenes?

Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds found in and produced by plants, fruits, herbs and even some animals. They are responsible for the way these organisms smell and taste, and can also affect their appearance as some terpenes are associated with colour. While the majority of plants contain terpenes, people usually tend to encounter them with citrus fruits or aromatic herbs (like sage, basil, thyme and lavender). They are also widely encountered with cannabis!

Terpenes in Cannabis

Terpenes can be found in the trichomes of cannabis plants. These trichomes are the sticky, crystal-like structures that mostly form atop of the plant’s buds, but can also be found in trace amounts on the leaves and stems. They are what ultimately contain the resin glands that produce the fragrant terpene oils.

Cannabis plants can contain over 150 terpenes, and together, they create unique and distinct scents and flavours! However, some are much more prominent than others, while some can be found in only small trace amounts which can have a lesser effect on the overall scent and taste.

Common Terpenes and Their Effects

Some of the most common terpenes found in cannabis include: 

  • Myrcene: Relaxing with antifungal and antibacterial properties; could also have sedating properties. Also found in mangoes and lemongrass.
  • Caryophyllene: Antiviral and provides relief from inflammation. Could also be beneficial for managing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Found in herbs such as cinnamon and rosemary. Also found in black pepper.
  • Limonene: Calming and de-stressing with anti-anxiety properties. Research suggests it may potentially have anti-cancer properties. Has refreshing and uplifting citrus notes. Found in rinds of citrus fruits, as well as ginger, peppermint and juniper. Very abundant and common in fruity cannabis strains.
  • Pinene: Assists with pain, anxiety and inflammation. Common in other herbs like basil and dill, and plants, mainly coniferous trees and shrubs. Extracted for antidepressant medication. Like limonene, it is also possible for this terpene to carry anti-cancer properties.
  • Terpinolene: Energizing, uplifting and calming with antibacterial and antifungal properties. Found in apples, lilacs, cumin and tea tree. A fresh scent, it is often used as an additive in soaps and cleaning products.
  • Linalool: Calming and stress relieving. Found in lavender and popular in aromatherapy. Often extracted for use in antidepressant medicines.
  • Humulene: Promotes pain relief and energy. Found in ginseng, a traditional plant that has long been incorporated into folk medicines.

The levels of terpenes in cannabis plants differ from strain to strain. This is why there is such a range of aromas and flavours found in cannabis! They are the reason why a strain like Girl Scout Cookies gives off a vanilla and nutty cookie scent, while something like Diesel or its derivatives give off pungent, fuel smells. It is also the reason why some strains may be similar to others, like the gelato and sorbet strains. It is because they carry similar terpenes!

What Else Do Terpenes Do?

It is believed that terpenes help ward off predators, and can also help offer protection from harsh weather conditions by triggering responses to the surrounding environment. In a way, they are sort of support or immune system for plants. For example, the terpenes terpinolene and linalool help with spreading pollen as they attract insects and other small creatures that pollinate. There is still much research to be done on how they affect humans, and their usage in medicine is particularly gaining traction. With rising practices like aromatherapy that allow you to bask in calming scents and comforting vibes, more people are starting to pay more attention to cannabis terpene profiles for desired effects when shopping for strains rather than THC content alone.

Shopping For Weed and Concentrates with Terpenes in Mind

Terpenes are most fresh, fragrant, raw and authentic when you’re using cannabis flowers rather than concentrates or extracts. This is because terpenes are fragile and volatile, and extraction processes for concentrates often include heating. Such methods of extraction or production destroy the terpenes. As awareness of the value and benefits of compounds are growing, however, such processes are becoming modified or remastered to be more careful and retain as much of cannabis terpenes as possible. A concentrate like live resin is one example of how terpenes can be retained through extraction. This way, live resin users a more potent experience that doesn’t take away from the aromatic experience of cannabis!

Learn About Terpenes with Green Society

Green Society makes your cannabis and terpene shopping easier by detailing the unique aromas and flavours of each cannabis flower strain available in the Green Room shop! Whether you’re a fan of energizing and fruity terpinolene or seeking the calming and therapeutic benefits of linalool, we’ve got you covered! Seeking for a bit of extra strength? Shop online for live resin and other concentrates to use alone or to complement your fragrant and aromatic cannabis flowers!

A Brief History of Hash

Users of cannabis will most likely have seen, or at least heard of hash, at least a few dozen times. Whether through casual conversation or through browsing and shopping for cannabis, it is one of those common things you’ll hear of when it comes to weed and weed extracts. But what exactly is hash? How does it relate to weed? And how is it used? Here’s a little brief history of hash to get you caught up in the world of cannabis concentrates!

What is Hash?

Hash, which is short for hashish, is a type of cannabis concentrate. It is harvested by collecting the powdery, dried resin (also known as kief) from mature cannabis plants. This process is done by rubbing or pressing the plant’s trichomes, or resin glands, into a solid substance. Usually, these substances being rubbed and pressed result in bricks, balls, slabs or rolled pieces. It does not require a solvent like alcohol or oil. Instead, this production process is simply often done by hand, or mechanically through some other sort of physical manipulation, and completed with controlled heat and temperature.

What Does Hash Look Like?

Hash most often comes in varying shades of greens or browns in colour. However, it is not uncommon to find it available in other colourings, such as red, yellow, or even black. Its texture and consistency is also variable as it can be a soft and malleable paste, or more stiff, and even brittle. Texture and consistency changes depending on extraction and processing techniques. As mentioned above, they can take the shape or form of pressed bricks and slabs, rolled into long pieces or balls. No matter their shape or texture, however, they all generally do the same thing–they get you high!

Why Use Hash?

Cannabis users tend to enjoy using hash because it offers a more powerfully potent experience than smoking flowers. It enriches the experiece by adding more to an already enjoyable high. This concentrate is also common to find and is super easy to integrate into your existing cannabis routines. This will be detailed further below!

The Beginnings of Hash

The word “hashish” derives from Arabic, and roughly translates to “grass”. Cannabis has been around for thousands of years and used by numerous ancient societies, though recorded evidence of hash production and usage in particular comes a bit afterwards. It is primarily traced back to Persia and Central Asia, with historians proposing it was likely carried through to the Middle East and then North Africa, deriving from Eastern Asia via the famous Silk Road. While it served recreational purposes, it was also incorporated into religious and ceremonial practices. It makes appearances in religious and historical texts including Arabian Nights (the original source of Disney’s Aladdin), and is even noted to be used by the Mongolian ruler, Genghis Khan, and his disciples.

Hash in More Modern Times

Despite outlawing cannabis and hashish in France, many French troops, artists, scientists, engineers and other French nationals brought hash back home from the French occupied territories of Northern Africa like Egypt. This drove popularity outside of the Middle East and Asia. While the cannabis concentrate has long permeated societies since, it has made a more notable resurgence in the 1950s largely in part due to the Hippie Trail. Also known as the Overland, the Hippie Trail traced through Western Europe (mainly UK, France, Italy and Germany) through Central Asia, India and Thailand, where cannabis and hash were often inexpensive and oftentimes legal. Today, the world’s biggest producers of this historically beloved extract are Afghanistan, India, Nepal and Morocco. 

Hash Versus Charas

Before new agricultural methods arrived, there was (and still is) also a historical practice in India of making charas. Like hash, charas is produced through separating, collecting and rolling resin from cannabis plants. The main difference, however, is that charas is produced from live plants, whereas hash is collected from dried plants.

How to Use Hash

There are a number of different ways to consume and use hash, and it really comes down to preference. Some of these methods include:

Blunt, Joint or Spliff

Interestingly, hash actually doesn’t burn all that well. The most common and perhaps lightest or beginner friendly way to consume hash would be with a blunt, joint or spliff quite similarly to how you would normally roll and smoke with regular cannabis flowers. The only difference here is that you add and roll a bit less flower buds than usual, and add a tiny bit of hash on top into your rolling paper/wrap along with them. And voila, light it up, smoke and enjoy!

Bong or Bowl

Like above, using a bong or bowl with hash doesn’t change too much from how you’d regularly be using a bong or bowl with cannabis flowers. Pack cannabis flower to your bong or bowl as usual, though of course start minimally. As a concentrate, hash can go a long way. Add a little chunk atop the flowers. Be sure to use a metal screen underneath. This way, the flowers and hash don’t melt and drip down onto your bong/bowl.

Vaporizer or Dab Rig

If vaping or dabbing, you’ll have to ensure your hash will be able to melt well. There isn’t really any way to know this without actually testing it. If the below attempts fail because your concentrate isn’t melting, you will have to create rosin. This is done by placing your piece of hash in between wax paper, and pressing with heat. This is perhaps easiest done with a hair straightener as it both heats and clamps down onto the hash to press it. The result will be meltable rosin which you can then use for vaping or dabbing!

In order to vape, you’ll require a vaporizer that is equipped for concentrates. If not, you can also use a vaporizer that can swap out and accommodate a concentrate adapter chamber. You can add your hash directly into the chamber. Then, select your preferred temperature, heat it up, and then inhale to get your fix of cannabis hash!

When dabbing, there should be water in your chamber. Using a dabber, you’ll just need to place your hash onto a heated banger. It should be hot enough (350-450 degrees Fahrenheit) after being heated as usual via a blowtorch or e-nail. A carb cap is highly recommended here, to be placed over the banger. You can begin drawing through the mouthpiece, and remove the cap to inhale the vapor!

Where to Shop for Hash Online

Green Society carries an extensive assortment of premium hash for users to try. From locally produced luxury Chanel Hash extracted from AAA+ Canadian grown weed strains as well as imported Phoenix Hash and Black Hash from hash capitals of the world, Morocco and Nepal, adventure seekers can take their cannabis experiences to new heights! Shop cannabis concentrates and hash here to get yours delivered directly to your door in a matter of no time!

How to Make Cannabis Tea

Feeling a little chilly during these dark winter mornings? Looking to explore new ways of enjoying cannabis? Warm yourself up with a nice cuppa cannabis tea! It is also referred to as ganja tea, mariijuana tea or weed tea. Similar to edibles, it’s a nice way to consume and reap the benefits of cannabis without having to smoke or vape. It’s also a comforting way to start off those gloomy days during the colder seasons!

Why Drink Cannabis Tea?

Drinking cannabis tea is a perfect method of cannabis consumption if you are not a smoker or vaper. Similar to chocolate or candy edibles, you consume cannabis orally as it is infused with a tea beverage. This allows you to take in the active components of cannabis, like THC, CBD, or both, in a different though still yummy way! Drinking cannabis infused tea is also discreet as it does not give off any pungent whifs of weed. You can pour the infused tea into your favourite thermos to go about your day, or relax and sip at home with some treats or sandwiches!

Why Make Cannabis Tea?

There are of course pre-made iced tea mixes that you can whip up quickly for those hot summer days. However, this can be limiting. Making your own tea allows you the freedom to personalize flavourings, potency and dosage intake. Not looking for psychoactive effects? Make a CBD weed tea by using CBD concentrates! Want both THC and CBD effects? Use both THC and CBD oils or a hybrid concentrate! And if you’ve got a favourite strain but wanting to enjoy it in ways other than smoking, making tea will help warm up your body, soothe your soul and can still offer you that same familiar and enjoyable high. Besides, during the winter season, it is so much more rewarding and comforting to boil your own kettle for a warm and relaxing tea time!  

How To Make Cannabis Tea

There are a few different ways to make weed tea. Each method differs in how cannabis is actually added or infused. You can pick whichever method suits you and your schedule or lifestyle best as they vary in effort and preparation time! 

Adding a Cannabis Tincture or Oil 

Perhaps the most time efficient and beginner friendly method. Adding a cannabis tincture or oil directly to your favourite morning tea is a quick, convenient and fool proof way to create weed tea! It is also a great choice if you already have a favourite tea flavour that you absolutely love. No need to change up what you drink daily! Just add drops of your tincture or oil directly to your teapot or cup according to your preferred dosage. Remember to check each bottle of tincture or oil you are using as potency can vary. Stir well, drink and enjoy!

Steeping Cannabis Stems and Leaves

For a more mild weed tea, you can grind cannabis stems and/or leaves! Grinding the stems and leaves will extract the THC from them, but it will be less potent than actual bud or flowers. 2 grams of stems/leaves per 2 cups of water will make for a mild dosage.

Steps:
  1. Grind 2 grams of cannabis stems and/or leaves
  2. Boil 2 cups of water
  3. Steep ground up cannabis stems/leaves in water for 5-7 minutes
  4. Strain the mixture
  5. Add and steep your favourite tea bag or leaves depending on preference for strength
  6. Add honey, sugar, milk or cream as desired!
  7. Sit back and relax with your weed tea!

Steeping Cannabis Bud and Flowers

For a medium strength tea, you should grind up cannabis bud and/or flowers rather than the stem and leaves. These ground of cannabis pieces are then mixed and coated with an oil or butter compound which act as a solvent in the decarboxylation process, which activates the cannabis compounds like THC and CBD during a heating process. In this case, a serving of half a gram of ground bud/flowers will provide medium strength per 2 cups of water. 

Steps:
  1. Grind ½ gram of cannabis bud and/or flower
  2. Add ground cannabis to a bowl or cup of ½ teaspoon of butter
  3.  Stir and mix well until all of cannabis is coated with butter
  4. Add 2 cups of water to pot and simmer
  5. Add and gently stir cannabis and butter mixture
  6. Simmer for 30 minutes
  7. Strain mixture
  8. Like above, steep the tea with your favourite tea bag or tea leaves as desired
  9. Again, add honey, sugar, milk or cream to your liking
  10. Enjoy!

Looking for some fun in the kitchen?

Get creative and fancy with your own cannabis tea! Add a cinnamon stick, fresh ginger or lemon  slices, saffron or turmeric, dried rosebuds or lavender, whole peppercorns and more to your weed tea for more complex flavourings! Any herbs, fruits or spices will do as long as you like the flavourings. Besides, it’s all yours! Customize it however you want. If using method two for medium strength teas, you can try using other solvents like olive or coconut oil for further subtle aromas. You can also enhance your lattes by using alternative milk beverages, like almond, soy or oat milk!

Top 10 Cannabis Strains to Gift in 2021

Looking for some stocking stuffers? As we’re nearing the end of the year and edging closer to the holidays, we’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 Cannabis Strains of 2021! Making your seasonal shopping choices just a little easier. Perfect for gifting during this Christmas season and ideal for treating yourself during the winter blues, this list includes some of the most potent, best tasting and enjoyable highs that this year’s best selling cannabis strains has to offer! Whether you’re a fan of mellow indicas, upbeat sativas or enjoy the best of both worlds in an impeccable hybrid, there’s bound to be a perfect strain or two for both you and your loved ones!

1. GMO

Aka GMO Cookies, Garlic Cookies, the GMO is quickly becoming a new cult favourite. While it is a cross between two legendary strains, Chemdawg and Girl Scout Cookies (GSC), GMO is making quite a name for itself. A heavy indica hybrid, its THC levels average anywhere between 20% to 26% concentration. However, some tests have shown it to reach as high as 30%! The strain was originally created by Mamiko Seeds and was named after its unique and rare cannabis aroma of garlic. This strong yet tasty flavour is also complemented by hints of mushrooms and undertones of coffee and herbs. Offering a heavy sedative high with bursts of euphoria, this strain is an excellent choice for those looking to relax and who prefer more savoury flavours!

2. Wedding Cake

Queue the piano music as you walk your way down the aisle with this delectable dessert strain! This AAA+ exotic indica hybrid is a cross of two sweet and extremely popular strains: the fruity Cherry Pie and the infamous Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) strikes yet again! Heavily potent, Wedding Cake concentrates around 26% THC. This delivers an intoxicating punch to even the most seasoned users! With a sweetness akin to creamy vanilla with gassy and earthy undertones, this is a flavourful strain that offers a blissfully heavy high. Fun fact: it was recently named Leafly’s Strain of the Year back in 2019! Wedding Cake is going to make you feel as if you’re at your own dream wedding! Go ahead and take an extra slice!

3. Durban Poison

Don’t let this one’s name put you off! Hailing from the city of Durban, South Africa, this strain is a pure sativa. Despite the intimidating sound of the latter half of its name, Durban Poison‘s flavours are quite sweet and lovely with a bit of a tang. These lighter flavours are further complemented by notes of earthiness, fresh pine and spices! Its THC concentration can be as low as 18%, but also reaches as high as 25% potency. Blasting users with euphoric uplift, and a social and creative energy, the only thing you will feel poisoned by is its amazing effects!

4. Gelato

While there are many offshoots and different phenotypes of this strain, none are quite like the original Gelato! A balanced hybrid with only a slight indica dominance with a ratio of 55/45, Gelato offers users a well rounded high and effects from the best of both worlds! Crossbred between Girl Scout Cookies and Sherbert, this strain has a THC potency averaging from 15% to 25%! Packing a powerful high as well as a mouthful of bursting flavours of delicious citrus fruitiness and undertones of fresh florals, it’s the perfect treat when you’re reminiscing of summery days!

5. Jack Herer

It would only make sense to name this phenomenal multi-award winning strain in dedication and honour of the famed American cannabis rights activist, Jack Herer! One of the most popular strains in North America, this is a strain that you cannot go wrong with. The Jack Herer is a sativa hybrid originally created by Sensi Seeds with its genetic parents a well-kept secret. Its THC concentration is approximately 17% to 24% potency. It makes for a great morning or day time strain with energizing and focused effects. In flavour, it offers a sharp and zesty citrus that is balanced by an herbal sage with hints of peppery spice!

6. Sour Diesel

A true cannabis legend, you can never go wrong with the Sour Diesel! A near pure sativa hybrid, this strain has been dominating since the early 90s. It continues to win over more fans by the day with its ultra potent uplifting effects! Backed by a THC count of 22% to 27%, it give you a spark of energy and boost of happiness, and also allows for a physical relaxation that doesn’t tire you out despite its strong nature. With equally aromatic and flavourful notes of skunky gas and sour yet candy-like citrus lemons and oranges, Sour Diesel is as pungent as it is fresh and sweet!

7. Blue Dream 

You won’t want to wake up from this dreamy strain! The Blue Dream is regarded as one of the best strains ever created on the West Coast, praised by many including rappers such as Juicy J and Snoop Dogg! Originally from California but loved by all of North America, it was created by crossing the delicious Blueberry with the legendary Haze, culminating in this sativa hybrid magnificence. Boasting THC levels that sit at 20% potency on average, the high of Blue Dream balances soothing bodily relaxation and a powerful cerebral euphoria unlike any other! Paired with sugary vanilla and sweet blueberry flavours, this little dream of a strain is nothing short of perfection!

8. Kush Mints

One for the cookie lovers, the Kush Mints strain is a unique, top shelf indica hybrid. Created by Seed Junky Genetics when they crossed the infamous Bubba Kush and in-house craft strain, Animal Mints, it is a member of the GSC family through its Animal Mints heritage. It is well known to be a heavy hitter with THC records reporting to reach as high as 24%! Tranquil, calming and relaxing, the strain is best suited for lazy evenings and weekends when you’re in need of some down time to catch a break from the rest of the world. Blending notes of earth, spice, mint and coffee, this is a yummy dessert strain that can be paired with your favourite dessert, or can simply replace it!

9. Girl Scout Cookies

Known all of the world over, this extremely popular and famous cult favourite was named after your favourite guilty pleasure! The Girl Scout Cookies, also often abbreviated as GSC, is a potent indica hybrid that is adored by all. It is a result of a cross between two other legends, OG Kush and Durban Poison! Girl Scout Cookies has a unique and delicious flavour profile that blends sweet vanilla, nuttiness, fruity citrus and cherries, as well as an herbal mix of mint, earth and spice! With an extraordinary THC count that averages at a stifling 25% to 28%, users will experience a full body high that is deeply relaxing and euphoric. It also contains about 1% CBD and 1% CBN, making it an ideal strain for medical usage for effective relief! 

10. Cereal Milk

A sweet treat for the ones that long for childhood nostalgia, Cereal Milk is as tasty and enjoyable as it sounds! Cereal Milk is a balanced hybrid created by Cookies who produced the strain by crossbreeding Snowman and Y Life. The high is a blend of both mental stimulation and physical relaxation. This balance makes it great for those seeking to reap the benefits of both indica and sativa types! Its effects intensify with stronger doses, so users can also cater this to their own personal needs! While there are typical cannabis scents and flavours of spices and herbs, the strain is strongly creamy, fruity and sugary sweet. Just like the leftover cereal milk after you’ve finished a bowl of Fruit Loops or Trix!

Conclusion

And there you have Green Society‘s Top 10 Cannabis Strains of 2021! Each one is a perfect gift for that special someone in your life, or a treat to share amongst friends during the holiday get togethers. Or, simply a present you owe to yourself during this cold winter season! Whichever one you choose, you can’t go wrong with these cannabis crowd favourites, from new craft specialties to long time legends! Still not quite what you’re looking for? No worries, there’s a huge assortment to choose from in the Green Room too! Order yours now and have a Merry High Christmas!

Making Cannabis Chocolate for the Holidays

With the holidays just around the corner, tis the season to be finding all the perfect jolly gifts for your loved ones–and yourself, of course! And what better way to spread the holiday joy than to gift delectable edible cannabis chocolate? While it is super simple and easy to go ahead and purchase pre-made infused edibles, why not make your gift just a bit more special by adding some extra personal touch and making your very own yummy edible weed infused chocolates!

Why Make Your Own? 

Nothing says that you care as much as a personalized gift! It shows that you’ve taken the time to put thought and effort into your present. Creating your own weed chocolate also allows you to customize flavours to your liking! Green Society offers a wide assortment of delicious chocolatey goods for those looking to snatch a quick and convenient treat or gift. Plus, they also make great stocking stuffers! However, for those who are a bit more food conscious, creating your own edibles is a cozy and fun candy making activity in the kitchen with friends during the holiday season! You can also ensure what ingredients are going into the chocolate, a concern that many with certain chocolate associated allergies or dietary restrictions might want to be more wary of! Not only can you control ingredients like the amount of sugar, dairy or allergens like nuts, but you can also control the THC and CBD dosages to suit your loved ones preferences and needs!

How to Make Weed Chocolates?

Making edible chocolates will consist of two main phases: tempering and then the actual candy making. You’ll need a few tools and ingredients as outlined below:

Tools

  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Glass or microwavable bowl
  • Spatula
  • Chocolate molds or baking tray
  • Spoon

Ingredients

Tempering Your Chocolate

First, you’ll want to take your chocolate of choice and, using your knife and cutting board, chop it up into smaller pieces. Breaking down the chocolate into smaller chunks will help quicken the melting process. Once that is done, you can place the chunks into a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Then, use a spoon to stir the chocolate. If there are still any unmelted or solid bits, put it back in the microwave for another 15 seconds. Repeat until the chocolate is all melted. Remember to shorten the amount of time whenever you put the chocolate back in the microwave to avoid burning! If you don’t have a microwave readily available, this process can be done by placing the chocolate chunks into a glass bowl, and placing this bowl over a pot, tub or bigger bowl of hot water, and letting the heat from the hot water melt the chocolate. This may take a few minutes. Just remember to keep stirring as this evenly distributes the heat!

Making Your Weed Chocolate

Depending on what kind of cannabis chocolate you’re looking to make, the next few steps may vary, but the results should all end up being the same! 

If you are making specific shapes with chocolate molds, make sure to lightly coat the molds with a type of grease like oil (preferably vegetable, but olive works fine too) or melted unsalted butter. For added potency, you can also use melted cannabutter. If you’re looking to make chocolate bark, you can lightly coat a baking tray. The light coatings will avoid the chocolate from sticking to the mold or tray, so be careful with not adding too much! 

Whether you’re using a THC or CBD concentrate or a hybrid of both, you can infuse and add the cannabis concentrate tincture or oil directly to the bowl of melted chocolate. Stir well to ensure it’s evenly distributed. Although, for the utmost dosage accuracy and consistency, you can add drops directly to the mold or tray. For the latter option, spoon the melted chocolate into the molds, filling them halfway, and then adding your concentrate dosage as desired. One drop per mold is good for most users, but again, this will vary for everyone. For a tray, you can add a couple drops across the tray, and spread by using a toothpick or spatula. If you’re looking to make a filled chocolate with your molds, add nuts, mousse, dried fruits, potato chips, crisps, crushed candy cane–whatever you like! For chocolate bark, simply add the extra ingredients and toppings over the top! Complete the molds and bark by adding more melted chocolate over top. Make sure to use your spatula when scooping from the bowl so you can grab every last bit of chocolate!

Set and Cool

Let the chocolate set for a few minutes so that it coats the toppings and to reduce air bubbles. Cool in the refrigerator for an hour or more. Once hardened, you can pop the chocolates out of the molds, or lift and break apart from the tray to make your bark! 

You’ve Made Edible Cannabis Chocolate!

And then you’ve got your weed infused chocolate edibles ready to eat or to gift! If you need to store it for a bit before gifting, you can keep the finished chocolates in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to give it away. When ready, you can wrap each piece individually, or place them into cupcake liners before packing them in a little dessert box and placing them under the tree! 

And voila! The perfect chocolate edible gift made from your own heart and hands!

Wishing Happy High Holidays to you and yours!

Cannabis and CBD Beauty

With the winter weather coming around, you’re probably finding yourself reaching for your skin serums and lotions more often to deal with the harsh cold and dryness. Why not elevate your products with some CBD oil?

What is CBD?

CBD is the abbreviated term for cannabidiol, which is the second most common active ingredient found in cannabis after THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it won’t give you that typical cerebral stoner high that is commonly associated with weed. Those effects are the result of THC’s effects, which is indeed psychoactive. CBD, on the other hand, has a plethora of other effects and benefits, many of which have been gaining particular attention in the medical and health and wellness communities! It can be found in cannabis flowers, where it does tend to be less potent as the plants carry more THC. So CBD is often extracted and then distilled into more pure and potent concentrated forms like oils and tinctures to make the most use of its effects! 

The Benefits of CBD

Studies have shown that CBD is beneficial in offering calming, therapeutic and pain relieving effects. It targets symptoms and ailments such as chronic pains, cancer, stress, depression and anxiety disorders and many more. It is widely used by both cannabis and non-cannabis smokers in these settings, though research is ongoing in order to realize the full extent of these effects. On the other hand, CBD has already really blown up in the beauty and health and wellness communities for its amazing effects for your skin! You might have seen trending products that are infused with cannabis CBD in creams and lotions, serums, and even in bath products! But how does it actually improve your skin health?

CBD and Skincare

The calming and healing nature of CBD has made it a perfect, all natural product for health and wellness usage. It gives your mind, body and spirit the peace it needs! So it’s a bit of an extra added bonus that it is also great for your skin health! With beauty and product trends moving away from harsh chemicals, the fact that CBD is a naturally occurring substance makes it an immediate competitive contender for your skincare. It also just so happens to be eco-friendly and perfectly safe–and legal–even in larger quantities. It is extremely antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, so would naturally provide relief from redness and irritation. This includes a number of  skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and swelling, pain, or redness from breakouts. It aids in the prevention of acne as it helps regular oil production, helps heal scarring, and is also effective in providing skin hydration!

Tinctures and Oils

When you are shopping for CBD, you’ll notice these concentrated products are labelled as either tinctures or oils. Both tinctures and oils are liquid forms of CBD extracts. They ultimately work in the same way and offer the same effects, though the manner in which they are produced is what sets them apart. A tincture, for example, is made by soaking the cannabis plant materials in alcohol. Using that alcohol as a solvent, the cannabinoid materials are extracted as the plant is soaked. So, the end product has a high alcohol content as well. In these instances, THC may be also extracted, as well as terpenes, which are aromatic compounds found in the plant. Oils, on the other hand, are simply just that: extracted oil. During extraction processes for oils, THC and terpenes are often removed so that the final product here is pure CBD! So no matter what your personal use looks like, there’s a bit of variety for everyone.

Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil

Sometimes you might also see products labelled as hemp oil with CBD in it. The only major difference in these cases from standard labelled CBD oils is that the oil is extracted from hemp plants. Hemp is still a type of cannabis plant, but contains less than 0.3% THC. There are also oils that are labelled as hemp seed oil. These on their own have skincare benefits as well, though they do not contain CBD.

How You Can Use CBD To Improve Your Skin Health

As CBD is extracted and concentrated into oils, it is often applied topically. It can be used, infused or consumed in a variety of other different ways like vaping or candy edibles depending on your needs and preferences! When it comes to skincare, however, it is applied topically in its liquid form directly to the skin. Already have a favourite skin product? Why bother trying other products when you can simplify the process and infuse CBD into your existing routine products and daily regimen! Use a dropper that comes with your CBD bottle to add a few drops to your favourite serums, balms or lotions. If you are a fan of face mists, add a couple drops and give the bottle a good shake! Wanting intense treatment for a specific area of skin? Apply oil directly to the target area! Begin with adding minimal amounts, and build up as you go depending on your needs. It may take a few days before seeing results, so do wait a bit in between adding more drops.

Conclusion

The world is your oyster! Have fun with it and personalize your own skin products by incorporating CBD and its benefits into your routine!

Facts and Information About Hemp

Hemp is a plant-based product with a history spanning back thousands of years. In recent years, both cannabis and CBD products have experienced a boom in popularity. This surge in interest means it’s likely you have come into contact with at least some of them in your local supermarket.

What confuses most people is the terminology surrounding these products. Are cannabis and hemp the same thing? Is CBD code for cannabis? How do you use the plant, and is it good for you? Is it legal?

There’s a lot to unpack there. In this article, we will answer all those questions and more to put you in the best position as a consumer. Spoiler: you cannot make clothes from weed, not yet anyway. 

What Is Hemp?

Most of the confusion surrounding hemp and marijuana products is because they are all derivatives of the same plant. Cannabis sativa is responsible for producing hemp, CBD, and marijuana. It’s quite a versatile plant. 

Hemp is an extract from the stem of the cannabis sativa. It is stringy in appearance, sort of similar to a celery stick.

Marijuana is an entirely different strain of the cannabis plant. The critical distinction here is that marijuana is the only derivative that can get you high because it contains THC. 

CBD and hemp do not contain THC, which is why you can buy them in supermarkets as opposed to a specific online dispensary. 

Hemp Products: An Overview

There are numerous products that you can create from this plant, all of which possess distinct benefits. 

Oil

Hempseed oil, most often referred to simply as hemp oil, is a harvest from cold-pressed the plant’s seeds. 

What is hemp oil good for? It is frequently an ingredient in topical treatments. It helps with inflammation and acne.

The oil and products containing it can help with skin conditions, such as:

  • Eczema
  • Lichen Planus
  • Psoriasis

It also has a robust anti-bacterial function and manages the excess production of natural oils that can clog pores. 

Protein

What is hemp protein? It may sound odd, but it’s a natural and useful source for many protein supplements. It consists of the plant’s seeds grounded into a fine, consumable powder. 

This protein is one of the best plant-based protein supplements available. Its use is prevalent among athletes, bodybuilders, and people who want to build their muscle mass. 

Its popularity comes from the muscle-building effects and nutritional qualities. Hemp protein also possesses all nine essential amino acids. It’s rich in healthy fats and minerals. For vegans, the product is appealing as an alternative to animal-derived nutrients.

Its protein levels are similar to egg-whites, without any of the preparation. Just add a couple of spoons to a drink of your choice, and you’re ready for an improved fitness session. 

Milk

Alternatives to cow milk have been growing steadily in popularity for both dietary and environmental reasons. Among that list of alternatives is hemp milk.

So, what is hemp milk?

The milk is actually the liquid that comes from the plant’s whole seeds. It is rich in high-quality proteins, healthy minerals, and fats. 

The milk has a thick consistency and a creamy, nutty flavour. You can use it for coffee, cereal, smoothies, or anything else that calls for milk. 

Fibre

Hemp is the strongest plant fiber in the world, meaning it is entirely resistant to rot or abrasion. Before cannabis products faced such stringent scrutiny, hemp fibre was present in all manner of clothing, including military uniforms! Indeed, Levi Jeans made some of its earliest products using a sailcloth made of this fibre. 

The fibre was also integral to the production of parachute webbing and baggage. 

Nowadays, hemp fibre isn’t only helpful for cloth products, either. The composite material can produce the bodies of cars and stealth fighter jets. It’s pretty incredible stuff. 

Hemp vs. Cannabis: What’s the Difference?

Because both hemp and marijuana are derivatives of the cannabis plant, people often confuse them. Out of the many misconceptions, the most notable is that hemp products will get you ‘high.’ It is not the case. 

Cannabis affects both your brain and nervous system. It causes a distinct chain reaction within your endocannabinoid system, which responds to the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in marijuana strains.

THC can have potent psychoactive effects. THC is responsible for the ‘high’ effect commonly associated with the consumption of cannabis. CBD, on the other hand, has no such effect. 

This distinction is where one of the most significant differences between hemp and marijuana resides. The former cannot get you high, as it possesses no THC. Both derivatives possess their benefits, but hemp won’t provide you with the euphoric or soothing sensation marijuana may provide.

The cultivation, sale, and trade of hemp has been legal since 1998. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates the seeds, their uses, and grading.

It is essential to note that although there are hemp-derived CBD products, CBD was not legal until the 2018 Cannabis Act. The Canadian government regulates CBD in all its forms.

Benefits of Hemp

Most benefits of this plant relate to dietary consumption or topical application (skincare). 

Some of the scientifically proven benefits include:

  • Fortified protein, vitamin, and amino acid intake.
  • The plant’s seeds are high in arginine, which can reduce the risk of heart disease.
  • The plant is high in fibre, which can aid the digestive system and minimize stomach cramps, among other symptoms associated with disordered digestion.

By all accounts, hemp products are a superfood. They may not get you high or provide any pain-relief, but they may benefit your body in the long-term when consumed as part of a balanced diet. 

Final Thoughts

Hemp is one of the oldest materials available to man and is incredibly versatile in its use. It and marijuana share a similar genetic variation as cannabis sativa derivatives, but their similarities in action are minimal. 

Hemp products won’t get you high, but they can improve your skin, reduce the risk of heart disease, and increase your protein intake. All sounds good to us!