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 1


About This Book 1


Foolish Assumptions 2


Icons Used in This Book 3


Beyond the Book 4


Where to Go from Here 4


Part 1: Getting Started with Cannabis 5


Chapter 1: Taking the Nickel Tour 7


Exploring the Basics of Marijuana Consumption 8


Considering medical use 8


Looking into adult recreational use 10


Acknowledging the potential drawbacks 10


Knowing What Makes Cannabis So Special 11


Recognizing the Diversity of Cannabis Strains 13


Buying Cannabis 14


Knowing where and where not to get it 14


Understanding what you're buying 15


Avoiding rip-offs 16


Exploring Different Consumption Methods 16


Smoking or vaping 16


Edibles 17


Tinctures 17


Topical or transdermal applications 18


Getting Up to Speed on Cannabis Laws 18


Being a Safe and Responsible User 19


Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Production 20


Growing cannabis 20


Harvesting and curing cannabis 21


Creating cannabis, extracts, concentrates and infused products 22


Making Money in the Cannabis Industry 22


Recognizing the challenges 23


Getting a job in the industry 23


Starting your own cannabis business 24


Exploring ancillary business 25


Investing in the industry 25


Chapter 2: Brushing Up on Cannabis Anatomy and Chemistry 27


Getting to Know the Plant from Top to Bottom 27


Examining the structure of the two primary strains 28


Checking out the buds and flowers 28


Taking a peek at the seeds 29


Combing through the trichomes 30


Considering the lesser parts of the plant 31


Taking a Crash Course in Cannabinoid Chemistry 32


Assessing factors impacting individual effects 32


Exploring the endocannabinoid system 33


Getting high with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 35


Feeling better with cannabidiol (CBD) without getting high 37


Reaping the sedative effects of cannabinol (CBN) 37


Exploring the potential health benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) 37


Discovering the potential health benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) 38


Using terpenes to anticipate effects 38


Exploring Cannabis Concentrates and Extracts 39


Concentrates 39


Extracts 40


Products made from concentrates and extracts 42


Chapter 3: Steering Clear of Legal Trouble 45


Knowing the Laws: Federal, State, Local and International 46


Keeping abreast of U.S federal law and enforcement 46


Getting up to speed on state laws 48


Considering local laws too 51


Knowing your employer's rules 52


Researching international laws 52


Knowing Your Limits 54


Age limits 54


Purchase limits 55


Grow limits 55


Dosing limits 56


Driving limits 56


Consumption locations 56


Your own personal consumption limits 57


Avoiding Encounters with Law Enforcement 59


Responding Appropriately in Encounters with Law Enforcement 60


Taking Responsibility as a Parent 61


Chapter 4: Tackling Cannabis Politics and Culture 63


Checking the Nation's Pulse 64


Acknowledging the drivers of change 64


Recognizing differences in attitudes about medical and recreational use 65


Keeping pace with evolving attitudes 66


Debunking Misconceptions of Cannabis and Users 66


Examining Activism 67


Tuning in to Cannabis Culture 69


Part 2: Buying, Storing, and Using Cannabis 71


Chapter 5: Buying and Storing Cannabis 73


Evaluating Your Vendor Options: Where to Buy 74


Buying from a dispensary 74


Buying cannabis online or over the phone 75


Checking out cannabis "gifting" businesses 77


Steering clear of the black market 77


Making Two Key Decisions 78


Getting Quality Product 79


Buy from a reputable dispensary and be willing to pay more 79


Check for third party testing 79


Stick with trusted strains and brands 80


Read the label 80


Inspect the goods 81


Avoiding Common Cannabis Scams 83


Storing Your Cannabis 84


Chapter 6: Choosing and Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 85


Choosing a Cannabis Dispensary 86


Comparing medical and recreational dispensaries 86


Finding a reliable and legal place to shop 89


Comparing purchase/delivery/pickup options 92


Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 95


Knowing what to expect 95


Sizing up the budtender 97


Getting a Medical Marijuana Card 98


Chapter 7: Consuming Cannabis 101


Going Old School: Smoking or Vaping 102


Smoking cannabis 102


Vaping cannabis 110


Dabbing 112


Eating and Drinking Cannabis: Edibles 115


Using Topical and Transdermal Products 117


Using Cannabis Tinctures or Pills 118


Taking Pharmaceutical Preparations 119


Chapter 8: Using Cannabis Safely and Responsibly 121


Recognizing the Health and Safety Risks 122


Checking out undesirable transitory effects 122


Looking ahead to potential long-term complications 123


Making Dosing Decisions 124


Defining your desired experience 125


Considering the chemical composition of products 125


Comparing methods of consumption 129


Accounting for other medications or substances used 130


Examining your body's biochemistry 131


Considering the environment or setting and your mood or mind-set 132


Keeping Safety in Mind 132


Using cannabis in moderation 133


Making rational decisions 133


Committing to no impaired driving 133


Dealing with Overconsumption 134


Distinguishing overconsumption from overdose 134


Avoiding overconsumption 135


Responding to overconsumption 135


Considering Underage Development 136


Part 3: Reaping the Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana 139


Chapter 9: Using Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes 141


Understanding the Current and Ongoing Status of Medical Marijuana 142


Choosing Medical Marijuana Products 143


Seeking Symptom Relief for Specific Conditions 145


Acne 146


Addiction 146


Alzheimer's 147


Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 148


Anxiety 149


Appetite loss 149


Arthritis 150


Asthma 151


Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 151


Autism spectrum disorders 151


Autoimmune disorders 152


Bipolar disorder 153


Cachexia (Wasting) 153


Cancer 154


Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) 155


Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity 155


Depression 156


Diabetes 157


Eating disorders 158


Epilepsy 158


Fibromyalgia 159


Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 159


Glaucoma 160


Hepatitis C 161


HIV/AIDS 161


Huntington's disease 162


Inflammation 162


Insomnia 163


Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 163


Lupus 164


Menopause 165


Migraines and headaches 166


Multiple sclerosis (MS) 166


Nausea and vomiting 167


Pain 167


Parkinson's disease 168


Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 168


Restless legs syndrome 169


Schizophrenia/psychosis 170


Sexual dysfunction 170


Skin conditions 171


Sports medicine 172


Tourette syndrome 172


Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease 173


Accounting for Potential Adverse Side Effects 174


Chapter 10: Using Pot for Pets 175


Recognizing the Potential Benefits of Cannabis Treatment 176


Consulting Your Veterinarian First 177


Treating Specific Conditions in Pets 178


Anxiety 178


Appetite loss 178


Cancer 179


Digestion issues 180


Epilepsy/seizures 180


Nausea/vomiting 181


Pain 181


Palliative care 181


Tumors 181


Noting the Potential Adverse Effects of Cannabis on Pets 182


Administering Cannabis to Pets 182


Deciding on a way to administer it 183


Choosing an initial dose 183


Monitoring your pet's reaction 184


Adjusting the dose 184


Preventing and responding to overconsumption 185


Obtaining Commercial Cannabinoid Products 185


Preparing Your Own Concoctions 186


Part 4: Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Cultivation, Post-Harvest, and Production 187


Chapter 11: Growing Cannabis 189


Wrapping Your Brain Around the Cannabis Growth Cycle 190


Choosing a Cultivation Method 191


Indoor 191


Outdoor 192


Hydroponics 193


Soil 193


Creating a Grow Room for Indoor Cultivation 194


Tackling the initial setup 194


Simulating the desired climate 195


Focusing on air flow 195


Setting up grow lights 198


Deciding on a watering/fertilizing system 201


Using a hydroponics system 202


Keeping your grow room impeccably clean 204


Preparing for Outdoor Cultivation 204


Choosing a site 204


Hardening off your plants 207


Supporting and protecting your plants 207


Prepping Your Soil or Other Grow Medium 208


Planting Seeds or Cuttings 209


Acquiring seeds or cuttings 209


Germinating seeds 211


Planting seedlings 212


Cloning plants 212


Transplanting 214


Keeping Your Plants Healthy 214


Ensuring proper temperature, humidity, and lighting 214


Watering and fertilizing your plants 215


Checking and adjusting the pH 216


Battling common pests 216


Preventing and treating common diseases 217


Pruning your plants 218


Training your plants to maximize yield 218


Prepping Plants for Harvest 221


Stop spraying the foliage 221


Flush your grow medium 222


Cultivating Cannabis in an Industrial Setting: Special Considerations 222


Considering space locations and rules 222


Considering the use of pesticides and nutrients 223


Handling green waste 223


Arranging third party testing 223


Tracking plants from seed to sale 224


Chapter 12: Harvesting and Post-Harvest 225


Deciding When to Harvest: Timing is Everything! 226


Keeping an eye on the trichomes 226


Observing the pistils and stigmas 227


Tracking leaf senescence 228


Find out the strain's expected time-to-harvest 228


Harvesting Your Plants 228


Weighing and Calculating Your Yield (Dry/Wet Weights) 229


Determining the plant's wet weight 229


Weighing after bucking or shucking and maybe rough trimming 230


Weighing green waste and wet bud 231


Drying, Curing, and Trimming Flower Post-Harvest 232


Drying your plant or buds 232


Curing dried cannabis 236


Trimming bud 238


Storing your buds 239


Packaging for commercial use 239


Chapter 13: Making Concentrates and Marijuana Infused Products (MIPs) 241


Grasping Concentrate Basics 242


Exploring Different Extraction Methods 242


Non-solvent extraction methods 243


Solvent extraction methods 244


Creating Your Own Concentrates 247


Making kief (dry sift) 247


Making dry sift hash 248


Making bubble hash 248


Making dry ice hash 250


Making rosin 252


Making charas 253


Make your own cannabis butter 253


Make your own tincture 256


Cooking Up Edibles 257


Preparing Tinctures, Lotions, and More 258


Part 5: Getting Down to Business 259


Chapter 14: Starting Your Own Cannabis Business 261


Working with a Federal Schedule I Drug 262


Choosing a Business Type 263


Grower 264


Retailer 264


Manufacturer of infused products (MIP) 265


Processed product brand 267


Profiting from cannabis with an ancillary business 268


Addressing Common Challenges 268


Dealing with money issues 269


Adhering to state and local laws 272


Applying for licenses in other states 276


Staffing for Success 278


Filling key positions 279


Providing the necessary training 281


Getting your people certified: Badging 282


Setting Up Shop 282


Choosing a facility 282


Establishing your supply chain 283


Tackling transportation issues 283


Acquiring the necessary equipment 284


Creating a website/blog 286


Building your point of sale (POS) system 287


Maintaining a Positive Public Image 287


Attending community hearings 288


Handling public affairs 288


Communicating with the press 288


Catering to the customer 289


Chapter 15: Finding Work in the Cannabis Industry 291


Scoping Out Job Opportunities 292


Grow master or grower 292


Cultivation technician 292


Trimmer 293


Joint roller 293


Cure associate 293


Nutrient chemist 293


Extractor 294


Quality assurance manager 294


Dispensary manager 294


Budtender/sales associate 295


Dispensary receptionist or cashier 295


Packager 296


Edibles chef 296


Courier/delivery driver 296


Buyer 297


Sales representatives 297


Compliance manager 298


Communications director 298


Human resources (HR) manager 299


Trainers 299


Public affairs administrator 300


Laboratory worker 300


Security manager or officer 300


Accountant 301


Marketing manager or team members 301


Facilities manager 301


Technology manager 302


Exploring Jobs in Ancillary Industries and Professions 302


Finding Employers 303


Improving Your Odds of Getting Hired 304


Brush up on cannabis culture and law 304


Attend industry events 305


Get your cannabis badge or state clearance 305


Become a cannabis activist 306


Chapter 16: Investing in Cannabis 307


Sizing Up Current and Future Investment Opportunities 308


Considering the current market 308


Exploring publicly traded stock on the Canadian market 310


Looking ahead to the future market 312


Performing Your Due Diligence 312


Seeking Private Investment Opportunities 313


Considering Investments in Ancillary Businesses 314


Investing in Cannabis Real Estate 314


Part 6: The Part of Tens 317


Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Growing More and Better Weed 319


Choose the Right Strain 319


Choose Top-Quality Seeds 321


Use High-Quality Soil 321


Upsize Your Containers 321


Maximize Bud Production with Topping, Training, and Scrogging 322


Use the Right Nutrients in the Right Amounts at the Right Times 323


Get the Lighting Right 323


Ensure Proper Ventilation and Circulation 324


Be Patient Near Harvest Time 325


Dry and Cure Your Weed Properly 325


Chapter 18: Ten Tips to Enhance Your Cannabis Experience 327


Choose Top-Quality Products 327


Experiment with Different Strains 328


Try Different Consumption Methods 328


Try Hash and Other Concentrates 329


Set the Mood 329


Chill Your Bong 330


Boost Your High with Certain Foods 330


Exercise Regularly 331


Break the Monotony 331


Take a Tolerance Break 331


Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Buying Cannabis 333


Choose the Right Dispensary for You 333


Find a Knowledgeable and Helpful Budtender 334


Describe the Specific Effect You Desire 335


Buy Legal Cannabis 335


Visually Inspect the Product 336


Smell It 336


"Feel" It 337


Taste It 337


Ask About the Cultivation Method 338


Compare Prices 338


Appendix: Cannabis Recipes 339


Index 361