The cannabis plant belongs to the genus Cannabis. There are varieties of different cannabis plant strains, which are suitable for the production of cannabis for medicinal applications. Cannabis material for medical use may be produced from dried cannabis flowers or from extracts of cannabis flowers. A cannabis flower can comprise several hundred different active ingredients, among them plenty of different terpenes and cannabinoids. One of the most active cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Other cannabinoids are for example cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerol (CBG) and delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Terpenes produced by the cannabis plant can influence the physiological effect of cannabinoids. Cannabis material is useful in the treatment of several diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Cannabis material may also have beneficial effects in patients who suffer from chronic pain, muscle spasms, insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder, dizziness during chemotherapy and low appetite. Cannabis material for medical use can be in the form of capsules, tinctures or edibles. (EP3771330).

The Cannabis plant produces numerous secondary metabolites including cannabinoids and terpenes, which are known for their therapeutic effect. Many of these metabolites are produced in a special structure, termed glandular trichome, developed mostly on leaves called bract that encapsulates the female’s reproductive parts in the female flower. The cola, which is a cluster of flower buds (inflorescences) that grow tightly together, develops upon induction of flowering on every growing tip, emerging from leaf nodes along the stem. As the flower develops the trichrome go through ripening process having three visible stages: translucent, opaque, and amber, simultaneously with a change in the content of the secondary metabolites.

Cannabis plants contain cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabino (THC) and cannabidol (CBD), which can be eaten, inhaled, or otherwise absorbed into a person’s body for medical, spiritual, or recreational purposes. At maturity, a femal cannabis plant will include infructescences (also referred to as buds) that can have up to ten times higher levels of calnabinoids than its leaves and up to one hundred times higher level of cannabinoids that its stalks. 

What Makes a Potent Cannabis Plant?

There is much more to cannabis than THC. When it comes to moving a product, only two numbers seem to matter; the list price and its THC content. Super potent cannabis flower, with THC of greater than 25%, will dominate dispensary shelves and justify charging $75 or more. However, a study at the Unviersity of Colorado publisehd in JAMA Psychiatry found that THC content is a poor indicator of potency. High-THC weed does not ven mean one gets more high. The reason for this is that there are many more factors at play than THC. There are a host of cannabinoids, including CBD as well as more than 100 others, most of which are not even tested for. There are also aromatic compounds called terpenes that dictate how cannabis affects the mind and body. All of these work in concert, a phenomenon known as the “the entrouage effect”. This is why synthetic THC simply never had the same medical effects a smoking week. A good way, mabye the best way, to detemrine if cannabis will be good is to smell it. But this is difficult since in legal markets like California, pot is sold in preackaged containers. “Science Reverals the Cannabis industry’s greatest lie: you’re buyin g weed wrong (and so is everyone else), Chris Roberts, June 23, 2022). 

One cognitive test has shown that in fact there is no difference in cognition between the sober and stoned condition. (“Weed is tronger than ever, but it might not affect our brains that much: 6 surprising facts about cannabis” CC Documentaries.)

In another study, one group of participants were given flower buds with 16-24 % THC while extract users got oil with 70-90% THC levels. The reserchers closely monitored the participants’ blood, moods, and cognitive function. Surpirsingly, they found that potency did not track with intoxication levels. While there were striking differences in blood levels, they were similarly impaired. The results suggested that other components like cannabidiol or CBD, which is harvested from hemp or marijuana plants that contain less than 0.03% THC also is important. Tehre are also compounds called terpenes, which affect how cannabis influences one’s mind and body. All of these componets of the cannabis plant work together to give one a smooth and seamless high. Thus unlike gin or vodka, where alcohol levels define how drunk one gets, how potent your weed is can not be determiend by its THC content.