Cannabis can be complex, but we’re here to simplify it. Whether you’re new to cannabis or looking to deepen your knowledge, this page covers everything from its history and benefits to responsible use. Explore the facts and insights you need to make informed choices.
ABOUT TREEHOUSE
Cannabis is a flowering herbaceous plant with industrial, medicinal, nutritional, and recreational uses. It produces resin rich in terpenes and cannabinoids, found in tiny structures called trichomes. Part of the Cannabaceae family, cannabis is dioecious, meaning individual plants are either male or female. Female plants are prized for their aromatic, cannabinoid-rich resin.
Male cannabis plants produce pollen sacs to fertilize females, contributing half the genetic material for seeds. Taller and less robust than females, males are favored in hemp production due to their softer inner bark fibers.
Female plants produce resinous flowers containing over 500 compounds. If not pollinated, they yield seedless, larger buds with higher resin and cannabinoid content, known as sinsemilla, which are ideal for consumption.
Colas are clusters of buds that grow at the top of stems and branches. The largest bud, often called the main cola, develops tightly packed flowers rich in cannabinoids and terpenes.
Female cannabis buds are harvested, dried, and cured to enhance potency, flavor, and shelf life. Proper curing reduces chlorophyll, preserves terpenes and cannabinoids, and prevents mold, ensuring a smoother, more enjoyable experience.
CANNABIS CULTIVARS
Cannabis comes in a vast range of cultivars, each with unique characteristics in aroma, potency, and effects. These differences result from selective breeding, creating plants suited for medicinal, recreational, or industrial use.
Landrace cannabis strains are naturally occurring varieties that evolved in specific regions over centuries. Modern cultivars, however, are the result of crossbreeding landraces to enhance desirable traits like yield, flavor, and cannabinoid content.
Cannabis breeding involves selecting parent plants with specific traits—like high THC, CBD, or disease resistance—and cross-pollinating them. This process, guided by genetics, allows growers to refine potency, terpene profiles, and resilience over generations.
While “strain” is commonly used to describe different cannabis varieties, the correct term is “cultivar” (short for cultivated variety). In botany, “strain” applies more to microbiology, whereas cultivars are selectively bred plant types with unique traits.
WHAT ARE TERPENES?
Cannabis is often categorized as indica, sativa, or hybrid. Originally, these terms described the plant’s geographic origins and physical traits, though today they are used to predict the general effects. While there’s no direct link between a plant’s appearance and its effects, these labels help manage expectations.
Sativa strains typically offer a more cerebral, uplifting high, making them ideal for daytime use.
Indica strains usually provide physical, relaxing effects, suitable for unwinding.
Hybrids combine traits of both, with effects depending on whether the strain is indica or sativa dominant.
1. Physical Traits: Tall, thin plants with narrow leaves.
2. Origin: Equatorial regions like Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, and Southeast Asia.
3. Speed to Flower & Yields: Longer flowering time (10-16 weeks) with moderate to high yields.
1. Physical Traits: Short, bushy plants with broad leaves.
2. Origin: Mountainous regions like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
3. Speed to Flower & Yields: Faster flowering time (6-9 weeks) with high yields.
1.Physical Traits: A mix of sativa and indica traits, varying in height and leaf structure.
2.Origin: Crossbred from sativa and indica plants, cultivated worldwide.
3.Speed to Flower & Yields: Varies depending on dominant genetics, with moderate flowering time and yields.
WHAT ARE TERPENES?
Cannabis is rich in terpenes, the aromatic compounds that give each plant its unique scent and flavour. From citrusy limonene to earthy myrcene and piney pinene, these terpenes not only shape the sensory experience but may also influence the effects of different cannabis varieties. With countless terpene combinations, each cultivar offers a distinct profile.
ALSO FOUND IN: lemongrass, thyme, mango
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: earthy, musky, fruity
ALSO FOUND IN: rosemary, oregano, black pepper
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: earthy, spicy, woody
ALSO FOUND IN: lemons, juniper, oranges
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: lemon, tart, citrus rind
ALSO FOUND IN: pine needles
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: piney, resinous
ALSO FOUND IN: hops, basil, ginger
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: herbal, dank, hoppy
ALSO FOUND IN: orchids, mint, parsley
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: floral, sweet, woody
ALSO FOUND IN: apples, nutmeg, patchouli
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: fruity, herbal, floral
ALSO FOUND IN: lavender, rosewood, birch
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: candy, spicy, floral, citrus
ALSO FOUND IN: chamomile, sage, candeia trees
POTENTIAL FLAVOURS: herbal, floral, honey