Legal Cannabis in Ontario
Cannabis was legalized for recreational use in Ontario (Canada) on the 17th of October 2018 and the developments in cannabis formulations have been extensive.
Originally in Canada, only a few options were available in terms of specific cannabis formulations (such as whole flower and pre-rolled joints) but as the industry has progressed and Cannabis 2.0 laws were developed many new ways to consume cannabis have become readily available for the average every day recreational consumer.
Listed below you will find a general breakdown explaining the differences between the numerous ways to consume cannabis that CANJA offers, we pride ourselves on seeking out and bringing in the newest, most cutting-edge methods of cannabis consumption that are legally available for purchase in Ontario.
THC Products
These are products (of all categories) which contain Delta-Nine-Tetrahydrocannabinol (the psychoactive substance found in cannabis that can get you “high”)
These products come in almost all formulations that are available for legal purchase in Ontario
CBD Products
These are products which contain the non-psychoactive compound Cannabidiol
These products come in almost all formulations legally purchasable in Ontario as well (usually with some THC content)
Whole Flower
The main, cannabinoid rich part of the cannabis plant that is harvested for recreational use (the leaves and stems are not commonly consumed as they contain only trace quantities of cannabinoids) these flowers (more commonly referred to as buds) are then dried and cured to be consumed as is, or to be processed into other formulations.
This product is typically smoked (rolled into a joint or using a pipe, bong or other accessory) or vaporized (using a vaporizer device). And the effects typically take effect immediately and can last up to a few hours.
Pre-Rolled Products
These are products made from the whole flower of the cannabis plant. The dried and cured cannabis flower is milled (ground) into a workable consistency and rolled into a fairly tight tube-shaped “joint”.
The type of paper used for pre-rolled products makes a huge impact on the over-all experience. Different products such as standard bleached pulp-based paper to hemp, bamboo and even rice based rolling products. You can even use raw hemp products as a tobacco free “blunt wrap”.
Edibles
An orally consumed formulation of recreationally consumable cannabis.
The cannabis flower is extracted into its base cannabinoids (typically THC and CBD but other compounds such as CBN [Cannabinol] have also begun to be used in extracted formulations) and infused into an inert carrier (usually a fatty substance like oil) then prepared into confectionary (chocolates, candies, caramels etc.).
This type of product requires a process called decarboxylation to activate the THC into a substance that becomes psychoactive when processed by the liver; otherwise, the product will have little to no effect. These products typically take effect in 30 minutes to an hour and can last for 4 to more than 6 hours.
Beverages
This is a formulation of cannabis that is similar in effect to that of edibles. Typically, these products take effect within 15 to 30 minutes and last for 2 to 4 hours.
They can contain THC or CBD and are one of the newest and most exciting formulations of cannabis currently available for legal, recreational use in Ontario.
Oils and Capsules
The product that most edibles and beverages stem from is cannabis oils (the extracted resinous cannabinoids produced by the cannabis plant). These are the raw, infused oils (THC, CBD, CBN etc.) that are incorporated into other products for oral consumption.
These oils are also available for purchase in Ontario in their raw form or encapsulated as an easy to swallow pill. These oils have to be infused with decarboxylated cannabinoids or they will not be effective.
Topicals
These products are for external use only (not to be consumed orally). They can be worked into the skin and work as a surface agent, or they can also be formulated to be absorbed trans-dermally.
Typically, these products are a combination of THC and CBD but come in both formulations separately as well.
Concentrates (Hash, Kief, Shatter, Rosin, Resin, Wax, Honey Oil, THC Distillate and CBD Isolate)
One of the newest, most potent formulations of cannabis available for legal use in Canada that comes in many different variations.
Kief and Hash – The trichomes (resin glands) are harvested from the cannabis plant and are either consumed loose (kief) or compressed into a solid product (hash).
Shatter and Wax – Another extract that harvests the trichomes to be consumed through inhalation. Through solvent based extraction wax (or crumble) can be produced and when this is “winterized” or “de-waxed” shatter is produced (a much cleaner, purer formulation than wax).
Rosin and Resin – These are similar products to wax and shatter, however the extraction method is typically solvent free (although this can be performed using solvent based extraction as well). Most commonly, the cannabis flower (usually dried for rosin and fresh for resin) is subjected to higher temperatures and pressure to create the to-be-inhaled extracts.
Honey Oil, THC Distillate and CBD Isolate – These three products can be consumed in multiple ways (inhalation using accessories or vape cartridges or through oral consumption if processed correctly). The THC distillate and CBD isolate are the purest extracts of their respective cannabinoids and honey oil is a full-spectrum version that typically contains both main cannabinoids (THC and CBD) but also many other sub-cannabinoids (such as CBN) and terpenes.
Vape Cartridges
This is one of the newest, most cutting-edge methods of cannabis consumption currently available on the legal recreational market. These products come in THC and CBD specific formulations as well as blends.
A concentrate is produced (typically a distillate or a full spectrum resin) and is stored in a glass vial with a heating element that connects to an electrical device to “vaporize” the product into an inhalable vapour.