Cannabis Light: the light herb that everyone likes (but not Salvini)

A Brief History of Cannabis

The Cannabis plant, also known as marijuana or ganja, boasts very ancient origins. This floristic species also represents a unique case in the world: it is, in fact, used as a fiber, but its psychoactive properties are also exploited.
Its cultivation seems to date back to around 10 thousand years ago and further confirmation of this comes from the finds discovered on the island of Taiwan, and in some caves in present-day Romania.
Cannabis has, in fact, been used since ancient times for various purposes: the Aryans smoked it, the Chinese, as attested by a pharmacological treatise signed by Emperor Shen Nung, used it in medicine, the Greeks commercialised it, the Scythians vaporised it and the Phoenicians used it to make the sails of their ships.
Marijuana, on the other hand, seems to have arrived in Europe about five centuries before Christ: in Berlin, inside an urn dating back to 2,500 years ago, traces of seeds and leaves of this plant were found; its diffusion was very rapid and in 1484 a papal bull prohibited its use by the population, although with little success.
Its consumption became a real fashion among intellectuals and, in fact, in Paris the Hashish Eaters Club was founded, which included writers and poets such as Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas and Charles Baudelaire.
Finally, we cannot forget the hemp paper used to print the Gutenberg Bible and the United States Declaration of Independence, the sails of Christopher Columbus's caravels, and the countless plantations scattered throughout America.

A Cannabis plant seen from the outside

The plant is part of the Cannabaceae family to which only two genera belong: Humulus (hops) and Cannabis; from the latter some hallucinogenic substances are obtained, such as hashish and marijuana, and hemp, one of the most famous fibres in the world.
Cannabis, an annual plant species, grows between 1.5 and 2 metres tall, but some specimens can even reach 5 metres.
It has a taproot (large main element from which many small branches branch off) and a thin, erect and branched stem. The leaves, petiolate (the petiole is the part that joins the end of the leaf to the branch) and lobed-palmate, are, instead, made up of a variable number (between 5 and 13) of many small elements and have a dentate-serrated edge.
This plant is also defined as dioecious because the male and female reproductive organs, stamens and pistils, are located on shrubs of different sexes. The male flowers (staminiferous), organized in panicles, are located in correspondence with the axils of the leaves, and each of them is formed by 5 tepals, fused at the base, and 5 stamens.
The female ones (pistilliferous), on the other hand, are grouped in groups of 2-6 at the base of the bracts (transformed leaves that accompany flowers and inflorescences) from which short spikes originate; in each of them a membrane can be distinguished, in the shape of a chalice, which envelops an ovary surmounted by 2 styles (they are the natural extension of the ovary and culminate in the stigmas) and 2 stigmas (elements involved in pollination).
Both flowers bloom during the summer, while pollination is anemophilous (it occurs thanks to the action of the wind).
The fruits, which appear as hard round-oval shaped alkenes, appear during the autumn season, contain a single seed and their colour is a mix between olive green, dark brown and reddish.

How many strains of Cannabis are there?

There is a great deal of controversy on this subject: some scholars speak of three distinct species, while others believe there is a single species with multiple varieties. The latter assertion, in particular, starts from the assumption that all Cannabis plants have the same morphological, chemical and developmental characteristics and that what distinguishes them from each other is the area where they grow, the altitude, the properties of the soil and much more.

Beyond the discussions, three different species can be distinguished:

• Cannabis Sativa : it is certainly the best known, it grows in Asia, America and Africa and can reach, if not pruned, 5 metres in height.
  Its appearance is the result of constant adaptation to atmospheric conditions, especially humidity: the plant therefore appears less compact and the flowering period can last up to fourteen weeks. The leaves, light green, are large and have an elongated shape that resembles the fingers of the hand.
• Cannabis Indica : It comes from places like Pakistan and India and has therefore adapted to drier and more arid climates. All this has an impact on its morphology: it is lower and stockier, its leaves are darker and wider and its flowers form many small clusters.
• Cannabis Ruderalis : its lands of origin are Siberia and Kazakhstan, where the hours of light are very few and flowering does not depend on them. It resembles a small bush that grows very quickly in all possible directions, but does not reach great heights (maximum 90 cm); the leaves are very narrow and the flowers are tiny.

The main active ingredients of Cannabis

Cannabis or hemp includes among its components 80 cannabinoids and among these are Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is, without a shadow of a doubt, the one most known and sought after by Cannabis lovers.

THC is also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and is concentrated in the leaves and flowers of the plant; it is associated with the countless psychoactive effects that make hemp illegal in many countries.
The latter, in its raw state, does not contain THC, but rather a non-psychoactive substance better known as THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) which transforms into THC during the drying process, during which heat acts as a sort of catalyst because it accelerates this change.

Tetrahydrocannabinol binds to nerve cell receptors in the body, thus causing the release of dopamine (a neurotransmitter produced by the brain, better known as the euphoria hormone). The effects recorded depend on the concentration of the cannabinoid, appear within thirty minutes of its intake and can last for more than two hours; the main ones include a feeling of euphoria , increased appetite , prostration , relaxation , altered auditory perceptions and disorientation in space and time.
Several studies have also demonstrated the effectiveness of this substance in the medical field : in fact, it can be successfully used to treat various pathologies and relieve the pain associated with them.
The THC content in Cannabis Sativa is around 1-2% (in optimal conditions it can reach peaks of 5%), in Indica it can reach peaks over 25%, while in Ruderalis very low percentages are recorded. In legal hemp, the percentage of THC cannot exceed 0.6%.

CBD , a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, has a dual function: it prolongs the analgesic action of THC and, at the same time, combats the unwanted effects that it produces on heartbeat, breathing and body temperature.

Brief comparison of the effects induced by the consumption of THC and CBD

THC has many side effects including anxiety and paranoia , while these are not associated with CBD, as confirmed by several studies.
THC users also experience clear signs of psychosis and these can be combated with CBD which has antipsychotic powers.
High concentrations of THC can also promote sleep , while this does not happen if you consume products with high percentages of CBD because the latter, in fact, acts in a diametrically opposite way by stimulating wakefulness .

What is Cannabis light?

Light Cannabis, better known as light, is the product of the female inflorescences of Cannabis Sativa: in fact, those containing minimal concentrations of THC (under 0.2% and tolerated up to 0.6%) and high levels of CBD are selected. It is therefore a non-narcotic substance that differs from all those that instead have high levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol and are, therefore, used for therapeutic, pleasant and illegal purposes.

At first glance it looks the same as marijuana and only a chemical analysis allows, therefore, to distinguish legal hemp from the illegal one sold on the black market.
Light Cannabis is smoked even if this remains illegal in all legal respects, while it can be used in cooking to prepare various types of drinks and foods.

Finally, its consumption with vaporizers allows to contain the risks associated with combustion.

According to the guidelines established by the current legislation, Cannabis light can be found throughout the national territory but not for recreational use; 2016 was, for Italy, the turning point because it brought to light, throughout the country, the cultivation of hemp.

The phenomenon, however, began in Switzerland, where legal marijuana is sold, instead of tobacco, in packages similar to those containing classic cigarettes.
This trend has not escaped the notice of many agricultural companies that have, in fact, started the process and presented a formal request to be able to produce the well-known hemp inflorescences.

Cannabis: what the law says in detail

Italy was, until the Second World War, one of the nations where the most hemp was produced. This reality then completely shattered because two different branches overlapped: the legal one associated with the agricultural sector and the illegal one connected, instead, to drug trafficking.
The promulgation of Law 242/2016 has radically changed things and has established, in fact, the legality of the cultivation and sale of Cannabis with percentages of the active ingredient, THC, between 0.2% and 0.6%.

However, the legislation has several gaps as, at present, it is mainly aimed at farmers .
Furthermore, the possible areas of application of hemp were established (article 2), but its sale for personal use was prohibited .
Smoking Cannabis light is therefore a crime and is punishable by an administrative sanction ; in the event of repeat offences, the withdrawal of the driving licence and passport is finally foreseen.

Properties and benefits of light Cannabis

Light hemp can be considered as such if and only if the following conditions exist:

• THC percentage lower than 0.2% (with a tolerance threshold of up to 0.6%);
• CBD percentage up to 4%.

As already mentioned, it is obtained from Cannabis Sativa which has been the subject, over time, of various botanical studies and subsequent experiments in order to obtain a product with practically no effects on the psyche.
There are, in fact, two types of Cannabis Light that differ from each other in terms of their lower and higher CBD content, respectively.

Legal marijuana with a high level of Cannabidiol produces, in particular, muscle relaxant, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects ; the sensation of tranquility that the subject can feel is, instead, the result of the negligible level of THC.
Furthermore, its consumption does not induce the much feared psychotropic effects , it does not cause intoxication or any type of paranoia.
The CBD , contained in high percentages, also makes the product a valid ally against migraines , menstrual pain and joint discomfort; the low concentrations of THC also promote the state of wakefulness and the subject remains, consequently, alert.

According to experts, however, the connection between the substance, the intrinsic characteristics of the consumer and the methods of administration should not be underestimated.
It is also necessary to consider that cannabinoids are present in the plant in a carboxylated (or inactive) form and as such cannot, therefore, cause any effect on the nervous system.

However, the consumption of light Cannabis very often requires heating the substance which therefore leads to the activation of cannabinoids: in light of this, it would therefore be advisable to re-evaluate, during the use phase, the concentrations of THC in order to establish the brain's response more precisely.

The effects, in general, are evident within a few minutes if the product is smoked, while in the case of ingestion the times are more dilated. The same have, moreover, a variable duration: in the first case they regress within four hours, in the second they are, instead, indispensable up to fourteen hours.

Risks and contraindications

Cannabis light does not present , by virtue of its composition, particular side effects . However, the risks associated with combustion cannot be overlooked and among these are malignant neoplasms and disorders affecting the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
However, the abuse of high quantities of CBD is not recommended for pregnant women because it seems to have a negative impact on the placenta, compromising its functionality.
Light Cannabis combined with tobacco can also induce a form of dependence known as smoking in the subject.

Finally, special attention must be paid to driving : Cannabidiol (CBD) has negligible effects on driving ability, but legal marijuana does contain some traces of THC that can be detected during a test; the individual can, therefore, test positive and be declared unfit to drive.
However, taking light Cannabis should be avoided in case of cardiac and/or respiratory problems .

Cannabis vs. Opiates and Hallucinogens

Finally, it is necessary to make a brief digression to underline the fact that cannabis does not belong to the family of opiates and hallucinogens .

The former, in fact, derive from opium alkaloids which are, in turn, contained in the resin (opium) which is extracted from the sleeping poppy.
This category includes codeine, morphine, semi-synthetic alkaloids, such as the well-known heroin, and opioids (synthetic products of laboratory processing).
The origin of the two substances is, therefore, completely different and the same can be said for the effects they cause.

Hallucinations, on the other hand, are triggered by psychedelic drugs (LSD, magic mushrooms, etc.) which cloud the mind because they release so-called serotonergic agents.
These substances bind to serotonin receptors (a neurotransmitter that sends signals to the brain), thus promoting or inhibiting the transmission of messages to the brain.

Cannabis does not contain any serotonergic substances among its components and therefore does not cause any hallucinations; instead, it acts on the optic nerve and this can cause blurred vision and the appearance of flashes of light that can be mistakenly considered visual illusions.