The Basics of Cannabis: A Refresher

Let's get back to basics! You might be fluent in the language cannabis, but a quick refresher never hurt anyone. If you're new to our site or to cannabis in general, welcome! We're Luce Farm Wellness, creators of premium hemp-infused botanical wellness products. We also take pride in providing our community with educational content so you can feel confident and informed as you navigate the world of Cannabis. So let's get to it.

What is hemp?

Hemp is the common name for a Cannabis sativa plant with THC levels at 0.3% or below. The legal limit of THC in a hemp plant is 0.3%, per US government regulation.

Are hemp and marijuana the same?

Hemp and Marijuana are, taxonomically speaking, the same plant — simply two different names for the same genus (Cannabis) and species. They even look and smell the same! So what’s the difference? The THC content. Marijuana typically contains 5% to 20% THC, whereas hemp contains less than 0.3% THC. You can't get high from hemp.

What are cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are a diverse class of chemical compounds that occur naturally in both the human body (endocannabinoids) and cannabis plants (phytocannabinoids).

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is just one of many cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant.

How do you extract CBD from hemp?

Extracting cannabinoids (like CBD) and other hemp compounds (like terpenes, flavonoids and fatty acids) from our hemp plants requires a scientist, a laboratory and the proper equipment. Here at Luce Farm Wellness, we prefer to use the ‘supercritical co2 extraction’ method, but alternative methods do exist. Once the cannabinoids and hemp compounds are extracted from the plant matter, they’re infused into a carrier oil (MCT Oil is our carrier oil of choice), resulting in our golden-hued, CBD-rich, full-spectrum oil.

What does “full-spectrum” mean?

Full-spectrum oil means that a diverse cast of the naturally-occurring cannabinoids (CBDa, CBDg, CBG and others), terpenes, flavonoids and fatty acids have been infused into a carrier oil. For perspective, the opposite of a ‘full-spectrum’ oil is an ‘isolate’ oil, where only one cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), is infused into a carrier oil. Luce Farm Wellness consciously chooses to use full-spectrum oil in our products; we want our oil to contain the full-spectrum of cannabinoids and hemp compounds found in our hemp plants.

What is the endocannabinoid system?

Let's first look at the word "endocannabinoid." "Cannabinoid" comes from "cannabis," and "endo" is short for "endogenous," which means that it is produced naturally inside of your body.

So "endocannabinoid" simply means cannabis-like substances that naturally occur inside us!

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) itself is made up of three parts:

1. Endocannabinoids
2. Receptors in the nervous system and around your body that endocannabinoids and cannabinoids bond with
3. Enzymes that help break down endocannabinoids and cannabinoids

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) helps our bodies maintain “homeostasis”. Homeostasis is reached when all the essential functions of your body are operating in their optimal ‘zones’ and in balanced harmony. The ECS works to keep your internal biological environment stable and optimal no matter what's going on in the environment around you. Think of all the gauges in the dashboard of a car or airplane: They tell the operator whether things are—or aren't—operating in the optimal zone.

Now you're a cannabis pro!

Take a look at this post to find out which Luce Farm Wellness product is best for you!