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CANNABIS IN ILLINOIS

Illinois launched the compassionate use of medical cannabis pilot program act in august of 2013, legalizing the use of medical marijuana in the state and creating a registry program for patients with qualifying conditions.

Illinois became the eleventh state to legalize recreational cannabis in 2019 with the adult use cannabis program for purchase from licensed dispensaries for people 21 or older.

Possession limit for Illinois residents

30 g of cannabis flower

5 g of cannabis concentrate

500 milligrams of THC with cannabis infused product

Possession limit for non-Illinois residents

15 g of cannabis flower

2.5 g of cannabis concentrate

250 milligrams of THC with cannabis infused product

Discover The Fundamentals of Cannabis

The therapeutic benefits of cannabis are widely recognized. This overview clarifies the scientific principles of the plant.

Click on a subject to learn more

Cannabis 101

Cannabinoids

Terpenes

Endocannabinoid system

Cannabis 101

The Cannabis plant can be used in a variety of products ranging from paper and clothing to building materials and fuel. Now as the industry continues to grow with Cannabis research, its medicinal properties and uses continue to interest patients, healthcare professionals, and cultivators. The rebirth of Cannabis as a medicine is on its way. Let’s take a deeper look at this magnificent plant and understand why it’s so unique.

Cannabis is a flowering species with multiple stages of life. The plant’s buds are tightly clustered flowers of the female plant. Buds reach their final form after the drying process when they are harvested trimmed, and ready for consumption.

There are many uses for the whole plant however most cannabis growers harvest only its flower because they contain the most amount of trichomes which offer healing benefits. Trichomes are the resin glands of the plant that contain THC and other active medicinal cannabinoids. These glands give off aromatic smells as well as containing the flavor which is called the terpenes.

Cannabis has been alongside humans for thousands of years and has been grown for medicinal purposes for just as long dating back as far as 2900 B.C. The plant’s healing properties come from cannabinoids. The cannabinoids bind to receptor sites in the brain and the body which is known as the endocannabinoid system. Evidence of the medicinal effects of cannabinoids is strong. THC and CBD help individuals with pain, anxiety, sleep, stress, as well as nausea, inflammation, and epilepsy. Cannabis contains at least 85 different cannabinoids. More research is continuing to progress detailing how cannabinoids can be used to treat many different ailments.

As cannabis becomes more of modern medicine it is not a guessing game on how much to take or if it’s a safe product. Cannabis can be dosed precisely, advancements in the process have led to the ability to micro-dose with pills, tablets, and gel caps. Which contain smaller amounts of THC or CBD 5mg or 10 mg. This is important for first-time use or for medicinal purposes.

Cannabis Strain

Strains are essentially different breeds of cannabis, and they are bred to have specific effects on the consumer. Most cannabis strains can be classified as Sativa, Indica, or hybrid which are different variations of cannabis. These classes of strains have different effects on the consumer.

Sativa

Cannabis sativa is found primarily in hot, dry climates with long sunny days. These include Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, and portions of Western Asia. Sativa plants are tall and thin with finger leaves. They can grow up to 12 feet, and they take longer to mature than some other types of cannabis. Some commonly associated effects include energizing, anxiety-reducing, productive and creative effects. Less lethargic because of its stimulating impact, it is best to use Sativa in the daytime.

Indica

Cannabis indica is native to Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. The plants have adapted to the often harsh, dry, and turbulent climate. Indica plants are short and stocky with bushy greenery and chunky leaves that grow wide and broad, growing faster than Sativa. Some commonly associated effects include intensely relaxing effects also helping reduce nausea, pain, and increasing appetite. Because of its deep relaxation effects, indica is better consumed at night.

Hybrid

Hybrids are simply new and unique strains that are bred from parents of Indica and Sativa types. A hybrid theoretically possesses many of the beneficial medical properties of both Indica and Sativa. Hybrid strains that are more Indica than Sativa are called Indica dominant. Sativa dominant strains have mostly Sativa traits with some Indica influence. Each year, cannabis growers produce new and unique strains from different combinations of parent plants. These cannabis hybrids are often grown to target specific effects. Hybrids are typically grown on farms or in greenhouses. The appearance of hybrid strains depends on the combination of parent plants. The commonly associated effects are often noted for their alert mellowness and productivity. The time of use depends on the predominant effects of the hybrid.

The life cycle of cannabis

Phase one: Seedling Stage

In the beginning, the plant is very tiny, simply trying to adapt to its environment. There are two different ways plants can be produced in this stage: by growing a seed, or rooted cutting, known by horticulturists as “cloning.” A clone is a genetic copy of the parent plant, which is created by cutting a branch from the “mother” plant and placing it in a special solution to stimulate root growth. Once its roots are developed, the plant begins stretching upwards towards the light, signaling the next life phase.

Phase two: Vegetative Stage

During this stage, the plant is adding as much mass as possible. In ideal growing conditions, it can grow many times its original height in just a matter of weeks. From a tiny, two-leaved seedling comes a plant. This is also the stage in which cultivators are able to identify the gender of their plants. Traditionally, for flower production, the males are culled from the crop, and the females become the sole focus for proceeding.

Phase three: Flowering Stage

The key to this phase is controlling the plant’s environment and mimicking nature, especially with respect to light. For instance, exposure to less than 12 hours of light per day, a cycle similar to an outdoor setting in autumn, allows the plant to enter the flowering stage of development. At this point, there is an initial burst of growth, triggering a natural reproductive response to create more surface area that allows for increased flower production.

During this growth spurt, plants can double or triple in size before their height eventually slows, signaling the plants to concentrate their energy on producing flowers.

As the weeks pass by, the flowers begin to develop throughout the female plants. As the flowers continue to grow, the stems become totally covered with fully formed flowers, or “buds”. As the buds grow larger and denser, their crystalline trichomes undergo a maturation process of their own.

You’ll know that your cannabis plant is ready to harvest when you observe these visual clues:

The appearance of the trichomes is one of the surest ways to tell it’s time to harvest. Ideally, half of the trichomes should appear milky white and the others should be a vivid amber. Clear trichomes indicate that it’s a good idea to wait a little longer before harvest. Trichome color is the most reliable.

Leaf color is another reliable indicator of when a plant is ready to harvest is the changing shades of the fan leaves. During the flowering stages, nitrogen gives the leaves their green color. When it’s time to harvest fan leaves will turn yellow and start to fall off as nitrogen decreases.

The pistils will turn brown at maturity. The optimal time to harvest is when about half the pistils are shaded brown. Also look for firm, tight buds when ready to harvest.

Terpenes

Cannabis terpenes are aromatic oils secreted by the resin glands of the plant with aromatic molecules that help give plants a particular taste or smell. They’re the reason why lavender imparts its signature soothing aroma and why certain marijuana strains have a citrusy, floral, or even woody flavor and scent. These are the same glands that create cannabinoids, the active ingredients in cannabis

The power of terpenes goes beyond affecting just the nose and tongue, however. While it has always been assumed that cannabinoids were the power behind marijuana’s effects, terpenes play a large role, as well. Terpenes can bind with the same receptors as cannabinoids to create various effects. This makes understanding terpenes a particularly useful bit of cannabis information, as it means that consumers can better customize their high or cannabis health benefits by knowing what terpenes they’re ingesting.

Given that marijuana terpenes differ from one strain to the next, this (in combination with cannabinoids) is why one strain can be wildly stimulating while another may cause intense drowsiness and relaxation. Researchers believe that the combination of cannabinoids and terpenes may be responsible for the entourage effect. The phenomenon in which its ingredients work differently (and often better) when consumed together rather than individually

Marijuana terpenes not only differ from one strain to the next, but they may also differ between harvests of the same strain. Each terpene demonstrates individual characteristics that influence the effects of the plant in which it’s found. While there are dozens of terpenes in marijuana, much of the knowledge and research has focused on the most common ones.

Myrcene

The most common terpene found in cannabis, myrcene imparts an earthy essence. It’s the terpene responsible for marijuana’s sedative “couch-lock” effects. It’s also known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Linalool

Linalool has a floral fragrance, with benefits that include anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and analgesic properties. They are also studies investigating the use of linalool in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Terpinolene

Terpinolene relaxes with its gently sweet floral fragrance, but it also imparts herbal and woody notes. This terpene is an excellent sedative, as well as being antibacterial and having antioxidant properties.

Limonene

Famous for its citrusy flavor and scent, limonene is also found in fruit rinds, as well as in peppermint, juniper, and rosemary. It has anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, and anti-tumor properties, as well as being an anti-inflammatory and analgesic.

Pinene

As may be guessed by its name, pinene is most commonly found in pine needles and imparts a definitive pine aroma. Pinene can be used to lessen some of the effects of THC. It also has analgesic, anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects, as well as being excellent at treating asthma.

CANNABIS IN ILLINOIS

Possession limit for Illinois residents

Possession limit for non-Illinois residents

Discover The Fundamentals of Cannabis

Cannabis 101

Cannabinoids

Terpenes

Endocannabinoid system

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Cannabis 101

Cannabis Strain

Sativa

Indica

Hybrid

The life cycle of cannabis

Cannabinoids

Terpenes

Endocannabinoid system (ECS)