10 Interesting Weed Facts and Canadian Statistics You Probably Didn’t Know

Everyone loves some good weed trivia! We’ve put together a list of fun and interesting facts even the most experienced cannabis consumer may not know.

For example, did you know that you have endocannabinoid receptors in your internal organs? Or that eating edibles can make you stay high for up to12 hours, depending on the dose?

Read on to learn more facts about cannabis, including when it was first used and how Canadians are enjoying it today.

1. Cannabis use dates back 5,000 years ago

We know that people have been using weed for hundreds of years as holistic medicine, but some evidence indicates that weed use dates back 5,000 years ago to ancient times in what is now known as Romania.

Another study found that THC and cannabis were first used medically around 400 a.d. In the United States, cannabis was widely used as a patent medicine in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Weed was banned in Canada in 1923 and became legal in 2018. Despite this, a 2012 study found that approximately 43 percent of Canadians claimed to have used weed at some point before it became legal.

2. Endocannabinoids are located throughout the body

You may know that cannabis works because it contains cannabinoids that bind to endocannabinoid receptors in the body, but did you know that they are located everywhere?

Endocannabinoid receptors are located in your nervous system, connective tissues, immune cells, glands, and even your internal organs.

Your endocannabinoid system plays an important role in helping your body achieve homeostasis. Specifically, it regulates processes that have been described as ‘eat, sleep, relax, protect, and forget.’

The endocannabinoid system both plays a role in the development of many disorders as well as providing a protective function in certain conditions.

If you experience fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, depression, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, chronic motion sickness, or anorexia, then it may be due to clinical endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome.

3. High doses of CBD - not just THC - may cause sedation

Most people associate THC with the sedative feeling they get when they smoke weed while CBD is considered to be non-psychoactive.

However, research shows that you can experience a similar sedative effect by taking 150–600 mg per day of oral CBD.

Researchers noted that this amount of CBD is beneficial for coping with social anxiety disorders, epilepsy, and insomnia.

4. Vaping might be healthier than smoking weed

Smoking is the most common way to use cannabis, but research shows that vaporization provides similar effects to smoking while also decreasing the exposure to the byproducts of smoking, including possible carcinogens. This can help reduce the risk of respiratory conditions.

So, if you enjoy smoking but are worried about any possible side effects, then consider switching to vaping.

5. Edibles can make you feel high for 8-10 hours

When you use different forms of cannabis, such as edibles vs. smoking, you can expect different results, such as the amount of time it takes to feel high and how long the results will last.

Research shows that smoking weed causes you to feel high within 5 to 30 minutes and may last two to three hours. Edibles tend to kick in within 30 to 90 minutes and, on average, the high will last six to eight hours. However, some consumers have reported feeling high for as many as 10 to 12 hours when consuming edible cannabis products, depending on the dose.

6. Eating raw weed does not get you high

Smoking weed gets you high, but eating raw weed does not. This is because cannabis contains inactive compounds until it goes through a process known as decarboxylation, which activates the compounds in weed that get you high.

Without being exposed to heat or light during the smoking or baking process, eating raw weed is unlikely to get you high. However, there are still many benefits of consuming raw weed.

It’s high in many antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that may be affected by the heating process. Juicing raw cannabis or using it in a smoothie is a popular way to take advantage of the plentiful nutrients in the cannabis plant.

7. More Canadian men use cannabis than women

Who loves weed more - men or women? According to the Canadian Cannabis Survey 2020, men reported higher use of weed than women within the past year.

Also, the number of people who reported using weed within the past 12 months was double among those who were born in Canada (31 percent) compared to those who were not born in Canada (15 percent).

When asked if their cannabis use had changed during the past year due to the pandemic, 56 percent of Canadians stated that their use had stayed the same while 22 percent reported using more and another 22 percent stated they had used less.

The report also found that younger people were more likely to use weed during the pandemic to relax (73 percent), fight boredom (65 percent), and reduce stress and anxiety (53 percent).

8. Canada has weed-friendly hotels and cabins you can stay at

You can enjoy an adult-only retreat complete with amenities and cannabis at Sir Sam’s Inn and Spa located in Haliburton Highlands. It’s the perfect weekend getaway for weed lovers who want to enjoy a weekend connecting with nature.

Here are some other 420-friendly places you can stay in Canada:

• Birchwood Camp located in Burk’s Falls, Ontario - they have six lakefront cabins and tents you can rent
• Parks Creek Retreat situated on 18 acres of forest alongside the serene Parks Creek
• Smokey Pines located in Thedford, Ontario - they have cabins, a cottage, and a modular home for rent
• Beaver River Retreat located on the Beaver River - they even provide vaporizers

9. Cannabis could help make you a more creative entrepreneur

According to a recent study, cannabis may be able to help you generate a business idea that could allow you to become your own boss.

The researchers found that cannabis-using entrepreneurs came up with more original business ideas than non-cannabis users, but they may be less feasible. Hey, it never hurts to dream, right?

10. More people use weed in the summer and fall
    

According to a report from New York University, cannabis use increases throughout the year. Approximately 13 percent more people on average end the year with weed compared to the beginning of the year where usage is scarce.

The researchers found that marijuana use peaks in late fall or early winter before dropping off during the beginning of January, likely due to ‘Dry January’ when many people stop drinking alcohol and using weed as part of their New Year’s resolutions.

But if you ask us - we say there is never a bad time to use! What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.