Cannabis 101:

The amount of time it takes for an edible to kick in greatly depends on your metabolism. Some people with faster metabolisms may start to feel the effects after about an hour, while those with slower metabolisms may not feel anything for two hours or more. The effects generally peak up to four hours after eating or drinking cannabis, so it's best to wait at least that long before consuming more. In most places, 10mg is considered to be a dose – which may be just right for some, but others might need a lot more to feel the same effects. Take your time and learn what's right for you, and always pay attention to the label for dosing and recommended serving size.

It's best to store cannabis in a cool, dark place that's out of direct light. Keep it in a container, like a glass jar, in order to minimize over-exposure to air. Keeping your relative humidity below 65% will help avoid mold and mildew. And, while not required, it's always a good idea to separate your strains to preserve their individual flavor profiles.

No, you don’t! While smoking is still the most common form of consumption, there are lots of smoke-free ways you can use cannabis, all with different applications and effects. Vaporizing cannabis offers similar effects to smoking, but with reduced exposure to harmful carcinogens. Ingesting cannabis as an edible offers full-body effects that last longer than inhaling the vapor or smoke. And topicals allow for localized effects with minimal to no psychoactivity.

A strain is a genetic variant of cannabis. Most cannabis strains can be classified as either Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica – two variations of the same basic species of cannabis that have adapted to their natural environments. Today we see the influence of hybrid genetics that combine both indica and sativa varieties. Sativas are known for their tall stature, longer flowering cycles, sweet flavors, and energizing cerebral effects. Indicas are known for their short stature, shorter flowering cycles, pungent earthy aromas, and relaxing full-bodied effects. Hybrids combine the best of both worlds now that cultivators have selectively bred strains for specific attributes like flavor, potency, and overall plant structure. Cannabis Ruderalis is another cannabis strain variant that is less common, and is mostly used in breeding projects to shorten the lifecycle and help keep plants a manageable size.

Cannabinoids have a relatively unique safety record, particularly when compared to other therapeutically active substances. Most significantly, the consumption of cannabinoids -- regardless of quantity or potency -- cannot induce a fatal overdose because, unlike alcohol or opiates, they do not act as central nervous system depressants. According to a 1995 review prepared for the World Health Organization, "There are no recorded cases of overdose fatalities attributed to cannabis, and the estimated lethal dose for humans extrapolated from animal studies is so high that it cannot be achieved by users."

Nonetheless, cannabis should not necessarily be viewed as a 'harmless' substance. Consuming cannabis will alter mood, influence emotions, and temporarily alter perception, so consumers are best advised to pay particular attention to their set (emotional state) and setting (environment) prior to using it. It should not be consumed immediately prior to driving. Further, there may be some populations that are susceptible to increased risks from the use of cannabis, such as adolescents, pregnant or nursing mothers, and patients with or who have a family history of mental illness. Patients with hepatitis C, decreased lung function (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or who have a history of heart disease or stroke may also be at a greater risk of experiencing certain adverse side effects from cannabis. As with any therapy, patients concerned about such risks should consult thoroughly with their physician before deciding whether the medical use of cannabis is safe and appropriate for them.