Product Highlight: A Guide to Cannabis Flower: Varieties, Benefits and Consumption Methods

The term “flower” in relation to cannabis isn’t new, but with the growing awareness and accessibility of cannabis to the general public, the reference pops up more often. If you’ve ever seen a cannabis plant, the flower isn’t a visibly obvious bloom as you’d expect with other plants. So what does it mean? We’re here to clear up any confusion.

Cannabis flower refers to the product that is consumed to reap the benefits of the CBD or THC contained within. Commonly called nug or a variety of other names, it is the dried bud of the cannabis plant. It has the highest concentration of terpenes, THC and CBD. This makes cannabis flower highly sought after and the primary reason the plant is cultivated and studied as much as it is.

We’re going to take a look at varieties of flower, the potential benefits and varying ways to consume it. By the end of this article, you should be able to determine which cannabis product is right for you.

Cannabis Flower Varieties

There are three main varieties of cannabis flower: sativa, indica and hybrids. Each of these varieties produce positive effects, and each of them is useful at different times.

• • Sativa

    Sativa varieties produce energizing and almost euphoric effects. Many people use sativa varieties when they want to do creative work or in the morning to help be productive. Trop Cherry, for example, is ideal for those seeking an energizing and uplifting experience and is an excellent choice for daytime relaxation, providing a balanced and calming lift.

    There is some evidence that sativa has a positive effect on mental health, including depression as well.
    

  • Indica

    Indica varieties are great for relaxation and sleep. They work on the endocannabinoid system to produce a sense of calm and peace. At New England Harvest, we sell a product called Head Cracker that is a relaxing, happy-feeling, indica-dominant strain featuring a robust herbal, earthy, diesel and citrus aroma with notes of spice and pine.

    

    Indica varieties are very good for when you want to wind down or if you have trouble sleeping.

    Here are some more of our cannabis indica at NE Harvest:

    Find Baker’s Dozen #2 – 14g

    TAC: 31.14% 

    THC: 28.58 mg

    Benefits:

    • Relaxed
    • Sleepy
    • Happy

    High Mark Provision Gary Poppins – 3.5g

    TAC: 22%

    THC: 20.5%

    Benefits:

    • Relaxed
    • Sleepy
    • Happy

    Root & Bloom Ghost Dawg – 3.5g

    TAC: 24.9%

    THC: 23.6%

    Benefits:

    • Relaxed
    • Sleepy
    • Happy

• Hybrid

  Hybrid cannabis strains combine sativa and indica properties to produce a diverse range of effects. Each producer specifically cultivates these strains in order to maximize the benefits of each type of flower. A skilled budtender can give you a breakdown of the benefits of a hybrid and the possible effects as well.

  

Benefits of Cannabis Flower

Cannabis has a variety of benefits derived both from THC and CBD. Many people who use cannabis recreationally find it energizes them or allows them to relax. The needs of recreational vs medical cannabis can both differ greatly and overlap, so more information is always helpful.

For individuals using cannabis for medicinal purposes, it can serve as an appetite stimulant, particularly helpful for those going through chemotherapy by helping to alleviate issues related to reduced appetite. Cannabis has also been shown to have an analgesic effect, reducing pain.

Some people report that CBD and THC cannabis products help their anxiety or depression or just make them feel better in general.

Consuming Cannabis Flower

While you can certainly eat cannabis flower raw, it doesn’t typically produce any effects unless it is heated. Because of this, the most effective way of consuming cannabis flower is through combustion.

• Prerolls
  

  Most dispensaries sell pre-rolled cannabis products that you simply need to light and smoke. These are great if you don’t want to mess with creating your own rolls, which can be difficult, especially for somebody who has pain or motor function deficits.

  

• Loose flower
  

  If you enjoy rolling your own cannabis products, you can buy loose flower as well. This is great if you want to use a glass pipe of some type instead of paper rolling sheets. Loose flower also allows you to adjust the amount that you are smoking.

Cannabis Rosin, Hash and Kief

To enhance your cannabis experience, consider exploring concentrated varieties like rosin, kief or hash. These are stronger, more flavorful, and significantly more potent options compared to loose flowers or pre-rolls, and are always often at a higher cost. Despite the expense, some enthusiasts swear by these concentrated varieties, finding them more enjoyable at times.

Now, let’s delve into cannabis rosin. 

What is cannabis rosin? Rosin, a cannabis extract, is derived from marijuana products such as flower, kief or hash. It is produced by applying heat and high pressure, resulting in an extract known as solventless hash oil (SHO) because it is made without solvents. Consumers can enjoy rosin through smoking, twaxing (enhancing flower by adding a small amount of rosin), vaping, dabbing or adding it to homemade edibles.

Its popularity, particularly during the health industry’s concerns about vaping, can be attributed to three key factors:

1. Potency
2. Purity
3. Ease of Production

Cannabis hash, also known as hashish or hash, on the other hand, refers to the cannabis kief that has removed impurities. It is highly concentrated, could work faster, and is usually more potent. It is reddish-brown to black-colored resinous material that can be cut into pieces, placed in pipes, and smoked. The advantages of hash include inducing feelings of calmness, relaxation, happiness or energy.

Kief is less potent than hash but more potent than the cannabis flower because it is the most cannabinoid-concentrated part of the marijuana plant. In appearance, cannabis kief is the fine, hair-like structures that grow on the outside of buds and resemble fine, powdery dust that usually sticks to your finger when handling the flower, or the dust that gathers in your grinder or the cannabis packaging. Kief can also help you to keep calm, relaxed, happy or energetic.

Learn all about flower at New England Harvest

If you’re interested in learning more about cannabis flower, come see us at New England Harvest. Our budtenders are friendly and extremely knowledgeable, and they’re excited to help you find the perfect product.

Whether you’re interested in rolling your own or want to check out our pre-rolls, we have an extensive selection of flower and pre-ground products to choose from!