How to Talk to Your Family About Cannabis

‘Tis the season for discussing controversial topics with your family over turkey

When a group of people come together who often have little more in common than their last names, to-and-fro about controversial topics is hard to avoid. One of the topics broached at this year’s Thanksgiving table may well be cannabis.­

With 35 states having legalized recreational or medical marijuana and states like Louisiana embracing hemp-derived THC, many people have questions about the legality, nature, and availability of cannabis. It’s high time you talk to your family about cannabis. Here are six questions your family may ask about it — with answers even your know-it-all uncle can’t refute.

1. Isn’t cannabis illegal?

While decades of misinformation and bad politics polluted our society’s views on cannabis, it was, for the longest time, breaking the law to buy, sell, or consume cannabis in any form. Increasingly, though, research has debunked all the anti-cannabis propaganda and confirmed its ability to treat problems ranging from nausea to anxiety to seizures. And the word has gotten out about these findings. Eventually, policymakers started to realize how counterproductive it is to simply outlaw the long-maligned plant.

Eighteen states have now legalized recreational marijuana, 36 have legalized medical marijuana, and 37 have legalized hemp-derived THC. In 2018, hemp was federally legalized in every state by the 2018 Farm Bill. So some form of cannabis, whether it’s full recreational marijuana or THC-free products, is now legal in every state of the union.

2. What is the difference between hemp and marijuana?

Hemp and marijuana are both forms of cannabis. They contain many of the same cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds. The main difference is their Delta-9 THC content.

Hemp, by definition, contains less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, which means that it’s federally legal. Marijuana contains more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, which means that it’s federally illegal. Although hemp has little THC, it does contain a lot of CBD and other cannabinoids.

3. What is CBD?

The CBD industry is booming. The global market was valued at $2.8 billion in 2020 and may reach $3.5 billion by the end of 2021. Products like CBD tinctures, CBD rollers, CBD gummies, and more are abundant. But just because CBD is everywhere doesn’t mean that it’s universally understood.

Many misconceptions about it gain currency because people do not fully understand what it is and how it works. CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant. Among other benefits, it can soothe aches and pains and reduce stress. It is nonintoxicating, nonaddictive, and legal.

4. Do all cannabis products get you high?

No. CBD does not get you high. In fact, if you have taken a THC product, CBD can help counteract the psychoactive effects of THC and make you feel less high. Emphasizing this point is important, but it still won’t keep your aunt from acting tipsy the first time she eats a CBD gummy.

Cannabis products that contain THC — like Delta-8 THC or Delta-9 THC — do produce intoxicating and psychoactive effects. These products are for adults over the age of 21 and can be beneficial for relieving stress, promoting sleep, stimulating appetite, and treating ailments like nausea.

5. What is Delta-8?

You may have seen Delta-8 products offered everywhere from vape stores to gas stations with psychedelic labels and marketing posters declaring “legal THC.” The labels are accurate. Delta-8 is legal THC; it was federally legalized by the Farm Bill of 2018. This cannabinoid produces psychoactive effects that are similar to but milder than those of Delta-9 THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the intoxicating effects of marijuana.

Chemically, Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC are very similar. Each has a double bond in its molecular structure that helps to produce intoxicating effects. But the position of the double bond differs. In Delta-8, it is on the eighth carbon atom; in Delta-9, it is on the ninth carbon atom. This difference causes Delta-8 to interact with the endocannabinoid system in a slightly different way than Delta-9 does. As a result, Delta-8 is just two-thirds as potent as Delta-9, making for a mellower experience.

If you find Delta-9 to be too intense, what you want is Delta‑8. Because Delta-8 products are newer to the market, regulations governing them are still being crafted, a fact that some companies have taken advantage of. Be sure to buy Delta-8 gummies only from reputable companies like Crescent Canna who offer products that are state-registered and independently lab-tested.

6. Where can you get cannabis?

If any of your family members want to buy safe, high-quality, legal cannabis, direct them to Crescent Canna. All of our products are lab-tested by an independent third party for potency, purity, and quality.

We also offer some of the most innovative products available, including the strongest CBD oil in the world and Louisiana Department of Health-registered THC Gummies! Discussing controversial matters with your family can be frustrating and exhausting. It’s a good thing you have some cannabis to help you relax and unwind afterward.

To learn more about hemp-derived cannabis products and to get incredible deals delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the Crescent Canna newsletter. Just for signing up, you’ll get a code for a 25% discount in your first email!

WARNING: Keep THC products out of the reach of children and animals. THC products are for purchase and use only by persons 21 or older. Do not use THC products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Consuming THC products will impair your ability to drive and operate machinery. THC products may cause anxiety, confusion, headaches, and other adverse effects. Do not use THC products if you are taking medication or if you have a health condition before first consulting with a doctor.