The cannabis plant — what it is
Cannabis is an annual, dioecious flowering plant native to Central Asia. The three commonly cited types are Cannabis sativa (tall, energizing, tropical), Cannabis indica (short, relaxing, cool-climate), and Cannabis ruderalis (small, auto-flowering, low-THC). Modern commercial ‘strains' are almost all hybrids of the first two, bred for cannabinoid content, terpene profile, and yield.
Cannabinoids: THC, CBD, and the minors
Cannabis produces more than 100 cannabinoids in specialized resin glands called trichomes. THC is the intoxicating compound. CBD is non-intoxicating and often marketed for relaxation and inflammation. Minor cannabinoids — CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV — each have distinct effects that vary strain by strain. Terpenes, the aromatic compounds shared with plants like lavender and lemons, shape flavor and modulate the high through what researchers call the entourage effect.
Legal vs illegal cannabis
In the US, ‘cannabis' with more than 0.3% delta-9 THC is marijuana — federally Schedule I but legal for adult use in New York and 20+ other states. Cannabis with ≤0.3% THC is hemp — federally legal but with its own regulatory quirks. Only OCM-licensed retailers can sell adult-use cannabis in New York; anything else is illicit.
How cannabis is consumed
Flower is smoked in joints, blunts, pipes, or bongs, or vaporized in a dry-herb device. Concentrates (rosin, resin, hash) are dabbed or added to joints. Vape cartridges deliver a metered dose of concentrated cannabis oil. Edibles work through the digestive tract for a longer, stronger effect. Tinctures sit under the tongue for a middle-ground onset time.
Buying licensed cannabis in NYC
At Good Grades — a licensed New York adult-use dispensary in Queens — every gram on the menu is lab-tested through the state's Office of Cannabis Management compliance chain, tagged from cultivator to shelf, and delivered same-day across Queens, Nassau County, and much of the NYC metro. 21+ with valid ID at delivery. Browse the live menu to compare THC content, terpene profile, and grow method before you order.