If you’re interested in medicinal cannabis treatment, the first thing you should do is contact your family doctor or a health practitioner who specializes in medicinal cannabis treatment. 

While Ovis products are known to treat many conditions, only a licensed health practitioner familiar with your personal health history can assess whether or not medicinal cannabis is the right treatment path for you.

There are a growing number of ways to consume medicinal cannabis, including softgels, gummies, and dried flower. Working with your family doctor or health practitioner, you can decide together which delivery method, potency, and product type is the right one for you. 

Where to begin? Make sure you think about your daily lifestyle, individual health needs, and personal preferences - everything from flavour to convenience and speed of onset.

Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. While over 100 have been discovered in the plant, THC and CBD are the most well-known and commonly found.

THC stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis. CBD stands for cannabidiol, the second most common cannabinoid found in cannabis. It is non-intoxicating, but it does affect the brain. Discover the cannabinoids and formulas we use in Ovis products.

THC is a cannabinoid that affects the brain and the body and is most commonly associated with feelings of “euphoria or “feeling high.” While both THC and CBD have many of the same benefits, studies show THC best treats conditions like pain, muscle spasms, glaucoma, insomnia, low appetite, and nausea. 

THC also works to activate other minor cannabinoids, like CBN or CBD. When a product contains small doses of THC, it is unlikely to generate feelings of euphoria but will offer patients expanded therapeutic benefits.

CBD is the second most common cannabinoid, and while it does not produce an intoxicating effect or “high,” the compound does have an impact on the brain. 

While both THC and CBD have many of the same benefits, studies show CBD best treats conditions like seizures, inflammation, pain, IBS, nausea, depression, and anxiety.

Like any medication, some patients may experience side effects that are negative, unwanted, or unpleasant. These short-term effects can include confusion, fatigue, impaired memory or concentration, anxiety, fear or panic. Other short-term effects include decreased blood pressure or increased heart rate. A psychotic episode could occur in rare cases characterized by paranoia, delusions, or hallucinations.

There are thousands of different cannabis strains, each with its own unique characteristics, cannabinoid profile, and terpene profile. Historically, cannabis strains have been classified as Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid, but the truth is, these simple classifications do not always reflect how the individual strain will make you feel. 

Beginning in the 18th century, the terms Indica and Sativa were used by botanists to describe different species of cannabis. Today Sativa refers to tall, narrow-leaf varieties that provide uplifting, energizing effects, and Indica refers to short, broad-leaf plants that offer more sedative effects. Hybrid classifications are used when the strains contain genetics from both subspecies.

However, these classifications are far too simple to represent the wide variety of strains and their effects. Everyone reacts differently to cannabis products based on several factors, including your endocannabinoid system, your tolerance, other medications you may be taking, and the specific dosage and delivery methods.

Whether you already use cannabis or not, we all have an endocannabinoid system. It is a complex cell-signalling system that plays a role in many bodily and mental functions, including sleep, mood, appetite, and memory. It is linked to pain, motor control, metabolism, and more. 

Only discovered in the 1980s, there is still much to learn about this system. However, generally speaking, the endocannabinoid system works on a molecular level to maintain homeostasis, regulating and balancing bodily processes.

When introducing cannabis to the body, cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids, and metabolic enzymes are engaged, sending signals to our body’s cells helping treat conditions such as inflammation, pain or helping increase one’s appetite.

Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds found in plants responsible for their aroma and flavours and are also reported to provide health benefits.  There are more than 150 types of terpenes found in the cannabis plant; some are reported to aid in fighting off viruses, microbials and cancer cell growth and provide pain relief. 

When consuming dried flower or full-spectrum cannabis extracts, you’ll not only benefit from CBD or THC but terpenes too. What’s more, studies show that when terpenes and minor cannabinoids work together, the benefits expand, a theory known as the Entourage Effect.

The entourage effect is a promising theory that suggests that when cannabinoids and terpenes are consumed together, their effects are greater than the sum of its parts. This effect can be present when consuming dried cannabis or full-spectrum concentrates. 

Purified cannabinoids will still provide benefits, but whole-plant extracts -  known as full-spectrum extracts - contain more significant benefits. The entourage effect is in play when cannabinoids and terpenes interact and when flavonoids and other botanical substances are present. 

Full-spectrum or whole-plant extracts contain the greatest amount of cannabinoids, terpenes, and compounds, as the process aims to maintain as much of the plant’s biological components as possible. When full-spectrum extracts are consumed for medicinal purposes, studies show that patients can achieve more significant results than individual compounds are known to provide, a theory known as the entourage effect.

Delta 8 is sometimes known as “THC’s nicer younger sibling.” It has enormous potential for therapeutic usage because of reduced psychoactivity compared to THC.

Delta 8 is found naturally in the cannabis plant, along with over 100 other cannabinoids. It is also called Delta-8-THC or ∆⁸-THC. While naturally occurring, it isn't easy to extract in significant quantities, so licensed processors in Canada have been creating Delta 8 from CBD. This cannabinoid provides the wellness benefits of THC with a reduced high.