The Globe and Mail - 19.10.2019

P

hase two of Canada’s cannabis laws

come into effect Oct. 17, making it le-

gal to buy a whole new generation of

products, such as edibles, vapes, drink-

ables, extracts and topicals that include

hemp and cannabis. The problem is many

don’t have a clue what the difference is be-

tween the two. Here’s a guide to better un-

derstand what you’re getting when you

put hemp seeds in your smoothie or apply

cannabis-infused balm to your skin.

WHATISTHEBASICDISTINCTION

BETWEENTHETWO?

Think of hemp and cannabis as cousins.

They’re from the same family (the plant

cannabis sativa) but grew up in two differ-

enthouseholds.Cannabisisbredprimarily

for its THC content, the compound that

makes you high. Hemp is bred for its fibre

and CBD (or cannabidiol), which is touted

for its ability to soothe muscle pain, help

with insomnia and even anxiety. Canna-

bis, because of its higher levels of THC (te-

trahydrocannabinol), is psychoactive.

Hemp is not.

HOWHAVETHEYBEEN

TRADITIONALLYUSED?

Hemp cultivation goes back centuries. Its

fibres were used to make ropes, clothing,

paper, textiles and even concrete. George

Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew

it and, in colonial America, people could

pay their taxes with it. Twenty years ago,

Canada led the way globally in bringing

hemp foods, including seeds and hemp

seedoil,intoawiderangeofproductssuch

asgranolas,milksandbutters.Hempseeds

are the wild salmon of the plant world –

high in all essential amino acids and

protein.

shampoos, sprays, tincture and balms –

will be available. You can expect to see

the new goods on dispensary shelves in

mid-December. Some experts expect this

marketwillbeworth$3-billioninCanada

in a few years

WHEREDOWEGOFROMHERE?

You’re not yet going to be able to order a

cannabis-infused meal at your favourite

restaurant. Health Canada isn’t there yet.

However, change is in the wind. When it

comes to crossing the border into the U.S.

with these new products, lawyers advise

not to take chances. Hemp and cannabis

look alike and a few poor hemp farmers

have been mistakenly arrested for traf-

ficking in the United States.

THETAKEAWAY?

Cannabis and hemp are here to stay.

Don’t be surprised if you find CBD

mineral water, sodas, beer, juices and

chocolate at your neighbourhood groce-

ry store in a few years. They won’t get

you high, but they might take away some

aches, pains and the odd menstrual

cramp.

ARETHERELOOSEDEFINITIONS

FORBOTH?

Hemp contain less than 0.3 per cent of

THC. Anything more than 0.3 per cent is

considered cannabis. The hemp oil com-

monly found in grocery stores is pressed

legally from the plant’s seeds, which con-

tain negligible amounts of CBD.

WHATDOESITMEANIFAPRODUCT

ISCANNABIS-INFUSED?

Ifyoubuycannabis-infusedlipbalm,foot

cream or chewing gum, it means they are

infused with CBD, the molecule that peo-

ple use to help with pain, anxiety, sleep

and seizures. In the United States, these

products are sold over the counter at

stores such as Walgreens. In Canada, CBD

is strictly regulated, which means only

registered retailers can sell it.

SOWHAT’STHEBIGDEAL

ABOUTOCT.17?

Asthelegislationstartstorolloutstarting

onthisday,arangeofderivativeproducts

• a dizzying array of drinks, lotions,

Intheweeds

With the second phase of cannabis legalization

upon us,GayleMacDonaldexplains the differences

between hemp and cannabis

Hempandcannabisboth

comefromthesameplant,

left.Thedifferencebetween

thetwoistheamountof

THCcontent.Thesecond

phaseoflegalizationhasjust

commenced,allowingforedibles

andinfusedproducts,suchas

theoilabove,whichshouldhit

storeshelvesinDecember.

LEFT:TIJANAMARTIN/

THECANADIANPRESS;

ABOVE:JENNIFERLETT/AP

P14 O THE GLOBE AND MAIL| SATURDAY,OCTOBER19,2019

LAST SATURDAY’SANSWERS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU KENKEN

ARIESMARCH 21 – APRIL 20

You’ve had a few setbacks of late

but there is no reason to feel sorry

for yourself. Ultimately we get out of

life what we choose to put in, so be

positive and look forward rather than

back. Your luck is about to change

very much for the better.

TAURUSAPRIL 21 - MAY 21

Anything you set your heart on this

weekend can be yours – if you are

prepared to make whatever sacrifices

are required. That might sound a bit

worrying but compared to some of

the sacrifices you have already made

in your life these should be easy.

GEMINIMAY 22 – JUNE 21

You have gone out of your way to

help other people, and what thanks

have you got? None at all. So forget

about them for a while and look out

for number one. What is it that you

want out of life more than anything

else? So go get it.

CANCERJUNE 22 – JULY 23

Start thinking about how you can

expand your horizons, even if to

begin with you don’t go very far at

all. The important thing is that you are

on the move and allowing your sense

of adventure to come through. Who

knows where it will take you!

LEOJULY 24 – AUG. 23

You have been hugely ambitious of

late but don’t seem to have much to

show for your efforts. Maybe that’s

because you have been trying to do

too many things at the same time.

Focus on your number one aim this

weekend. Give it your all.

VIRGOAUG. 24 – SEPT. 23

It’s OK to dream big but the bigger

your dream the more you need to

be aware of the efforts and sacrifices

you will have to make to take you

from where you are now to where

you most want to be. It’s time to get

real Virgo.

LIBRASEPT. 24 – OCT. 23

You won’t lack for reasons to smile

this weekend but is everyone around

you smiling too? If there are a few

glum faces to be seen you must make

it your aim to cheer them up. You

have more than enough good cheer

and positivity for everyone.

SCORPIOOCT. 24 – NOV. 22

You may be the sort who tends to

keep your distance from people you

don’t know very well but at some

stage today you will get an opportu-

nity to open up and reveal your hopes

and fears – and you must take it.

Break down emotional barriers.

SAGITTARIUSNOV. 23 – DEC. 21

The breakthrough you have been

dreaming of is now very close at hand

and if you have the determination to

last the course you are on there could

be some good news this weekend.

Never doubt you have what it takes –

you have much more than most.

CAPRICORNDEC. 22 – JAN. 20

Despite one or two setbacks in recent

weeks this has been a positive phase

for you and what occurs over the next

48 hours will hammer home the fact

that you are well on your way to be-

ing accepted as some sort of guru or

expert. Well done!

AQUARIUSJAN. 21 – FEB. 19

You enjoy facing challenges but that

does not mean you have to seek

them out. Even an Aquarius needs a

break once in a while and if you are

feeling low this weekend then back

off a bit. You don’t have to constantly

move at top speed.

PISCESFEB. 20 – MAR. 20

Partnerships and relationships are

under excellent stars, and no matter

what disputes or differences of opin-

ion there may have been in recent

weeks it will be smiles aplenty from

here on in. Next time, try not to take

life quite so seriously.

IF TODAY IS

YOUR BIRTHDAY

AMercury-Pluto linkon your

birthday will sharpen your

mind and help you see through

the fog of disinformation that

certain people have been trying

to spread. If you have a talent for

writing or speaking you could

find yourself in a leadership

position.

HOROSCOPESSALLY BROMPTON

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2019

Discover more about yourself at

sallybrompton.com

BRIDGEBY STEVE BECKER Declarer is often confronted

with a choice of several lines of

play.Obviously, he should try to

select themost promising one,

but it is not always easy to find

the approach that offers the best

chance.

Consider this deal where

West leads a heart against three

notrump and declarer wins

East’sjackwith the ace. What

should South do next?

It would clearly be wrong to

start by trying a club finesse at

this point – first, because the

contract would be in greatjeop-

ardy if the finesse lost, and sec-

ond,becausetheclubfinessecan

just as easily be taken later on, if

necessary.

The proper suit to attackini-

tially is diamonds. If the suit

divides 3-2(the normal expec-

tancy), South is sure to score at

least 10 tricks without risking

the dangerous club finesse. Fur-

thermore, he has amuch better

chance of finding the diamonds

favorably divided than of finding

West with theking of clubs.

However, despite the de-

cided advantage of attacking

diamonds rather than clubs, it

would be wrong to lead a dia-

mond fromthe closed hand at

tricktwo.The correct play by

declarer is to lead a low spade

to the ace followed by a low dia-

mond fromdummy.

After East follows low, as he

should, South wins the trickwith

the queen. Declarermust now be

careful of his next step. Sheer

momentummight cause himto

lead another diamond. But this

would be a seriousmistake.

Instead, South should now

take the club finesse because, by

doing so, he is sure tomake nine

tricks even if the finesse loses.

But if, at tricktwo, he leads a dia-

mond fromhis hand or attempts

a club finesse, or, on the recom-

mended line of play, continues

diamonds after the queen wins

at trickthree, it eventually costs

himthe contract.

Eastdealer.

East-Westvulnerable.

Thebidding:

East South West North

Pass 1NT Pass 3NT

OpeningLead–fiveofhearts.

SATURDAY,OCT.19, 2019

FRIDAY’S QUICKACROSS: 1 Melee, 4 Summons, 8 Gin, 9 Abyssinia,

10 Concern, 11 Argue, 13 Lordly, 15 Wallop, 18 India, 19 Chaucer,

21 Salisbury, 23 Ago, 24 Expanse, 25 Satin. DOWN: 1 Magical,

2 Leningrad, 3 Erase, 4 Spying, 5 Mascara, 6 Own, 7 Suave, 12 Gold

Coast, 14 Liaison, 16 Purloin, 17 Accuse, 18 Issue, 20 Abyss, 22 Lip.

FRIDAY’S CRYPTICACROSS: 1 Games, 4 Make out, 8 Ass, 9 Economist,

10 Israeli, 11 Kabul, 13 Rascal, 15 Writer, 18 Tessa, 19 Angelus,

21 Perdition, 23 Ado, 24 Concern, 25 Speed. DOWN: 1 Glazier,

2 Mistrusts, 3 Suede, 4 Myopic, 5 Knocker, 6 Obi, 7 Total, 12 Battleaxe,

14 Avarice, 16 Respond, 17 Malign, 18 Topic, 20 Genus, 22 Run.

| PURSUITS