Cannabinoids 101: What They Are and How They Work

Cannabinoids 101: What They Are and How They Work

Consuming marijuana has many effects on the body. These effects will vary depending on the strain of cannabis, its strength, how you consume it, and other factors.

Some cannabis can make you feel relaxed and sleepy, while others may invigorate you, making you full of energy and feeling creative. Cannabis is used to treat various health issues, both physical and mental. These effects come from cannabinoids, the special compounds in the plant.

What Are Cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are natural compounds found in cannabis. They are similar to the cannabinoids that our bodies make in the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS helps keep our body balanced, regulating our immune system, learning, memory, sleep, temperature control, pain, immune responses, and overall health.

The cannabinoids in plants, like cannabis, are called phytocannabinoids. Our bodies can use these to help make up for any shortages of our own cannabinoids.

How Do Cannabinoids Work?

Although people have used cannabis for thousands of years, we only discovered how it works recently. In the 1960s and 70s, scientists found the main cannabinoids, which later led to the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in 1988. They learned that cannabinoids attach to receptors in our brain and body, acting like keys fitting into locks. There are two main types of receptors:

• CB1 Receptors: These are found mainly in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
• CB2 Receptors: These are found mainly in the peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord).

Different cannabinoids affect these receptors in different ways, which is why they can have various effects on the body.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

The ECS is a complex cell-signaling system identified by researchers exploring THC, a well-known cannabinoid. Even if you don't use cannabis, you have an active ECS in your body that helps keep you healthy. The ECS is crucial for maintaining balance in the body, known as homeostasis. It consists of three main components:

• Endocannabinoids: These are molecules made by your body. They're similar to cannabinoids, but they're produced internally.
• Receptors: These are found throughout your body and are responsible for interacting with endocannabinoids. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are found in the peripheral nervous system.
• Enzymes: These break down endocannabinoids once they've carried out their function.

Types of Cannabinoids

Here are the ten most common cannabinoids and their effects:

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

THC is the best-known cannabinoid and one of the first to be discovered. It has analgesic effects, which means it helps relieve pain.

• Properties: Reduces nausea, relaxes muscles, acts as an antioxidant, relieves spasms, increases appetite, relieves pain, glaucoma eye pressure relief.
• Used to Treat: Glaucoma, nausea, anxiety, and depression.
• Psychoactive: Yes (makes you feel "high").

THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin)

THCV is a psychoactive and also an appetite suppressant. It could be helpful in treating metabolic disorders.

• Properties: Decreases seizures, reduces appetite, stimulates bone growth.
• Used to Treat: Neuropathy and Multiple Sclerosis.
• Psychoactive: Yes, but different from THC.

CBN (Cannabinol)

CBN is non-psychoactive and has a sedative effect. It's usually found in very low amounts in cannabis.

• Properties: Relieves spasms, reduces pain, helps with sleep, reduces inflammation, and acts as an antioxidant.
• Used to Treat: Asthma.
• Psychoactive: Mildly or not at all.

THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid)

THCA is the most prominent compound in undried cannabis. It is the precursor of THC. THCA is not psychoactive, and it can be converted into THC through heat, which makes it become psychoactive.

• Properties: Stimulates bone growth, kills bacteria, reduces inflammation, fights fungi, lowers blood pressure, and inhibits tumor growth.
• Used to Treat: HIV/AIDS.
• Psychoactive: No.

CBD (Cannabidiol)

Cannabidiol is a widely recognized compound in cannabis known for its non-psychoactive properties. It is associated with a number of health benefits and has driven the development of many cannabis strains with higher CBD concentrations.

• Properties: Reduces diabetes risk, helps with psoriasis, stimulates bone growth, inhibits tumor growth, relieves lupus and arthritis, reduces artery blockage, relaxes veins, and minimizes organ rejection.
• Used to Treat: Cancer.
• Psychoactive: No.

CBG (Cannabigerol)

CBG, or cannabigerol, is the decarboxylated form of cannabigerol acid. It is known for being non-psychoactive, and preliminary research suggests that it may play a significant role in alleviating symptoms of glaucoma, addressing inflamed bowels, and potentially serving as a treatment for bacterial infections such as MRSA.

• Properties: Stimulates bone growth, kills bacteria, reduces inflammation, fights fungi, lowers blood pressure, and inhibits tumor growth.
• Used to Treat: Arthritis and fibromyalgia.
• Psychoactive: No.

CBGA (Cannabigerol Acid)

CBGA is an essential precursor to major cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. This makes it highly valuable for research and product development within the cannabis industry.

• Properties: Potential anti-cancer properties.
• Used to Treat: Needs more research.
• Psychoactive: No.

CBC (Cannabichromene)

• Properties: Stimulates bone growth, kills bacteria, reduces inflammation, fights fungi, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes veins.
• Used to Treat: Chronic pain.
• Psychoactive: No.

CBDA (Cannabidiolic Acid)

CBDA, like THCA, is one of the primary cannabinoids found in fresh hemp. This compound serves as the chemical precursor to cannabidiol and, upon decarboxylation, yields CBD.

CBDA is non-psychoactive and, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, and is thought to offer relief from symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

• Properties: Stimulates bone growth, kills bacteria, reduces inflammation, and lowers blood pressure.
• Used to Treat: Chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, infection, and inflammation.
• Psychoactive: No.

CBDV (Cannabidivarin)

The compound CBDV has received less attention until recently. Structurally akin to CBD (cannabidiol), CBDV is non-psychoactive. Research on CBDV has primarily focused on its impact on the neurochemical pathway of the capsaicin receptors, indicating its potential as an anti-epileptic agent.

• Properties: Stimulates bone growth, helps with epilepsy, reduces convulsions.
• Used to Treat: Epilepsy.
• Psychoactive: No.

Each of these cannabinoids interacts with the ECS in different ways, helping with a variety of health issues. By understanding how they work, we can better use cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes.