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Cannabis has been around for thousands of years, but we are only now beginning to understand the many chemical compounds that make up this versatile plant. While you've probably heard of THC and CBD you may not be aware of the dozens of other cannabinoids that work together to affect the body in a variety of ways.
In this guide to cannabinoids, we discuss:
- What are cannabinoids?
- How do cannabinoids work in the body?
- How many cannabinoids are there?
What are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring molecules produced specifically by the produced by the cannabis plant including THCV, CBDA, CBGA and dozens more. These cannabinoids interact with the body's natural endocannabinoid system of the body a chemical-based biological system that regulates a variety of functions in the body. The range of feelings and experiences one gets from using cannabis - euphoria, calmness, etc. - are the result of cannabinoids binding to the human endocannabinoid system.
How do cannabinoids work in the body?
Cannabinoids interact with our body's endocannabinoid system as well as with non-endocannabinoid receptors and ion channels to produce different effects that are either perceived as beneficial or detrimental. For example, a little THC can reduce nausea and vomiting, but but too much THC can increase cannabis hyperemesis syndrome or recurring episodes of nausea and vomiting can cause.
Endocannabinoid deficiency is another potential area of discovery. According to science, there are cases where the body is unable to produce enough endocannabinoids to maintain normal function, which can lead to negative effects on the body. In fact, it has also been suggested that an endocannabinoid deficiency can lead to migraine , fibromyalgia , irritable bowel syndrome , some mental disorders and more.
What are the different types of cannabinoids?
You already know that THC and CBD are by far the best known and most studied cannabinoids out there. However, among other phytochemicals more than 100 have been identified .
"CBD was characterized in the 1940s, but it took decades before we began to understand its bioactive nature. In the late 2000s, we began to understand that the acid forms of cannabinoids - THCA, CBDA etc. - also have effects on the body. Now we know that they can be bioactive even if they are not activated by decarboxylation"
"All in all, we're just scratching the surface of how many cannabinoids are available and have the potential to affect our systems."
Below are some of the most common cannabinoids that may be found in cannabis products on the market:
- THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): THC Is one of the more well-known cannabinoids due to the notoriety of its intoxicating effects. How does THC do this? It binds to both CB1 and CB2 receptors, making it the strongest of the bunch.
- CBD (cannabidiol): Is perhaps the second most important cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, but it's used in everything from supplements to smoothies. In fact, CBD is approved as an active ingredient to treat rare forms of epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome), but is not currently approved as a food additive.
- THCv (tetrahydrocannabivarin): THCV Is a psychoactive cannabinoid, but probably only in high doses. It has also been suggested that THCv reduces appetite by blocking one of the cannabinoid receptors.
- CBDA (cannabidiolic acid): CBD Is the precursor to CBD. This cannabinoid is non-intoxicating and is currently being researched for a variety of applications.
- CBC (cannabichromene): CBC Is the second most common cannabinoid (after THC) and has no intoxicating effects. What sets this compound apart from the others is that it does not interact directly with CB1 receptors. Rather, it binds to the lesser-known TPRV1 and TRPA1 receptors within the endocannabinoid system.
- CBG (cannabigerol): CBG Occurs only in trace amounts in the cannabis plant, but its precursor is CBGA, the basic molecule for all other cannabinoids. A non-intoxicating compound that binds directly. Besides the CB1 and CB2 receptors, we still don't know much about CBG and its potential.
- CBN (cannabinol): CBN Can produce an intoxicating response, but only slightly compared to THC. This is because CBN is actually THC that has been broken down after prolonged exposure to heat and oxygen. For this reason, older marijuana can lose potency as THC decreases and CBN increases.
Cannabinoids & cannabis
"There's a lot of research on cannabinoids, but it's going to take a while for that to translate to what's available on the market."
Disclaimer
It is important that you are aware that we make no medical claims. The content of this site is for informational and educational purposes only. The information we provide comes from various research papers, scientific articles and research we have compiled from external sources. Please note that legislation varies from country to country. For this reason, we recommend that you always inform yourself about the local laws in your home country.
