Science of CBD

Exactly what are cannabinoids and CBD?

Cannabis' capacity to create a wide range of chemicals is one of the key reasons it has so many various applications. Cannabis has been shown to have over 500 distinct compounds. Some, such as terpenes and flavonoids (the molecules responsible for cannabis' flavor and smell), are found in a wide range of plants. However, cannabinoids—compounds that are far uncommon in nature but plentiful in the cannabis plant—make up over 144 of these substances.

You've probably heard of the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), the two most popular compounds. While these are the most well-known and plentiful cannabinoids, the plant also produces a variety of additional cannabinoids.

To really comprehend how any sort of medical marijuana may affect you, you must first comprehend how these active compounds interact with your body and with one another.

Cannabinoids and their interactions with the human body

Scientists exploring cannabinoids discovered the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the 1990s. It is divided into three sections:

• Endocannabinoids

• Cannabinoid receptors

• Enzymes that make and break down endocannabinoids

The receptors are one of the most critical components of the ECS. The major receptors in this system are CB1 and CB2, which are distributed throughout the human body. THC, a cannabinoid found in plants, is known to bind to both of these receptors.

Because humans do not generate THC, researchers looked into why these receptors exist in the body. They discovered that all vertebrates contain receptors that interact with endocannabinoids, which are substances produced naturally by the body. Endocannabinoids are created by body cells' reactions to external stimuli. Endocannabinoids include the well-known chemicals 2-AG and anandamide, as well as a variety of lesser-known compounds such as virodhamine and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol ether.

This interplay between endocannabinoids and their receptors is critical for maintaining internal equilibrium, or homeostasis, in your body. The endocannabinoid system controls several critical elements of your health.

As you may guess, keeping this system in excellent operating order is critical.

Cannabinoids present in cannabis plants, known as phytocannabinoids to separate them from endocannabinoids, are remarkably similar to the endocannabinoids produced naturally by human bodies. These phytocannabinoids operate like endocannabinoids and interact with our CB1 and CB2 receptors, as well as other components of the ECS when consumed.

Effects and interactions of cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are classified into approximately 144 distinct varieties, each of which is unique. Some are present naturally within the plant, whereas others were identified in other species or in burnt cannabis resin. Yet, the production of these compounds frequently involves a series of chemical transitions from one cannabinoid to the next.

To put it another way, certain cannabinoids start out as one cannabinoid and are later transformed into another by the plant or by a human. THC, for example, originates as CBGA in the cannabis plant, which then turns to THCA, which is then heated and converted to THC while smoking. If two cannabinoids have similar names, they are very likely part of the same transformation chain.

When it comes to the chemical structure, these alterations may seem insignificant, yet they can have a tremendous impact on medical properties. Changes in cannabis' psychoactivity and therapeutic effects are possible when they undergo various transformations.

Various cannabinoids stimulate the endocannabinoid system in different ways, therefore they won't all operate the same way.

The entourage effect

To make matters more confusing, the effects of cannabinoids may be affected by the presence of additional cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids in the cannabis being ingested. The 'entourage effect,' as the name implies, refers to the fact that cannabis' active compounds appear to interact together to produce effects that none of them could produce on their own.

THC and CBD are two of the most supported instances of the entourage effect. CBD's propensity to impact the high that cannabis creates has long been recognized, but scientists have only lately been able to evaluate particular effects.  When you examine the plant's several cannabinoids and terpenes, the science becomes more complicated.

When you consider how many distinct strains of cannabis there are, the potential combinations are virtually unlimited. Each strain has its own mix of active compounds, which might produce unexpected results. The entourage effect has been challenging to research, and data to back up our theories is still being gathered.

Even so, having a broad understanding of the effects of the various cannabinoids might help you decide which products are ideal for you.

Which cannabinoids are the most common?

Cannabinoid Acids

The "acidic form" of cannabinoids is produced when the cannabis plant generates them. Cannabis produces tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as THCA–tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. The THCA in the flower turns to THC only when it is heated by a person.

"Raw" cannabis is another term for these cannabinoid acids. What's noteworthy is that, while being widely considered inert, cannabinoid acids have a wide range of medicinal applications. Cannabinoid acids are still taken into the body, but they don't appear to make it into the brain, which is presumably why they weren't considered therapeutic cannabinoids at first.

The cannabis plant produces all cannabinoids as cannabinoid acids. CBGA is the "mother" cannabinoid from which all other cannabinoid acids are produced (cannabigerolic acid). Before converting to more well-known cannabinoids like THCA, CBDA, or CBCA, the plant must first create CBGA. Fresh cannabis flowers have very little "active" THC; the majority will be in the form of THCA, which will be decarboxylated when smoked.

THC

THC is the most abundant cannabinoid in current cannabis plants, and it is this cannabinoid that generates the well-known psychoactivity or "high" associated with cannabis.

CBD

CBD is another prevalent cannabinoid that has received a lot of popularity as the "non-psychoactive cannabinoid" in recent years. However, it lacks the same disorienting effects of THC, such as mental disorientation, temporal perception alterations, short-term memory loss, and lack of coordination. The majority of CBD users say their minds feel and operate normally, however, others say they feel differently.

This potent cannabinoid is widely used for a variety of ailments. With no proven FDA recommendations, it is often utilized in many ways.

Other 'varins' such as THCV

Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is another prominent cannabinoid, however, it is far less prevalent than THC or CBD. This cannabinoid shares many similarities with its chemical cousin THC, although its molecular structure and effect profile is slightly different. This change in chemical structure suggests that, unlike THC, it may operate as a blocker rather than an activator of CB1, however, the evidence is mixed.

When combined with THC, THCV is said to generate a soothing, euphoric, and energetic high. 

Other cannabinoids that finish in "V" exist as well. CBGV, CBCV, CBDV, and, of course, THCV are all members of this category. These cannabinoids, often known as "varins," have a shorter tail than more well-known cannabinoids like THC and CBD, which may give them distinct pharmacologic effects. There's still a lot to understand about the "varins," which might help with weight reduction, diabetes, cholesterol issues, autism, seizures, and other issues.

CBG

CBG is a cannabinoid that is contained in almost all cannabis plants. CBG is made as CBGA, much as the other cannabinoids stated so far. CBGA is used to make all of the major cannabinoids. CBGA earned the moniker "mother of all cannabinoids" as a result of this. CBG has also been labeled as a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, however, this, like CBD, is most likely inaccurate. CBG appears to be active at a variety of non-cannabinoid receptors, according to the scant research we have.

CBN

Cannabinol (CBN) is well recognized as the cannabinoid produced as THC ages–it is a natural consequence of THC breakdown. In fact, when THC matures, it may naturally convert to CBN at a rate of up to 25 percent every year. While THC is burned to high temperatures, such as when smoking, some CBN is generated. CBN may be the best cannabinoid for you depending on the effects you want.

CBC

CBC is a cannabinoid derived from CBG that has several significant effects. CBC, like CBN, is an antibiotic that has been demonstrated to aid with infections that have become resistant to conventional therapies.

With so much information, educate yourself.

The list of cannabinoids on this page is only a start. There are many more cannabinoids to learn about, and the research in this sector is only getting started. There is still a lot to learn about cannabinoids, but this should help you get started.

With so many different cannabinoid alternatives available, you can learn to identify which ones best suit your needs—and which ones to avoid.