As I often tell people who are curious about trying cannabis but still a bit nervous about what it will do and how it might affect them, “Don’t worry: You were LITERALLY built to use cannabis.”
While that may sound a bit like old-fashioned “hippie-dippy” nonsense, it’s actually a scientific fact; the human body is hard-wired to use cannabis — and to benefit from that use.
While the research continues to evolve, here’s what we know. Our bodies are equipped with something called the “Endocannabinoid System,” which exists to regulate a vast number of other systems and metabolic processes in the body, from memory to mood, digestion and appetite, sleep and energy, immune response, fertility and much more. These cannabinoid receptors — which are located primarily in the brain but also throughout the body in the organs, connective tissue and glands — are triggered by naturally occurring substances in the body called endocannabinoids, which are molecularly similar to the cannabinoids that exist in marijuana. Anandamide, for instance, which is produced naturally in the brain, is the chemical cousin of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. There are many other cannabinoids that science continues to uncover and explore, but for the purposes of this discussion, we’ll focus on the two you’re probably most familiar with: THC and cannabidiol, or CBD.
(In another blog, we’ll talk a bit about a third cannabinoid that is currently gaining increased attention, Cannabinol, or CBN, and it’s role in managing sleep and appetite.)
While there are other pathways, current research has been primarily focused around two specific cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2 receptors. THC and CBD react with these receptors in very different ways. When we consume cannabis, the THC attaches to CB1 receptors in the brain that govern certain responses in the body, causing, for example, that sense of giggly euphoria that is often associated with the feeling of being “high.” CBD molecules attach to CB2 receptors that help manage inflammation — among other benefits — and provide relief from pain.
How — and how fast — that THC or CBD enters the bloodstream and begins to trigger those receptors throughout the body, is based largely on body chemistry and personal tolerance, but even more so by the form in which it was consumed in, and of course, the potency of what was consumed. When smoking or vaping cannabis, the effects are almost immediate, as THC enters is absorbed in the lungs and into the bloodstream within minutes, and begin to wear off in two to three hours. On the other hand, edibles must first be digested in the stomach, before passing through the liver and eventually entering the bloodstream. This process can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours before the effects begin to kick in, and stay with you for upwards of six to eight hours depending on the amount of THC ingested.
In addition to THC and CBD, there is mounting research around the subject of terpenes — naturally occurring organic compounds that exist in all plants, causing them to smell and/or taste a certain way —and their role in something called, “The Entourage Effect,” which is the theory that, rather than a single cannabinoid such as THC or CBD, it is the combined impact of consuming the whole plant and all of its cannabinoids, together with the specific terpenes contained in the plant, that produces the beneficial effects of cannabis.
As an example, strains of cannabis such as Northern Lights and Tahoe OG that contain high concentrations of the terpene myrcene — responsible for the earthy, almost peppery scent familiar in hops and basil — tend to produce more stress-reducing, calming effects. Meanwhile, strains with high amounts of limonene — commonly found in citrus fruits — such as Banana Kush or Sour OG, may deliver more creative, cerebral highs, helping to improve focus and enhance concentration.
With terpenes, we use terms like “tend to produce” and “may deliver” because there is a high degree of subjectivity involved when talking about specific terpenes and how they affect different people. For one person, limonene-dominant strains help bring clarity and focus, while for others, it just gives them a headache. The same can be true for different strains of cannabis; some strains will hit certain people differently.
So that’s a quick look at how cannabis works on the body. At Upleaf’d, we like to keep the science simple. But for a more in-depth discussion of the endocannabinoid system and how it works, check out this article from the good folks at NORML. If you’re into more clinical discussion, check out this study.
Still have questions? Feel free to email me — just hit the “contact us” button and I’ll do my best to get back to you within 24 hours.
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