Cannabinoids are stuff stoners like
Cannabinoid? Yep. You read that correctly. C’mon, man, you’ve surely heard of cannabis, but have you ever heard of cannabinoids or cannabinoid receptors? No. We’re not making these words up, dude. They’re real and they’re the reason cannabis can be considered medicine. Well that is considered medicine by everybody except the DEA—but then again those guys exist to hate weed.
What are cannabinoids
So what are cannabinoids exactly? A cannabinoid is one of a class of diverse chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors in cells that represses neurotransmitter release in the brain, says Wikipedia. They continue to say that Ligands for these receptor proteins include the endocannabinoids (produced naturally in the body by animals), the phytocannabinoids (found in cannabis and some other plants), and synthetic cannabinoids (manufactured artificially).
What the hell does all that scientific shit mean? Well basically cannabinoids are chemical secreted by cannabis flowers. These secretions not only get you high they also provide relief to an array of symptoms including pain, nausea and inflammation. They work their medicinal magic by imitating compounds naturally produced in the human body called endocannabinoids which activate to maintain internal stability and health. When cannabis is consumed its cannabinoids bind to receptor sites throughout the human brain and body. Different cannabinoids have different effects depending on which receptors they bind to. This concept is the cornerstone of cannabis as medicine and why synthetic cannabinoid medications incluing Marinol, Nabilone and Rimonabantcannabinoids have been created for legal use. While these synthetic forms are effective research shows that herbal cannabis is better medicine containing a much wider variety of therapeutic releif.
Where are cannabinoids found
Cannabinoids are located in the resinous trichomes of female pot plants. Trichomes typically cover all parts of marijuana buds from the interior stems to the surrounding leaves. And it’is believed that these tiny trichomes evolved as the cannabis plant’s defense mechanism. The trichome protect pot from threats like insects and animals. The trichome makes the plant less palatable to hungry predators. Plus weed trichomes are also known to inhibit or ever prevent some types of fungal growth. Some scientist think that trichomes also protect pot plants from high wind and low humidity.
Most popular cannabinoid
You’ve heard of THC, right? Well that’s because THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the most popular cannabinoid of ‘em all. Why? Because it’s the one that gets you high. Cannabidiol aka CBD, Cannabigerol or CBG and Cannabinol (CBN) are just a few of the other major cannabinoids found in cannabis. How many cannabinoids are in pot? So far scientists have identified at least 113 different cannabinoids isolated from cannabis. And they all deliver varied effects.
Synthetic cannabinoids
Like we said above, synthetic cannabinoids exist for medical purposes, but are inferior to the real thing. When synthetic cannabinoids are used recreationally they present significant health dangers to users, reports Wikipedia, who report that “In the period of 2012 through 2014, over 10,000 contacts to poison control centers in the United States were related to use of synthetic cannabinoids.” So we wouldn’t recommend synthetic cannabinoids like JWH-018 or JWH-073 sold in legal smoke blends as Spice. Just stick with the real thing. T
Entourage Effect
Research has shown that cannabinoids works best when they are combined. This finding is known as the ‘entourage effect’ and why legislation that allows CBD-only medicines ineffective. People benefit most from medicines derived from the entire marijuana plant which includes all of its magical major and minor cannabinoids. That’s why it’s important to keep fighting to free the weed and all its wonderful cannabinoids.
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