Did you know the cannabis plant is the most pharmaceutically active plant out there? And did you know there are 113 chemical compounds in the cannabis plant? These compounds are called cannabinoids. The two most prolific compounds are THC and CBD. Everyone is familiar with THC as it is the psychoactive component that gets you “high.” THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is responsible for the euphoric feeling you get when you ingest cannabis. But there is another compound called CBD or cannabidiol making an increasingly large presence in the cannabis industry. CBD also has many therapeutic effects but without the psychoactive effects.
Both THC and CBD are structurally very similar. Both affect what is known as the endocannabinoid system in our bodies.The endocannabinoid system is a large, complex system of receptors throughout the human body that is responsible for regulating many of our basic functions such as sleep and appetite for example. It is the difference in how THC and CBD interact with this system that causes them have to have different effects. Specifically the CB1 receptors found primarily in the brain and the central nervous systems and the CB2 receptors found in the immune system. THC binds to CB1 receptors tightly causing the brain to alter how it functions and therefore creating the euphoric sensation. CBD however does not bind with these receptors, rather CBD modulates the receptors. In fact CBD is known to have such a different mechanism of action than THC that it actually counteracts THC’s effects and therefore they are often used together to mitigate the intensity of THC’s effects. A product higher in CBD and lower in THC will still have the therapeutic effects of THC but the psychoactive effects will be lessened. This is an increasingly popular choice among medical cannabis users.
The endocannabinoid system is found throughout the entire human body. This explains why there is such a wide range of therapeutic effects from these compounds especially CBD.
Some uses of THC include: euphoria and relaxation, sleep, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and muscle relaxer.
Some uses of CBD include: depression and anxiety, seizures, pain, neuroprotective, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and antiemetic.
At Blair Wellness, the knowledgeable staff will discuss your product options with you based on your needs. One size does NOT fit all with cannabis products. There are many choices and it can be confusing so you need a well-trained, knowledgeable staff to guide you. Check us out.
