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The Effects of Cannabis
The way in which the phytocannabinoids in cannabis interact within the body’s Endocannabinoid System can produce a range of temporary effects on the mind and the body. The effects vary from person to person and depend on many factors, including an individual’s physiology, the strain, how it’s consumed, how much is consumed and the amount of THC and CBD content.
Until the 1980s, it was believed that the species of cannabis – sativa or indica – was solely responsible for the effect produced by cannabis: sativa was typically thought to produce a more energetic experience, while indica was said to be more sedating. Now, with hundreds of hybrids and new strains on the market, coupled with new beliefs about active components and the effect of their combinations, this information may be misleading.
How Will Cannabis Affect Me?
Humans and cannabis plants share similar chemical compounds called cannabinoids (in people, they’re known as endocannabinoids). We produce them naturally through our endocannabinoid system, which is thought to control how we feel, move and react. We also have cannabinoid receptor sites all over our bodies, which the endocannabinoids bind to. The plant’s cannabinoids — the most studied of which are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) — also interact with these receptors and inhibit the way they function. To learn more about the endocannabinoid system, click here.
The Value of Legal CBD
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabinoid, a chemical compound naturally produced in the cannabis plant. It’s extracted from the trichomes on the flower of many cannabis strains, including hemp, and is most commonly available as a capsule or an oil.
When ingested, CBD slows the production of an enzyme that regulates and destroys excess endocannabinoids (cannabinoids found naturally in the body). This increase in endocannabinoids has myriad physical effects on the body; recent studies have shown that CBD may also influence other natural bodily chemicals, including serotonin (which regulates mood), vanilloid (manages pain) and adenosine (impacts our sleep-wake cycle).
