As the cannabis revolution moves forward, people are discovering that small doses of cannabinoids like THC and CBD can help us function and perform better. This is because cannabis works in perfect synchronicity with the human body, thanks to the endocannabinoid system (‘the ECS”) found in all of us.
The ECS is a signalling system of receptors, and molecules called endocannabinoids that helps us function better on a cellular level. When the ECS is exposed to cannabis and phytocannabinoids, a plant based version of this molecule, it helps our ECS function better.
Small doses of cannabinoids, working with our body’s naturally present ECS , can counteract issues like insomnia, stress and muscle and joint pain, which are common and problematic for many adults. They can hinder our daily lives and make tasks like child care, work and exercise difficult.
THC blocks pain signals in the nervous system that regulate chronic ailments, resulting in a natural alternative to traditional, highly addictive pharmaceuticals like opiates. THC binds to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, just as opiates bind to opioid receptors in the brain, Leafly). As the opioid addiction crisis ravages the US and Canada, more research into cannabinoid therapy means doctors will be more knowledgeable and comfortable prescribing cannabis, to help curb opiate dependency, and better manage chronic pain.
The endocannabinoid system was discovered in 1990 by Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam. Humans first came into contact with cannabis approximately 11,000 years ago (Wei), but it is because of Mechoulam’s findings that we are beginning to understand why cannabis has psychoactive, physiological and medicinal effects, all of which are attributed to the endocannabinoid system.
The discovery of the ECS is significant as it has prompted doctors and scientists to research the impact of cannabis’s medicinal properties on the body. This is an important step in helping end society’s stigma with cannabis, and encouraging further research into how different cannabinoids can regulate the body’s functions.
If you are interested in learning more, please see the glossary below.
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The endocannabinoid system
The endocannabinoid system is a triad of molecules, enzymes and receptors that perform homeostatic duties, regulating the body’s functions and sensory experience(Russo).
The ECS is comprised of CB1 and CB2 receptors, endocannabinoids (small molecules that activate cannabinoid receptors), and metabolic enzymes that break down endocannabinoids after they are used (Russo).
Cannabinoid receptors in the human body
Cannabinoid receptors are found on the surface of a cell, and their function is to communicate changing conditions inside the cell, and initiate bodily responses to these conditions.
CB1 and CB2 are the receptors we know the most about, with CB1 being the most abundant receptor type in the brain (Leafly). CB1 receptors bond with THC molecules, producing a psychoactive effect, and triggering other processes like controlling pain sensation and stimulating appetite or sleep.
Cannabinoids
There are two types of molecules that can bind to these receptors and make our bodies work at their best, both called cannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are produced by the human body, while phytocannabinoids are found in cannabis flowers.
Anandemide and 2AG are the two most important endocannabinoids. They bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Both THC and CBD, along with other cannabinoids like CBN, belong to the class phyto-cannabinoid, and are plant based. THC and CBD tend to dominate mainstream conversation around cannabinoids. These are the two most researched compounds found in cannabis, and are responsible for the two most exciting things about it – the psychoactive and the many of the medicinal effects (which are not mutually exclusive).
Phytocannabinoids mimic anandamide, 2AG and other endocannabinoids, modulating and revving up processes like sleep, stress management, digestion and sensory perception of pain.
Sources and Further Reading
Leafly – Marijuana as Opioid Substitute https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/medical-marijuana-opioid-pain-relief-substitute
Meadow – How is Marijuana Medicine? https://getmeadow.com/education/how-is-marijuana-medicine
Russo – 2016_-__-_Beyond Cannabis Plants and the Endocannabinoid System [retrieved-2017-10-21]
Don_Wei_-2016 – _Endocannabinoid Signaling in the Control of Social Behavior [retrieved-2017-10-21]