Cannabis in 2024, Popular influence, healthy benefits, and the science.

The vast increase in the popularity of cannabis has given birth to a variety of new products, brands, and companies. Every day, we see new cannabis products and accessories popping up in the growing international market.

Many of these products go way beyond traditional methods of cannabis consumption. Consumption now includes various methods, from edibles and topicals to solventless waxes and high-grade herbs. This has led to an industry of cannabis accessories that complement and are frequently considered essential to your consumption experience. Tools like Grinders are now used to break down cannabis into smaller pieces that can be used in multiple ways. Let us explain to you how cannabis works and what it does for your body.

Since cannabis has so many positive effects on our body, it is now considered for medicinal purposes as well on the recommendation of physicians. In ancient medicine there are many examples of cannabis being used. Hundreds of years later, the FDA has also legalized cannabis products that contain less than 0.3% THC.

With so much new interest in cannabis, it’s essential to understand its working mechanisms and how it interacts with our body. Therefore, let’s dig in and explore the science of cannabis to find out what it does to our bodies.

Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System

Before understanding the workings of cannabis in our body, it’s essential to get familiar with the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids, and cannabinoid receptors.

The human body contains a very complex cell-signaling system that is known as the endocannabinoid system. Its major role in the body is maintaining homeostasis and regulating several physiological processes. This includes your body functions like appetite, memory, sleep, mood, etc. The major functions of the endocannabinoid system are:

Homeostasis: ECS ensures balance and stability in the internal environment of our body. This is done to ensure all physiological processes operate within optimal ranges.
Stress Response: ECS regulates the stress response by controlling how the body reacts to different stressors.
Neuroprotection: The ECS protects the nervous system. Its activation helps reduce neuroinflammation and support brain health.
Immune regulation: The CB2 receptors are located in the immune system, and they modulate the immune responses and inflammation. The body can manage immune-related conditions with the activation of these receptors.

But why is there a need to understand this system?

Particularly because the cannabis we consume contains hundreds of active chemical compounds, and these chemicals interact with the endocannabinoid system of our body.

The first of these compounds was discovered in the 1960s, and it was named tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is also the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. These compounds were later named cannabinoids.

It’s clear that these cannabinoids interact with our bodies and, in turn, produce some effects. But how they do so remained unclear until scientists discovered the endocannabinoid receptors.

Endocannabinoid Receptors

Upon further studies, scientists found that the cannabinoids interacted with the cannabinoid receptors as part of the endocannabinoid system.

The receptors in our body are there for endocannabinoid molecules made by our body. Our bodies’ naturally occurring chemicals (neurotransmitters) help keep internal function running smoothly. They send nerve impulses to our brains and produce different effects on different body parts. The two known endocannabinoids are 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA).

The cannabinoids from cannabis plants are similar to these endocannabinoids; they fit perfectly in the endocannabinoid receptors and signal ECS to take action. These receptors are present throughout the body. However, scientists came across two main endocannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2 receptors.

CB1 receptors: They are found majorly in the central nervous system
CB2 receptors: They are present mostly in the peripheral nervous system, particularly in immune cells.

The Interaction of Cannabis with the ECS

As discussed earlier, one of the well-known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant is THC. This psychoactive compound closely resembles anandamide in structure and binds to the CB1 receptors that are located in the brain. Once bound, THC can also mimic the actions of anandamide that causes altered neurotransmitter release. As a result, our body experiences characteristic effects of cannabis, like altered perception, euphoria, and changes in cognition.

There’s another major cannabinoid in cannabis called cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD. It is popular for pain relief and producing relaxing effects on the body. It is known to have a balancing effect on the ECS that contributes to its anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and anticonvulsant properties.

The working of CBD is quite different from that of THC. It doesn’t interact with the endocannabinoid system directly and doesn’t bind to the CB1 or CB2 receptors. Rather, it influences the activity of CB1 and CB2 receptors, modulates the binding of other cannabinoids, and affects the enzyme activity that is involved in endocannabinoid metabolism.

Enzymes

The endocannabinoids are continuously synthesized and degraded in the body. This is carried out by the enzymes of the ECS. Enzymes play their role in fine-tuning the regulation of their levels. The Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme is known to break down anandamide, while monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) plays its role in the breakdown of 2-AG. By interacting with the endocannabinoid system and its other components, cannabinoids produce some effects that are extremely beneficial for our bodies. Let’s have a look at a few of those.

The Health Benefits of Cannabis

Cannabis has remained the subject of extensive research for years. Research is still underway to fully understand its various benefits for many common diseases. It’s essential to note that while some benefits are backed by scientific research, others may require further research. Also, individual cannabis responses vary; that’s why it should be approached with great caution.

Here are some proven benefits of cannabis to human health:

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

The cannabinoid CBD is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. It helps reduce inflammation, as proven by a study by the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research. CBD is believed to inhibit the activity of the enzyme FAAH, which is responsible for breaking down anandamide. As this endocannabinoid’s degradation slows down, CBD indirectly enhances its anti-inflammatory effects. However, CBD is also known to influence the production and release of cytokines which are the signaling molecules involved in inflammation. As it regulates cytokine production, CBD helps balance the immune response and reduce excessive inflammation.

Pain Management

Both the infamous THC and CBD are known to play their role in pain management. As THC interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the CBD, it influences the transmission of pain signals in the brain and spinal cord, which ultimately results in pain relief. Such an interaction proves more beneficial in neuropathic pain than in multiple sclerosis. As for CBD, its pain management mechanism is a bit complex. It would either interact with TRP channels or receptors associated with the serotonin and vanilloid systems to play a role in pain perception.

Treating Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons why people use cannabis. However, research CBD is the main ingredient that contains anxiety-reducing and antidepressant properties. It modulates neurotransmitter activity and promotes a sense of calm in the body and mind. Proves its benefits for generalized anxiety disorder and a couple of other similar disorders.

Appetite Stimulation

Cannabis makes you hungry. This is due to the cannabinoid THC that binds to the CB1 receptors and stimulates appetite. But it is not the only cannabinoid that stimulates appetite; other chemicals like cannabigerol (CBG) also cause appetite stimulation. Since CBG and other such compounds don’t have intoxicating effects, scientists are more intrigued to find ways to stimulate appetite using CBG. Inhaling and ingesting cannabis leave effects for a different amount of time. Your appetite will last only 2 to 3 hours when you ingest cannabis. But the effects can last up to 8 hours when ingested.

Sleep Aid

CBD is known to affect sleep through multiple mechanisms, but it primarily does so by interacting with receptors in the endocannabinoid system. It actually makes you sleepy by increasing sleep-promoting adenosine and suppressing arousal. Insomnia patients benefit greatly from cannabis due to its sleep-aid properties. However, the sleep-inducing effects depend highly on the indica versus sativa strains and the individual.

Muscle Relaxation

The CBD present in the cannabis plant has proved to be effective against chronic pain, particularly in muscles. It has been shown to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. CBD proves highly beneficial for conditions causing stiffness and muscle spasms. Moreover, two other anti-inflammatory agents in cannabis also act as muscle relaxers.

In essence, the cannabis plant contains a variety of chemicals called cannabinoids that interact with our ECS to produce a variety of effects. From pain management to anti-inflammatory actions to anxiety reduction and more, the benefits of cannabis are endless. Fortunately, there’s now enough scientific evidence to back the pros of this plant that contains all the goodness of nature.