This is part 2 in our Medical Cannabis 101 education series. Part 1 covers the endocannabinoid system. Part 3 covers terpenes.
What are cannabinoids?
Much like serotonin and dopamine being chemical messengers of our nervous system, cannabinoids are the messengers of the endocannabinoid system.
Cannabinoids can be classified in two ways:
- Endocannabinoids – these are produced by our body
- Phytocannabinoids – found in the cannabis plant
There are six endocannabinoids that we know about, but only two have been researched thoroughly:
- Anandamide – named after the Sanskrit word for “bliss”, this endocannabinoid is sometimes called the “bliss molecule”. It affects memory, motivation, movement, pain, appetite, and fertility. The phytocannabinoid THC is the plant-based cousin of anandamide due to their very similar chemical structure. Both anandamide and THC bind with the CB1 receptor.
- 2-ArachidonoylGlycerol – for obvious reasons, we just refer to this cannabinoid as 2-AG. This endocannabinoid binds with CB2 receptors and is involved with the regulation of appetite, inflammation, and pain. There is no plant-based equivalent for this endocannabinoid.
There are over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant but the most researched phytocannabinoids are:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol – better known as THC, this plant-based cannabinoid binds directly with CB1 receptors. It can act as a supplement for those with lower natural concentrations of anandamide.
- Cannabidiol – known as CBD, this cannabinoid is definitely the rising star in the medical cannabis world. It doesn’t produce the psychoactive effect of its fellow phytocannabinoid THC and has a lot of medical potential. CBD works a bit differently. Instead of binding directly with the CB1 or CB2 receptors, it increases the amount of endocannabinoids in our body by preventing enzymes in the body from breaking them down. Thus, it indirectly increases the amount of anandamide and 2-AG in our body.Interestingly, it can bind directly with receptors in the central nervous system that control addiction, pain, depression, and anxiety.
Research into the other 100+ cannabinoids is still very limited but ongoing.
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