Cannabinoids and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)

Cannabinoids and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)

Stes de Necker

What is a Cannabinoid

There are over 480 natural components found within the Cannabis sativa plant, of which 66 have been classified as "cannabinoids;" chemicals unique to the plant. The most well known and researched of these, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), is the substance primarily responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis.

The effects of THC are believed to be moderated by the influence of the other components of the plant, most particularly the cannabinoids.

The cannabinoids are separated into subclasses. These are as follows:

Cannabigerols (CBG);

Cannabichromenes (CBC);

Cannabidiols (CBD);

Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC);

Cannabinol (CBN) and cannabinodiol (CBDL);

Other cannabinoids (such as cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabitriol (CBT) and other miscellaneous types).

What Do Cannabinoids Do

Like opiates (substances derived from the opium poppy such as heroin), cannabinoids affect the user by interacting with specific receptors, located within different parts of the central nervous system. Two kinds of cannabinoid receptors have been found to date and are termed CB1 and CB2. A substance that occurs naturally within the brain and binds to CB1 receptors was discovered in 1992 and termed "anandamide." Additional naturally occurring substances that bind to CB1 have since been discovered, and these, together with the receptors are termed the "endogenous cannabinoid system."

The actual effects that the cannabinoids have reflect the areas of the brain they interact with. Interactions tend to occur in our limbic system (the part of the brain that affects memory, cognition and psychomotor performance) and mesolimbic pathway (activity in this region is associated with feelings of reward) and are also widely distributed in areas of pain perception.

We are still learning about the endogenous cannabinoid system. Much of the research however, has focused on the many potential medical uses of man-made cannabinoids, called "synthetic analogues."

What are the Differences Between Cannabinoids

The major differences between the cannabinoids are determined by the extent to which they are psychologically active. Three classes of cannabinoids, the CBG, CBC and CBD are not known to have such an effect. THC, CBN, CBDL and some other cannabinoids on the other hand are known to be psychologically active to varying degrees.

CBD is probably the most abundant cannabinoid, contributing up to 40% of cannabis resin. Interestingly, CBD may actually have anti-anxiety effects and lessen the psychoactive effects of THC. This means that a plant with a greater percentage of CBD may reduce the intensity of the effects of the THC, which in effect lowers the potency of the plant. Use of a cannabis plant with less CBD has been shown to have an increased psychological impact and result in unwanted effects such as anxiety.

When THC is exposed to air it oxidizes and forms CBN. CBN is only very weakly psychoactive and not unlike CBD interacts with THC to reduce its effects. This is why cannabis that has been left out unused will have increasing amounts of CBN and decreasing amounts of THC and thus lose potency.

THC’s Psychoactive Properties Protect the Brain

Many testing methodologies for cannabis are now significant due to the amount of fake and toxic weed on the market. More agencies are responsible for knowing how safe cannabis is when used for our health purposes. The answer is “very safe” as long as it’s pure. The experience of recreational users gives us some information, but we must understand safety issues in patients who have diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes so they can safely consume cannabis without impurities tainting a therapeutic approach that is far more effective than any drug in existence.

Drug companies are now routinely grinding up pure Cannabis Sativa and creating synthetic versions of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or synthetic ajulemic acid (AjA) and combining it with gelatin, glycerin, iron colored oxides, titanium dioxide and marketing this drugs to doctors and hospitals under the name marinol. However, it doesn’t seem to interact with brain cells in the same way as the plant form, and although it generates no “high”, the molecular mimic of THC does not appear to be as effective as the real thing.

Although the medical benefits of cannabis are suppressed by the pharmaceutical industry that fears its powerful therapeutic properties, this hasn’t stopped users of medical cannabis from relieving chronic ailments, including cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder, to combat pain, insomnia, lack of appetite, and other symptoms. The proven benefits of cannabis clearly indicate it is one of the most significant healing plants on Earth.

THC’s Psychoactive Properties Prevent Brain Damage From Other Toxic Drugs

In contradiction to consistent claims by mainstream science that Cannabis causes brain damage, a 2014 study shows the opposite. Research published in the journals Behavioural Brain Research and Experimental Brain Research demonstrated that even extremely low doses of THC (cannabis’ psychoactive component) — around 1,000 to 10,000 times less than that in a conventional cannabis cigarette — can jumpstart biochemical processes which protect brain cells and preserve cognitive function.

In fact, low doses of THC protect the brain both before and after injury, say researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU).

Dozens of studies have made pseudoscientific attempts to indicate that young people who use cannabis tend to experience psychological problems, mental decline, neurological damage and even schizophrenia. However, there is no evidence that cannabis use is directly linked with such problems, according to a previous study published in The Lancet and cannabis has been.

Prof. Yosef Sarne of Tel Aviv University’s Adelson Center for the Biology of Addictive Diseases at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine says that the drug has neuroprotective qualities as well. He has found that extremely low doses of THC — the psychoactive component of cannabis — protects the brain from long-term cognitive damage in the wake of injury from hypoxia (lack of oxygen), seizures, or toxic drugs. Brain damage can have consequences ranging from mild cognitive deficits to severe neurological damage.

Previous studies focused on injecting high doses of THC within a very short time frame — approximately 30 minutes — before or after injury. Prof. Sarne’s current research, published in the journals Behavioural Brain Research and Experimental Brain Research, demonstrates that even extremely low doses of THC — around 1,000 to 10,000 times less than that in a conventional cannabis cigarette — administered over a wide window of 1 to 7 days before or 1 to 3 days after injury can jumpstart biochemical processes which protect brain cells and preserve cognitive function over time.

Purity is Essential

Cannabinoids from pure sources can prevent cancer, reduce heart attacks by 66% and insulin dependent diabetes by 58%. Cannabis clinician Dr. William Courtney recommends drinking 4 – 8 ounces of raw flower and leaf juice from any Hemp plant, 5 mg of Cannabidiol (CBD) per kg of body weight, a salad of Hemp seed sprouts and 50 mg of THC taken in 5 daily doses.

Why raw? Heat destroys certain enzymes and nutrients in plants. Incorporating raw cannabis allows for a greater availability of those elements. Those who require large amounts of cannabinoids without the psychoactive effects need to look no further than raw cannabis. In this capacity, it can be used at 60 times more tolerance than if it were heated.

As more research continues on the effectiveness of THC from pure sources especially in low doses, more scientists are discovering the therapeutic powerhouse that Cannabis provides.