What are cannabinoids?
This is a group of chemicals that affect our endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system regulates many functions of the body including sleep, appetite and mood.
Marijuana contains over 60 cannabinoids, the most commonly discussed of which are THC and CBD.
THC - what is it? What is its effect?
THC chemical structure
What is THC?
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the most psychoactive ingredient in cannabis and is responsible for many of the medicinal properties and the feeling of getting high.
It is the main component of marijuana (from about 8% to 20% of cannabinoids) and is found in all parts of the marijuana plant, with the highest concentration in the inflorescences (commonly called tops) of female plants.
THC forms a sticky resin called trichomes.
THC trichomes
What effects does THC have?
Short-term effects: (about 1-2 hours after smoking marijuana and 4-10 after eating)
- Causes feelings of joy, euphoria by increasing dopamine levels in the brain Stimulates appetite Relaxes Stimulates senses of sight, sound and taste Reduces eye pressure Increases thirst Accelerates heart rate Relaxes muscles
Medical effects:
- analgesic reduces nausea antispasmodic anti-inflammatory antioxidant fights cancer cells
Long-term effects - researchers' conclusions are inconclusive, but THC can cause:
- temporary impairment of short-term memory distraction psychosis depression lack of motivation
These negative effects disappear when you stop using marijuana
THC toxicity
The possibility of overdosing on THC has not been established. A lethal dose is considered to be 40,000 times the therapeutic dose.
I don't know what the therapeutic dose is, but assuming that it is the amount of THC in 1/4 gram of marijuana, you would have to ingest 10kg of marijuana at a time, so it can be concluded that it is not possible to fatally overdose on marijuana.
Marijuana strains containing a lot of THC:
Virtually every pure Sativa or strain with a high Sativa gene content contains a lot of THC and little CBD making for a strong, energetic high.
- Cannabis seeds 100% sativa indoor Cannabis seeds 100% sativa outdoor Cannabis seeds mostly sativa indoor Cannabis seeds mostly sativa outdoor
Mega varieties, not very popular with us but bestsellers in the USA and slowly in Europe:
- Green Crack Sour Diesel
THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin) - how does it affect the effect of THC?
Chemical structure of THCV
THCV has a similar molecular structure to THC, it is also psychoactive but has a slightly different effect than THC.
A note if you are using a Vaporizer from smoking marijuana: THCV's boiling point is 220 degrees C, so you need to turn up the temperature to feel the effects of THCV.
THCV Effects:
- Increases the euphoric effects of THC, but shortens the length of effect Stimulates, makes marijuana give you energy to act and increases 'clarity of mind' Reduces appetite unlike THC which is why smoking strains with THCV is discouraged in patients with anorexia and eating disorders unless someone is looking to reduce weight It can help with diabetes; preliminary studies show that THCV can regulate blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance Reduces panic attacks; helpful for PTSD patients May help Alzheimer's patients, but research is not yet conclusive Stimulates bone growth and researchers are studying its use to treat osoporosis and other bone-related disorders
Marijuana strains that contain a lot of THCV:
THCV can be found mainly in sativas, especially those containing genes from local African strains such as:
- Durban Poison (Dutch Passion) Skunk #1 (Sensi Seeds)
CBD (Cannabidiol) is the second cannabinoid found in cannabis after THC
CBD - Cannabidiol - chemical structure
Basic information about CBD
CBD - Cannabidiol is the second main cannabinoid in marijuana, its content is usually less than 1% to 2%.
In recent times, after its medical effects began to be appreciated, some strains containing as much as a few to several % CBD with the amount of THC reduced to a few % have appeared on the market.
CBD does not have a psychoactive effect, but it has a lot of medical properties, which makes CBD-rich strains with a low THC content attractive to patients who want to avoid getting high.
CBD not only has no psychoactive effect but also reduces the psychoactive effect of THC.
Safety of CBD
- Like THC, CBD has a toxicity so low as to be negligible to the human body, it doesn't even have a negative effect on embryonic cells. Does not affect appetite Does not affect motor skills Does not affect blood pressure Does not increase heart rate Does not increase body temperature
Medicinal properties of CBD
- Reduces nausea, vomiting Has anti-inflammatory effects Reduces psychosis Reduces panic attacks Has antioxidant effects Fights cancer cells
Effects of CBD on THC
CBD itself is not psychoactive, but strains containing a lot of THC and even a little CBD have less of a stimulant effect and more of a sedative and sleeping effect than strains containing only a lot of THC.
The effect then embraces the whole body rather than the mind - gives a feeling of cotton wool legs, relaxation, drowsiness.
Cannabis strains containing lots of CBD and little THC:
- CBD Compassion (Dutch Passion) CBD Kush (Dutch Passion) CBD Skunk Haze (Dutch Passion) CBD Crew - almost all of its strains contain a lot of CBD and little THC
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This article isn't exhaustive but I hope you find it useful. Remember that you can also purchase hemp oils containing cbd.
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