Fact – our bodies have the receptors for cannabinoids, (discovered in the 1990’s) because or bodies produce them. So there must be a reason for that, right? Science one again has the answers. Our bodies have cannabis receptors in order to receive cannabinoids and do with them what is needed at that time, and for each of us that will be different. Some cannabinoid receptors are of course located in the brain and central nervous system, (CB1s), as are many other receptors, but they have also been discovered to exist outside the central nervous system(CB2s in lymph tissue and immune cells. Right now only need to trust they are right where our bodies need them to be , when they need to be there.

It’s my belief that cannabinoids from plants like marijuana, (called phytocannabinoids, but I’ll  just keep calling them cannabinoids for short), don’t necessarily work best alone, or when isolated, and definitely not when replicated and synthesized. Whole plant medicines need all of their constituent parts to be most effective. It is also my belief, based on my own study of aromatherapy and chemistry of essential oils, (the real thing, not in a Glade air freshener), that it isn’t only the cannabinoids that hold marijuana’s power to heal. All parts of this plant’s chemistry work together in a symbiotic relationship to produce the most effective treatment for the ailment at hand, including cancers.

Some identified cannabinoids that are still in ongoing study by the scientific community have already revealed their remarkable medicinal value. The newest catchword in the marijuana community is CBD, so we’ll look at that cannabinoid first.

Cannabidiol is not pychoactive, meaning it won’t get you high like THC. Although not as commonly known as THC, which has it’s own list of rewards later, CBD has a long list of medical claims, including:cbc molecule

  • Antibacterial
  • Anti-Infammatory
  • Controls certain cancers
  • Decreases blood pressure in blood vessel walls
  • Decreases or neutralizes psychoactive effect of THC
  • Eases nausea
  • Eases Pain
  • Reduces blood sugar
  • Reduces risk of nerve damage (neuroprotectant)
  • Suppresses muscle spasms
  • Stimulates bone growth

Pretty impressive list, don’t you think? Now we’ll look at good old THC. Interestingly, THC comes to us two steps, first as delta9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THCA) which is very present in fresh green plant matter, and then it converts to THC as the plant dries and/or is heated. Both are medicinal. Also very impressive act, in my opinion.

thc moleculeTetrahydrocannabinol

  • Anti-Inflammatory
  • Blood cleanser
  • Controls anxiety
  • Controls certain cancers
  • Eases Nausea
  • Promotes relaxation
  • Psychoactive euphoriant
  • Reduces risk of nerve damage (neuroprotectant)
  • Relieves pressure in the eye
  • Stimulates appetite
  • Stimulates new growth in nerve tissue
  • Suppresses muscle spasms
  • Suppresses pain from nerve damage

The next three don’t have as good a resume, yet. They aren’t as far along in  numbers of studies as THC and CBD.

cbc moleculeCannabichromene

  • Non-psychoactive
  • Anti-Bacterial
  • Anti-Fungal
  • Eases pain
  • Encourages cell growth
  • Slows inflammation
  • Stimulates bone growth

cbn moleculeCannabinol

  • Mildly psychoactive in old, stale plant matter
  • Cleanses blood
  • Controls pain
  • Sleep Aid
  • Slows inflammation
  • Suppresses muscle spasms

cbg moleculeCannabigerol

  • Non-psychoactive
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Encourages cell growth
  • Stimulates bone growth

This is a short list, but as said before, the more common cannabinoids with regards to medical marijuana at this time. Also worth noting, not all cannabinoids are found in all strains of cannabis, and certain strains from certain regions are stronger in some cannabinoids than others. In defense of Big Pharma, it is a never ending process to find them all and determine their individual uses, but since none are harmful in any way, why wait until we know everything when we do know they all will do a body good right now. Let them research and let us have our plant, legally.

Do you really need more to get you to consider marijuana as medicine? Ok, I’ll give you some more in an upcoming post, when I discuss the newest catchword in cannabis culture – terpenes. But before that I need to tell newbies and wannabe medical cannabis users about the difference between cannabis indica and cannabis sativa.

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