Understanding Cannabinoids

Nowadays it's mainstream news that THC and CBD bring forward medical benefits but what isnt discussed is the other cannabinoids present in cannabis and what benefits they bring.

This flow chart shows you how the most commonly found cannabinoids change and why, along with a better understanding of the cannabinoids available to you.

What are cannabinoids? Cannabinoids are compounds that the Cannabis plant produces, that interact with a network of receptors in our body known as the endocannabinoid system.

CBGa is the mother cannabinoid. Without CBGa no other cannabinoid would exist. CBGa becomes present once trichomes develop on flowering cannabis. Very little research has been done so far in regards to its medical benefits but it has shown to be promising in relief for cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorder, colon cancer as well as being a neuroprotectant.

As flowers mature depending on strain CBGa changes to THCa, CBDa or CBCa. Keep in mind some strains can contain a mixture of these cannabinoids. For example; The strain Charlotte's web famously used for its CBD in stopping a young girl's seizures in America has a CBDa content of 13% and THCa content of 0.3%. Researching the specific strain you have access to will give you specifics of cannabinoid content. Raw forms of cannabis have a long list of medical benefits and they do not contain any psychoactive effects eg a high.

When heat is applied to raw cannabis, eg; THCa, CBDa and CBCa. They convert to their activated cannabinoid. This is why people smoke or decarboxylate their cannabis, to activate these cannabinoids. THC is the most famous cannabinoid, known for its high whilst CBD is receiving light recently for its medical benefits. Both follow the same process but act differently with our endocannabinoid system. Even though THC has been given a bad name because of the high attached, it has been scientifically proven to fight cancer and help assist in the development of new brain cells. CBD and CBC do not produce psychoactive effects.

When cannabis is aged through oxidisation (exposure to oxygen) cannabinoids convert further. THCa will convert to CBNa and CBCa to CBLa. As this is still a raw form of cannabis there are no psychoactive effects linked. Further research is required medically for both raw forms of aged cannabis however it has shown signs of promoting sleep, reducing pain and inflammation and fighting bacteria.

When aged cannabinoids are exposed to heat, they convert to either CBN or CBL. Though THC has a psychoactive effect causing a high, CBN is only mildly psychoactive causing a drowsy effect. CBN is used for treating insomnia, assisting bone healing and growth, along with acting as a sedative, pain reliever, antibiotic and a treatment for epilepsy. CBL on the other hand is very hard to extract so research is limited. They do believe it may encourage the entourage effect, which refers to the idea that the presence of all cannabis compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, etc.) will create a synergistic effect that may produce more optimal health benefits than the presence of only a few compounds.

With this knowledge we are able to understand what cannabinoid is present in cannabis along with a better understanding on how to use this plant to your medical advantage.

Thank you Noel for helping me put this chart together and a big thank you THCa for keeping him seizure free for over two years now