It's no secret that hemp has a wide variety of uses. This is all due to its ability to produce a wide range of chemicals. Over 500 of these have been identified in the plant. Some of these are also common in other plants, such as terpenes and flavonoids, responsible for the flavor and aroma of hemp. However, 144 of the chemicals in hemp are cannabinoids.

How do cannabinoids work?

You've probably heard of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which, in addition to its significant medicinal value, also produces intoxicating effects. This substance is illegal in Poland, but it's just one of many cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD), on the other hand, also has medicinal properties and health benefits, but it doesn't contain any psychoactive substances. These are just two of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in cannabis. To understand how cannabis works, you first need to understand how cannabinoids interact with your body.

Endocannabinoid system

In the 1990s, scientists studying cannabinoids discovered the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the human body. The endocannabinoid system consists of:

cannabinoid receptors
endocannabinoids
metabolic enzymes

One of the most important components of the ECS is its receptors. The main receptors found throughout the human body are CB1 and CB2. Plant cannabinoids are known to interact with each of these two receptors.

How does the endocannabinoid system work?

The human body cannot produce THC on its own. Scientists have therefore been trying to discover why these receptors emerged in humans in the first place. Studies have shown that they are found in all vertebrates and interact with naturally produced chemicals in the body—endocannabinoids. These chemicals are produced in response to external factors such as pain, cold, or heat. The interaction between endocannabinoids and their corresponding receptors plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's internal balance and homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating crucial aspects of your health, such as:

appetite
blood pressure
body temperature
energy
pulse
immune response
memory
mood
dream
muscle control
desire
pain response

Endocannabinoid deficiencies

As you can imagine, keeping the ECS in good shape is incredibly important, not only for our physical but also for our mental health. Scientists suggest that cannabinoid deficiencies may be partially responsible for many health conditions, especially those that, in the process, treatments respond well to the effects of cannabis. A poorly functioning endocannabinoid system can lead to depression, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Crohn's disease. The cannabinoids found in cannabis are almost identical to the endocannabinoids produced by our body.. To distinguish them, they are called phytocannabinoids. When phytocannabinoids enter the human body, they begin to mimic endocannabinoids and interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors or other parts of the ECS.

Cannabinoid interactions

There are over 140 known types of cannabinoids, and they all differ from each other to varying degrees. Some occur naturally in the plant, while others are found, for example, in burned cannabis resin. The way they are produced often involves a chain of chemical transformations between cannabinoids. This means that some cannabinoids are converted into others by the plant itself or by human intervention. This is how THC, for example, is created: in the cannabis plant, it begins as CBGA, the plant converts it to THCA, and then humans heat the substance during smoking, converting it into THC.

If you notice cannabinoids with similar names, it means they are likely part of the same chain of transformations. While the changes in chemical structure may be subtle, they can significantly impact the therapeutic effects of a given substance. As cannabinoids transform from one form to another, their level or type of psychoactivity and specific therapeutic effects can vary. Different cannabinoids activate the endocannabinoid system in different ways.

The Entourage Effect

To complicate matters further, the effects of cannabinoids can be influenced by other cannabinoids, as well as by the terpenes and flavonoids present in the cannabis plant itself. This therapeutic synergy is known as the "entourage effect," and it demonstrates that the active chemicals in cannabis work together to create effects that would not be possible with just one plant alone.

The entourage effect is best illustrated using THC and CBD.. Breeders have long known about the ability CBD to influence high hemp production, but only recently have scientists been able to measure specific effects. Most studies suggest that concomitant consumption of THC and CBD can help reduce or completely eliminate the side effects caused by taking THC, e.g. memory impairment or anxiety.

If the theory is true, and available sources and research suggest otherwise, we're dealing with an endless stream of possibilities. Given the number of different cannabinoids produced by specific cannabis strains, the number of potential combinations is impossible to estimate. Each cannabis strain is a unique blend of active substances that can exhibit surprising effects on the human body. The entourage effect is still being researched, but currently available studies can help you decide which cannabinoid blend is best for you.

Cannabinoid acids

When the cannabis plant produces cannabinoids, it actually produces their "acidic form." For example, THC in cannabis is produced as THCA and converts to THC only once—when a person heats the substance to consume it. Interestingly, cannabinoid acids, although considered inactive, actually offer enormous therapeutic potential. The acids are absorbed by the body but do not appear to enter the brain, which is likely why they were initially labeled therapeutic cannabinoids. All cannabinoids produced in the cannabis plant are cannabinoid acids—derived from the cannabinoid CBGA. Very few "activated" substances are found in cannabis flowers, as is the case with THCA, which is decarboxylated after smoking.

Types of cannabinoids

We currently know that there are approximately 144 different cannabinoids in cannabis, but we can assume we still haven't discovered them all. While each cannabinoid exhibits slightly different properties and forms different combinations, it's worth noting that a few cannabinoids are particularly prevalent: