What are cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are the name for chemical compounds primarily found in all varieties of the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are the source of the medicinal benefits that treat a wide range of symptoms and conditions. 

About Cannabinoids in San Jose

Have you ever wondered why cannabinoids are used to treat so many different conditions? See the list below for a sample of all the afflictions cannabinoids can treat. If you suffer from any of these conditions, cannabinoids might help you relieve the worst symptoms. Researchers have just begun to investigate the full suite of benefits that cannabinoids provide. 

What do Cannabinoids Do?

Cannabinoids are chemically similar to many naturally occurring chemicals in our bodies. These compounds are found in our endocannabinoid system. Due to this unique symbiosis cannabinoids can treat a variety of conditions. 

Cannabinoids bind to natural neuroreceptors in our endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system contributes to the immune system, pain sensation, memory, mood, and other biological processes that include fertility and pregnancy. Because of the prevalence of the endocannabinoid system in so many cognitive and physiological processes, cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids) show promise as treatments for an enormous range of conditions. 

Studies in the 1990s identified two basic neuroreceptors in the endocannabinoid system: CB-1 and CB-2.^[1] CB-1 receptors are found mostly in the brain and central nervous system. CB-2 receptors are primarily found in the immune system and the gastrointestinal system. Cannabinoids’ natural ability to bind to human neuroreceptors forms the basis of the substance’s medicinal benefits.^[2]

The FDA finally approved CBD to treat severe cases of epilepsy. Now the hunt is on to find even more healing properties. Researchers have begun to examine the benefits of lesser-known cannabinoids such as CBN and CBG in greater detail. 

Cannabinoid Benefits

Neuroscience studies continually find that cannabinoids possess many therapeutic properties. Because of these properties, we can draft cannabinoids into service for many benefits. Don’t go into battle against unpleasant conditions without the help of cannabis. 

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

THC, the most famous cannabinoid, contains well known psychoactive properties. The psychotropic properties of THC can be observed from its pattern of interacting with the brain’s CB-1 receptors. THC’s interaction with CB-1 releases dopamine, which is why you feel good when you smoke or vape. While THC demonstrates therapeutic effects, especially in pain relief and post-trauma, its psychotropic nature diverted attention from scientific researchers away from its healing benefits. 

THC is 20 times stronger than aspirin as an anti-inflammatory! ^[4]

CBD (Cannabidiol)

CBD is the second most well-known cannabinoid. Unlike THC, CBD is non-intoxicating. Because it doesn’t get you “high”, CBD is used exclusively for the therapeutic benefits it provides. CBD activates both CB-1 and CB-2 receptors. CBD exhibits great promise as a treatment for all cases where the endocannabinoid system operates. As cannabis flourishes with increased social and legal acceptance, cannabinoids like CBD can attract greater scientific attention. At Canna Culture, we offer many types of CBD products which allows you to choose which format you like best.

CBG (Cannabigerol)

Cannabigerol offers potentially greater therapeutic benefits than CBD! CBG is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid. It only comprises about 1% of the cannabinoids in most cannabis strains. This rarity results from CBG’s position as the building block for other cannabinoids including THC and CBD. 

The biochemical evolution of CBG 

1. The cannabis plant produces Cannabigerol Acid (CBGA). 
2. As the cannabis plant ages, enzymes reroute CBGA into either THC acid (THCA) , CBD acid (CBDA) or Cannabichromene acid (CBCA). 
3. Then, light and heat energy will activate the acid form which transforms it to the active compound. THCA–>THC or CBDA–>CBD or CBCA–>CBC. 

To extract pure CBG, cannabis farmers have to harvest the plant at earlier stages of growth to maximize the CBG yield. Farmers are also experimenting with crossbreeding in attempts to produce strains with greater CBG content. Cannabigerol shows tremendous promise as an expansive treatment. CBG is known to be active at CB-1 receptor sites and believed to be active at CB-2 sites.

CBG’s therapeutic potential, from peer-reviewed studies

• CBG soothes inflammation for both multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.^{[5] [6]}
• CBG inhibits the growth of cancer tumors which makes it a strong contender for new anti-cancer treatments.^[7]
• CBG harnesses its neuroprotective properties to protect against the neuron degeneration from Huntington’s Disease and Parkinson’s.^[8]
• CBG controls certain muscle contractions which may treat bladder dysfunctions.^[9]

CBN (Cannabinol)

While CBG is the progenitor to THC and CBD, CBN lies on the other end of the spectrum. CBN results from THC breaking down due to oxidation. Have you ever left out some high potency THC flower for a long time and discovered it didn’t get you as high? That’s because the THC started oxidizing and turned into CBN. There is almost no CBN in fresh plants. THC needs to age for CBN to form.

While THC has a strong affinity to CB-1 receptors in the brain, CBN exhibits strong affinity to CB-2 receptors in the body. Although some people might not like old, unused cannabis for this reason, researchers are just beginning to tease out the therapeutic uses of CBN. IF you’ve smoked some cannabis left out for a long time, you might have noticed, CBN can be used as a sedative or sleep aid. Some studies show CBN also offers a lot of promise as an anti-bacterial treatment mixed into topical products.^[10]

Other Cannabinoids

There are a total of 113 known cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. Another of the lesser known cannabinoids is cannabichromene (CBC), which you might remember as the third cannabinoid that derives originally from CBG acid. Researchers have begun exploration into CBC for its potential role in mechanical and chemical stress sensors. 

We Bring the Culture to You

If you want or need to stay indoors don’t despair. Canna Culture delivers in and around San Jose! If a premium delivery is ordered within 20 miles of Canna Culture’s storefront, then delivery is free. This covers most of the Silicon Valley, but check out the delivery map for minimum orders. Call us today at (408) 264-7877.

FAQ

References 

1. Howlett, A.C. (1995). Pharmacology of Cannabinoid Receptors. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 35:607-634. Downloaded from Annual Reviews on June, 17, 2020.
2. Pertwee, R. (2006). The pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors and their ligands: an overview. International Journal of Obesity. 30, S13–S18. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803272
3. Maroon, J., & Bost, J. (2018). Review of the neurological benefits of phytocannabinoids. Surgical Neurology International, 9(1), 91. doi:10.4103/sni.sni_45_18
4. Russo E. B. (2008). Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain. Therapeutics and clinical risk management, 4(1), 245–259. https://doi.org/10.2147/tcrm.s1928
5. Granja, A. G., Carrillo-Salinas, F., Pagani, A., Gómez-Cañas, M., Negri, R., Navarrete, C., . . . Muñoz, E. (2012). A Cannabigerol Quinone Alleviates Neuroinflammation in a Chronic Model of Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 7(4), 1002-1016. doi:10.1007/s11481-012-9399-3
6. Borrelli, F., Fasolino, I., Romano, B., Capasso, R., Maiello, F., Coppola, D., . . . Izzo, A. A. (2013). Beneficial effect of the non-psychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease. Biochemical Pharmacology, 85(9), 1306-1316. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2013.01.017
7. Borrelli, F., Pagano, E., Romano, B., Panzera, S., Maiello, F., Coppola, D., . . . Izzo, A. A. (2014). Colon carcinogenesis is inhibited by the TRPM8 antagonist cannabigerol, a Cannabis-derived non-psychotropic cannabinoid. Carcinogenesis, 35(12), 2787-2797. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgu205
8. Valdeolivas, S., Navarrete, C., Cantarero, I., Bellido, M. L., Muñoz, E., & Sagredo, O. (2014). Neuroprotective Properties of Cannabigerol in Huntington’s Disease: Studies in R6/2 Mice and 3-Nitropropionate-lesioned Mice. Neurotherapeutics, 12(1), 185-199. doi:10.1007/s13311-014-0304-z
9. Pagano, E., Montanaro, V., Girolamo, A. D., Pistone, A., Altieri, V., Zjawiony, J. K., . . . Capasso, R. (2015). Effect of Non-psychotropic Plant-derived Cannabinoids on Bladder Contractility: Focus on Cannabigerol. Natural Product Communications, 10(6). doi:10.1177/1934578×1501000653
10. Appendino G, Gibbons S, Giana A, et al. (2008). Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure-activity study. Journal of Natural Products. 71(8):1427-1430. doi:10.1021/np8002673