cannabinoid Archives | Medical Cannabis Toronto

If you need any help understanding CBD and cannabis, we’re here for you!

Learning about cannabis and CBD can be a daunting experience for first-timers. We totally understand this! To make things easier, we’ve defined some words you’ll come across in your learning journey:

Cannabis: Cannabis has three types of plants groups: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis and Cannabis indica. When it is decarboxylated (heated), cannabis may be used as a recreational substance, which is famous for inducing psychoactivity or a “high.” Cannabis is also used for its therapeutic elements, which have shown to help alleviate anxiety, depression, pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and more.

Phytocannabinoid: A cannabinoid is a compound produced from cannabis and hemp. CBD and THC are a few examples of famous phytocannabinoids, and scientists are currently researching others, including CBG, CBN and more.

CBD: CBD (or cannabidiol) is a phytocannabinoid that does not cause a high. It has a calming effect with anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, and anti-epileptic properties. CBD is derived from cannabis and hemp plants. When you consume CBD from cannabis, you will also be consuming THC; however, hemp from CBD may contain less than 0.3% THC.

Endocannabinoid system: Also called the ECS, the endocannabinoid system helps regulate the functioning of numerous body processes. Your body contains CB1 and CB2 receptors, which help regulate the nervous, immune, digestive and endocrine systems. When you introduce your body to CBD or THC, your ECS sends chemical messages that trigger biological actions, which may help improve your well-being.

Hemp: This is a type of Cannabis sativa plant, but it contains less than 0.3% THC. Hemp is therapeutic for pain, anxiety, depression and more because it contains CBD, which is non-intoxicating yet relaxing. In fact, there are hemp supplements available that are rich in essential fatty acids. It can be consumed as food or used to create paper, clothing, furniture and more. To learn more about hemp, read our past post on the “8 Quick Facts You Never Knew About Hemp.”

THC: Also called tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is the phytocannabinoid that can cause psychoactivity. However, it is also used medicinally to increase appetite, reduce inflammation, and to relieve stress; those with cancer have also used THC to help alleviate nausea while undergoing chemotherapy. THC is primarily found in cannabis.

Do you have more questions about cannabis and CBD? Click here for the answers to our most commonly asked questions from customers.

Cannabis contains approximately 113 phytocannabinoids!

You’ve heard about THC and CBD: THC creates a high, whereas CBD induces a calming effect. But have you ever heard of the cannabinoids CBN, CBC and CBG?

“The cannabis plant contains 545 compounds that have been identified by researchers, out of those compounds 113 are considered phytocannabinoids,” explains Maximum Yield, a Canadian cannabis magazine. “The plant’s phytocannabinoids all interact and bind together with the terpenes and flavonoids to produce a complex interplay within the plant’s system.”

In this week’s post, we’d like to focus on three unique phytocannabinoids and why scientists are paying attention to them:

Cannabigerol (CBG): CBG is found in cannabis but usually in small amounts. However, this phytocannabinoid has shown promise in containing therapeutic values. As reported by Leafly, CBG may help patients in the fight against cancer: “In one such study, it was shown to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells in mice, thereby slowing colon cancer growth. CBG inhibited tumors and chemically-induced colon carcinogenesis, therefore demonstrating a very exciting possibility for a cure for colorectal cancer.”

Cannabinol (CBN): As THC gets older, it converts to CBN, which is why older cannabis tends to contain high levels of CBN. According to studies on rodents, CBN may work as an appetite stimulant. “Since some avoid THC (another well-known appetite stimulant) due to its intoxicating effects, CBN could potentially offer an alternative for those seeking the munchies without the high—but more research is needed,” writes Leafly.

Cannabichromene (CBC): This cannabinoid has shown promise in treating acne. In a 2016 study, CBD and CBC were studied as potential acne treatments. During the study, CBC was shown to have impressive anti-inflammatory properties, while reducing the production of large lipid amounts in sebaceous glands. Cannabichromene, when combined with THC and CBD, has even been shown to create anti-depressive properties; this means that CBC has the potential to alleviate depression.

Do you have anymore questions about cannabis, pain relief, improving sleep or overall wellness? Contact us here and an educator will respond to you.

References:

“What are Phytocannabinoids?” viewed on October 24, 2019.

“What is CBG (Cannabigerol) & what does does this cannabinoid do?” viewed on October 24, 2019.

“What is CBN (Cannabinol) & what are the benefits of this cannabinoid?” viewed on October 24, 2019.

“What is CBC and what are the benefits of this cannabinoid?” viewed on October 24, 2019.

Oláh, A. , Markovics, A. , Szabó‐Papp, J. , Szabó, P. T., Stott, C. , Zouboulis, C. C. and Bíró, T. (2016), Differential effectiveness of selected non‐psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions implicates their introduction in dry/seborrhoeic skin and acne treatment. Exp Dermatol, 25: 701-707. doi:10.1111/exd.13042

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