A
cannabinoid
is a
chemical
found in the
cannabis
(marijuana)
plant
. There are 113 cannabinoids that scientists know of, but there are likely more. Two of the best known cannabinoids are
tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) and
cannabidiol
(CBD). THC is a
psychoactive drug
, meaning it can make you feel and think differently.
[1]
Not all cannabinoids are psychoactive and each one works differently. All cannabinoids share a similar
chemical structure
and are
researched
for treating
diseases
.
[2]
Cannabinoids work by connecting, or binding, to
receptors
in the
body
. These receptors make up a
system
called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). There are two types of receptors: CB
1
(cannabinoid receptor type 1) and CB
2
(cannabinoid receptor type 2). CB
1
receptors are mostly found in the
central nervous system
, which is made up of the
brain
and
spine
. It is also found in other places in the body like
sex organs
. CB
2
is found in the
peripheral nervous system
in other parts of the body. CB
2
receptors are found in the
immune system
, which is the system that prevents us from getting
sick
.
[2]
Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that are found naturally in the cannabis plant are affected by
light
. They are different than
synthetic cannabinoids
that are made in a
laboratory
(lab). When exposed to light, phytocannabinoids can change their
chemical structure
and turn into other cannabinoids.
Synthetic cannabinoids are cannabinoids that are
man-made
in labs. They are used as a drug for research purposes and do not work the same way that natural cannabinoids do. Synthetic cannabinoids are also known as "K2" and "spice". People who have taken synthetic cannabinoids as a drug have gotten very sick and some have died.
[3]
[4]
Cannabinoids are
fatty
and
oily
chemicals that can connect to fat cells in our bodies. This is why it takes a long time to pass a drug test after using marijuana.
[5]
The "high" feeling that people get when using marijuana depends on if they
smoke
a marijuana cigarette ("joint"),
vape
cannabis oils,
[6]
or eat food with cannabis in it.
[7]
[8]
Most people feel high for a few hours after using cannabis. Cannabinoids that bind to CB
1
and CB
2
receptors get into the bloodstream after being used and can change how the body functions for a short amount of time.
Some medicines, like
Marinol
(dronabinol), are carefully made in a lab to help sick people. THC is used to help
nausea
for people getting
chemotherapy
. CBD can help people with
epilepsy
who get
seizures
.
[9]
[10]
[11]
In places, where it is legal, medical marijuana is grown carefully and sold in stores called dispensaries.
The legality of cannabinoids is different around the world. Many first-world nations have passed laws for people to use marijuana to treat their diseases known as medical marijuana as well as allowing recreational use for adults. Using of having marijuana can be illegal in other countries and be punished with
fines
, time in
jail
, or the
death penalty
. In the United States, psychoactive cannabinoids are illegal on the federal level, but many states have passed laws that allow people to have, use, and grow marijuana.
[12]
[13]
CBD is popular in the U.S. because it is not psychoactive and can be sent in the
mail
.
Cannabis has been used for thousands of years. CBD was discovered in 1940. THC was discovered in 1964 by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and Dr. Yechiel Gaoni in Israel.
[14]
- ↑
"Marijuana"
.
www.dea.gov
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
2.0
2.1
Atakan, Zerrin (December 2012).
"Cannabis, a complex plant: different compounds and different effects on individuals"
.
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
.
2
(6): 241?254.
doi
:
10.1177/2045125312457586
.
ISSN
2045-1253
.
PMC
3736954
.
PMID
23983983
.
- ↑
"Spice/K2, Synthetic Marijuana | DEA"
.
www.dea.gov
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
Penaloza, Marisa (27 July 2018).
"America's Synthetic Marijuana Overdose Crisis, Explained"
.
NPR.org
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
"Drug Testing: MedlinePlus Medical Test"
.
medlineplus.gov
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
"Vaping and Marijuana Concentrates: What is Vaping?"
.
www.dea.gov
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
"Marijuana (Weed, Pot) Facts"
.
Easy Read
. 2015-06-11
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
Abuse, National Institute on Drug (2019-12-24).
"Marijuana DrugFacts"
.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
"What is medical marijuana?"
.
Easy Read
. 2016-11-14
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
"Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®)?Patient Version - National Cancer Institute"
.
www.cancer.gov
. 2011-10-24
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
"Marijuana"
.
medlineplus.gov
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
Haug, Nancy A.; Padula, Claudia B.; Sottile, James E.; Vandrey, Ryan; Heinz, Adrienne J.; Bonn-Miller, Marcel O. (September 2017).
"Cannabis Use Patterns and Motives: A Comparison of Younger, Middle-Aged, and Older Medical Cannabis Dispensary Patients"
.
Addictive Behaviors
.
72
: 14?20.
doi
:
10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.03.006
.
ISSN
0306-4603
.
PMC
5492936
.
PMID
28340421
.
- ↑
"Drug Scheduling"
.
www.dea.gov
. Retrieved
2020-06-27
.
- ↑
Gaoni, Y.; Mechoulam, R. (1964-04-01).
"Isolation, Structure, and Partial Synthesis of an Active Constituent of Hashish"
.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
.
86
(8): 1646?1647.
doi
:
10.1021/ja01062a046
.
ISSN
0002-7863
.
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International
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