10 EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA | THERAPEUTIC CANNABIS

A lot of people have wondered why using cannabis has several effects and why the therapeutic effects of cannabis are different depending on the strain. Cannabis is a plant that has been used for thousands of years and that, at this point, no one can deny that its use has beneficial effects for some diseases and is a viable alternative to treat the symptoms of certain pathologies.

Effects of smoking

Why does cannabis produce biological effects?

Cannabinoids are responsible for the effects of cannabis that we experience when using.

Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis trichomes that act as neurotransmitters activating cannabinoid receptors, cell membranes that are found within the human body and that can be activated both by cannabinoids present in cannabis (phytochannabinoids) and by certain cannabinoids that we have in our organism (endocannabinoids).

When cannabinoids activate these receptors, a biological response is provoked, which is why we experience different therapeutic effects when using cannabis.

The cannabinoids and receptors would roughly form what is known as the endocannabinoid system, but we will deal with this later.

The different cannabis therapeutic effects

First, we experience different sensations when using cannabis because not all is the same. The effects we feel depend on the concentration and type of cannabinoids and terpenes present in cannabis and these depend, in turn, on the type of marijuana and how it has been grown.

When we use cannabis many times we experience relaxation, other times we feel euphoric and active, sometimes we get hungry, other times we get sleepy….

hungry

Sativa strains are usually strains that produce a more psychoactive, energizing and euphoric effect. It causes a more cerebral effect and they are usually more hilarious and apt to consume during the day and with other people.

On the contrary, the índica varieties are strains that cause more relaxation and tranquility, it is a much more physical and corporal effect and are ideal to consume at night and release the stress accumulated during the day.

On the other hand, there are autoflowering varieties, these varieties usually cause a much lighter effect whether they are índica or sativa strains. It is due to their cross with Rudelaris, that makes THC concentrations much lower than in the other varieties.

There are many people who smoke for recreational purposes, simply because they like it, however, there are many others who feel the need to use cannabis to benefit from its therapeutic effects, which are not few.

Therapeutic cannabis effects

At this point, no one can deny that cannabinoids have beneficial effects in alleviating symptoms of certain diseases.

There are currently about 70 different cannabinoids present in cannabis, not all of which cause the same effects, so we will describe the possible therapeutic applications of the most prominent cannabinoids:

THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol:

Commonly known as THC, it is the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effect of marijuana but also has many therapeutic effects.

CBD or Cannabidiol:

It is a cannabinoid that has now become the focus of studies on cannabinoids, largely because it has different therapeutic properties and is probably one of the greatest hopes in the field of cannabis research. In addition, CBD counteracts the effect of THC so that high strains in CBD have less psychoactive effect but still have therapeutic effects.

CBN or Cannabinol:

It is a phytocannabinoid product of THC degradation by exposure to air and light. Its psychoactive effects are subtle, but it has been shown to have therapeutic properties.

Therapeutic effects of cannabinoids:

Therapeutic effects

1. 1 Increase appetite: This is very useful for treating anorexia or cachexia caused by HIV.
2. 2 Anti-emetic: Reduces vomiting, nausea and is a viable alternative to treat the side effects of chemotherapy treatments. Postoperative or HIV or Hepatitis medications.
3. 3 Analgesic: Certain cannabinoids have analgesic effect and are able to relieve pain from diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or have had positive effects with migraine or dysmenorrhea.
4. 4 Anti-inflammatory: In addition to analgesics, cannabinoids act as anti-inflammatory and can be used in allergies or other diseases such as arthritis.
5. 5 Anti-epileptic: Some cannabinoids have anticonvulsant effects and are used both to treat epilepsy and to enhance the effects of certain medications.
6. 6 Antispasmodic: Although still under study, there is evidence that cannabis may help relieve symptoms of diseases such as Parkinson’s or Huntington’s chorea by relieving spasms and tremors in these diseases.
7. 7 Reduces intraocular pressure: So, cannabinoids can be used to treat glaucoma.
8. 8 Neuroprotector: Some cannabinoids have been shown to have a protective antioxidant effect with neurons in addition to stimulating the creation of new neurons (neurogenesis).
9. 9 Bronchodilator: Although it may seem a lie. THC is a bronchodilator, obviously inhalation is not a good method of consumption because it irritates the mucous membranes and is recommended to be administered by another type of route.
10. 10 Antitumoral: It is currently under study, as it has been found that THC.

Other cannabinoids such as CBD induce tumor cell death without affecting healthy cells. Although this is an area that is currently under investigation, let us hope that we will soon have satisfactory and conclusive results.

We hope the criminalization of cannabis by governments will not prevent the study of the therapeutic properties of cannabis. It is completely necessary to finish with the bureaucratic obstacles that paralyze the investigations.

Cannabinoid Research

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