You guys probably hear me talk about cannabinoids and terpenes a LOT and it's easy for them to get mixed up so let's go over the differences!
Be sure to check out the "resources" page for more information on cannabinoids and terpenes too!
So first thing- what the hell is a cannabinoid?! The cannabis plant has several components that all do something different. The two main ones you need to worry about are the terpenes and cannabinoids. The cannabinoids are going to be what makes the product legal vs illegal, for starters. If a product has less than .3% THC, it's considered hemp and is legally buyable anywhere you can find it such as gas stations, head shops, etc.
The 3 main cannabinoids you're used to hearing about are going to be THC, CBD, and Delta 8. Is it starting to click now? I bet you didn't know that there are even MORE cannabinoids available in the cannabis plant so let's go over a few of them and what they do within your body! We'll start with the most common ones:
THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol: this component binds with both your CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body offering relief to many different symptoms. You should avoid THC if you have high blood pressure as it does raise the BP. If you have anxiety, try strains with less than 17% THC or a CBD dominant strain with small amounts of THC.
CBD or Cannabidiol: this component is SO slept on! CBD has many, many wonderful uses in the body and endocannabinoid system (ECS). There are no psychoactive effects, increased anxiety, increased appetite, or increased heart rate so this is a great component to use during the day if you're looking for some relief. CBD also turns off signals that stop endocannabinoids from producing so CBD will increase your ECS efficiency and lower your blood pressure. CBD also heals your gut by producing the protein Claudin-1! CBD is effective for epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, schizophrenia, and decreases pain from inflammation. CBD works very similarly to SSRIs which makes it great for depression and anxiety sufferers.
Delta 8 or Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol: This is almost identical to THC- just one molecule difference! This cannabinoid is great for treatment of nausea and vomiting with kiddos or someone who cannot access THC since it's legal!
CBN or Cannabinol: Fun fact- THC actually degrades to CBN when exposed to heat and light! This is a highly sedative cannabinoid so it's commonly used for insomnia and pain relief. This cannabinoid is especially effective for insomnia when you use it with THC and the terpene Myrcene.
CBG or Cannabigerol: This is actually the primary cannabinoid! The enzymes in your plant use CBG-A (acid version) to produce the THC. It's a pretty good practice to have amounts of both CBD and CBG in your strains. CBG gives the physiological response of AEA (anandamide) which is a naturally occurring endocannabinoid that your body makes. This is the only cannabinoid that lowers your BP and helps with memory loss!
CBC or Cannabichromene: This cannabinoid increases your AEA and 2-AG (both endocannabinoids) which reduces pain and also increases the efficiency of your ECS. CBC has been shown to be 10X more effective than CBD with treating anxiety and works great for depression when paired with THC. This cannabinoid also increases the effects of the other cannabinoids.
THCV or Tetrahydrocannabivarin: This cannabinoid makes up less than 1% of the plant and thought to give the plant its skunky odor. The psychoactive effect of this cannabinoid is stronger than THC but lasts half as long. This one is great for immune system issues when paired with THC and CBD, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Diabetes when paired with CBD, anxiety, and alertness.
Please do not make any medical decisions without consulting with a licensed medical professional.
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