Medicinal Benefits of Cannabis

The cannabis plant can sometimes get a bad rep, stemming from a lack of understanding, and lack of modern research. Despite the challenges, there’s a multitude of benefits to cash in on from this incredible plant, with an extensive history to boot! Cannabis can be traced back to around 12,000 years ago near the Altai Mountains in Central Asia, and since then, cannabis seeds have spread via migration patterns of nomadic peoples. Records of the medicinal use of cannabis appear before the Common Era in China, Egypt, and Greece, and later in the Roman empire. Western physicians came into contact with Muslim and Indian cultures in the 19th century, thus introducing the medicinal use of cannabis into Europe.

There are a substantial number of accounts of cannabis use for inflammation, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. A classical example is found in Homer’s Odyssey (Book IV), around the late 7th or early 8th century BC. Zeus’ daughter, Helen, served wine mixed with a drug called nēpenthés (νηπενθές) that quiets all pain and strife and brings forgetfulness of every ailment. Helen served this mixture to Greek soldiers who had painful reminiscences of their comrades slain during the Trojan war, triggered by Telemachus’ visit—a case of post-traumatic stress disorder. “Nē–Penthés'' literally means “No–Grief.” 

(source: National Library of Medicine)

It wasn’t until the 20th century modern scientists discovered the Endocannabinoid System, surging research into the medicine forward. Here’s a breakdown of the Endocannabinoid System, Cannabinoids, and Terpenes, and how they all interact inside our bodies: 

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) regulates and controls many of our most critical bodily functions such as learning and memory, emotional processing, sleep, temperature control, pain control, inflammatory and immune responses, and eating. The ECS is currently at the center of renewed international research and drug development. 

The ECS comprises a vast network of chemical signals and cellular receptors that are densely packed throughout our brains and bodies. The "cannabinoid" receptors in the brain — the CB1 receptors — outnumber many of the other receptor types on the brain. This is how the CB1 receptors regulate things: by immediate feedback, turning up or down the activity of whichever system needs to be adjusted, whether that is hunger, temperature, or alertness.

To stimulate these receptors, our bodies produce molecules called endocannabinoids, which have a structural similarity to molecules in the cannabis plant. The first endocannabinoid that was discovered was named anandamide after the Sanskrit word “ananda” for bliss. All of us have tiny cannabis-like molecules floating around in our brains.

A second type of cannabinoid receptor, the CB2 receptor, exists mostly in our immune tissues and is critical to helping control our immune functioning, and it plays a role in regulating intestinal inflammation, contraction, and pain in inflammatory bowel conditions. CB2 receptors are particularly exciting targets of drug development because they don't cause the “high” associated with cannabis that stimulating the CB1 receptors does (which is often an unwanted side effect).

(source: Harvard Health)

What are Cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are any of the various naturally-occurring, biologically active, chemical components of hemp or cannabis including some (such as THC) that possess psychoactive properties. The plant doesn’t directly produce these cannabinoids; instead, it synthesizes cannabinoid acids, which must be activated (decarboxylated) with heat, and then converted into the compounds most users are after.

Major Cannabinoids:

• Widely considered “the mother of cannabinoids”, CBG is the root of all subsequent cannabinoids
• Some health benefits include: anti-inflammatory, cancer-inhibitor, antibacterial, appetite stimulant, anti-nausea, gastrointestinal benefits to treat conditions such as IBS, IBD, and Crohn's disease

• The psychoactive portion of the cannabis plant, mostly known as the active cannabinoid in what we refer to as “marijuana”
• Consumed in tandem with other cannabinoids, benefits include: treating muscle stiffness & spasms, neuropathic pain relief, migraine relief

• While some cannabinoids bind directly to cannabinoid receptors, CBD interacts indirectly with the receptors. Specifically, CBD activates TRPV1 receptors (vanilloid receptor 1 or capsaicin receptors). At a 1:1 ratio, THC and CBD create a synergic effect.
• Benefits: anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, reduces epileptic seizures and PTSD symptoms, treat opioid addiction, inhibit arthritis symptoms, improve insomnia

• CBC binds with two cannabinoid receptors linked to how we experience pain, and may be nearly 10 times as effective as CBD for relieving pain, anxiety, and inflammation.

• Additional benefits: inhibits growth of new cancer cells, neuroprotectant (protects against the types of inflammation and oxidative stress that create neurological issues such as Alzheimer’s disease), maintains brain homeostasis, anandamide (AEA) reuptake inhibitor

• A sub-variant of CBG, CBGV can increase energy and concentration, and has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects

• The main difference between THCV and THC is the lack of psychoactive effects from THCV
• Benefits: decreases appetite, increases satiety, and up-regulates energy metabolism, making it a clinically useful remedy for weight loss and management

• Early research suggests that cannabidivarin might make certain nerve cells less active. These nerve cells are involved in swelling (inflammation), seizures, pain, and other conditions. By making these cells less active, cannabidivarin may improve these conditions.

• While not much research has been done in all these years since its discovery in 1975 (boo!), using what we know about CBC, it’s likely they share many benefits, if not all & then some!
• Predicted benefits: anti-inflammatory, improve insomnia, reduces eczema symptoms, seizure relief

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in plants and some animals. They’re responsible for the aromas, flavors, and even colors associated with various types of vegetation. In terms of cannabis, terpenes are what make certain strains smell or taste different from others. While there are well over 400 known terpenes in cannabis, experts have only linked a handful of them to specific effects.

Terpenes can also be processed into products, like cleaning solvents, insect repellant, and dyes. Some even have therapeutic properties! While nearly all plants contain terpenes, some of the more common sources people encounter them include the cannabis plant, aromatic herbs (like anise or thyme), and citrus fruits!

(Source: healthline)

Major Terpenes:

• Effects: anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, bronchodilator (relaxes muscles in airway and lungs, making breathing easier)
• Strains high in Pinene: Blue Dream, Jack Herer, OG Kush
• Other vegetation high in naturally-occurring Pinene: rosemary, basil, dill, cedar, eucalyptus

Humulene: (spicy, herbal)

• Effects: anti-inflammatory, appetite suppressant, pain relief
• Strains high in Humulene: Girl Scout Cookies, Skywalker OG, Sour Diesel
• Other vegetation high in naturally-occurring Humulene: hops, sage, ginseng, basil

Limonene: (citrus, lemon, orange)

• Effects: uplifting, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, gastroprotective immunostimulant (acts similarly to antacids: protects stomach lining and reduces inflammation)
• Strains high in Limonene: Wedding Cake, Berry White, Super Lemon Haze
• Other vegetation high in naturally-occurring Limonene: citrus fruits, rosemary, red pepper, chamomile, ginger, turmeric, St. John’s wort, valerian, anise

• Effects: relaxing, euphoric, muscle relaxant, sedative
• Strains high in Myrcene: Granddaddy Purple, Pineapple Express, Cherry Pie
• Other vegetation high in naturally-occurring Myrcene: basil, bay laurel leaves, hops, lemongrass, mangos, parsley, sweet basil, wild thyme, ylang-ylang

• Effects: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, protects digestive tract lining
• Strains high in Caryophyllene: Chemdawg, White Widow, Gorilla Glue/GG4
• Other vegetation high in naturally-occurring Caryophyllene: black caraway, cloves, hops, basil, oregano, black pepper

• Effects: antiepileptic, antipsychotic, anticonvulsant, analgesic, sedative, anti-anxiety, natural antineoplastic (combats cancer cells)
• Strains high in Linalool: Zkittlez, Do-Si-Dos, Amnesia Haze
• Other vegetation high in naturally-occuring Linalool: mint, tomatoes, coriander, sweet basil, oregano, camellia (tea plant), bay leaves, guava, peaches, plums, pineapple, passionfruit

Once you know how the many different cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis work and interact with each other, now comes the fun part: finding your perfect strain(s)!

As an ex-budtender, I’ve gotten to try a ton of different strains over the last couple years! As time goes on, I've refined exactly what I’m looking for in my flower and dabs. Personally, I’ve found CBG to help with my chronic pain in ways pharmaceutical medications can’t (at least not without opioids) and it always feels like a sigh of relief after having a hit or two of some CBG-heavy strains. (Shoutout to Rosy Refinery for listing CBG percentage on their concentrates!) Some of my favorite high-CBG dabs I’ve tried recently:

• Z-Wiz (Zkittlez x G-Wiz) CBG: 7.63%
• Peach Pie (Rainbow Pie x Dozizoz) CBG: 5.39%
• Super Boof (Black Cherry Punch x Tropicana Cookies) CBG: 6.07%

As far as terpenes go, I always go for anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory strains if I can, and I love skunky, fruity, floral scent profiles the most. If CBG-heavy strains aren’t on the table, my next choice is strains high in Myrcene, Linalool, and Limonene. These are some of my favorite flower strains I’ve had in the past couple months:

• Frankenberry (Skunkberry x Purple Urkle)
• Lemon Pound Cake (Lemon Skunk x Cheese)
• Zkittlez x Wedding Crasher (Wedding Cake x White Widow)

(Additional sources: Leafly, National Library of Medicine, Marijuana Doctors)