Cannabis is the general name for Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis, and Cannabis indica. These groups of plants have psychoactive properties, and they are used for recreational purposes, medical purposes, or even both.
Cannabis-derived products are derived from the flowers, seeds, stems, and leaves of the cannabis plant.
When you harvest and dry the flower of these plants, the product you will get is one of the most common drugs in the world.
Some call the product weed, some marijuana and others call it pot.
Contents
What are CBD and THC?
Cannabis contains a minimum of 120 medicinally active compounds called cannabinoids. Scientists are still actively working on knowing what each compound does.
So far, there are decent information on cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Others, not so much.
CBD.
Cannabinoid is psychoactive, but it won’t get you high because it is neither intoxicating nor euphoric. It has been useful in reducing pain and inflammation. Research has also shown the compound to be useful in migraines, seizures, anxiety and nausea. However, scientists are still actively researching the product in order to fully understand how it works.
THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol is the major psychoactive compound in cannabis. You know the high people talk about when people smoke/ take marijuana? Yes! This is the culprit.
Some cannabis products contain CBD alone; some contain THC alone, while some contain both cannabinoids. E.g., Hemp has a high amount of CBD but little or no THC.
The dried flower of the plant contains both cannabinoids, but one might be more abundant than the other in certain strains.
Methods of administering the drug
- By smoking / vaping
- By brewing it as a tea
- By eating it raw
- By topically applying it on the skin
- By taking it as supplements or capsules.
- By eating it as candies(edible).
Legal status
Cannabis is illegal in a lot of states, but some states have started to legalize its use for both recreational and medical purpose. Some states only legalized its use for medical purpose.
Some CBD products derived from Hemp with a THC content of less than 0.3% are legal under federal law but still illegal under the laws of some states.
On the other hand, some CBD products derived from cannabis are illegal under the federal law but legal under some states laws.
It is advisable that you check whether the use of cannabis is legal in your state before purchasing or using it. The legalization status of cannabis varies from country to country.
Medical uses of cannabis
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, cannabis can help manage
- chronic pain
- some symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Chemotherapy – associated nausea and vomiting
There is some evidence suggesting that it can help with sleeping problems related to chronic pain, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, and MS.
It has been found to be helpful in other conditions like:
- Anorexia
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Some forms of anxiety
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a medication that is derived from cannabis, in 2018, for the treatment of two severe and rare types of epilepsy that do not respond well to other conventional treatment.
Some other synthetic drugs with similar structures to THC like Syndros, Marinol, and Cesamet have received approval for the treatment of certain types of anorexia.
Effects
The particular route of administration employed when administering cannabis products can determine the effects of the drug.
Smoking or inhaling: within minutes of smoking/ inhaling, you can start feeling elated, and the elation can start to peak after 10 to 30mins. The feeling will then gradually wears off after about 2 hours.
Ingesting: if the cannabis containing product is taken by mouth, the effect can be felt within 1hour, and it will peak after about 2.5-3.5hours. A study reported that how long it takes for the effect to be felt, to a large extent, depend on the type of edibles. Hard candies have a faster onset of action.
Topical: Transdermal patches ensures that the ingredients are delivered into the blood at a steady rate over a prolonged period of time. This form of delivery is particularly helpful for people using cannabis to treat inflammation and pain.
How cannabinoids work
The endocannabinoid system in humans naturally produce some cannabinoids like anandamide(AEA), and they act like neurotransmitters.
.These neurotransmitters affect parts of the brain responsible for activities like; memory, movement, thinking, coordination, pleasure, and perception.
For the endocannabinoids to elicit their effects, they need to bind to receptors, namely CB1 receptors and CB 2 receptors.
CB 1 receptors are mostly located in the central nervous system, while CB 2 receptors are mostly located in the peripheral nervous system.
However, these receptors are not restricted to respond to just the endocannabinoids. They also respond to THC and other cannabinoids.
It is advisable that someone using cannabis should not operate heavy machines, drive cars or engage in risky physical activities because it has been found that THC affects certain parts of the brain responsible for
- Posture, balance, and coordination
- Attention and memory
- Reaction time
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that affects mood. It is also called a “feel good neurotransmitter”. THC can bind to specific cannabinoids receptor and stimulate the release of dopamine.
THC can also affect you people perceive colors. Some colors may seem brighter.
What will you feel when you use cannabis?
When you use cannabis, you may experience:
- Feeling high (elation/euphoria)
- Feeling relaxed
- Changes in how you perceive things, e.g., color, time, and space
- Feeling more hungry
- Feeling more inclined to talk (talkative)
Addiction
People using cannabis for a long period of time are at a greater risk of developing cannabis use disorder.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Cannabis use order occurs when cannabis user experience withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug, and it can affect about 30% of those using cannabis.
However, out of the 30% that may develop cannabis use disorder, about 9% of them may develop an addiction.
Addiction occurs when users cannot stop using a substance and, in this case, cannabis.
The NIDA also estimated that up to 17% of teenagers using cannabis might develop an addiction.
Cannabis withdrawal
Trying to quit using cannabis after getting hooked on it isn’t a suicide mission, but it can be quite uncomfortable.
You may experience the following symptoms:
- Irritability
- Changes in mood
- Cravings
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- restlessness
- Anorexia or decreased appetite
- General discomfort
These symptoms tend to peak within the first week after stopping cannabis use and last up to 2 weeks.
Summary
Cannabis can be used for recreational and medical purposes, but if you are considering using it for any purpose, then you should consider its legality in your state.
Because it also contains chemicals with various effects on the body, you should consult your physician about the short and long term effects of cannabis.