Phytocannabinoids in the Plant To date, over 113 phytocannabinoids have been identified within the cannabis plant, the only known plant to produce phytocannabinoids in such large amounts. These phytocannabinoids can rarely form with a 3 carbon ring opposed to a 5 carbon ring, making them propyl phytocannabinoids. THC and CBD are the two most common […]
Serotonin System and its Function The serotonin system is a major neuronal system that plays a role in various mental functions, including the regulation of anxiety, mood, cognition, perception and pain. Serotonin works by binding to 5-HT receptors, of which 14 variants have been identified, though full understanding of what each one does has not […]
The Dopaminergic System The reinforcement and reward models of drug addiction have suggested that dopamine neurotransmission plays a key role in the motivation to use drugs. Dopamine appears to be at least partially responsible for the stimulus-reward association that is involved in addiction, and abnormal dopamine levels have even been correlated with schizophrenic and psychotic […]
Terpenes and Smell For some, the aromas of cannabis can be soothing and pleasant, while for others it smells skunky and off-putting. Regardless of your opinion on its scent, which is largely dependent on what strain you’re smelling, you can thank terpenes and terpenoids for that pungent fragrance. Secreted in the same glands that produce […]
Smoke from the combustion of any plant material, be it tobacco, cannabis or a leaf from the tree outside, produces a lot of toxins and carcinogens. Smoking any plant or even sitting next to a wood-fueled campfire will all lead to exposure to these substances, resulting in compromised cardiovascular function and other negative health effects. […]
Your endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a group of specialized fatty acid-based lipid signaling chemicals, their receptors, and the metabolic enzymes that produce and break them down. It was named after the plant that led to its discovery, cannabis, and although detected in the early 1980s, its existence wasn’t confirmed until 1992 by a group of […]
Many worriers over the legalization of recreational or medical marijuana cite unknown and unintended cultural effects. These tend to include anything from economic shifts, to cultural upheaval to increases in DUIs and public consumption. Fortunately, with many states’ legalizations ahead of the federal government over the years, and a number of studies searching for these […]
Beginning in the early 1970s, NORML increasingly began pushing politicians and legislatures across the country to at least decriminalize cannabis, if not fully legalize it. They found their first success in Oregon in 1973, who reduced the penalty for up to one ounce of cannabis to a $100 fine. This trend continued with the help […]
By the time the turn of the century rolled around and people celebrated the year 1900, US laws were being frequently passed limiting the pharmaceutical industry in their product labeling to quell the “snake oil” salesmen, and any products that didn’t comply were inherently labeled “poisons.” Unfortunately for cannabis, which was used extensively throughout the […]
Cannabis is considered to be one of the first cultivated plants in human history, with some estimates placing its first cultivation over 30,000 years ago. For thousands of years, sativa plants were cultivated for their use as fiber and food, utilized by ancient peoples for clothing, paper, rope and much more. Indica plants found use […]
