Exploring CBD
Kayla Zadow
Cannabis plants are made up of multiple compounds that when broken down and consumed interact within our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Second to THC, CBD is the most prevalent cannabinoid within cannabis plants (Jikomes., 2021). CBD and THC alike, are derived from the plant, therefore they’re called phytocannabinoids (Jikomes., 2021). Our body generates its own naturally occurring cannabinoids called endocannabinoids (Jikomes., 2021).
Gretchen Lidicker states, “THC and CBD are neither opposite nor identical twins” (CBD Oil Everyday Secrets.) Although they are both phytocannabinoids that are able to interact with our ECS, CBD doesn’t produce the same intoxicating effects as THC. The typical high that most people get when consuming THC appears to not occur when the same person consumes CBD (Jikomes., 2021). Instead, CBD is thought to be better described as psychoactive, as it still influences your brain, but is non-intoxicating on its own (Jikomes., 2021).
The main difference between these chemical cousins (THC & CBD) is how they interact with cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors, located within the brain and central nervous system (Barcott., 2020). These CB1 receptors are what are activated when we experience the euphoric high typically experienced when consuming THC (Barcott., 2020). THC is able to bind efficienctly to the CB1 cannabinoid receptors. CBD, on the other hand, has a very low binding affinity to these receptors, meaning they are not able to interact and activate them to the degree that THC does (Barcott., 2020). This makes CBD capable of actually preventing compounds like THC from activating CB1 receptors, by blocking available receptors (Barcott., 2020). This hypothesis helps to explain some of the positive reported effects CBD can have when used in conjunction with THC, perhaps mitigating an over-activation of CB1 receptors, which can produce intense effects.
Uniquely, CBD can increase production of the naturally occurring of endocannabinoids that your body already creates. In a research study done by Roger Pertwee, CBD was found to be capable of targeting serotonin receptors, enhancing their activity (Barcott., 2020). Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and stress response within the body (Jikomes., 2021). In addition, CBD has been found to interact and affect the activity of opioid and dopamine receptors, responsible for controlling pain reception as well as impacting motivation, pleasure, cognition, memory, learning and fine motor skills (Jikomes., 2021). Although studies are still new, and ever developing, this information does give hope for what many potentially therapeutic avenues may be possible in the future. *fingers crossed*
The vast mosaic of what makes up each cannabis plant chemically is complex and beautifully unique. While you consume cannabis, the various chemical compounds produced by the plant, such as the terpenes, flavonoids, and other botanical components are blending together, working synergistically with each other, in what’s known as the entourage effect (Rahn., 2020). In a review done by Dr.Russo he quotes the following statement; “This type of synergism may play a role in the widely held (but not experimentally based) view that in some cases plants are better drugs than the natural products isolated from them.” Essentially, when consuming cannabis as a whole plant, the hundreds of botanical compounds are entering your system with their own unique effects and benefits, perhaps outweighing the benefits of any one, extracted, compound (Rahn., 2020). Depending on which ones are present within the cannabis you are consuming, their behaviours may change when in the company of other compounds (Rahn., 2020).
For different people at different tolerance levels, THC tends to either be experienced as overly intense or, contrarily, lacking in desired effect. Either way, folks tend to fixate on the THC percentage of their products, often forgetting to also consider the CBD content. But just because CBD on its own doesn’t get you high, it definitely has a role to play when combined with THC. In a randomized control trial, scientists studied the effects of consuming cannabis with various ratios of THC to CBD, to see what effects it had on the interpreted high of each individual participant. They found that when consuming high THC alongside a little CBD, participants reported feeling the highest, followed by the THC-only reports (Solowij., 2019). Those who vaporized THC with a larger dose of CBD seemed to get just as high initially, but the euphoric effects wavered within one hour (Solowij., 2019). For those looking to control an overpowering high, it was found that the most effective dosing would be comparable to having 400mg CBD with 8mg THC (Solowij., 2019). It’s fascinating to consider how CBD, in different concentrations, might intensify or mediate the experienced effects of THC.
It’s important to note here, and for all of us to remember, that the research on CBD, its effects, and the mechanisms by which it works is ongoing, with some of its effects having more evidence behind them than others.
The complexity of CBD goes hand and hand with its many potential therapeutic possibilities, and although we are a recreational cannabis dispensary it would be naive not to educate ourselves on the potential effects of the compounds we sell. As always, I would like to empower you to do your own research on CBD (and all cannabis products you purchase). Research on cannabis is never-ending, and the amount of optimism I get every time I read a new article on its benefits for the human body is unmatched. Happy discovering, friends.
Reference List:
Barcott, B. (2020, July 28). CBD vs. THC: Why is CBD non-intoxicating? Leafly. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/science-tech/cbd-vs-thc-cbd-not-intoxicating.
Lidicker, G. (2018). Cbd Oil: Everyday Secrets: A Lifestyle Guide to hemp-based health and Wellness. Countryman Press.
Nick Jikomes, P. D. (2021, May 22). CBD (Cannabidiol): What does it do and how does it affect the Brain & Body? Leafly. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/cbd/what-does-cbd-do.
Rahn, B. (2020, September 29). The entourage effect: How cannabis compounds may be working together. Leafly. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/cannabis-101/cannabis-entourage-effect-why-thc-and-cbd-only-medicines-arent-g.
Rahn, B. (2021, January 26). Using CBD to tame a cannabis high? small doses may have opposite effect. Leafly. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/science-tech/how-cbd-dose-affects-cannabis-effects.
Russo, E. B. (2011, August). TAMING THC: Potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British journal of pharmacology. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/.
Solowij, N., Broyd, S., Greenwood, L.-marie, van Hell, H., Martelozzo, D., Rueb, K., Todd, J., Liu, Z., Galettis, P., Martin, J., Murray, R., Jones, A., Michie, P. T., & Croft, R. (2019). A randomised controlled trial of vaporised Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol alone and in combination in frequent and infrequent cannabis users: Acute intoxication effects. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 269(1), 17–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-019-00978-2
Staff, L. C. (2021, March 30). Everything Canadians need to know about CBD. Leafly. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.leafly.ca/news/strains-products/canada-guide-cbd.