Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that repress neurotransmitter release in the brain. This causes various effects on the mind and body, including mood changes and pain relief. To better understand this chemical compound, here’s an explanation of three types of cannabinoids: major cannabinoids, minor cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids.
Phytocannabinoids
Major Phytocannabinoids
As evident by their name, major cannabinoids are the most significant type of cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short, is one example of a major cannabinoid. This is also recognized as the psychoactive ingredient responsible for causing the “high” associated with smoking marijuana.
THC attaches to specific sites called cannabinoid receptors which are located in various parts of the brain and body. These receptors are known to manage pain, pleasure, emotions and memory.
Other than THC, there is another major cannabinoid called Cannabidiol or CBD for short. This compound has gained a lot of attention throughout the world as studies have found that it’s effective at treating epilepsy among other things. However, unlike THC this doesn’t make people feel “high” because it doesn’t attach to those cannabinoid receptors in the same way as THC does.
Minor Phytocannabinoids
The second type of cannabinoids is called minor cannabinoids or cannabinols since they’re found less frequently compared to major cannabinoids like THC and CBD. One example of a minor cannabinoid is cannabinol which can be used as an anti-depressant. The compound is also recognized for its mild psychoactive effect which can help with pain relief.
Endocannabinoids
The second type of cannabinoids is called endocannabinoids. Like other cannabinoids, they’re chemicals that act on cannabinoid receptors but the main difference is that these occur naturally in the body and thus can be considered as endogenous cannabinoids.
Exogenous vs Endogenous Cannabinoids
Although exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids seem like similar terms, there’s a difference between them which you should know to keep things straight:
- Exogenous simply means “originating from outside”. In this case it refers to cannabinoids that come from cannabis plants as opposed to those created by your body.
- On the other hand, endogenous refers to those compounds that originate from within an organism or cell. In short, those occurring naturally in the body. This specific definition explains the difference between the cannabinoids that come from cannabis plants and those created by your body.
Synthetic Cannabinoids
Lastly, there are synthetic cannabinoids which are designed to mimic the activity of major and minor cannabinoids. As studies continue to progress, it’s believed that more synthetic cannabinoids will be discovered in marijuana plants. However, these compounds are usually not found in hashish or hash oil because they tend to break down at higher temperatures than the regular plant material. Therefore, this type of cannabinoid doesn’t produce strong results like THC does when burned and inhaled as an extract through smoking marijuana.
Now you know about the three types of cannabinoids: major cannabinoids such as THC and CBD; minor cannabinoids such as cannabinol; and synthetic cannabinoids. Whether you are suffering from chronic pain, epilepsy or depression, these cannabinoids can provide effective relief through various ways.
If you choose to use CBD oil as a treatment method please consult with a Certified Cannabis Coach.
There are three types of cannabinoids: Phytocannabinoids which are produced by the cannabis plant; Endocannabinoids which are produced by our bodies as needed in response to stress or other internal or external stimulus; and, Synthetic cannabinoids that are created in laboratories.
Phytocannabinoids fall into two categories, major phytocannabinoids and minor phytocannabinoids. THC and CBD are the most common major phytocannabinoids, while CBG, CBC, CBN, among others are considered minor or rare phytocannabinoids. Each has their own properties and effects; however, minor cannabinoids are found in much smaller quantities within the plant. Therefore, it’s important to understand that these compounds act in tandem with each other (the “Entourage Effect”) to synergistically compound the effects and benefits of each other.
There are only 5 known endocannabinoids to date; however, more research is being conducted. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system within the body is a relatively new discovery, so there is much more to learn about this system. This complex system regulates several functions of the human body by attaching to CB1 & CB2 receptors within the body. Phytocannabinoids also bind to CB receptors to increase function and healing within the body.
Synthetic cannabinoids can have much more serious side effects and are difficult to dose. These “imitation” cannabinoids have a similar molecular structure to THC; however, they are typically much more potent and can lead to unpleasant and unpredictable side effects. These cannabinoids have a smaller therapeutic window and are therefore much more likely to not work for your clients unless precisely dosed. Therefore, it is best to stick with phytocannabinoids in therapeutic settings.