What’s in a Cannabinoid – The Various Compounds in Medical Cannabis

Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK for some years now – since 2018 to be exact. Yet still some confusion remains as to the law. Would you know the difference between your Tetrahydrocannabinol and your Cannabidiol? How about terpenes and flavonoids, or Sativas and Indicas? With illicit black market cannabis still on the streets of Bristol its vitally important for both current and potential medical patients to understand the science behind the plant and what it does.

This article will discuss the two main compounds in the cannabis plant – THC and CBD – and their varying confirmed and potential medical or therapeutic effects, as well as two lesser-known cannabinoids out of the hundred or so found in the plant. Hopefully this will help you on your way to an informed opinion on medical weed, as it a currently often misunderstood topic in the UK.

Cannabis is Much More Than Just THC
The cannabis flower has almost 100 different compounds in it, the majority of which fall under the label cannabinoids. These chemicals all interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating various bodily functions including mood, appetite, pain and temperature. Each can have subtly different effects. THC and CBD are the main two.

Some people prefer to start with or just stick to the fully legal and therapeutic cannabidiol, or CBD. However, not all products are made equal. CBD oil reviews found online can help patients make the best purchase possible, in what is an open and rather busy market.

Tetrahydrocannabinol – THC – is the main psychoactive compound that can give patients (and recreational users) a “high”. The most potent cannabinoid, THC binds to CB1 receptors in the brain and nervous system, stimulating various responses.

Medically, THC is considered as an effective painkiller with more studies ongoing as to how and what types of pain it works best for. THC is also very effective at stimulating appetite (the famous munchies) which can be medically useful in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It also proven to decrease muscle spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis.

CBD is a Legal Compound (When Isolated) and Has Therapeutic Effects
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the second main compound in the cannabis flower. It also found in the hemp variety of the plant, which is mostly used for industrial and textile purposes.

Medically, CBD has anti-inflammatory and slight painkilling properties. Rather than binding to cannabinoid receptors, it interacts with them and modulates the ways they bind with other body chemicals.

As well as that, CBD is a remarkably potent and proven anti-seizure medication. In fact one of the only two ways to get medical cannabis on the NHS is through Epidyolex – a CBD-based pharmaceutical made for this exact reason. The other is Sativex, a THC-based spray.

Crucially, CBD is not subjectively psychoactive, meaning patients don’t feel any kind of “high” as is possible with THC medications. This also means it doesn’t fall under the Psychoactive Substances Act in the UK, so it is fully legal. CBD is also somewhat of a modulator of THC’s effects – when combined CBD can alleviate some of the possible negative side effects of larger doses of THC.

However, probably because it is legal, there are currently loads of CBD brands on the market. In fact, it has become somewhat of a trend in some cases – and that can lead to some below quality products. In fact some people still get a prescription for CBD oils to avoid having to work out what the best options are.

If you’d rather buy over the counter in or a health shop however, something like Supreme CBD Oil reviews will help you out. Advice from experts and other patients will be invaluable in finding the highest quality product for therapeutic use.

CBG and CBN are Rare in Natural Cannabis But are Increasingly Being Studied
The long list of other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant aside from THC and CBD make up small percentages of the total. But scientists are increasingly isolating various cannabinoids for study, from specially grown strains. Some these compounds include:

• Cannabigerol – CBG
• Cannabinol – CBN
• Cannabichromene – CBC
• Tetrahydrocannabivarin – THCV
• Cannabidivarin – CBDV
• Cannabicyclol – CBL
• Cannabielsoin – CBE

Out of those, two being looked at currently are cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN) – which together make up less than 1% of a naturally grown cannabis plant.

CBG is one of the most interesting cannabinoids medically, with promising research in a variety of fields. It looks quite potent in its interactions with the body’s endocannabinoid system. It has shown promise as a potential anti-inflammatory, especially in bowel and stomach conditions, and may be neuroprotective which could be a treatment for Alzheimer’s or dementia.

CBN is also one of increasing interest, with research pointing to it being responsible for some of medical cannabis’ more sedative properties – so it could be used a medication for insomnia or sleep disorders.