HOW CANNABIS WORKS IN THE BODY

THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

It’s only recently that we’ve begun to understand how cannabis affects us. We have a system in our bodies that works with cannabis like a series of locks and keys. It’s the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS consists of receptors and cannabinoids found throughout our organs and tissues. It’s responsible for regulating many functions throughout the body, including homeostasis or balance.The ECS is present in all vertebrates.

The locks are called receptors. They’re found in your brain, nerve cells, digestive system and other organs in your body. Cannabinoids are the keys that fit together with the receptors to produce their effects in the brain and body. These chemical substances change how the receptor cells behave and communicate with each other. THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF RECEPTORS: The cannabinoids in cannabis are able to interact with the ECS similarly to how the body’s endocannabinoids communicate with the ECS.They may supplement the cannabinoids produced by the body or help an ECS that isn’t functioning properly.

THC acts like a key to unlock these receptors. It binds directly to CB1 receptors and stimulates them to cause responses throughout your body. CBD binds indirectly to CB1 and CB2 receptors and has indirect effects on the ECS.

1 2 3

ENDOCANNABINOIDS, wHICH ARE NATURALLy PRODUCED By OUR BODIES AND FORM PART OF THE ECS (E.G. ANANDAMIDE, 2-AG).

PHyTOCANNABINOIDS, wHICH ARE FOUND IN MANy PLANTS, BUT IN HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS IN CANNABIS (E.G. THC, CBD, CBN).

SyNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS, wHICH ARE PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS THAT HAVE THE SAME CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AS THC (E.G. NABILONE, DRONABINOL) OR ARE MIxTURES OF PLANT-ExTRACTED THC AND CBD (E.G. NABIxIMOLS).

CB1 RECEPTORS ARE FOUND MOSTLy IN yOUR BRAIN, NERVOUS SySTEM AND DIGESTIVE TRACT. CB2 RECEPTORS ARE FOUND PRIMARILy IN THE IMMUNE SySTEM, INCLUDING THE TONSILS, SPLEEN AND LyMPH NODES. WHEN CANNABIS IS CONSUMED, ITS CANNABINOIDS ACT ON THE RECEPTORS.