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THC isn’t the only thing worth considering anymore. With the rise of Cannabis testing by such establishments as sclabs.com there is more and more information becoming available about the other cannabinoids and their effects. I have below an introduction to your new friends.

The active chemicals in Cannabis are called cannabinoids and they are defined as any chemical that activates the cannabinoid receptors in the brain called CB1 and CB2. These receptors are the only conduit through which these chemicals internally can interact with the human body. Cannabinoids exist in a few species of plants and also naturally within the human body. When created by the body itself they are called endocannabinoids.

There are over 85 and now closer to 100 known cannabinoids but there are five main cannabinoids. The rest, although significant in their variety and number, mostly do not individually exist in large enough amounts to be significant to the modern patient.

The five big ones are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabinol (CBN), Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv) and Cannabichromene (CBC).

Let’s take them one by one and see what they are what they do for you.

THC is the most widely known of the cannabinoids. It is typically found in marijuana at amounts ranging from 10 to 20 percent, sometimes reaching as much as 26 percent.

THC is converted from THCa, a non-psychoactive compound that exists in the live plant. Through the processes of heat and time (e.g. lighters and the curing process respectively) THCa gets decarboxylated and loses it’s “a” making it THC.

THC functions as an Anti-oxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Appetite Increaser, Nausea Suppressant and is being looked into for many applications including PTSD and Cancer treatment.

As far as the psychotropic experience goes THC is the main contributor. THC is responsible for Cannabis’ analgesic (painkilling) effects, the associated altered perceptions including but not limited to visual, spatial and temporal. It is also held responsible for the anxiety sometimes associated with smoking pot.

CBD is the second most prominent cannabinoid and is created through the same decarboxylation process of THCa that THC is.

CBD is the most exciting recent contribution to the medical marijuana scene in my opinion. It is only recently that breeders have been specifically trying to heighten the amounts of CBD in Cannabis strains and it is not-uncommon anymore to find strains with equal amounts of both THC and CBD in them.

CBD is the non-psychoactive sister of THC; there is no high associated with this chemical; it does not effect your mood. The two work in conjunction CBD tempering the high and physical effects of THC as well as providing powerful medicnal properties.

It is bi-phasic meaning that it has different effects at different dosages. In low doses it is found to be stimulating to the nervous system and in high doses it is found to be a sedative.

This chemical is a very strong anti-inflammatory and is even known to prevent inflammation rather than just reducing existing inflammation.

CBD is an anti-convulsive meaning that it can reduce the threshold of seizures for people with epilepsy. CBD helps protect against nerve damage in the brain and as a topical application cannabis rich in CBD has been shown to treat cases of MRSA, a hard to treat strain of staph bacteria.

For those people who wish to find relief from their physical ailments and as well to avoid the THC effect of Cannabis strains heavy in CBD are for you.

Note: These last three, although significant, occur in such small amounts that many will write them off as superfluous information for the modern patient. I have to agree that levels of these next three in your strain do not appear to effect your experience in substantial ways but as science continues to learn more and more about this plant we may find this assertion to be otherwise.

CBN is a product of degradation. As THC ages and is exposed to both heat and light it is converted to CBN. In high amounts it is an indicator of improper storage and a sign of stale bud.

CBN is the main sedative of Cannabis. Most all the experiences of feeling sleepy and down are the result of high levels of CBN.

CBN is psychoactive and still contains many medicinal benefits. It is anti-cunvulsant, ant-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, stimulates the growth of bone cells, which is good for patients with osteoporosis. Also, it may inhibit skin cell growth and be usefull topically in the treatment of psoriasis.

CBN is usually found in amounts under 1% in cannabis.

THCv is similar to THC. It is psychoactive but is said to produce a more psychedelic high. It is also bi-phasic. In high doses it binds to the CB1 receptor increasing some of the THC-like effects but in low doses it blocks this receptor increasing weight loss and energy expenditure and decreasing body fat.

Studies in mice have shown that it is an anti-convulsive as well.

CBC while minor is quite interesting. It is non-psychoactive but it has been found to be analgesic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-depressive. It is not as strong as THC and occurs in much lower amounts but increases the effects of THC synergistically. It also known to prolong the length of the high.

Conclusion: More studies are certainly needed on all of these compounds and they are being conducted right now. As our knowledge increases so too will our ability to sculpt our medicine to our specific needs and desires resulting in more and more effective and personalized strains for a variety of ailments.

As for now be sure to take note of the levels of CBD and THC in your strains and look for dispensaries that display the test sheets provided by testing labs so we can support the spread of knowledge and be informed.