The New Stoned Age

CBD, cannabidiol, is a derivative of cannabis and has spread in popularity in the past few months. It’s been seen in oils, infused into coffee beans, bath bombs, ice cream and even dog treats. CBD, unlike THC, does not give off the same type of high, but you also do not feel normal after you take it. CBD causes a body high rather than a mental one. The effects are comparable to taking a long warm bath or completing a intense mediation session. As anxiety has been on the high for our times, CBD seems like the magic cure all. CBD helps relieve people of pain, inflammation, anxiety, lethargy, and more. It makes people feel relaxed without any mental fog.

CBD has different effects than THC due to receptors. THC interacts with CBS and CB2 receptors found in the nervous system. CB1 receptors are fond in the part of the brain that is concerned with emotion, memory and cognition. The attachment of THC to these receptors alters concentration, thinking, perception, and pleasure. CBD doesn’t bind to CB1 or CB2 receptors. CBD interacts with a variety different receptors to create different effects within the body. First, it targets the serotonin 1A receptor, which controls the release of certain hormones that affect stress reactions and social behavior. The interaction with this receptor is what causes the elimination of anxiety, pain, and depression. Another receptor that CBD interacts with to help alleviate pain is the TRPV1 receptor, which is a vanilloid receptor. CBD also has an affinity for nuclear receptors called PPARs (peroxisome proliferator activated receptors) to cause an anticancer effect. These effects have been shown to regress lung cancer cell lines. The final benefit of CBD is the inhibition of anandamide re-uptake. CBD competitively binds to fatty acid binding protein (FABP) with anandaminde in order to cross the cell membrane. Since anandamide cannot enter the cell without FABPs, it cannot be metabolized. Overall, CBD is a beneficial legal derivative of cannabis.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/27/style/cbd-benefits.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fhealth&action=click&contentCollection=health&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

https://ministryofhemp.com/blog/cbd-in-the-brain/