THE MAJOR CANNABINOIDS

The cannabinoids are a family of over 80 chemical compounds that are found primarily in cannabis. As a family, they have Remarkable medicinal properties, which have largely gone un-researched in the United States due to Federal anti-marijuana policies. Cannabinoids mimic the chemical messengers between cells in the human brain and throughout the body, particularly in the immune system. In addition, cannabinoids appear to interact directly with cell membranes and with various enzymes. Cannabinoids have extremely varied effects, from psychoactivity to pain and nausea relief to anti-inflammatory, cancer inhibiting and antibacterial activity. The different cannabinoids, when ingested or inhaled, interact in complex ways. Some compounds enhance or inhibit the effects of others, or help alleviate the side effects that one compound alone might cause However, it is unclear whether these compounds are present in cannabis in amounts large enough to have significant medical effect. THC is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. It is responsible for the high of cannabis, and is likely the direct or indirect cause of unwanted side effects such as anxiety, detachment and paranoia. Particularly when eaten, THC is converted by the liver into 11-hydroxy THC, which is materially more psychoactive than THC itself, and has greater effects on the immune system. THC also has anti-inflammatory properties and gives pain and nausea relief. When cannabis is harvested, THC is primarily present in its acidic form, known as THC-A or THC-COOH, which has little psychoactive effect. As cannabis cures, a portion of the THC-A converts to THC; the conversion is accelerated as cannabis is heated during cooking or smoking.