Cannabinoids

In cannabis plants, cannabinoids are produced and stored in the trichomes: tiny glands on the surface of the plant’s flowers and leaves. While over 140 cannabinoids have been identified in the cannabis plant, the most widely studied are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Cannabinoids fall into three main categories:

• Phytocannabinoids: Naturally found in cannabis plants, phytocannabinoids are compounds that interact with cannabinoid receptors in the body.
• Endocannabinoids: These are produced within the body and act upon cannabinoid receptors, regulating the communications between nerve and immune cells, among others.
• Synthetic Cannabinoids: These lab-created compounds are a broad spectrum of chemicals ranging from mimics of common phytocannabinoids, to potential harmful synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, such as Spice and K2.

Cannabinoids primarily interact with two key receptors:

• CB1 receptors, primarily located in the brain and central nervous system, which affect memory, movement, mood, and perception.
• CB2 receptors, found mostly in the immune system, where they influence inflammation and pain response.

These interactions may help explain how cannabinoids affect things like pain relief, mood regulation, sleep, and immune system balance. However, most cannabinoids also interact with a diverse range of receptors beyond the cannabinoid system, such as serotonin receptors and transient receptor potential channels.