Today we’re going to scratch the surface of cannabis basics. Protis Global is fully immersed in the cannabis space. We are aligned with many of the “heavy hitters” if you will in the cannabis industry allowing us to have valuable and current insights with responsibly sourced and accurate information.
PG recognizes that some of the stigma associated with marijuana has mitigated and continues to slowly dissipate. This has created an opportunity for adults who never previously considered cannabis as an option to learn and potentially enrich their lives with the healing, medicinal, and recreational properties of cannabis.
Protis Global believes that in any new venture knowledge is power. We understand that the cannabis industry is relatively new. There is a ton of information and terminology flooding the industry constantly and it can be extremely difficult to catch up. We hope to facilitate the learning process in a factual yet digestible way by answering some of the most prevalent questions we see being asked. Our aim is to kickstart the education process of the industry and the plant itself!
THE QUESTION
What is a cannabinoid?
THE SHORT ANSWER
- Cannabinoids are tiny little components found in the cannabis plant.
- There are tons of different kinds and not enough research has been to conclude how many exactly there are.
- THC and CBD are the two most known, researched, and prevalent cannabinoids. These cannabinoids are found in the highest concentrations in the plant.
- THC is the cannabinoid that is known to have intoxicating effects on people. Other cannabinoids can influence what kind of effects the strain elicits.
- CBD does not have psychoactive effects but is known more for its perceived healing, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties.
THE LONG ANSWER/THE SCIENCE
Cannabinoids are activated compounds in a cannabis plant. Some are more prevalent than others and the exact number of cannabinoids has yet to be determined. Most report more than 100 different cannabinoids identified so far.
Cannabinoids are produced from cannabinoid acids. In order for cannabinoids to produce their effects, cannabinoid acids must be activated. This activation is called decarboxylation and typically involves heat energy. The result are cannabinoids such as THC and CBD which are the most commonly known and referred to.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol aka Δ9-THC and commonly just referred to as “THC” is responsible for most of the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
Other cannabinoids, such as CBD, act in conjunction with the THC to influence the particular effects of the psychoactive. This is why some strains of cannabis are attributed to sleep, lethargy, relaxation, etc and some are attributed to focus, creativity, energy and so much more.
Another cannabinoid that you may hear about is cannabinol or CBN. There is not sufficient research on this cannabinoid yet, but there is some evidence that this cannabinoid can cause severe lethargy when combined with THC. CBN could also have anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic properties.
Additional sources.
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