Pubdate: Thu, 18 Dec 2014
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2014 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462

ALL ABOUT THE CANNABINOIDS

We get back to where we left off on the world of cannabidiols and 
tetrahydrocannabinols

Much has been made recently about a specific variety of cannabis 
known as Charlottes Web. There was a young epileptic girl in Colorado 
named Charlotte Figi who benefited from oil high in cannabidiol (CBD) 
and low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced from the minimally 
psychoactive cannabis strain.

There are other cannabinoids that have health benefits as well, 
cannabigerol (CBG) is a new favorite. CBG-rich cannabis has been 
found to help people with stomach and GI problems. CBG on its own has 
no psychoactive effect. Most of the 80-plus cannabinoids that have 
been identified don't either. There is an astounding number of 
cannabis strains and each has its own chemotype or chemical 
composition. So how does a patient begin to chose from the offerings 
at their local dispensary?

First we need to highlight what is unique about cannabinoids and then 
we will address the role of the terpenes (essential oils) found in 
cannabis. On a molecular level, cannabinoids are colorless, odorless 
and full of hydrogen. Packed full of it. Every other psychoactive 
substance known is rich in nitrogen. To us hippies, nitrogen is plant 
food--poison, not medicine. The presence of Nitrogen is why other 
drugs are so toxic. The high comes from poisoning yourself and 
changes the function of your central nervous system (CNS)-the part of 
the brain that regulates breathing and heartbeat. If you do drugs 
over and over, your body's functions slowly shut down.

The brain activity related to a cannabis high is peripheral. It does 
not affect the CNS regulation of breathing and heartbeat. That's why 
no one dies from cannabis us -- it just promotes creativity and free 
thinking. Too much is still a bad thing, through just like 
cheeseburgers will make you fat if you eat too many, but all in all 
we all need cannabinoids in our bodies and minds for optimum 
function. Remember all that hydrogen in cannabis? What else are we 
told to consume a lot of that is rich in hydrogen? Maybe ... H2O? Yes 
water. Easy right? Simple stuff.

So our bodies apparently need a lot of hydrogen to function properly. 
It promotes the processes that regulate our bodies' systems. Why does 
it do this? All mammals have an endocannabinoid system in their 
brains and bodies. We have receptors that the cannabinoids and some 
terpenoids bind to, starting a cascade of biological process. We need 
other nutrients, lots of them (some in tiny, tiny amounts), but we 
need a lot of hydrogen to maintain homeostasis.

I mentioned terpenes, (essential oils), note the word essential. So 
if cannabinoids are colorless and odorless, what accounts for all the 
variety of smell and flavors found in this useful plant? Terpenes. 
Oils. Each plant variety has it's own unique profile of essential 
oils. These are found in cannabis and other healing plants.

Below are some common essential oils, their smell, and a list of 
their health effects:

Myrcene: earthy, green, nutty. Potent pain reliever, 
anti-inflammatory and antibiotic it has antidepressant effects and it 
affects the permeability of cell membranes allowing optimum function.

Limonen: -citrus. Anti-bacterial, anti fungal, anti cancer. 
Antidepressant effects.

B-Caryophyllene: black pepper, clove. Binds to CB2 receptors and has 
anti inflammatory effect.

Pinene: pine rosemary, sage, eucalyptus. Memory aid, antiseptic

Terpineol: floral. Sedative

Borneol: menthol, camphor. Sedative

Linalool: floral, lavender, cancer treatment, calming

Pugleone: minty. Aids memory

Cineole: eucalyptus. Pain, aids circulation

When I help a patient choose the correct strain, we use a systematic 
method. We talk about their health condition and reaction to strains 
used in the past. We try to match the patient with the correct 
cannabinoid profile in regards to how much THC they desire. We 
consider other cannabinoid content and how it might benefit the 
patient. Then last, we have the patient smell the product options 
that make sense for them so they can make a personal choice.

Our bodies know what they need, our subconscious knows, and it is not 
always the same for each individual. What your body needs today could 
change over time. We need the full spectrum of oils and cannabinoids 
in small amounts for our bodies to function properly, so often the 
best results are achieved by changing strains on a regular basis 
using the same method outlined above during each visit to your local dispensary.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom