The physiological impact of marijuana
It’s no secret that humans love cannabis, but why? And how does cannabis work? Although the calming, bliss-inducing, pain-relieving effects of weed might feel like magic, there’s serious science at play behind the scenes—and it has everything to do with your endocannabinoid system.

Huh? What’s an ‘endocannabinoid system’?
It’s a network of receptors located in your brain and along your nervous system, and it’s not unique to you: Every human on Earth is lucky enough to have an endocannabinoid system. 

Lucky why?
Well, these receptors regulate our appetite, immune system, mood, motor coordination, sleep, sense of pain, and perception of reality. And phytocannabinoids—the compounds in the cannabis plant—turn on these receptors, allowing us to influence how we feel.

Whoa.
Yeah, our biological connection to cannabis cannot be denied—and different phytocannabinoids have different effects on us. You’ve probably heard of the phytocannabinoids (commonly known as “cannabinoids”) CBD and THC, but cannabis flowers also create:

CBG, which has analgesic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-tumoral, and sedative effects
CBC, which offers anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-depressant, neuro-protectant, and sedative benefits
CBN, which boasts anti-convulsant, antibiotic, analgesic, anti-bacterial, and sedative effects
THCA (the raw form of THC), which has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant properties
… And many, many more. In total, there are more than 80 phytocannabinoids in each cannabis flower.
The biggies, though—at least in modern culture—are CBD and THC. Healing CBD (short for cannabidiol) is packed with anti-anxiety, anti-convulsant, antispasmodic, anti-depressant, anti-tumoral, and neuro-protectant powers. Unlike its fun cousin THC, however, CBD is not psychoactive.

Tell me more about THC!
THC is the psychoactive compound you get when you apply heat to THCA: It’s the phytocannabinoid that makes you feel loopy, giggly, euphoric, munchy… i.e., high. Different cannabis strains contain varying combinations and levels of THC, CBD, and all the other cannabinoids—which means distinct strains will activate your endocannabinoid system in their own unique way. Some will make you feel calmer, some will make your feel more energized…