When medical marijuana patients shop for cannabis, it’s usually with the goal in mind to help a specific symptom or condition.
Whether they’re looking for products that can help with arthritis, glaucoma, PTSD, or any symptom on West Virginia’s list of approved conditions for medical marijuana, patients look to take advantage of the many medicinal and therapeutic compounds from the cannabis plant.
Cannabinoids are the compounds found within the cannabis plant and represent a range of different possibilities for medicinal or therapeutic value.
In this article, we’ll talk about cannabinoids, how they make up the cannabis plant, and look at how cannabinoids play a significant role in a medical marijuana patient’s treatment plan.
What are Cannabinoids & Why Are They Important?
Cannabinoids Are the Compounds That Go to Work in Your Body
Though you might not have delved into the science of molecular structures or chemical balances, you’re probably familiar with a few cannabinoids.
THC, CBD, CBG, and CBN are among some of the most commonly discussed cannabinoids, with THC and CBD obviously being the most well known.
Cannabinoids occur naturally within the cannabis plant, and out of approximately 400 known compounds, there’s somewhere between 50 – 100 different cannabinoids in cannabis.
Cannabinoids get their name from their ability to interact with the human body, specifically the endocannabinoid system.
How Do Cannabinoids Work?
The human body has a communication network traveling throughout its Central Nervous System called the endocannabinoid system.
This complex network transmits and receives signals through different shaped receptors that have corresponding chemicals that the body naturally produces called endocannabinoids.
These endocannabinoids, or, naturally occurring cannabinoids, affect a wide range of functions in the body such as movement, learning, memory, mood, pain management, and many more.
Cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant can be transmitted through this same network in the body, effectively acting like the endocannabinoids that we already produce naturally.
These interactions with the cannabinoids found within the cannabis plant are what is responsible for both the psychoactive, therapeutic, and medicinal effects that medical marijuana can provide.
Which Cannabinoids Are Found in Cannabis?
The Different Types of THC
THC & CBD are perhaps the most widely recognized cannabinoids, with THC being famous for its psychoactive effects and CBD becoming recognized for its potential anti-anxiety properties and medicinal value alongside THC.
Cannabinoids are categorized into sections that comprise the various chemical combinations of the compounds, so Delta-9-THC, Delta-8-THC, and Delta-10-THC are all tetrahydrocannabinols, a category of cannabinoids.
THCA, THCV, and Delta-8/9/10 are all tetrahydrocannabinol cannabinoids, though they have different functions based on their state, so THCV is not the same as THC, for example.
THCA, or, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the default state of THC, and only becomes THC once it has been heated to a certain point, which is how we get the psychoactive effects when smoking cannabis because THCA without converting to THC is non-psychoactive.
THCV, or, Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin, is different from THC and THCA entirely, and acts as its own cannabinoid producing its own effects, though it is non-psychoactive.
In total, there are around 5 different types of THC, with some being psychoactive and some not, and there’s even some science that suggests certain types of THC may cause the traditional THC to produce less significant effects.
Several Categories of Cannabinoids Are in the Cannabis Plant
There are several types of cannabinoids, though some of the more widely studied cannabinoids are:
CBD – Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound associated with anti-anxiety effects, reduced seizures, inflammation, and many more.
CBG – Cannabigerol, a non-psychoactive compound that potentially helps with anxiety, pain management, and improved sleep.
CBN - Cannabinol, a compound that is created when THC becomes degraded and offers antibacterial, neuroprotectant, and anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as reduced ocular pressure for glaucoma.
THC – Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive compound that produces perceivable effects known as a “high” and is associated with improved pain management, reduced inflammation, increased appetite, better sleep, improved mood, and many more.
Cannabinoids can have a range of functions and they can be in a variety of states, making each cannabinoid unique for its individual properties, benefits, and value.
Scientists and researchers are still figuring out all the different properties of each cannabinoid, and every day there’s new information coming out about the potential medicinal benefits from the cannabis plant.
It’s no surprise that there are more than a handful of compounds in cannabis that interact with the human body in such an intrinsic way, and as science evolves in extracting and studying these compounds patients will become more equipped with using marijuana as medicine.
Get Your Medical Marijuana Certification in
West Virginia
The West Virginia medical marijuana program offers medical cannabis to patients who have registered for a medical cannabis certification. To receive a medical marijuana certification in West Virginia, patients must first consult with a qualified physician who can recommend medical marijuana.
To get access to medical marijuana in West Virginia, patients must first obtain a medical marijuana certification from a qualified physician.
Take the steps to schedule your medical marijuana evaluation appointment today and get access to legal marijuana products available at dispensaries!
Being a West Virginia medical marijuana patient allows you the freedom to take your medication the right way for you. We’re dedicated to helping patients every step of the way! Feel free to give us a call at 877-303-8424 and we can answer your questions about getting a medical marijuana card in West Virginia.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
West Virginia Marijuana Card’s mission is to help everyone achieve
wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana.
Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for
our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at 877-303-8424, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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