Whether you know the plant by marijuana, ganja, pot, gas, or any other Cannabis’ pseudonyms, you definitely know at least one of the names. With a luscious, storied past, it would be difficult for you to not have at least heard of it. Most folks know the lore of the plant, its mystical properties, the people who popularized it, and the stories that come along with its use. However, due to the bad wrap that was built up around it, most people don’t know the science behind it. To be fair, that bad wrap also prevented a lot of research up until now, but at least we got here, right?
If you read our history blog, you know that cannabis was widely used throughout history. Lots of important people claimed that it could do almost anything, but there wasn’t much science to back those claims up. It wouldn’t be until 1896 that researchers Barlow Wood, Newton Spivey, and Easterfield would isolate the first cannabinoid, cannabinol (CBN), which would reveal only the smallest fraction of the plant’s chemical complexities.
Even later, in 1963, researchers Raphael Mechoulam and Yachiel Gaoni brought the discovery of CBD (cannabidiol), then THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in 1964. These discoveries brought on a turning point in cannabis research, as more and more scientists began to work on isolating the various different compounds of the plant. It became clear that THC was the psychoactive component within the plant, responsible for the euphoric or “high” feeling that you get when ingesting the plant. CBD became known for its non-intoxicating properties, which drew interest for its possible wellness abilities.
Identifying these cannabinoids led to another huge breakthrough; the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Raphael Mechoulam would find that our bodies had specific receptors designed to interact with cannabinoids. The first receptor, known as CB1, is primarily located within your brain, affecting your cognitive functions like memory and mood, while CB2 receptors are found within your immune cells, aiding in regulating inflammation.
They also discovered that this function within our bodies was not only meant to interact with plant based cannabinoids, but also with endocannabinoids which were found to be produced naturally within our bodies. The “bliss molecule" or anandamide, one of these endocannabinoids, contributes to the ECS’s role in maintaining balance within the body.
Other variations of THC began to draw attention as research into cannabinoids continued, such as delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10. Each derivative has its own unique chemical structure and effects, but we don’t yet have much detail on them.Here’s what we do know;
They’re all found naturally within the plant, but at different potencies. Delta-8 is there, but in trace amounts, and is similar to delta-9 with slightly different chemical structures. The products made with this derivative are usually synthetically enhanced by converting CBD or delta-9 THC into delta-8.
Deltas-9 is the most abundant form of THC within cannabis plants, and the most popular, found in everything from hemp beverages to candies and cakes.
Delta-10 is the least studied, and newest star to the show. So, unfortunately, there isn’t much information for us to give you there, but we’ll keep you updated.
While there is lots of research to be done concerning synthetic cannabinoids, small studies have been conducted over time to learn more. Currently, they are small studies that examine more of the feelings and effects of their use rather than uses or regulations.
Now for a long while, a lot of people involved with cannabis recognized that there was definitely a difference in potency for different species of the plant. The first written account of this difference came in 1979 from one Ernest Small. He proposed the 0.3% THC content limit in his book The Species Problem in Cannabis: Science & Semantics, but even in those writings, he acknowledged the number was basically arbitrary. Nonetheless, the 2014 Farm Bill would allow for limited research and growth of the cannabis industry. In 2018, we’d gain improvements to the Farm Bill with the Agriculture Improvement Act, which would legalize hemp and remove it from the list of controlled substances list. This would also give us the verbiage we use today to make the differentiations of cannabis and hemp. Hemp is anything containing 0.3% THC or less, and cannabis is anything containing 0.3% THC or more.
As more and more research was done, we began to recognize the unique differences and varieties of the plant. Soon the interpretation of these learnings would gain names to distinguish those differences, Sativa and Indica. Back in the day, Sativa was used to refer to hemp plants, mostly used for it’s industrial purposes and Indica was used to refer to the psychoactive varieties, but today, they’ve taken on vastly different meanings. In modern contexts, they’ve mostly been used to refer to the effects that come from the different varieties. Indica is used when referring to calming, relaxing effects for a strain that was commonly used during the night time. The term “in dah couch” was coined for the strains' laxing effects, often leaving its users snuggled up comfortably on their couch with their favorite show on the TV and their preferred snack in hand. Sativa, in heavy contrast, was used to describe very uplifting effects, leaving its partakers yearning to listen to some chill tunes and maybe even work on that painting they’ve been procrastinating for months, typically consumed during the day for an extra boost.
With more time and research we would learn that these terms are an oversimplification of the complex effects of the plant. Turns out, a strain’s impact isn’t entirely determined by it’s Indica or Sativa classification. It’s actually a range of factors like the strain’s profile of cannabinoids and terpenes, which are all unique, even as far down to the individual physiology, tolerance, and mindset of the consumer. Now, we recognize that while Indica and Sativa may provide a convenient shorthand for desired effects, they aren’t quite reliable in expressing the totality of the experience. It’s a symphony of compounds all working together to provide a lovely crescendo of accouterments, rather than a simple title.
The industrial applications of cannabis are almost endless. As we discussed in our history blog, our ancestors discovered its usefulness for clothing, building materials, and other ways to survive using the fibers. Today, scientists are unlocking its psychopharmacologic uses. Exploring how it may influence mood, immunity, metabolism, and many other aspects of its medical benefits. This ever expanding body of knowledge reveals more and more about how cannabinoids and other parts of the plant interact with the human body. Our understanding of cannabis expands as each study is conducted, opening our society up to an even bigger industry than we anticipated.
As you can see, cannabis has a storied past, and the book isn’t at its end just yet. We will continue to unveil the plant’s hidden potential, as it continues to grow alongside the human race. With each discovery, we move closer and closer to fully understanding the totality of this once mysterious plant. The story continues to be written, and as the words are scribed onto paper, we move closer to the promising new possibilities for cannabis.
Sources:
Comments