The real facts about cannabis, part two: The science
Most people are aware of the public controversy surrounding the cannabis plant, often referred to as “marijuana,” (for the racist origins of this pejorative term, see the preceding article, “The real facts of cannabis, part one: A brief history) as more states legalize it.
However, what many do not know is that it is the groundbreaking discovery of the chemical components in cannabis in the 1960s that eventually led to scientists finding an important key biological system that exists in every human being, now known as the endocannabinoid system. In fact, all mammals and other higher animals have natural chemicals in their bodies that resemble the activity of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the most controversial component found in the cannabis plant.
The endocannabinoid system is a group of internal cannabinoid receptors located in the brain and throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems of all mammals. The endocannabinoid system is intricately involved in a variety of biological processes, including those involved with appetite, pain sensation, mood, and memory.
Scientific research has now identified two primary endocannabinoid receptors in humans: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are found predominantly in the brain and nervous system as well as in peripheral organs and tissues. CB2 receptors are found primarily in the immune cells. It is because of this endocannabinoid system that molecules from the cannabis plant are able to effect human physiology.
Our endocannabinoid system helps to control every physiological system in the human body. Yet despite the vast importance of the endocannabinoid system, knowledge of it continues to be quite limited among American physicians as well as by the general public. The endocannabinoid system allows individual cells in our body to “talk” to each other by allowing them to share information. In other words, the endocannabinoid system is like the internet of our body as it coordinates the vital flow of inputs and outputs of information between and within our cells.
It is now known that a breakdown in the endocannabinoid system communication disrupts this information flow and can result in disease or even death. The endocannabinoid system is one of the main mechanisms all mammals use to keep themselves in physiochemical balance and free of disease. For example, after head injury or stroke in humans, the body raises its own endocannabinoid levels for protection. This mobilizes the biological response to the injury, reduces harm, and promotes healing.
Insufficient levels of the body’s cannabinoid chemicals known as anandamide and AG-2 in the endocannabinoid system are associated with migraines, IBS, fibromyalgia, PTSD, infertility, complex regional pain syndrome, and liver fibrosis as well as many other diseases. Multiple studies exist that show that the therapeutic use of phytocannabinoids such as THC and cannabidiol, or CBD, found in the cannabis plant reduces the harm caused by imbalances that occur in our bodies due to stress and chronic disease as well as those that increase due to aging.
There have been a number of articles published against cannabis by the Southwest Utah Public Health Foundation, most recently in its spring 2018 edition of Health Magazine, which was widely disseminated. This article claims in the subtitle to offer “scientific answers to common questions.” However, the information provided is a one-sided, outdated, inaccurate, and biased view rather than an accurate representation of the actual science. Here we will look at what in this recent article that the author got right and what he got wrong.
The article begins by inaccurately stating that there is one cannabis plant, known as Cannabis Sativa. In fact, there are actually two related subspecies that have often been lumped together. One plant is known as Cannabis Sativa L., more commonly referred to as hemp. The other is Cannabis Sativa, which is the one we know as cannabis (or marijuana) but actually looks contrastingly different from hemp.
When you observe the leaves of these two plants, cannabis’ shape tends to be broad leafed. Hemp, on the other hand, has skinnier leaves that are concentrated at the top. When you observe the plants from afar, cannabis looks like a short, fat bush while hemp is typically skinnier and much taller, up to 20 feet in height. Hemp is a non-psychoactive plant containing no more than 0.3 percent THC (the psychoactive component) and is primarily used in manufacturing products such as oil, paper, cloth, and fuel.
Cannabis Sativa typically contains anywhere from 5 to 20 percent of the psychoactive component known as THC, and some strains contain more. In addition, there is a second species of the cannabis plant known as Cannabis Indica, which is typically shorter than Cannabis Sativa and is broader leafed but also contains levels of THC similar to Cannabis Sativa. There is a third less common plant known as Cannabis Ruderalis. All subspecies contain various amounts of CBD depending on the strain’s genetics.
One topic that has generated a great deal of controversy (and misinformation) is how cannabis effects brain function. It does not reduce higher functioning as claimed in the Southwest Utah Public Health Foundation’s recent Health Magazine article. To the contrary, cannabis seems to act as a neuroprotectant, meaning that it protects the nervous system, particularly the brain. Preclinical data published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation demonstrates that cannabinoids may spur brain cell growth. Further initial evidence also indicates that cannabinoids may play a role in slowing the progression of certain neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease).
In fact, in a recent Harvard study, it’s been shown that cannabis actually improves brain function. The lead author of the study, Staci Gruber, stated, “After three months of medical marijuana treatment, patients actually performed better, in terms of their ability to perform certain cognitive tasks, specifically those mediated by the frontal cortex.”
The study further showed that overall health, including better sleep patterns, reduced anxiety, and even a reduction in use of other prescription medicines, was reported in the test subjects.
In referring to the Harvard study, Gruber also stated, “We saw a 42 percent reduction in opioid use.”
Gruber’s findings are consistent with reports of actual reduction in opioid prescriptions from those states that have legalized medical cannabis.
Commenting on a CNN Special Report, Dr. Sanjay Gupta said, “Opioids quickly change a specific region of the brain, and with continued use, that part of the brain doesn’t heal.” It is now known that cannabis appears to treat the withdrawal symptoms from opioids as well as the underlying pain that the opioid was prescribed for originally. Further, “CBD actually heals that part of the brain that is damaged by opioids,” according to Gupta, referring to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Gupta also indicated that researchers found that states that allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes had 2.21 million fewer daily doses of opioids prescribed per year under Medicare Part D as compared with those states without medical cannabis laws. This further supports a growing body of research signifying that cannabis should no longer be seen as a recreational drug but rather as a natural medicine with many positive benefits.
In part three of the series, I will examine claims that cannabis is addictive and present further evidence that cannabis is a life-affirming medicine.
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Russ, very good articles. The challenge we all face is proving to the FDA that CBD was in commerce prior to 1993. The FDA has stated that no one has yet been able to offer conclusive proof.
In your studies have you uncovered any supportable evidence that CBD, in any for was in commerce prior to 1990?
Eg, before 1937, there must have been mail order catalogues s well as retailers that offered Cannabis products and although we could assume they were THC (Marijuana) based if natural Cannabis S extracts they would probably have contained CBD (& other cannabinoids)
Do you have any idea how the hemp industry, threatened by a clinically studied & (soon to be) FDA approved CBD drug, could set out to show prior 1990 CBD sales? Thx, Josh
Hi Josh,
Interestingly CBD was discovered first, but THC has received more attention and study until recently. My research is focusing on cannabis and psychopathology. The fact of whether CBD was in commerce prior to 1993 is more of a ploy by the FDA to favor Big Pharma. Of course CBD was in the cannabis extracts used in the 19th and early 20th century as these extracts were of the whole plant since the components hadn’t been isolated at that time.
I am going to write another follow-up article that will address the influence and corruption, initially due to prejudice (and still arguably exists), but now because of Big Pharma and the corrupt political system – all for the sake of greed (i.e. money, profit, etc.)