If you’ve paid attention to the world of Cannabis for more than about, well, anything longer than a fleeting moment, then you have undoubtedly heard of cannabinoids. The cannabinoid compounds that make up the cannabis plant are what dictate your favourite strain's potencies and effects. While there are over 480 compounds that make up the cannabis plant, only around 66 of them have been officially classified as cannabinoids.
Some of the primary or most common of these compounds are; Cannabichromene (CBC), Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabinodiol (CBND), Cannabinol (CBN), and of course the ever-so-classic, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Though there is still much to learn about the potential range of specific effects and uses for each cannabinoid, we have already unearthed a lot of information on how they interact with our endocannabinoid system and subsequently influence our sesh.
The endocannabinoid system is a system of receptors within your central nervous system which are responsible for keeping your body in optimal condition. When you consume cannabis, the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your endocannabinoid system interact and/or directly bind to the receptors of the cannabinoids, which trigger responses in our central nervous system, allowing you to experience the differing effects of cannabinoids.
So how is this knowledge useful for you as a consumer of cannabis? Well, you know your body best and as such, it is entirely up to you to decide which cannabinoids you want to experiment with. Though we anticipate general effects from certain cannabinoids, it isn’t always so cut and dry. Much like cannabis, human physiological makeup differs from person to person, and the number and location of endocannabinoid receptors you have will differ from that of your pals. The sweet thing about this? All interactions you have with cannabinoids are truly unique to your body and make for a totally customizable experience!