The cannabis plant has been used and cultivated by humans for thousands of years. Hemp fibre can be used to make rope and other materials, the seeds can be eaten and hemp oil can be used in body care products – with industrial hemp seed oil also being used in lubricants, paints, inks, fuel and plastics.
Cannabis can also be used as a psychoactive drug, of course. In the UK it is by far the most widely used prohibited drug, with 7.6% of people aged 16 to 59 years having used it recreationally in the previous year. This figure doubles to 15.4% of young people aged 16 to 24 years. Cannabis and its derivatives can also have a number of medical uses.
The main substance responsible for cannabis’ psychoactive effect is the compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol – commonly known as THC. THC is the most well-known chemical derived from the cannabis plant but there are also a number of others, including cannabidiol (CBD). These cannabis-derived compounds are collectively known as cannabinoids.
What is a Cannabinoid?
So just what is a cannabinoid? Put simply, cannabinoids are a certain type of naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis plants, including the Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These compounds interact with cannabinoid receptors in the human brain and central nervous system, with a variety of effects.
The first recorded medical use of cannabis can be traced back to China around 5,000 years ago when it was used to relieve pain and treat cramps. It was not until 1964, however, that THC was identified as the main psychoactive component in cannabis and its structure mapped out. This in turn led to the discovery of cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) in rat and human brains. Not long after, another cannabinoid receptor was identified and later termed the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R).
Research into the potential medical benefits of cannabinoids has accelerated in recent years, but the use and reputation of cannabis as a recreational drug has certainly slowed developments in this area.
Types of Cannabinoids
As already mentioned, the most well-known cannabinoid is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. This is due in large part to the fact that it is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis – the part that gets you stoned, in other words.
Another relatively well-known cannabinoid is cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is used to treat epilepsy in antiseizure medications and research suggests it could have a number of other potential uses, including treatment for:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Chronic pain
- Addiction to other substances
Aside from the two main cannabinoids of THC and CBD, dozens of others have been identified, including:
- Cannabigerols (CBG)
- Cannabichromenes (CBC)
- Cannabinol (CBN)
- Cannabinodiol (CBDL)
- Cannabitriol (CBT)
Research is ongoing into the psychoactive and potential medical effects of different cannabinoids.
As well as the cannabinoids directly derived from cannabis plants (known as phytocannabinoids), the body produces its own endocannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made and have been used over recent years to create synthetic drugs such as those commonly known as Spice.
The Effects of Cannabinoids
The effects of cannabinoids depend on the parts of the brain and central nervous system that are involved. Those that act on the limbic system, for example, may affect memory, the ability to think and psychomotor performance – movements that require both cognitive and motor skills. Cannabinoids that work on the mesolimbic pathway may affect reward and pleasure responses and the perception of pain may also be altered.
The effects of THC (and some other psychoactive cannabinoids to a lesser extent) are those commonly associated with using cannabis recreationally. It can cause euphoria, make you feel more relaxed and affect the way you think and perceive time. It can affect your judgement, reaction and coordination. It can also affect the way you perceive the world around you, resulting in distorted perception and hallucinations.
The effects can also vary widely from person to person, and many people experience anxiety and paranoia. High levels of THC in cannabis may make this more likely to happen, while higher levels of CBD.
What are Synthetic Cannabinoids?
Synthetic cannabinoids are a type of man-made ‘designer drug’ that have been made to mimic some of the effects of the naturally occurring cannabinoids (particularly THC) in the cannabis plant. They can come in many different forms with ‘spice’ being an umbrella term used to describe a number of different substances.
Synthetic cannabinoids can produce effects such as mild euphoria and relaxation that many people seek out. Because they are relatively new drugs and one batch can vary widely from another, however, little is understood about how they interact with the brain and they can have unpredictable and dangerous effects. Drugs sold as spice may also be cut with other drugs and chemicals.
Are Cannabinoids Harmful?
There has been a lot of debate about the potential dangers of cannabis, particularly its main psychoactive ingredient THC. It has been shown that cannabis use carries a number of risks however, with many of the risks increasing with higher concentrations of THC.
As well as the risk of accidents and poor decisions while under the influence of the drug, studies have linked cannabis use to depression, anxiety and psychotic episodes. Despite some claims to the contrary, cannabis can also be addictive. One study estimated that people who use cannabis have about a 10% likelihood of becoming addicted.
Synthetic cannabinoids can be even more harmful due to their varying structures and unpredictable effects.
Find Support Today
If you are worried that you or a loved one has a problem with cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids like spice, it might be time to seek professional help. It can be difficult to overcome cannabis addiction and habitual use without expert knowledge and proven evidence-led treatment programmes.
At Rehab Clinics Group, we can help you find the best rehab and recovery programme for your own unique circumstances. Get in touch today to find out how we can help.