To understand the benefits of CBD and/or THC for patients, one must first understand the mechanism of action of the Endocannabinoid system in the human body.

Until recently there has not been extensive medical research into the benefits of the components of the marijuana plant. In 2011 the Stanley Brothers, a group of seven Colorado-based brothers, developed a high CBD hemp with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). One of the Stanley brothers that was previously in the oil industry, decided to enter the Colorado THC industry.  He decided to research the benefits of a higher CBD with low THC components for health due to consumer requests. This was inspired by a request from a mother of a 5-year-old girl named Charlotte Figi, who had been living with a rare form of epilepsy since she was three months old.  The mother considered CBD when the hospital could no longer help their daughter, who was not making any progress with conservative therapy.  The hemp strain Charlotte’s web was created with great results for Charlotte and other children. From that day on research and interest in medicinal marijuana increased.

Cannabinoids work within the body through the body’s own endocannabinoid system. So how does the Endocannabinoid system in the human body work?  The Endocannabinoid system within the human body, named after the plant, that led to its discovery, is perhaps the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human health. Endocannabinoids have their own receptors CB-1 and CB-2, which are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. In each tissue, the cannabinoid system performs different tasks.  In the central nervous system (CNS), CB1 is by far the predominant form, and CB2 is primarily found outside the CNS. The CB2 receptor is associated with the immune system. (Alger, 2013). The CB1 receptor is densely located in the neocortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia, amygdala, striatum, cerebellum, and hypothalamus. These major brain regions mediate a wide variety of high-order behavioral functions, including emotional reactions, and can be a therapeutic agent for multiple pathologies (Alger, 2013).

Systemically, cannabinoids at the site of an injury, as an example, can be found decreasing the release of activators and sensitizers from the injured tissue, stabilizing the nerve cell to prevent excessive firing, and calming nearby immune cells to prevent release of pro-inflammatory substances (National Academies Press (US), 2017). Three different mechanisms of action on three different cell types for a single purpose which is to minimize the pain and damage caused by the injury.  Examples of the most common conditions that have shown benefit from medical cannabis in recent years, is epilepsy, autoimmune disorders, non-malignant chronic pain, Parkinson’s, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, degenerative neurological conditions, cancer, posttraumatic stress disorder, spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, nausea, cachexia, IBS, Crohns and Ulcerative colitis.

As research continues the benefits of cannabinoids for many disease processes is becoming greatly apparent. The use for maintaining health and wellness throughout the aging process has become a great interest in recent times as well.  Due to the anti-inflammatory characteristics alone, CBD and THC has shown significant results with many patients.

Alger, Bradley, Ph.D. (2013).  Cerebrum. Getting high on the endocannabinoid system.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24765232/

National Academies of Sciences. (2017, Jan). Committee on the Health Effects of Marijuana: An Evidence Review and Research Agenda.  The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids:  The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425770/