Marijuana 101: Origins, Benefits, and Genetic Compounds
The cannabis plant, commonly known as marijuana, has a long and storied history in consumption, both for personal and medical reasons. There has been plenty of research into the science surrounding the plant, and its various chemical compounds, as well as the health benefits and variants of consumption. The information below will create a framework within which your understanding and knowledge of marijuana will be expanded and improved. Firstly, what are the origins of marijuana use in modern society?
Origins of Consumption:
Marijuana has been around for many centuries, and while ancient societies generally did not grow the cannabis plant for recreational usage, “pot” has been used medically for a very long time. The first consumption of marijuana can be traced back to the historical Asian communities that populated that sector of the world back in 500 BC, while usage of the plant in other parts of the world, such as the United States, was used by early colonists who made use of hemp for textiles and rope.
The varied use of the herb, whether it be for recreational, medical, or utilitarian use, makes it one of the most robust and versatile plants on the planet, with many benefits to human society over the past few centuries. Whether or not these ancient societies knew about the psychoactive effects of marijuana consumption remains to be researched, but there is some evidence that many communities used cannabis and THC to enhance religious experiences and worship in the ancient eras.
In terms of medical use, cannabis extract was sold by pharmacies and doctors all the way back in the early 1800s as a treatment for headaches, stomach problems, and other ailments. The plant was also prescribed by medical professionals as they believed that its psychoactive qualities could interact with parts of the brain that eased nausea and promoted hunger. Today marijuana has been well researched and studied and is used around the world for various medical reasons due to the array of scientifically proven health benefits.
Health Benefits and Medical Use:
Studies have shown that in the year 2022 over 150 million people consume marijuana recreationally, with a further 48 million people using cannabis as a medical treatment. This is a result of the rigorous testing and studying of the plant that has uncovered many impactful health benefits.
These are a few of the major medical uses:
- Pain Management
The cannabinoids in marijuana have been scientifically proven to create a perception whereby the physical pain that people feel does not affect the mind as much after consumption. Cannabis has therefore been prescribed to patients suffering from arthritis, migraines, and endometriosis. Many athletes in combat sports such as MMA and boxing also consume marijuana as a means of speeding up recovery after a fight.
- Sleep Management and Insomnia
Many people around the world have experienced the benefits that marijuana consumption can have on sleep and the curing of insomnia. Cannabis consumption is known to have relaxing effects that can greatly reduce the anxiety that many people suffering from insomnia have when it comes to getting a good night of sleep.
- Neurological and Mental Disorders
Cannabis consumption has been shown to directly target and impact the limbic system, meaning that many doctors and psychiatrists prescribe medical marijuana to treat an array of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders. Generally, marijuana has been described as having a strong positive impact on people who are neurodivergent.
Benefits of Working with Certified Genetics:
The genetics and growth process surrounding the cannabis plant is at an advanced stage in 2022, with many cultivators experimenting with marijuana genetics to create different experiences based on the plant consumed. Cannabis genetics control the development of the plant as well as define the cannabinoid profile and the terpene production. What this means is that based on the genetics pursued and used in the process of marijuana cultivation, the properties of the plant and the seeds produced can be altered and experimented with. It may help farmers grow certain strains or create entirely new strains.
There are many reasons that growers, in the modern era, believe that using certified genetics and strains can help to produce high-quality plants that contain many of the desired medical and recreational effects mentioned above. Using certified genetics allows you to understand the exact effects of the cannabis that you will be consuming. This means that certain plants can be prescribed and used to treat certain types of ailments. For example, a plant that is dominant in Indica genetics would be best used to treat patients with insomnia, as these genetics lend themselves better to the relaxing effects mentioned previously.
Furthermore, working with certified genetics also allows breeders to cross strains and create entirely new and unseen genetics, that may be useful in treating previously untreatable ailments. The growth trees and possibilities that stem from farming with certified genetics are truly endless and modern-day growers are experimenting with strains every day to create new genetics in the field. Following several decades of research into the growth patterns, hybridization, and breeding selections, the marijuana map is more diverse than ever.
Terpenes and Cannabinoids:
There are stark differences between terpenes and cannabinoids. You have undoubtedly experienced terpenes throughout your life without even realising it. Terpenes are what give plants and herbs their “citrusy” smell and every plant generally has its unique terpenes. Pine trees, for example, have a very unique and recognisable smell, due to their own unique terpene chemicals. It has become a fallacy to believe that cannabinoids are the only chemical compounds within the marijuana plant that causes healing effects, as both terpenes and cannabinoids work together to create an array of medical benefits.
This is what is known as the entourage effect. The entourage effect refers to what many doctors and experts in the field of cannabis treatment call “whole-plant therapy”. In effect, this means that both THC, CBD, and CBG cannabinoids should be paired with the terpenes that exist within the cannabis plant to fully realise the beneficial potential that these treatments can offer. It is the whole plant that does the best job, not simply a single compound.
Following research (that is still ongoing), there are an estimated 20 000 terpenes that populate the chemical build of the cannabis plant. These are a few of the most well-known terpenes:
- Myrcene
Myrcene is not unique to the cannabis plant and is also found in almost all mango trees, but it is the primary terpene in most marijuana plants. Myrcene has been said to work brilliantly in combatting anxiety disorders and insomnia, due to its relaxant effects.
- Limonene
Limonene, like Myrcene, is one of the most abundant terpenes found within the cannabis plant. Studies have shown that most marijuana plants have a terpene profile of 65% myrcene and limonene. These terpenes, when amalgamated with the relevant cannabinoids, are what give cannabis many of the well-known effects. Limonene, in particular, has been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory effects and has been used to fight off respiratory diseases.
- Humulene
Humulene has been described as one of the most pivotal terpenes in the cannabis plant, albeit one of the less prominent compounds in the build of most plants. It has a harsh and spicy flavour profile, and it gives the smoke produced from burning marijuana its unique smell. Humulene has become most well-known for its anti-bacterial qualities.
Differences Between CBD, CBG, THC Cannabinoids?
Genetic research has led experts in the field to identify three main cannabinoids that all have different effects and utilities. These different cannabinoids are all elemental and chemical compounds that are essential to the structure and build of a marijuana plant.
CBD
CBD and THC have the same chemical formula – 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms, but the effects, especially in terms of the psychoactive impact, are wildly different. CBD does not contain the main psychoactive compound that is found in the marijuana plant, instead, the chemicals found within CBD seem to target other elements within the human body which are thought to target general feelings of well-being and happiness. Many people around the world consume CBD products to help combat ailments such as Crohn’s disease, insomnia, and diabetes.
THC
Also known as tetrahydrocannabinol, THC has become, by far, the most researched and studied cannabinoid compound of the marijuana plant, mainly due to its psychoactive effects on the human mind. THC, like CBD, interacts with the receptors that release neurotransmitters in your brain, which is why the effect of consumption makes you feel “high”, happy and relaxed in general. The positive impact that the consumption of THC can have has led medical researchers to conclude that THC can be used in cancer treatment, as well as being a simple ease to cases of high anxiety and stress.
CBG
CBG is often referred to as the “mother of all cannabinoids” because all other cannabinoids, including both THC and CBD, are derived from CBG in an acidic form. Also referred to as cannabigerol, CBG is found in smaller quantities within the cannabis plant, in comparison to all of the other cannabinoids, but its essential nature remains. Like CBD, CBG has been used to combat feelings such as pain and anxiety, without having the psychoactive effects that THC has. CBG in particular has been shown to be an effective remedy for inflammatory bowel disease, glaucoma, and Huntington’s disease.
