Is Medical Cannabis Safe?

Is Medical Cannabis Safe? : Cannabis (commonly known as marijuana, lat. Cannabis Sativa) is one of the oldest plant cultures mastered by man and used as a medicine, food, in the production of paper and textiles. In ancient China, marijuana seeds were used to treat rheumatism, digestive disorders, malaria, and even used as an anesthetic for surgical interventions, etc. Medical cannabis is mentioned in the oldest (Chinese) pharmacopoeia of the world and dates about 206-220 B.C.

Until 1961, cannabis was included in many pharmacopeias as a widely used drug. But after the adoption of a single UN convention on narcotic drugs, it was banned everywhere. But, today, more than 30 countries of the world have at least partially legalized cannabis, and 14 actively use marijuana for medical purposes. Especially, Las Vegas dispensaries are becoming increasingly popular for those seeking medical cannabis. Las Vegas is home to some of the best dispensaries in the country, offering a wide selection of products and strains to choose from. Whether you’re looking for pain relief, anxiety relief, or simply want to relax and enjoy the benefits of cannabis, there’s a dispensary in Las Vegas that can meet your needs.

MMJ doctors have also become common. It turns out that the human body has been familiar with cannabinoid substances since birth, because in our body there is a so-called endocannabinoid system, thanks to which the body functions normally.

What is the endocannabinoid system?

There is a system in the human body that is responsible for basic functions such as immune response to pathogens, inflammation, appetite, regulation of sleep, pain, memory, mood, homeostasis, etc. It is a system of endocannabinoids and their receptors in the human body, and they are very similar to substances secreted from the Cannabis plant – phytocannabinoids.

In 1992, Czech analytical chemist Lumír Hanuš isolated and described the structure of anandamide, the first endocannabinoid that acts as a neurotransmitter and binds to the same receptors as tetrahydrocannabinol.

The human endocannabinoid system includes:

cannabinoid receptors (located on the surface of the cell wall);
endocannabinoids (act as neurotransmitters);
enzymes (schedule of “old” endocannabinoids).

What are these mysterious cannabinoids responsible for? They are responsible for appetite regulation, stress management, memory training and emotional response. There are 2 types of cannabinoid receptors – CB1 and CB2.

Because there are so many CB1 receptors in the brain, they are responsible for getting the “high” effect that cannabis brings. Cannabinoid receptors of the CB2 type are found in the membranes of macrophages, B-lymphocytes, and are also found in the spleen, bone marrow, myocardium, tonsils, smooth muscles and vascular endothelium.

Does this mean that the use of medical marijuana is completely safe? To fully understand, it is necessary to know a little more about what exactly the active substances of cannabis are and how they affect our body.

The effects of marijuana on the human body

The main active substances of cannabidiol are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

There are 200 different chemical compounds contained in the cannabis plant, but only 121 cannabinoids have been detected, the most well-known of which are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). It is their content in plants that determines the narcotic effect of cannabis or the therapeutic effect.

CBD is not a psychoactive component, so its use is not accompanied by a euphoric state, unlike THC. The advantage of medicinal cannabis preparations with a high content of CBD is that there is no psychoactive effect and the risk of developing neurotoxicity.

It has been proven that CBD does not affect CB1 receptors, but rather protects them from unwanted activation by other substances. For therapeutic purposes, KGB is used to treat psychosis, depression, convulsions, nausea after chemotherapy, slows down the growth of cancer cells, etc. Moreover, cannabidiol has an effect on CB2 receptors, thus interacting directly with the human immune system.

THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis and thanks to it most people feel euphoric, feel a little drunk, lose track of time and place, feel very hungry, etc. THC mimics the function of anandamide, a neurotransmitter, and affects the CB1 and CB2 receptors.

The side effects from cannabinoids depend on their concentration in the product and method of use. We are born with a different set of DNA that make us more prone to this or that disease, to rapid or slow addiction. That is, in order for the use of medical cannabis to be safe, the concentration and dosage of cannabinoids and the method of their use must be controlled.

The legalization of medical cannabis has already been resolved in many countries, and the market for medical products containing cannabinoids is very significant. But medical marijuana is almost never used like cigarette smokers. The most commonly used form of medical marijuana is the extract, also used in the form of oils, tablets, syrups, and inhalations. And the form of use, under the supervision of a doctor, is quite safe and controlled.

Therefore, the question is not really whether medical marijuana is safe and whether cannabis should be legalized, but the correct legalization of permission to develop and manufacture safe-to-use quality dosage forms that will contain a precisely known, effective and controlled ratio of CBD and THC. This is what will make the use of medical marijuana safe and beneficial to many patients who need such treatment.