What are the Active Components of Medical Marijuana?

What are the Active Components of Medical Marijuana

?

When people think of the medical properties of marijuana, they immediately associate its effects with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most psychologically active compound in cannabis. But what most people don't know is that there are actually 483 different identifiable chemical constituents found in cannabis.

Many of these constituents are non-psychoactive components, and many of them are found in other plants. Only 66 of these constituentscalled cannabinoidsare unique to the Cannabis plant. But that does not mean there are 66 different cannabinoid effects or interactions. Most of the cannabinoids are closely related and oftentimes they work together to create the healing properties of pot. For example, in 2001, GW Pharmaceuticals found that only a combination of CBD and THC offered analgesic effects for MS patients. Taken alone, neither CBD nor THC was as effective in treating chronic pain as they were in combination.

Medical marijuana studies have shown that the non-psychoactive cannabinoids found in medical marijuana have medical properties. For example, cannabidiol (CBD) has sedative, analgesic and antibiotic properties, and appears to heighten the depressant effects and moderate the euphoric effects. And studies suggest that cannabigerol (CBG) may reduce intraocular pressure and contribute to marijuana's antibiotic properties.

Here is a complete list of the cannabinoids found in marijuana, according to the Institute of Medicine's March 1999 report titled "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base:"

Cannabinoids Identified in Marijuana

Cannabinoid Group

Abbreviation

Known Variants

1.

9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

9-THC

9

2.

8-Tetrahydrocannabinol

8-THC

2

3.

Cannabichromene

CBC

5

4.

Cannabicyclol

CBL

3

5.

Cannabidiol

CBD

7

6.

Cannabielsoin

CBE

5

7.

Cannabigerol

CBG

6

8.

Cannabinidiol

CBND

2

9.

Cannabinol

CBN

7

10.

Cannabitriol

CBT

9

11.

Miscellaneous types

11

TOTAL

66

According to an article published by Americans for Safe Access called "Research: Definitions and Explanations," other non-active components of the cannabis plant include: nitrogenous compounds (27 known), amino acids (18), proteins (3), glycoproteins (6), enzymes (2), sugars and related compounds (34), hydrocarbons (50), simple alcohols (7), aldehydes (13), ketones (13), simple acids (21), fatty acids (22), simple esters (12), lactones (1), steroids (11), terpenes (120), non-cannabinoid phenols (25), flavonoids (21), vitamins (1) [Vitamin A], pigments (2), and elements (9).

POST COMMENT

California Medical Marijuana Requirements Glaucoma and Medical Marijuana How to Get Medical Marijuana in Montana How to Get Medical Marijuana in Rhode Island How to Get Medical Marijuana in Oregon How to Get Medical Marijuana in Nevada Qingdao: Drug Prices On Average Fell 8.25 Percent Lower Across The Board - Pharmaceutical - What You Can Do as A Medical Provider to Improve Patient Satisfaction Ratings Obtaing An Effective Drug Program Get The Help You Need At A Drug Treatment Center Get Help For Your Addiction At An Effective Drug Treatment Center Panic Cure - Natural or Medical? Benefits of a Medical Transcription Service