Families have even begun to relocate to Denver to find medical cannabis for their sick children.

These families make up a group of migrants termed “medical cannabis refugees.” The audacity of the Figi family has spurred real policy change. States that once seemed centuries away from changing their cannabis laws have introduced pro-CBD legislative initiatives, with the encouragement of Paige Figi. High-CBD strains can be found at nearly every medical cannabis dispensary in medical states. CBD vs. THC As mentioned above, THC is psychoactive while CBD is not. While both compounds are cannabinoids, they each interact with the body in different ways. THC directly engages the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), which is concentrated largely in the central nervous system. CBD, however, doesn’t engage CB1 in the same way. As explained by neurologist and medical researcher Dr. Ethan Russo in an interview with Project CBD: [CBD] doesn’t tend to bind directly to what’s called the orthosteric site [on cannabinoid receptors] where THC binds. Rather, it binds on what’s called an allosteric site, another site on the receptor, and so it alters the binding of both THC and the endogenous cannabinoids, the endocannabinoids. 

So, what’s the verdict in a Element X THC vs. CBD mashup? CBD and THC both connect on receptors in different locations. While THC directly engages the cannabinoid through the orthosteric site, CBD seems to regulate or fine tune that interaction by connecting to a separate receptor location. This fact is perhaps what enables CBD to modulate the psychoactivity of THC. Simply stated, if you’re feeling a little anxious after some cannabis, it could mean too much THC and not enough CBD. Evidence suggests that CBD reduces the psychoactive high from THC. As Russo suggests, CBD also alters the ability for the body’s own endocannabinoids to engage with the primary binding site. This is theorized to alter “endocannabinoid tone”, which could be quite beneficial for certain medical conditions. In a 2008 paper, Russo hypothesizes that some people may experience an “endocannabinoid deficiency”. He speculates that this deficiency is one of the culprits behind migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Should more trials of CBD show positive results, the cannabinoid may prove to be a powerful, therapeutic tool for conditions related to the ECS. How else does CBD work? There is still much to learn about CBD. However, scientists have discovered that the compound does a lot more than engage cannabinoid receptors. 

The effects of CBD in the body are broad and far-reaching. Thus far, the cannabinoid is known to also directly or indirectly affect the following: Vanilloid receptors (important for pain modulation) Adenosine receptors (important for the sleep-wake cycle) Serotonin receptors (important for mood and stress management) Some rodent studies suggest that CBD may also work by blocking a particular fatty acid known as fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). The enzyme that’s responsible for breaking down the naturally occurring endocannabinoid anandamide in your body. Anandamide is also known as the “bliss molecule” or the human THC. It helps regulate basic functions like pleasure and reward, appetite, ovulation, memory, sleep, and pain. The oversimplified theory was that with nothing to break anandamide into smaller parts, CBD boosts the amount of this chemical in your system. In some cases, this could theoretically improve endocannabinoid tone. However, a 2015 study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry suggest that CBD does not inhibit FAAH in humans. Rather, they suggest that the compound engages proteins that bind anandamide to FAAH, not to FAAH itself. Regardless, the cannabinoid is still linked to a spike in the bliss molecule. 

However, how it achieves this is unknown. What is CBD used to treat? The therapeutic value of CBD is almost unbelievable. For decades, outdated laws have banned a plant that produces what may become one of the most important medicines for modern disease. CBD is polypharmacological, meaning that it can affect multiple different pathways in the body at once. This makes it extremely difficult to study, as it is almost impossible to tell what effect these different interactions have upon each other. However, regardless of a lack of high-quality human trials, many medical cannabis patients find relief with this calming cannabinoid. Here are a few of the common reasons patients use CBD: Cancer Diabetes Lupus Motor disorders Nicotine addiction Parkinson’s Disease Chronic and neuropathic pain Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Osteoporosis Various pediatric conditions 3 major conditions helped by CBD 1. Epileptic Disorders As the anecdote about Charlotte Figi has hopefully made clear, the endocannabinoid system may play a key role in the future treatment of epilepsy. Recently, a British pharmaceutical company, GW Pharmaceuticals, has had successful phase III trials with a pure CBD medication for epilepsy. The drug is named Epidiolex, and it has already shown favorable results for patients with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. In other research, CBD has been found to increase the efficacy of other common anti-epileptic drugs and is known to be neuroprotective. In theory, this helps keep brain cells healthy and reduces cell damage. 

Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders cbd update 6 CBD: Everything You Need To Know About Cannabidiol Photo credit The topics of schizophrenia and psychosis have long been major points of contention in cannabis medicine. You might find it surprising, then, that CBD is anti-psychotic. A 2015 review published in Schizophrenia Research suggested that CBD’s ability to reduce the psychoactive qualities of THC may also be helpful for schizophrenia patients. THC affects brain regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The THC activity in these regions is thought to contribute to the herb’s psychoactive effects. Incidentally, these brain regions are also implicated in schizophrenia. The review suggests that it is possible that the opposite effects of CBD and THC in this region could provide a new window into new schizophrenia research. Coupled with traditional medication, early trials with CBD as a supplemental treatment for schizophrenia were successful with an impressive safety profile. The potent anti-inflammatory properties of CBD may also lend to its anti-psychotic properties. Psychosis has been linked to increased inflammation in the brain. 3. Anxiety cbd update 7 CBD: Everything You Need To Know About Cannabidiol Photo credit Has consuming marijuana ever made you feel more anxious? Well, the problem might be too much THC, not enough CBD. As mentioned above, CBD and THC work opposite of each other. One is a stimulating psychoactive, the other a compound that works to quell unnecessary psychoactivity. 

Though THC is known to cause paranoia, CBD is an excellent option for the canna-curious who are nervous about a psychoactive experience. The cannabinoid may even ease the discomfort of social anxiety as well. In a 2011 study, researchers recruited 10 patients with social anxiety. The patients had not yet received any medical treatments for their disorder. Patients were given either 400 mg of CBD or a placebo in a double-blind experiment. The CBD treatment successfully improved subjective anxiety symptoms when compared to a placebo. For more information on cannabis and anxiety, take a look at the full article here. Whole plant medicine cbd update 8 CBD: Everything You Need To Know About Cannabidiol Photo credit While CBD is a powerful medicine on its own, it’s important to note that the compound’s effects are amplified when combined with other cannabinoids. One of the biggest debates surrounding CBD deals with the recent push toward “whole plant medicine.” The idea behind whole plant medicine has to do with something known as the entourage effect. The entourage effect is the idea that combinations of cannabinoids, like CBD and THC, work together in synergy to produce certain therapeutic effects in the body. This may explain why some epileptic patients respond well to CBD, while others respond better to THC. The entourage effect has already been used in pharmaceutical medicines. GW Pharmaceuticals’ Multiple Sclerosis (MS) drug Sativex, for example, contains a balanced ratio of THC to CBD. 

The two cannabinoids together work better at managing MS symptoms than just CBD alone. High CBD strains cbd update 9 CBD: Everything You Need To Know About Cannabidiol Photo credit Whether you’re smoking, vaping, extracting, or making CBD-rich edibles, if you’re looking to with CBD, you’ll need to start with a high CBD Strain. Charlotte’s Web Harlequin CBD Critical Cure Cannatonic Sour Tsunami ACDC Keep in mind that when you buy a high-CBD flower, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s THC-free. Many strains advertised as high-CBD still contain some psychoactive cannabinoids. If you’re hoping to avoid psychoactivity, be sure to ask your budtender or supplier for further testing information about the particular strain. Other sources of CBD cbd update 10 CBD: Everything You Need To Know About Cannabidiol Photo credit You don’t only have to smoke or vape high-CBD flower to access this biochemical gem. Local dispensaries and distributors typically carry extracted CBD in the forms of: Coconut Oil Oil Capsules – Note: You can extract CBD at home the way you would when cooking with THC If CBD is non-psychoactive, is it still illegal? cbd update 11 CBD: Everything You Need To Know About Cannabidiol Photo credit Unfortunately, the answer to this question is complicated.