Cannabinoids are chemicals found in the Cannabis plant, which is the source of hemp and marijuana. While scientists have identified at least 113 different chemicals in the plant, two have become popular for treating pain plus a wide variety of conditions and symptoms, including cancer, inflammation, and mental illnesses:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound that causes the “high” of marijuana
- Cannabidiol (CBD), which is often derived from hemp and doesn’t cause a high
negatively with other drugs. The specific effects that you may experience depend on what cannabinoids you’re taking.
Marijuana and THC
Most of the side effects of marijuana stem from its effect of
overstimulating parts of the brain. Many of
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Of over 480 different compounds present in the plant, only around 66 are termed cannabinoids. The most well known among these compounds is the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), which is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
Cannabinoids are chemicals found in the Cannabis plant, which is the source of hemp and marijuana. While scientists have identified at least 113 different chemicals in the plant, two have become popular for treating pain plus a wide variety of conditions and symptoms, including cancer, inflammation, and mental illnesses:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound that causes the “high” of marijuana
- Cannabidiol , which is often derived from hemp and doesn’t cause a high
Can Cannabinoids Offer Any Benefits?
Research has suggested myriad positive effects of marijuana and different preparations of THC and/or CBD. They’re currently used for several purposes and more possible uses are on the horizon.
Current Uses
Some of the current uses of cannabinoids include:
- Alleviating pain and inflammation, especially chronic forms, from diseases such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, glaucoma, neuropathy, and Crohn’s disease
- Increasing appetite to prevent the extreme weight loss of AIDS
- Improving muscle control/lessening spasticity in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease
- Controlling epileptic seizures, especially in children
- Treating mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and multiple anxiety disorders
- Treating addiction, including smoking cessation
These uses have different levels of backing with scientific evidence. So far, no uses of marijuana are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but the FDA has approved some pharmaceutical products containing cannabinoid ingredients.
- Altered sense of time
- Mood changes
- Impaired motor skills
- Difficulty thinking
- Impaired memory
When taken in high doses or with regular use of highly potent strains, marijuana may cause:2
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Psychosis
In teenagers, marijuana is shown to cause problems with brain development and can negatively impact thinking, learning, and memory. Researchers believe it may prevent the brain from building important connections between different areas. It’s not yet known how long these effects may last; some changes may be permanent.2
Side effects specific to smoking marijuana include coughing, increased phlegm, and a higher risk of lung illness and infection. However, smoking marijuana doesn’t appear to increase the risk of lung cancer.2
A real benefit of marijuana or THC is that they don’t cause overdose, which makes them especially attractive as an alternative to opioids for chronic pain.
CBD
Researchers still have a lot to learn about the potential side effects of CBD. Some that have been reported include:3
- Dry mouth
- Low blood pressure
- Lightheadedness
- Tiredness
- Altered drug-processing liver enzymes
- At high doses, increased tremor in Parkinson’s disease
The World Health Organization reports that possible side effects may include:4
- Altered hormone levels
- Stimulation of the immune system at low levels, but suppression of the immune system at higher levels
If research supports the hypothesis of immunosuppression at high doses, this “side effect” could be used as a primary effect for treating autoimmune diseases or conditions that feature an overactive immune system, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
CBD is not addictive and does not cause overdose.4 That, combined with the absence of a high that impairs cognition, makes this drug especially attractive to many people with chronic pain.
Drug Interactions
Information on potentially negative drug interactions involving cannabinoids is scarce. However, some early case reports suggest possible problems with:5
- Coumadin (warfarin)
- Opana (oxymorphone)
- Phenobarbital
- Sympathomimetic amines (phenylephrine, ephedrine, epinephrine)
Check with your healthcare provider before combining cannabinoids with other drugs that can have a sedative effect.6 Alcohol, even in small amounts, has been reported to increase blood levels of THC, thereby heightening its effect. Use caution when combining these drugs.7
According to a study on mice, the drug Neurontin (gabapentin) may have a positive interaction with THC, making it more effective against a type of pain called allodynia and for a longer span of time.8
A 2016 study involving complex drug regimens including opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, and others found no negative interactions with cannabinoids.6
Possible At-Risk Groups
People with kidney or liver disease and elderly people should be closely monitored by a healthcare provider while taking cannabinoids.
THC and CBD should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The U.S. Surgeon General says marijuana use during pregnancy may affect the development of the baby's brain. It may also cause low birth weight and increase the risk of premature birth and, possibly, stillbirth.9
Animal studies have shown that THC use during pregnancy or nursing can cause long-lasting problems in the child, including learning problems and abnormal patterns of social interaction.1 THC has been found to linger in breast milk for up to six days.
CBD, also in animal studies, has been found to damage the reproductive systems of male babies. It's believed to be transferred through breast milk, as well. Possible contaminants, including THC and pesticides, may also harm the baby.9
Dosage and Preparation
Standard dosages have not been identified for cannabinoids. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about any cannabinoid-containing products you want to try to make sure you’re using it safely. Your practitioner may be able to offer guidance on dosage, as well.
Numerous forms and preparations of cannabinoids are available. You can choose between:
- Smoking
- Vaping
- Edibles
- Oils
- Capsules
- Isolates (purified crystalline form)
- Topicals, such as creams and balms
Products other than CBD isolates may have the distinctive skunky smell and taste of marijuana. Oils and isolates may be added to food or beverages or taken sublingually (under the tongue) and then swallowed.
Some products may contain only one cannabinoid while others are “full spectrum,” which means they contain all the cannabinoids of the hemp plant, or “broad spectrum,” which means they contain most of the cannabinoids but, usually, not any THC. Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum products may offer more benefits than purely CBD products. (Even full-spectrum CBD must not contain more than 0.3% THC.)
What to Look For
When legally purchasing medical or recreational marijuana or THC products, look for a dispensary with knowledgeable employees who can help you find the right strain and formulation to fit your condition and preferences. If it’s important to you, ask about organic products and other cultivation methods.
Buying marijuana in states where it’s still outlawed is not only a legal risk, it could also pose a health risk as it could be contaminated or “laced” with other drugs.
When buying CBD, look for companies that have had their products tested at third-party laboratories and make the lab reports available to you. (You may need to ask.) They should also display a valid Certificate of Analysis on their website or in their store.
You can also check on the lab that did the testing to make sure they’re accredited by the International Organization for Standardization. A quality product should be free of contaminants and the levels of cannabinoids should closely match the product label (small variations are expected), and it should comply with the legal requirement of less than 0.3% THC.
Also, look at all the ingredients of the product to make sure you’re not allergic or sensitive to any of them, and that they’re all ingredients you’re comfortable with. Some CBD products may contain other medicinal products, and you want to make sure you’re getting the right mix of products for your condition(s). For example, if the product contains B12 to help with pain relief, you won’t want to take that for insomnia, as B12 may boost your energy.
When choosing topicals, make sure you're getting a product designed to treat pain and not one that's formulated for cosmetic uses, such as an eye cream.
For any cannabinoids, consider whether it’s important to you that they’re organic. It’s also a good idea to look for products made from hemp grown in the United States because of standards that have been put in place by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Special programs in three states—Colorado, Kentucky, and North Carolina—also help guarantee the product was made with quality hemp.
Keep in mind that the claims made by non-pharmaceutical companies selling cannabinoid products have not been evaluated by the FDA and may not be backed by
research.
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