Kala Sanmartin

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex network (the body system that cannabis interacts with. It includes receptors and signaling molecules called endocannabinoids. The ECS helps maintain balance (homeostasis) in nearly all physiological functions, such as sleep, digestion, mood regulation, appetite, immunity, motor activity, learning, and pain.

Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the human body but are scarce in the brainstem, which controls vital autonomic functions like breathing and heart rates.

Each human has different levels of cannabinoid receptors and, there are even more differences between males and females in how they process cannabis. Next to the brain, a female tends to have the highest concentration of cannabinoid receptors in their pelvis. Also, the number of these receptors in females fluctuates with estrogen levels throughout their hormonal cycle, which might make them more sensitive to cannabis at specific points. 

Anyone who is experiencing mental health concerns or mood disorders should first consult with a knowledgeable health practitioner before the consumption of cannabis. This is especially important for those experiencing active psychotic disorders, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Cannabis does not directly cause psychosis in individuals, but it can trigger it, primarily THC. Other things like viral illnesses, stress and environmental toxins can also trigger psychosis. People with a strong family history of psychotic disorders are advised to consult health care practitioners before using cannabis, even if they don’t have current signs or symptoms of psychosis.

Some medications can interact with cannabinoids. It is vital to check all your prescription medications and discuss any symptoms with your healthcare professional.

CBD has more possible interactions with medications than THC, but the potential side effects depend on the dose. Medicines that interact with cannabinoids can also interact with grapefruit, which causes sedation, affect mood, or impact heart rate and/or blood pressure. A healthcare professional may suggest different consumption methods to reduce interactions.

Both THC and CBD can interact with medications, resulting in potential side effects. The severity of these adverse side effects depends on the medication and dosages of both the medication and the cannabinoid in question. CBD has more interactions than THC, but both can cause issues. It’s best to have all medications reviewed by a healthcare provider to check for any negative interactions for both CBD and THC.

In short, we don't know all the effects of cannabis yet. There are many things that can change how cannabis affects someone, like how much they take, their body weight, how much food and water they've had, medications they’re on and even how their body processes it.

We're still catching up on research because, for nearly 50 years, we couldn't study cannabis properly. Back in 1970, it was classified as a Schedule One drug with the Controlled Substance Act meaning it was in the same category as drugs like cocaine and heroin. It wasn't until 2018, when cannabis started becoming legal in some countries, that we could really start learning about it.

There are some biological differences between a male’s and female’s endocannabinoid systems, which means their bodies handle cannabis differently. Females make more of a substance called 11-hydroxy when THC (the chemical in cannabis that makes you feel high) enters the liver. This means it might take less cannabis for females to feel the same effects as males. This is especially true, throughout a female’s menstrual cycle. The number of endocannabinoid receptors (parts of the body that interact with cannabis) changes when their estrogen levels are fluctuating.

How cannabis affects someone can also depend on many other things, like how much they take, their body weight, their hormone levels, how much food and water they’ve had, and even if they’re taken other medications. So, it's always a good idea to "start low and go slow" to avoid any unwanted side effects.

Both recreational cannabis (used for fun) and medical cannabis (used for health reasons) are regulated and have to follow strict rules for how they are made, sold, and given to people. The differences between the two lie mainly in how cannabis is accessed and monitored for consumers.

Recreational cannabis:

• You can buy it from legal retail stores.
• There is a large variety of different products to choose from.
• Prices can vary.
• You don't need a doctor to buy it.

Medical cannabis:

• You need a medical document and prescription from a doctor to get it.
• Once you have approval from your medical practitioner you can order it online from a licensed producer.
• Medical cannabis can come in different forms, like drops you put under your tongue or products you use in other ways.
• It often has higher amounts of non-intoxicating cannabinoids (parts of the cannabis plant that don't make you feel high), like CBD.
   

THC is a biphasic molecule. This means that at a low dose (a small amount), it can cause one reaction, but at a high dose (a large amount), it can cause the opposite reaction.

For example:

• Low doses of THC can help reduce anxiety (make you feel less worried).
• High doses of THC can increase anxiety (make you feel more worried).

Most side effects (or unwanted reactions) from THC depend on the person and how much they take. This is also true for other parts of cannabis too, called cannabinoids (other parts of cannabis), like CBD, CBN, CBG, etc. It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before using cannabis to avoid any bad reactions.