Weed, Your Endocannabinoid System & You – Functions & Facts

Did you know that, regardless of whether or not you actually smoke, eat or ingest weed, your body still contains its very own endocannabinoid system?

That’s right! Every human body comes equipped with this diverse and crucial system that maintains a wide range of functions outside of solely interacting with weed.

In addition to modulating the effects of cannabis and THC, the endocannabinoid system is also responsible for maintaining a variety of bodily functions. Everything from hunger to energy and sleep to libido is maintained through our ECS.

With this in mind, if you haven’t picked up on our ever-so-subtle introduction, today, we’re telling you everything you need to know about your endocannabinoid system! 

This article will cover what the endocannabinoid system is, its various roles throughout the body, and how THC and CBD interact with it, respectively and together.

If nothing else, you could pick up some fun facts to share with your friends during your next group sesh!

So, without further delay, let’s get started because there’s a lot to cover!

Is the Endocannabinoid System a Real Thing?

At this point, you may be asking yourself, “what is the endocannabinoid system, anyway? Is it even a real thing?” 

The answer is a whopping YES! 

Like we said before, your endocannabinoid system is so much more than what you might initially think and has a ton of functions that are crucial for surviving.

The endocannabinoid system is a biological network of neurotransmitters that operate on pretty much every cell in your peripheral (body) and central (brain) nervous system.

Your body naturally contains what are known as endocannabinoids. These microscopic marvels serve as regulators to maintain appropriate levels for a wide range of bodily functions, including appetite, pain sensation and even memory and libido. 

There are two chief examples, in particular, worth mentioning when it comes to endocannabinoids. 

The first is called anandamide, and the second 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).

These two endocannabinoids are the most common neurotransmitters. Essentially, neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that issue a signal from a neuron across what’s known as a synapse to target a cell.

Anandamide and 2-AG are basically found in every nerve and brain cell in mammals, which, unless you’ve lived up to this point without knowing, includes you!

Their primary function is to serve as messengers for transmitting various signals across the cells in your body. 

Their enzymes also exist within this system, generating and breaking down endocannabinoids from and into fatty acids.

While the endocannabinoid system isn’t a new discovery in itself, researchers are still discovering its innate functions and how external substances, such as prescription medications and therapies and, in this context, cannabis, can impact and potentially alter the function of these enzymes.

As we said before, your endocannabinoid exists regardless of whether you are a cannabis user or not, and its functions extend to a wide range of physical and cognitive bodily processes, including mood regulation, appetite, pain-sensation, libido and, of course, for the purposes of this article, how weed affects your body.

What is the Role of the Endocannabinoid system?

The beauty of the endocannabinoid is that it helps maintain several of our body’s functions to help us feel good and well-balanced!

This stability is because one of the overall purposes of the endocannabinoid system is to maintain what’s called homeostasis.

Essentially, homeostasis occurs when our body is functioning on all cylinders. 

In other words, all of the intricate systems are working in harmony to make us feel ‘normal.’ This balance is essential to ensure stable conditions necessary for survival.

Below, we’ll highlight a few primary examples of how the endocannabinoid system regulates some of the body’s most primary functions.

Appetite

If you’ve ever wondered how your body intrinsically knows it’s time to fuel up or what, specifically, sends the message to your brain saying, “Hey bud, you’re hungry!” You can thank your endocannabinoids.

However, they don’t just indicate that it’s time to chow down. These endocannabinoids also contribute to your taste perception.

It’s a combination of a release of endocannabinoids in your stomach and your brain working together that makes you feel hungry. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise why, when you do smoke weed, the inevitable effect of “ the munchies” feels that much stronger!

It’s also partially why our bodies feel the effects of ingesting edibles that much harder. 

As opposed to smoking, the THC existing in cannabis edibles travels through our liver and digestive system, where it is converted into a separate compound known as 11-Hydroxy-THC. 

This transformation causes the effects of weed not only to be far more intense but last longer, as well.

Think of it this way, if smoking a joint makes you feel hungry, ingesting an edible can crank this feeling all the way up to 11!

This appetite-inducing effect of cannabis also has medical applications through stimulating hunger in those undergoing various medical treatments and therapies that may induce nausea or lack of appetite.

Mood & Memory

On top of all its other responsibilities, the endocannabinoid system also plays a crucial role in regulating the neurotransmitters vital for mood maintenance, including serotonin and dopamine, otherwise known as the “calming chemical” and “feel-good chemical,” respectively.

Moreover, endocannabinoids are in charge of many of the pillar functions of the brain, such as planning, memory, and critical thinking.

The two primary endocannabinoids we mentioned earlier, anandamide and 2-AG, also directly regulate how our brains respond to stress. 

No wonder weed helps us unwind, relax and take the edge off!

Pain & Physical Sensation

Since endocannabinoids perform their various duties across almost every point of the body, including the peripheral (body) and central (brain) nervous system, they act as anti-pain and anti-inflammatory compounds to regulate pain and other physical sensations.

In this sense, it’s not necessarily just pain that they play a part in regulating. 

Remember when we said that the endocannabinoid system played a role in your libido? It’s all come full circle!

In the context of pain, specifically, your endocannabinoid system will release these endocannabinoids to minimize the number of pain signals that your nerve cells send to the sensory pain center in your brain. They also act to inhibit your brain from receiving these signals.

Some scientists believe this is how pain-relieving medications, namely Tylenol, work by increasing endocannabinoid levels in the body to target and treat pain.

How do THC and CBD Affect the Endocannabinoid System?

In case we scared you off with the mentioning of science above, don’t worry! We will try and make our explanation as simple and straightforward as possible.

First, we’ll start with what your body does naturally. Anandamide and 2-AG activate the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors. 

CB1 receptors are found in the body’s central nervous system, connective tissues and organs.

CB2 receptors, however, are present outside of the central system in what’s known as the periphery body. The immune system and gastrointestinal tract are included in this system.

Any wrench thrown into this well-oiled machine is cause for alarm. If any of these numerous functions are disrupted, a cell will generate endocannabinoids, which will bind to these endocannabinoid receptors. 

From there, the endocannabinoids will relay a message or issue a signal to alert the brain and body that something isn’t as it should be, which will trigger a response to correct whatever is wrong.

So, how do CBD and THC come into the mix?

THC, known scientifically as tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary cannabinoid present in your weed that produces psychoactive effects.

In other words, it’s the tiny treasure that gets you high. Once you ingest THC or CBD, it interacts with your endocannabinoid system by binding to its cannabinoid receptors, the same as the naturally occurring endocannabinoids already existing within your body would.

The ECS and the Effects of Weed

When it comes to weed, THC has some sneaky trips up its sleeve in that it can bind to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors that we mentioned earlier. 

This adaptability is how it can produce such a wide scope of effects on both your physical body and your brain.

These interactions are presented in various ways, such as inducing hunger and decreasing stress, as we mentioned previously.

That said, sometimes, you have to take the good with the bad. 

What we mean is that THC can also supply some less favourable side effects in some cases, including making select users feel more paranoid or anxious.

However, other factors may also play into these outcomes, such as dosage levels and physiological factors, including gender, weight, age and individual tolerance level. 

The specific cannabis product ingested is also important, especially in the case of edibles, which, as we’ve already mentioned, convert the THC into 11-Hydroxy-THC, a much more potent compound.

On the flip side, unlike THC, CBD, formally known as cannabidiol, does not supply psychoactive properties, meaning you won’t get high if you consume it.

That said, we still aren’t entirely sure how, exactly, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system. What researchers do know, though, is that it does not bind to the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the same matter that its counterpart, THC, does.

While nothing is confirmed, some experts theorize that CBD’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system comprises stopping endocannabinoids from breaking down, allowing them to affect the body more. 

Other scientists argue that CBD binds to one or multiple cannabinoid receptors that researchers have yet to discover.

While we may not understand entirely what the relationship is, we can still reap the benefits of CBD’s soothing and therapeutic effects. Sometimes, the magic’s in the mystery!

A Crucial System With or Without Cannabis

Your body’s endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating several vital functions within your body, regardless of if you’re a cannabis consumer or not.

From maintaining appetite, memory and mood to regulating physical sensations like pain and libido, the endocannabinoid system is an essential part of ensuring your body operates as it should.

Consuming cannabis, as you hopefully now know, can impact this system in a wide range of ways, including bringing on the munchies, making us feel sleepy, and elevating our mood.

That said, it’s also important to consider dosage and your unique physical makeup before sparking up a joint or ripping into a pack of Sugar Jack’s edibles! 

Ingesting more than you can handle can lead to some unsavoury consequences, including paranoia, anxiety, and, in more severe cases, green out.

Some of the best ways to ensure your endocannabinoid system is in peak condition are frequent and consistent exercise, maintaining a healthy diet and getting plenty of sleep. To learn more about how to boost the endocannabinoid system check out our article here.

With all of this in mind, remember to be kind to your endocannabinoid system. After all, it does a whole lot for you!