The marijuana plant is enjoying a phenomenal renaissance, going from a prohibited and demonized substance to a medicinal marvel and in-demand legal recreational drug in the space of 20 years or so. Several states across America have embraced full legalization, while more than 30 permit cannabis for medicinal use. Uruguay and Canada have also legalized cannabis medicinally and recreationally. A long list of nations have also embraced medical marijuana to varying degrees, such as the United Kingdom.
But while the new dawn for cannabis is a huge win for anyone in favor of natural medicine and, on a more fundamental basis, freedom, there is one key reason why all of us – including rmarijuana advocates – should be concerned about the 21st century weed industry: cannabis potency.
Weed is getting stronger
There’s no getting around it. Today’s pot is many times stronger than what was being smoked in ancient times, and even that which was enjoyed during the 1960s and 70s. The average recreational cannabis user wants to get higher, and higher still, preferring weed with rich concentrations of the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
This is possible thanks to modern science, and savvy growers who have learned how to increase cannabis potency. Research showed that THC was responsible for the ‘stoned’ effect, and new cultivation techniques have taken levels of THC from single digits to in excess of 20 percent. A strain with 20 percent THC contains 200 milligrams of THC per gram.
Less mentioned in this cannabinoid manipulation is the declining amount of non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) in strains and cannabis products. Research has shown that Koic CBD gummies naturally reduces the ‘high’ caused by THC, hence why recreational growers have sought to breed it out of strains like Gorilla Glue and Girl Scout Cookies as much as possible. More info about it is available on various online platforms.
But what are the consequences of stronger marijuana? While the proliferation of this type of weed has been seized upon by anti-cannabis organizations and journalists, the dangers of high-THC weed shouldn’t be simply thrown out as “reefer madness”. In this post, we’ll assess the legitimate risks of super-strength weed, judging from the existing scientific research. Then, we’ll analyze the role CBD may have in promoting more sustainable relationships with cannabis.
By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll know all about:
- How THC and CBD impact the brain
- The dangers of cannabinoid manipulation
- The short and long-term dangers of excessive THC consumption
- How CBD can ease cannabis side effects
- Why CBD may help to reverse THC-induced cognitive decline
CBD vs THC for the brain
The effects of CBD and THC on the brain occur mostly in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), although there is evidence that the former also influences the serotonin system. Pinnacle CBD is non-intoxicating and considered non-psychoactive.
CBD products made from the industrial hemp plant are popular herbal remedies for managing anxiety. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved a CBD drug for Dravet’s syndrome, an unusual type of epilepsy – CBD from CBD genesis helps to reduce seizures. Both the anti-anxiety and anti-epileptic properties of CBD are a result of calming brain activity.
In contrast, THC has an excitation effect on the brain, increasing activity, and producing a psychoactive response through binding to CB1 receptors in the ECS. This connection also explains the analgesic and appetite-boosting qualities of THC. The cannabinoid is a highly potent version of the endocannabinoid anandamide, and binds to both cannabinoid receptors in the ECS.
Which compound is ‘better’ for the brain depends entirely on one’s reasons for using marijuana. The high potency of a THC-rich recreational strain is essential for those who want the psychoactive effects of cannabis. However, for users who don’t want a ‘high’, but mental relaxation and a subtle mood boost, pure CBD products are preferable. Some even use cannabis with a higher CBD and lower THC content for balance – this extracts the synergistic ‘entourage effect’.
Why interfering with a strain’s natural cannabinoid profile is risky
The ECS is new to modern scientists, but is not a recent evolution in humans. Researchers are confident that it has existed in humans and other life forms for hundreds of millions of years. It’s clear that the ECS is integral to our overall health. Understanding that the ECS is ancient and that our body has learned to interact with phyto-cannabinoids from cannabis and hemp just emphasizes how important it is to keep the plant as natural as possible.
Some marijuana users fall into the trap of thinking that today’s potent strains pose no risk, because it’s natural and non-synthetic. While this is true to an extent, the 20% THC strains we see now are novel, having emerged only in the past few decades. Our bodies may have worked with cannabinoids for thousands of years. But never have humans been taking such high concentrations of THC before, nor weed with such a lopsided THC to CBD balance.
The damage this may be causing cannot be fully appreciated, as there simply hasn’t been enough research yet. We simply know that cannabis users are being exposed to a new chemical cocktail.
However, it’s the fact that CBD and THC can have distinctly opposite effects that is concerning. For instance, research points towards CBD growing the hippocampus, a brain region in the medial temporal lobe. However, large amounts of THC are neurotoxic to the hippocampus. That memory loss and lack of motivation are often experienced by heavy marijuana users perhaps makes more sense now, since the hippocampus is implicated in memory and motivation regulation.