The Endocannabinoid System Explained

What is the endocannabinoid system? Simply put, it helps us regulate such crucial functions as:

• Appetite and metabolism
• Immune response
• Memory
• Proper sleep function
• Communication between cells

Given how important these processes are, you might be surprised to learn that we’ve only known about the existence of the endocannabinoid system for about thirty years. In fact, our knowledge of it is so new that many physicians haven’t even heard of it!

But it’s key to understanding the cannabis plant’s potential for supporting our health and wellness. So we’d love to share a personalized introduction to the human endocannabinoid system, one of the most fascinating of our body’s many networks!

What Is the Endocannabinoid System? An Introduction

We’ve written about the cannabinoids before, the natural cannabis compounds such as THC and CBD that elicit such useful effects on our bodies. But until fairly recently, researchers didn’t know exactly how they interacted with the body. That began to change around 1990, when molecular biologist Lisa Matsuda began searching for this point of intersection. Her work helped identify specialized receptor cells called “CB1” and “CB2,” which tipped off Matsuda and her colleagues in uncovering they were components of a much larger system, one which would soon become known as the “endocannabinoid system.”

Researchers subsequently identified two endocannabinoids—or cannabinoids produced by our own bodies—called anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. These compounds are remarkably similar to those found in cannabis. Anandamide, which enacts pain-killing and other effects, is in many ways similar to THC.

What’s the significance? In other words, the cannabinoids in cannabis are “speaking the same language” as our bodies. This is a major reason some researchers believe cannabis is so effective at helping us regulate bodily processes such as healthy inflammation levels to manage pain and injuries.

The Endocannabinoid System: CBD, the Multitasker

Though THC often grabs the spotlight due to its distinctive psychoactivity, it’s worth spending a moment with CBD, a cannabinoid with a potentially vast medicinal potential. Like THC, CBD interfaces with the endocannabinoid system through the CB1 and CB2 receptor cells we referenced a moment ago. But it does so in a very different way than does THC. It interfaces indirectly with these cells, instead activating a different receptor type (“TRPV1”) that helps us stabilize body temperature, regulate inflammation, and perform other essential tasks.

What Is the Endocannabinoid System? In Conclusion

We hope you’ve found this post entertaining and informative, and it’s our hope that it sheds light on how our natural cannabis products interface with your body to produce effective and sustainable results.

We work hard to provide the highest-quality cannabis products out there, from our award-winning 1:3 THC Releaf Balm to our artfully-crafted small batch edibles. That’s why we exclusively use solventless infusion methods for everything we create. It’s our pledge to you and a very important part of our process.

As California’s #1 Cannabis Wellness brand, we’re proud of our products and passionate about caring for some very important people: The tens of thousands of people who rely on our products every single day.

If there’s anything more you’d like to know about the endocannabinoid system, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’re here to help!