70 million people suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders. Modern medicine has stepped up its treatment efforts through a variety of means, such as melatonin, sleep hygiene studies, and prescription medicines. Some of these treatment options — especially prescription medicine — have severe side effects, including dependency and depression. As a result, some people have eschewed such medications in favor of l cannabis products.
The medicinal benefits of cannabis have been noted throughout history. In fact, the first known medicinal use of cannabis was around 400 A.D. In the US, it was listed in United States Pharmacopoeia in the mid-19th century until cannabis was made illegal in 1937. It took until 1996 for any state to legally recognize the true medical potential of cannabis. As of October, 2020, 28 states have some form of a medicinal cannabis program and 12 have legalized cannabis entirely.
The term “cannabis” refers to a group of three flowering plants. This group includes cannabis sativa and indica, plus the often-neglected ruderalis. They each have their own properties, but they are all used for medicinal and/or therapeutic purposes. However, despite cannabis’ growing level of acceptance in both medicinal and recreational contexts, much is unclear as to how the plant affects sleep.
The science behind cannabis and the body’s endocannabinoid system
All uses of cannabis start from its flower. In fact, if you look closely at it, you can see little hairs called “trichomes.” While trichomes are tiny, they contain two potent compounds: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC and CBD are collectively referred to as cannabinoids. It’s worth noting that while there are many more cannabinoids in trichomes, they aren’t well studied or as important as THC and CBD to date. Cannabinoids are largely responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis, as well as many of its medicinal effects. In addition to THC and CBD, there are also terpenes found in trichomes, which are aromatic oils secreted by the plant. In fact, over 100 terpenes have been found in cannabis. They provide the differences in THC/CBD levels, as well as taste, scent, and color. Terpenes also add other effects, but little research currently exists in this space.
Whether through ingestion or inhalation, these cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). As you might guess, the endocannabinoid system was named after its association with cannabis. Everyone has this system, whether they’ve consumed cannabis or not. The ECS does quite a bit more than interact with cannabinoids (it develops neuron synapses among other things), but it was interestingly discovered whilst researching cannabinoids. While the ECS is located throughout the body, its reactions mainly take place in the brain.
Source: Cannabinoid receptors on the hippocampus, BrainsRusDC, 22 November 2016
The workings of the ECS rely primarily upon one mechanism: the endocannabinoid receptor. These receptors are proteins found in cell tissue. Think of these receptors like buttons that trigger physical responses, such as appetite or sleepiness. Endocannabinoids bind to these receptors, pushing the receptors’ buttons. These receptors tell the brain to trigger different reactions based on what kind of cannabinoid they recieve. For the ECS, these effects are often reductive. For example, they reduce stress, anxiety, and so on.
There are other types of cannabinoids that are not related to cannabis, many of which are produced by the body. These are called endocannabinoids. For example, if someone is thinking about food, their brains will start producing endocannabinoids that make them hungry. Stress, exercise, and pain also trigger the production of endocannabinoids. The ECS is an important part of the brain’s reaction to stimulus. It can even adapt to different environments, reacting more or less to the endocannabinoids depending on what it has experienced in the past. This is why THC and CBD can make you hungry, comfortable, and relaxed. They press “buttons” that trigger physical responses.
It’s pretty clear that cannabinoids can have a significant effect on how the body functions. However, what’s not as clear is how they can affect sleep. CBD and THC are both cannabinoids, but they work differently and can affect sleep in a variety of ways. Therefore, it’s important to make the distinction between these compounds when deciding what’s right for your health and sleep needs.
Source: Erin Stone, Pixabay
How tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) affects the mind and body
When most people think of cannabis, they probably think of THC. That’s because THC has distinct psychoactive effects. It creates the high that recreational users seek, as well as many medicinal benefits that patients require. In the US, THC is considered a controlled substance, so some states may require a license to use it.
When THC hits the ECS, it acts rather differently than its endocannabinoid counterparts. The endocannabinoids have specific purposes and effects, with each system playing a different role in regulating physical responses to stimuli. THC presses all kinds of buttons in the ECS. As a result, it produces multiple effects. You might assume that this makes the ECS go haywire, but you’d be underestimating how incredible the human body is.
The ECS is carefully regulated to make sure that it always has the proper level of endocannabinoids, so it adapts to this new substance by slowing down its intake of endocannabinoids. Over time, there may be fewer receptors that can take in THC. This is why people develop a tolerance, which requires them to take more THC to receive the same effect as they did before. Alternatively, if