The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

According to the National Library of Medicine, “The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a widespread neuromodulatory system that plays important roles in central nervous system (CNS) development, synaptic plasticity, and the response to endogenous and environmental insults.”

To break that down into actual digestible info, it’s a system directly linked to our central nervous system, and plays a huge part in how we feel about things.

The ECS is made up of three things: cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoids, and enzymes.

Endogenous cannabinoids are responsible for engaging the cannabinoid receptors, of which CB1 and CB2 are most affected [Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, another type of receptor, are the least affected].

CB1 receptors are everywhere in our central nervous system, including our cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum, which control all the important things like mood, memory, and motor function (to briefly summarize).

So they’e a pretty big deal. They’re also the one most often affected by THC.

CB2 receptors are present in a lower amount in the central nervous system, and are mainly around in microglia and vascular elements.

*A weird and interesting fact about these receptors is that they actually increase following tissue injury or during inflammation.

TPR channels are activated by anandamides, which are the target for THC, only under certain conditions, so they aren’t usually the main player.

This system reacts and engages with cannabinoids, resulting in a range of effects that are felt differently by everyone, due to many different factors.

So next time you sit down to enjoy some THCV, CBD or THC, you have your ECS to thank for all the fun.