Do You Know How Your Endocannabinoid System Works?

Everything In Moderation; Is Micro-dosing The Best Way?

A lot of people think ingesting 1000mg+ will get you more high, this may not be the case for your body in the long run. 

As many may already know "The Endocannabinoid System" (ECS) is a preexisting hormonal regulator within the human body. It balances a variety of functions to provide homeostasis within the body such as; sleep, mood, reproduction, memory, appetite, inflammation, pain, early brain development & "synapse pruning". The ECS is responsive to our environment both internally and externally, it releases endocannabinoids that fit into receptors throughout the body to achieve the desired negative feedback response; eating when you're hungry.

When introducing cannabinoids such as THC & CBD into your body they act as a "second key", fitting into CB1 & CB2 receptors. Mimicking endocannabinoids and producing multiple hormonal responses throughout the body at once. If the ECS becomes over active it will "down-regulate", meaning it will no longer release endocannabinoids when cannabinoids are present. Resulting in the need for more cannabinoids to feel relief for both medical and recreational users of cannabis. Though this may not be the case for everyone, as everyone is the result of a complex group of genetic and biological vulnerabilities, this could create what is known as "cannabis dependence".

We need to further understand how cannabinoids affects the ECS, cancer and mental health to properly implement ways for everyone to safely use cannabis. Micro-dosing gives you the wanted benefits of cannabis without over-saturating the ECS. So the next time you try introducing cannabis to someone who has never experienced it before, remember, less is more & everyone will have different long-term affects. Strains are much more potent than they were twenty years ago, we aren't dealing with "Grandpas weed" anymore.

Dr. Ruth Ross, Professor and Chair of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the University of Toronto, gave a TED Talk on "Demystifying the Endocannabinoid System" and how cannabinoids, specifically THC, play a role in the Endocannabinoid System. More research is needed on CBD and not everyone with agree with what she has to say in her presentation but we do believe more research is needed now that cannabis has been legalized here in Canada. What are your thoughts on the topic of cannabis dependence, its role within the ECS and how pharmaceuticals play into all of this?