Delta-9
Delta 9 is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, aka “pot, weed, MaryJane, etc.” that makes people feel high. The official name is Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or Δ-9-THC if you’re limiting your character use in a tweet.
Delta 9 is one of the more than 100 different “cannabinoids” that exist in a cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are compounds that interact with the receptors in the endocannabinoid system — a system in every living thing with a spine, including you! The most commonly known cannabinoids are THC and CBD, the latter of which is non-psychoactive. If you really want to get into the science of how this all works in the body check out this Leafly article which also has a link to a podcast with Ethan Russo a board-certified neurologist, psychopharmacology researcher, and author.
ECS
Ok, so back to the endocannabinoid system (ECS) — named for the cannabis plant that led to its discovery. Believe it or not, the ECS is one of the most important physiologic systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health. Endocannabinoids and their receptors (CB1 and CB2 are the primary ones) are found throughout the body, including the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. It is actually the largest receptor system in our bodies and works to keep us steady and functioning, a state known as homeostasis.
So, if this system is so important to general well-being, you might wonder why you never learned about it in school or heard your doctor talk about it? Well, for one thing, the ECS wasn’t fully discovered until 1988. Further, it is rarely touched on, let alone studied in-depth, as part of medical school curricula. While some may claim the ECS isn’t taught because there is only so much that can be covered and schools have to pick and choose, it probably has more to do with the 1970 decision to classify cannabis as a Schedule I drug alongside heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and “other substances, or chemicals defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” This scheduling had a lot more to do with politics than science (sound familiar?) but that’s a whole different article.
thric3
Fortunately, today people are learning more about the ECS and how THC, CBD, and many other cannabinoids can help with sleep, anxiety, focus, creativity, inflammation, and of course, fun! If this is something you want to learn more about for yourself, a family member, or a friend, check out thric3, a new community welcoming people of different backgrounds, attitudes, and relationships with cannabis. Drop your email address and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. We’re just getting started and we’d love to have you with us.
