Cannabis 101: What Are Phytocannabinoids?

There are three classes of cannabinoids: endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, and synthetic cannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are marijuana-like compounds produced by our bodies that activate the endocannabinoid system, the largest neurotransmitter system in the body.

Where do phytocannabinoids come from?

Your body’s cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoid levels are also responsive to exogenous cannabinoids, or cannabinoids made outside the body. Exogenous cannabinoids include synthetic cannabinoids such as dronabinol, marketed as the prescription drug Marinol, and phytocannabinoids such as CBD and THC.

Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids from plants such as cannabis, also known as marijuana. Several plants, including echinacea and Piper nigrum, used to make black pepper, also contain cannabinoids.

Phytocannabinoids are found in three types of cannabis plants

There are three species of cannabis plants: Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa, and Cannabis ruderalis. A hoax story claiming a new species was discovered in Australia in 2010 was debunked. Cannabis ruderalis is the least studied of the three cannabis species. C. ruderalis was first identified in 1942 in Russia by botanist Janischewski. C. ruderalis is…