Endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids are natural compounds within the human body that are essentially identical to medicinal compounds found in cannabis. The endocannabinoid system regulates many aspects of health with receptors located throughout the body including the brain and nervous system. All mammals are known to have cannabinoid receptors, presumably because mammals have evolved along with cannabis throughout history. Interestingly, even fish have receptors for cannabis compounds. One modern researcher, Dr. Gregory T. Carter of the University of Washington, explains some of the current understandings of the cannabis-like compounds crucial to human life:

“It now appears that the cannabinoid system evolved with our species and is intricately involved in normal human physiology, specifically in the control of movement, pain, memory, and appetite, among others. The detection of widespread cannabinoid receptors in the brain and peripheral tissues suggests that the cannabinoid system represents a previously unrecognized ubiquitous network in the nervous system. Dense receptor concentrations have been found in the cerebellum, basal ganglia and hippocampus, accounting for the effects on motor tone, coordination and mood state. Low concentrations are found in the brainstem, accounting for remarkable low toxicity.”

“Two endogenous lipids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-aracidonylglycerol (2-AG) have been identified as cannabinoids, although they are likely to be more. The physiological roles of these endocananbinoids have been only partially clarified but available evidence suggests they function as diffusible and short-lived intercellular messengers that modulate synaptic transmission.”

“Both endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids appear to have neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. Recent studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of synthetic, non-psychotropic cannabinoids, which appear to protect neurons from chemically-induced excitotoxicity. Direct measurement of oxidative stress reveals that cannabinoids prevent cell death by antioxidation. The antioxidative property of cannabinoids is confirmed by their ability to antagonize oxidative stress and consequent cell death induced by the powerful oxidant, retinoid anhydroretinol. Cannabinoids also modulate cell survival and the growth of B-lymphocytes and fibroblasts.”

“The most recent therapeutic role for cannabinoids in the central nervous system evolved from the discover that cannabinoids selectively induce apoptosis in glioma cells in vitro and that THC and other cannabinoids lead to a spectacular regression of malignany gliomas in immune-compromised rats in vivo. The mechanism underlying this is not yet clear but it appears to involved both CB1 and CB2 activation.”

-- Carter, Weydt, “Cannabis: Old medicine with new promise for neurological disorders.” Department of Rehabilitation and Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98531, gtcarter@u.washington.edu

Further elaboration is provided by one of the world's most advanced HIV/cannabis researchers, Dr. Donald Abrams of San Francisco General Hospital and UCSF:

“The central nervous system responses to cannabis are mediated primarily by way of the CB1 receptor which is concentrated in the basal ganglion in the cerebellum, parts of the brain involve in coordination and movement, etc., and again activation of this receptor produces a lot of changes, including increasing production of prostaglandin’s which are the substances which cause inflammation. The CB2 receptor, interestingly, the second cannabinoid receprot, is not found in the brain at all, but is predominantly located in the immune issues, the macrophages which are circulating blood cells that go into tissues and fight infections, and also the spleen.” 

--Donald Abrams, Lindesmith Lecture, May 17, 1999

The recent discoveries of endocannabinoid reserach present one of the most promising avenues of modern medicine.   The studies cited below explore some of the facets of the endocannabinoid system as it is known today: 

"Endocannabinoids and pain: spinal and peripheral analgesia in inflammation and neuropathy."  Rice AS, Farquhar-Smith WP, Nagy I. Department of Anaesthetics, Pain Research Group, Imperal College of Science, Technology and Medicine, CHelsea and Westminster Hospital Campus, London, UK, email: a.rice@ic.ac.uk PMID: 12052040 (PubMed)

"Cannabinoid receptors and pain."  Pertwee RG, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK email: rpg@aberdeen.ac.uk PMID: 11164622 (Pubmed)

"Cannabinoid receptor ligands: clinical and neuropharmeacological considerations relevant to future drug discovery and development." Pertwee RG, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK email: rpg@aberdeen.ac.uk PMID: 11060760 (Pubmed)

"Therapeutic potential of the endocannabinoid system in the brain." RMOA, JA, et al, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. jara@med.ucm.es PMID: 16026307 (PubMed)

 "Pharmacological and therapeutic secrets of plant and brain (Endo)cannabinoids" Hanus LO, epartment of Medical Chemistry and Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Ein Keram Campus, Jeruselem, Israel 2008 WIley Periodicals, Inc. PMID: 18777572 (PubMed)