Hunter's blog: The medical effects of cannabis

Cannabis is more than just a chill substance. Medical cannabis works through the endocannabinoid system and can affect processes such as pain, sleep, and stress. Research on THC and CBD is growing rapidly, but effects vary from person to person and situation.

What is medical cannabis?

Medical cannabis is all about using the cannabis plant for a purpose other than just relaxation. It’s not about getting high, but about how substances from the plant can affect your body and head.

This can take different forms. Some people use the dried flower, others opt for oil, capsules or extracts. What they all have in common are the cannabinoids. These are the active ingredients in cannabis.

The best known are THC and CBD. These substances occur in different proportions and that largely determines how a product is experienced. Where recreational use often revolves around feeling and experience, the focus of medicinal cannabis is more on physical and mental processes.

How does cannabis work in the body?

To understand how medical cannabis works, you need to look at the endocannabinoid system. This is a kind of internal regulation system in your body that is involved in things like sleep, mood, appetite and pain perception.

Your body produces substances that resemble cannabinoids. Cannabis fits in with that, as it were. THC and CBD affect these receptors, but do so in different ways.

THC is known for its psychoactive effect. It affects how you feel and how you experience things. CBD doesn’t do this in the same way, and is often perceived as more subtle.

The way of use also plays a role. Smoking or vaping usually works quickly. Edibles or oils build up more slowly and often last longer. That difference can have a lot of influence on how someone experiences the effects.

Why do some people use cannabis for health problems?

Some people use medicinal cannabis in relation to complaints such as pain, sleeping problems, stress or nausea. This has to do with how cannabinoids can affect processes in the body.

It is important to understand that experiences can vary greatly. What works for one person may turn out completely different for another. Factors such as dosage, composition and personal sensitivity play a major role in this.

The shape also matters. Oil can work differently than smoking or vaping. This does not create a standard experience, but rather something that is unique to each person.

What you often see is that people are looking for a balance that suits them. Not necessarily as strong as possible, but something that fits their situation and how their body reacts.

What does scientific research say about cannabis?

Research into medicinal cannabis and cannabinoids has increased considerably in recent years. Scientists are looking at possible effects on pain, inflammation and neurological processes, among other things.

Some studies show that cannabinoids can have an impact in certain situations. At the same time, there is still a lot that is not completely clear. Results often differ per study.

That’s because studies work with different types of cannabis, dosages, and conditions. This makes it difficult to draw one clear line.

In addition to possible effects, side effects are also being examined. Think of fatigue, changes in concentration or heart rate. This is also part of the overall picture of medicinal cannabis.

What is the difference between THC and CBD?

THC and CBD are the best-known substances in cannabis, but they work differently.

THC has a psychoactive effect. It affects how someone feels and how things are experienced. This is also the substance that is often associated with the feeling of being high.

CBD does not have this effect. It is usually experienced differently and works more subtly. Many products contain a combination of THC and CBD, and it is precisely this ratio that determines how the effect turns out.

You can see it as a kind of balance. More THC gives a different effect than more CBD, and the combination in turn creates a personal experience.

Behaviour and use in practice

In practice, medicinal cannabis is not only about the substance itself, but also about how someone deals with it. Expectations, experience and environment all play a role.

What a person feels is not only determined by cannabis, but also by mindset and setting. Therefore, two people can react completely differently to the same product.

So it is not a simple solution, but something that is experienced and approached differently for each person.

Points of attention and conscious use

Although medicinal cannabis is often seen as natural, that does not automatically mean that it will work the same for everyone.

Effects may vary and side effects may occur, such as fatigue or altered concentration. That is why it is important that use is done consciously and that people know what it can do.

In addition, when using medicinally, it is wise to always consult a doctor or specialist. Especially when it comes to existing complaints or combining them with other substances. Professional advice remains important.

Fun fact

Did you know that the endocannabinoid system wasn’t really discovered until the 90s? This means that we still have a relatively short understanding of exactly how cannabis interacts with the human body.

Also read

Want to check out more about how cannabis works? Then read The working effects of cannabis, The working effects of THC and What does a high feel like? The effects of THC on the body and mind.

Want to know more about products and differences? Check What is Hash Anyway? and Hash vs Weed what’s the difference?

For basics and background: What makes the cannabis plant so special? and From outdoor plant to hybrid everything about cannabis plants.

More about use and risks: What are the risks of cannabis use in the short and long term and What to do if you are too stoned.