Cannabinoids: side effects and benefits

Modified on: 30/10/2023

Everything you need to know about cannabinoid ingestion and potential effects (side effects and benefits)

High THC marijuana and CBD cannabis contain cannabinoids, active ingredients that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system receptors and regulate many functions such as mood, sleep, appetite, and memory. By interacting with this system, cannabinoids cause side effects and beneficial effects that we would like to tell you about today.

We will focus on THC and CBD, which are most relevant because in cannabis flowers they are present in larger quantities than other active substances, but we will also mention the less known CBG and CBN.

Are you ready to find out more about benefits and side effects of cannabinoids? Let’s start immediately.

CBD positive and negative effects

CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid present in large quantities in light cannabis and in small doses in marijuana with high THC content.

When we take it, this active substance mainly interacts positively with our body causing the following effects:

• reduced muscle stiffness, even in cases of spasms and convulsions (thanks to relaxing, antiepileptic and anti-convulsive properties)
• reduced pain and inflammation
• excessive production of free radicals is counteracted, thanks to antioxidant properties (therefore, it slows down ageing and cell death and has a neuroprotective effect)
• regulation of the immune response
• hypotension, beneficial effects on hypertension
• counteraction of other substances’ psychoactive effects (including THC)
• reduced nausea and strangulation through the antiemetic effect
• inhibition of tumour cells’ proliferation

Like almost all substances in the world, CBD can have side effects — although very few. Here are a some of them:

• in some cases, it can suppress immune defenses. In others, it can strengthen them. For some people, this may be a negative feature
• at high doses, CBD can make you drowsy due to the intense relaxing effect (in some varieties of CBD flower, the CBD is very high)
• the antihypertensive effect can be harmful to people with low blood pressure

Now let’s look at benefits and side effects of other cannabinoids such as THC, CBG and CBN.

Read also: Does your blood test show you if you are taking drugs and smoking weed?

THC: positive and undesirable effects

Even though THC is the most demonized cannabinoid globally, it certainly has some positive effects (although they depend mainly on the mood of the person taking it and some other factors).

Here are a few:

• An immune regulator, much like CBD.
• Better than painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Appetite booster (it benefits those who suffer from eating disorders, a little less those who are trying to lose weight!).
• Metabolic accelerator.
• Euphoric effect.
• Relaxation.
• Promotes creativity and can improve mood.

However, some side effects should not be underestimated when taking THC:

• Accelerated heart rate.
• Seizures of anxiety, depression, and panic.
• Distortion of reality and sensorial perception.
• Dry mouth.
• Eye redness.
• Coordination problems.
• Memory problems.
• Decreased vigilance.

THC is therefore not a cannabinoid to be underestimated because, unlike CBD, it has serious side effects.

CBN: positive and negative effects

CBN (cannabinol) is a non-psychotropic active ingredient in cannabis, which is less known than CBD and THC because it is present in lower quantities than the other two cannabinoids.

Research in this area is still on the high seas, but it seems that CBN can have the following positive effects:

• Antibacterial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-convulsion

Possible side effects may include fatigue and dizziness.

Benefits and side effects of CBG

CBG (cannabigerol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that, like CBD, only acts on our body at the muscular level.

In particular, scientists focus on potential beneficial effects on inflammation, chronic pain and in slowing the proliferation of specific cancer cells.

However, it appears that this remarkable cannabinoid is incompatible with certain medications, including antibiotics, antiepileptics, antihistamines, and many others.

Research on this subject is far from being concluded, which is why we are waiting for updates.

In any case, we assure you that CBG is generally present in tiny proportions in CBD buds (excluding Zkittle’s CBG cannabis) and in illegal cannabis.

Read also: Do munchies and cravings make you fat? Here is the truth

Are there any other cannabinoids other than THC, CBD, CBG and CBN?

Yes, cannabis has a hundred cannabinoids, more or less, but the ones present in greater quantities (and that particularly interact with our body) are CBD, THC, CBG and CBN.

Due to the demonization of marijuana there are few studies on cannabinoids, which focus mainly on laboratory mice, although human studies have accelerated in recent times.

They provide with both beneficial and collateral effects that cannot be ignored and could help in the therapeutic field.

While we wait for research to take a step forward, we can buy legal hash and the best CBD products online!

Besides, you can take advantage of quantity discounts at JustBob, our shop for legal cannabis, CBD oil and legal hash. We’re waiting for you!