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Tetrahydrocannabivarin is structurally very similar to the best-known cannabinoid: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

It’s been over 80 years since cannabis prohibition began, 50 years since President Nixon declared a war on drugs, and nearly 40 years since Reagan initiated the most effective anti-drug campaign in American history - “Just say no.” Most of what Americans were taught about cannabis during the war on drugs has been shown to be untrue or overblown; common still are fear-mongering headlines warning against the consumption of cannabis. Despite these headlines, there is now a wave of cannabis deregulation washing over the globe, and it’s happening at a startling clip. So is there reason to be worried about cannabis use in teenagers? Maybe. Probably. But in reality, it's not cannabis that’s the problem - it’s our cannabis policy. In a newly published report from JAMA Pediatrics, Cannabis-Use-Disorder (CUD) was found to be increasingly common in adolescents (12-17 years old) and can occur in up to 20% of adolescents who consume regularly. For those who don’t know about CUD, it is a medically accepted diagnosis characterized by escalating doses, an inability to quit or reduce cannabis consumption, an inappropriate shift in focus from other activities towards cannabis, and continued use despite adverse consequences in one’s life. Upon release [...]

What is Cannabinol? Buried in the alphabet soup of cannabinoid science resides a commonly occurring cannabinoid that is rising in popularity - Cannabinol (CBN). Cannabinol was the first cannabinoid to be discovered, dating all the way back to 1899. A few decades later in the 1930s, CBN’s chemical structure was identified and the field of cannabis science was born. CBN’s Therapeutic Potential While sleep is by far the most marketed use for CBN, it is not the one with the most supporting scientific evidence. Currently, CBN is being studied for FDA approval to treat two different diseases, glaucoma and a rare condition known as epidermolysis bullosa, which causes fragile and painful blisters around the body. (CBN is thought to influence skin health.) CBN may also be able to stimulate appetite, which makes sense (because even old cannabis can still give you the munchies). Lastly, due to CBN’s selective activity at the CB2 receptor, there is a great potential to treat several inflammatory conditions, which may include neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or Lou Gehrig disease (ALS). How is CBN formed? This cannabinoid is naturally occurring but is not produced by the plant, even though it is often found in cannabis [...]

This article was originally published on canngima.com and is presented here with permission. Beta-caryophyllene (b-caryophyllene or BCP) is one of the most abundant terpenes found in cannabis. Often simply referred to as caryophyllene, this naturally occurring terpene is not just present in cannabis — it is quite common among plants, including many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. B-caryophyllene is said to have an earthy, spicy, or woody smell, distinct enough that drug-sniffing dogs are trained to detect a version of it when looking for cannabis. Importantly, unlike most other terpenes, beta-caryophyllene can interact directly with the endocannabinoid system and has even been described as a dietary cannabinoid. Despite great advancements in scientists’ understanding of the endocannabinoid system, the past 30 years of research has generally created more questions than answers. While THC’s action in the body is well characterized and CBD’s complex mechanisms are becoming clearer, there are a multitude of other components of cannabis that we either don’t understand how they work or don’t even know they are present. To better understand the action of cannabis in the body, one must look beyond the cannabinoids and consider the terpene profile, which is the second-most abundant chemical [...]