Marijuana is made up of over 500 active ingredients. However, the spotlight often shines on two primary compounds: Cannabidiol, or CBD, known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

The other is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the principal psychoactive element. THC is responsible for the calming and blissful effects often associated with cannabis use.

THC is chiefly found in the flowers of female cannabis plants, though traces can be found throughout the plant.

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In its natural state, THC predominantly exists as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), which includes an additional acid group.

THCA itself doesn’t produce a high. However, when cannabis is heated, vaporized, or exposed to sunlight, THCA transforms into THC.

THC is absorbed into the bloodstream when cannabis is smoked, vaped, dabbed, or ingested as edibles, where it travels to the brain and attaches to cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are found in areas of the brain that regulate aspects such as memory, hunger, fear, and movement.

The interaction impairs short-term memory and alters time perception.

It stimulates appetite and enhances the aroma and flavor of food while also triggering dopamine release, which provides a strong sense of pleasure.

Historically, cannabis has been used as a medicinal remedy by ancient civilizations in China and South Asia for millennia.

The ancient Romans used it to treat earaches, while in Africa, it was employed to ease childbirth pains and combat malaria.

It was also utilized to manufacture paper in China and the Middle East, a technique later introduced to Europe by Muslims.

Over centuries, this led to the cultivation of distinct varieties of the plant: one bred for high THC content and another for industrial purposes.

In the 1830s, Irish physician William O’Shaughnessy, while in India, discovered the medical benefits of cannabis, using it to alleviate muscle spasms and cholera, and sharing his findings with the Western world.

By the early 20th century, Americans were acquainted with cannabis.

However, in the mid-1800s, Mexican media began reporting on “marihuana,” linking it to mental illness and violence, though the actual causes of these incidents remain uncertain.

Mexico banned the drug in 1920, followed by the U.S. Congress in 1937, which heavily taxed it, leading states to criminalize its sale and possession.

In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act listed marijuana as a Schedule I illegal drug, a classification that remains contentious.

As early as 1972, experts advocated for the decriminalization of marijuana, citing studies showing it was not addictive, harmful, or a gateway to more dangerous drugs, but President Richard Nixon declined to act on these recommendations.

Despite THC’s benefits, it carries risks; high doses can lead to panic attacks and paranoid delusions.

It can exacerbate mental health conditions in those genetically predisposed to schizophrenia and impair motor skills, making driving unsafe.

For many, moderate THC use is safe and beneficial, aiding in relieving nausea and aiding with anxiety, insomnia, pain, and muscle spasms, though CBD may be more effective for some conditions.

The full potential of cannabis remains largely untapped due to research restrictions.

Since 1974, researchers needed to source marijuana through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which primarily funded studies into the drug’s negative effects and provided low THC, poor-quality cannabis.

However, more extensive research is forthcoming.

In 2022, President Joe Biden enacted legislation allowing more entities to cultivate and handle cannabis for research, broadening the scope of possible scientific exploration.

Scientists are particularly eager to investigate different THC variants.

While most research has focused on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, newer isomers like delta-8 and delta-10-THC, which are milder and derived from hemp, are gaining attention, though they face regulatory challenges in some states.

With fewer restrictions, researchers hope to align scientific understanding with contemporary cannabis use, potentially unlocking more of THC’s medical applications.