Quick answer: The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a crucial physiological system in humans and most animals, named after the cannabis plant. It consists of endocannabinoids, G-protein coupled receptors (CB1, CB2), and enzymes, found throughout the body. Its main function is to maintain homeostasis—a stable internal environment—by coordinating communication between cells, influencing neurotransmitter activity, and regulating […]
We’ve rounded up some of the most recent research in the field of cannabis medicine, including its potential therapeutic effects in a number of debilitating chronic conditions.
There are several reasons why legalizing cannabis seems like a promising strategy to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. For one, early population reports found that states that legalized medical cannabis saw a reduction in opioid overdose deaths. However, those findings no longer hold when the timeline of analysis is extended to the present day; any benefit that cannabis legalization has on reducing opioid overdose seems to be short lived.
Add it to the list: cannabis-derived cannabinoids, including CBD, may be good for bone health, too. Researchers have been investigating cannabinoid receptor expression and the production of endocannabinoids and their partner enzymes in bone tissue for a couple decades. But as with most areas of cannabinoid science it appears to be a subject of growing interest lately, in terms of both basic science and the testing of potential treatments for bone disease or injury.