No matter your familiarity with cannabis culture, you’re likely aware that fans of flower celebrate their favorite herb on 4/20 every year. The high holiday of cannabis lovers far and wide is currently just around the corner. Many individuals exclusively link “cannabis” with its psychoactive cannabinoid, THC, but this association is far from complete. THC is just one of countless cannabinoids which can be found within the cannabis plant.
What Are Cannabinoids?
What exactly are cannabinoids? Leafly author Bailey Rahn explains, "Cannabinoids (e.g., THC and CBD) are the chemical compounds secreted by cannabis flowers that provide relief to an array of symptoms including pain, nausea, anxiety, and inflammation. These work their medicinal magic by imitating compounds our bodies naturally produce, called endocannabinoids, which activate to maintain internal stability and health. To put a complex system simply, they mediate communication between cells, and when there is a deficiency or problem with our endocannabinoid system, unpleasant symptoms and physical complications occur. When cannabis is consumed, cannabinoids bind to receptor sites throughout our brain (receptors called CB-1) and body (CB-2). Different cannabinoids have different effects depending on which receptors they bind to. For example, THC binds to receptors in the brain whereas CBN (cannabinol) has a strong affinity for CB-2 receptors located throughout the body. Depending on a cannabis product’s cannabinoid profile, different types of relief are achievable."
The exact number of existing cannabinoids is hard to pinpoint, but some have said that more than a hundred types of cannabinoids are produced by the cannabis plant. Several prominent varieties are found in the highest quantities – each of with its own distinctive characteristics and unique effects when consumed.
Common Cannabinoids
Before 4/20 comes around, why not expand your knowledge on the cannabis plant and the unique benefits of its components? Crack open your favorite CBD drink flavor and review the basics of five top cannabinoids produced by the cannabis plant along with their potential benefits.
- THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) – Δ9THC is the best-known cannabinoid. The compound was originally discovered by Raphael Mechoulam of Israel just after the end of World War II, making THC the first cannabinoid to be scientifically identified. THC has the capacity to induce psychoactive effects when consumed. The compound offers potential benefits for both physical and psychiatric symptoms – with many users reporting relief from chronic pain, nausea, clinical depression and a variety of other maladies.
- CBD (Cannabidiol) – Advocates of cannabidiol anecdotally report an extensive list of benefits, including reductions in inflammation, anxiety, epileptic seizures and physical pain. Research studies exploring the correlation between CBD and widely reported benefits are still relatively limited, but in the past few years alone, the Federal Government has devoted millions in grant funding toward additional CBD research.
- CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid) – This compound is a direct result of CBGA’s transformation. Through a careful process of cultivation, harvest, aging and heating, CBDA can be transformed into CBD or CBDV. Research is limited on the specific advantages of this cannabinoid over prominent alternatives like THC and CBD. However, some studies have linked CBDA to potential reductions in inflammation, vomiting, and epileptic convulsions. CBDA is also believed to help reduce the negative effects of carcinogens.
- CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid) and CBGVA (Cannabigerovarinic acid) – CBGA and CBGVA are the basis of all other top forms of cannabinoids. These raw compounds are transformed within the trichromes of the cannabis plant. Extracting either CBGA or CBGVA in their raw forms is rare but technically possible through careful technique. Limited research on CBGA and CBGVA has suggested that these compounds could help to alleviate common symptoms of diabetes.
- CBN (Cannabinol) – This cannabinoid is formed when THC is exposed to oxygen. While it may produce mild psychoactive effects in consumers, cannabinol’s potential psychoactive effects are notably less than those of THC. Older cannabis is known to offer less intense psychoactive effects, which can largely be blamed on the eventual conversion of THC to CBN in cannabis with continued and/or repeated oxygen exposure. As such, anyone looking to preserve the quality of THC should store cannabis in a dry, well-sealed storage container. Some studies have suggested that CBN contains antioxidant properties.
Raise a Sparkling CBD Drink to Cannabinoids!
While many of us are currently spending our days indoors to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, there’s no need for social distancing to stop you from enjoying sweet and satisfying sodas and sparkling water products. Visit our Sparkling Shop to order a twelve-pack or a forty-eight pack of Sparkling CBD Citrus Water, Hibiscus Water or our other delicious products today. We'll bring a case to your doorstep- ready to savor straight from the can or blend into specialty cocktail and mocktail recipes. All five flavors of our sparkling CBD sodas (and our two flavored Sparkling CBD water options) are delicious and refreshing. Our products all contain phytocannabinoid-rich, broad spectrum hemp extract. Better yet, each sparkling CBD beverage flavor is vegan, non-GMO, and free of gluten, sodium, and preservatives. PCR hemp extract is one of just five ingredients in every can of Colorado's Best Drinks, and you’ll taste that sweet simplicity with every sip.
