Historical records show that people have been using cannabis as a medicine to treat a wide array of ailments for many centuries, with the oldest written record of the plant’s healing power dating to China nearly 2000 years ago.
However, given that cannabis has been largely illegal through most of the development of modern clinical science, today there is a scarcity of clinical data to back up both the claims found in ancient texts and overwhelming modern anecdotal evidence.
Now that cannabis is fully legal in Canada – and legal in some form or other in many other countries and regions – the science is starting to catch up with both ancient wisdom and the testimonials of countless people who have used it to treat a wide array of conditions.
While the cannabis plant can produce any number of different molecules that may have some medical application, there are a handful of compounds that have elicited more scientific inquiry than others simply because they occur more commonly and in higher concentrations. The following list looks at four of these compounds that are currently available in Canada.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
By far the most common and most studied cannabinoid in medicinal cannabis, THC is well known for being the primary cause of the ‘high’ feeling people experience when they light up a joint or eat an edible.
While it’s currently being studied in relation to a whole host of potential medical uses, it’s most commonly used to ease symptoms like pain, nausea, and insomnia. While at present there’s no scientific literature claiming that THC is a cure for any particular disease, there is strong evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, that it can help improve the quality of life for people who suffer from conditions that affect their ability to eat, sleep, or exercise—for example in cancer patients looking for relief from the side-effects of chemotherapy.
While this potential benefit is by no means a cure-all, there is no question that improving a person’s ability to nourish themselves, get good rest, or stay physically active will have an overall positive impact on their quality of life and mental and physical health.
CBD (cannabidiol)
Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t elicit a high. Though like THC, it has been put forward as a potential treatment for a wide array of ailments, from depression and anxiety to inflammation. While clinical science hasn’t thoroughly proven these claims yet, it has shown great promise in CBD’s effectiveness at reducing seizures resulting from rare treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
CBN (cannabinol)
CBN results from the oxidation of THC, so while CBN-dominant products are starting to make their way to market, this compound occurs naturally in dried flower that has been exposed to air for some time.
Recently, some cannabis producers have started to market CBN as a sleep aid. While the research around this is underway, preliminary studies indicate that it is an area that deserves further inquiry.
CBG (cannabigerol)
Another less common cannabinoid that recently began making its way to market is CBG. Like CBD, CBG is considered non-intoxicating and can therefore offer some potential therapeutic benefits without a high.
There is some scientific evidence that CBG has promise in treating both irritable bowel syndrome and Huntington’s disease as well as pain management. Some studies have also suggested that CBG and related cannabinoids may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of glaucoma.
To date, these are the four natural cannabinoids that have made their way to legal recreational and medical cannabis markets, and also the four that have received the most scientific attention. As the industry continues to progress, we might start to see this list grow. And likewise, as scientific inquiry continues unhindered by the legal constraints of the drug war era, we will continue to learn more about the potential benefits and risks, medical or otherwise, that all of these compounds and others like them might have