Maximum Yield Cannabis USA August / September 2017 | Page 97

cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which
is the psychoactive element in marijuana. Not all
cannabinoids have psychoactive properties; others
may have more of a calming effect on the consumer,
such as that of cannabidiol (CBD). The “high” you
feel when you ingest marijuana comes from the
effect of THC on cannabinoid receptor 1, found in
different areas of the brain. These regions include
the basal ganglia, parts of the limbic system—
specifically the amygdala and hippocampus—as
well as cerebellum, reproductive systems, and even
within the eye. The regions of the brain where these
are found are largely responsible for processing
emotion, behavior, and memory. Additionally, as the
limbic system is stimulated, dopamine is released to
what is known as the “pleasure center” of the brain,
called the nucleus accumbens, which stimulates
pleasurable experiences, including sexual arousal
and the high experienced from ingesting marijuana.
Simply put, as soon as you ingest marijuana, your
body starts to process it right away. The THC in
the marijuana consumed triggers the cannabinoid
receptors found throughout the brain and body to
be stimulated, subsequently releasing dopamine
into specific other regions of the brain and body,
which ultimately produces the familiar feeling we
all refer to as being high.
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