{"id":4703,"date":"2024-08-29T16:52:50","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T20:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepass.co\/?p=4703"},"modified":"2024-09-05T12:50:36","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T16:50:36","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-the-endocannabinoid-system-the-pass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepass.co\/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-endocannabinoid-system-the-pass\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to the Endocannabinoid System – The Pass"},"content":{"rendered":"
Hot take: picking cannabis products shouldn’t be all about THC levels. That\u2019s right, we said it!<\/span><\/p>\n While many consumers and professionals alike seem to pigeonhole cannabinoids and other plant compounds as \u201cthe most important,\u201d it\u2019s really all about how they work together. A high THC percentage isn\u2019t the only determining factor of how a product will make you feel\u2014 <\/span>terpene profiles<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>cannabinoid ratios<\/span><\/a> matter, too.<\/span><\/p>\n Our main goal at The Pass is to ensure you can make the most informed purchase decisions at our <\/span>Berkshire dispensary<\/span><\/a>. So, we\u2019re here today to talk about how the entourage effect and your endocannabinoid system are the true vehicles of your cannabis consumption experience!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We spoke to our expert staff, and here\u2019s everything you need to know about the endocannabinoid system, its function, and its interaction with cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The <\/span>endocannabinoid system<\/span><\/a>, or ECS, is a complex cell-signaling system that was discovered in the early 1990s while researching THC. While recently discovered, we know that the ECS regulates and controls many of our critical bodily functions, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n The ECS comprises a network of components that are densely packed throughout our brains and bodies, including receptors, endocannabinoids, and enzymes. There are two kinds of <\/span>cannabinoid receptors<\/span><\/a> in the brain: CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors control the levels and activity of most of the other neurotransmitters by getting immediate feedback and using that to regulate functions in the body such as temperature, mood, or alertness. The second cannabinoid receptor type, the CB2 receptor, exists mostly in our immune tissues and plays a critical role in our immune functioning.<\/span><\/p>\n To stimulate these receptors, our bodies produce endocannabinoids, which are structurally similar to molecules in the cannabis plant. The two primary <\/span>endocannabinoids<\/span><\/a> that exist naturally in the body are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). There are also <\/span>enzymes<\/span><\/a> in the ECS system, which are designed to break down endocannabinoids after they\u2019ve fulfilled their purpose. The two main enzymes responsible for this are fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which breaks down AEA, and monoacylglycerol acid lipase, which typically breaks down 2-AG.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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