Cannabis and its effects on the body Cannabis enters the bloodstream within 30 seconds of ingestion, reaching peak concentrations in about 30 to 60 minutes. The psychoactive components of cannabis are highly lipophilic, meaning they have an affinity towards fatty tissues and can remain in cells for a long time.
Sativa vs Indica Varieties Sativa varieties tend to elevate mood, increase focus and make people talkative while indica varieties act as sedatives. CB1 receptors present on neurons impact signaling between neurons leading to subjective effects such as elevated mood or relaxation depending upon where those receptors are located.
Paranoia from Ingesting Sativa Varieties Some individuals may experience intense anxiety or paranoia after ingesting sativa strains regardless of dosage or THC/CBD ratio. There is no way to predict who will experience these negative side-effects but smoking more does not help alleviate them; it only potentiates their effect further.
The Highly-Customized Cannabis Industry The cannabis industry has grown due to the highly-customized strains and varieties that people seek out for their specific needs. However, there is no way to predict how a strain will affect an individual without experiencing it firsthand.
Mechanism of Action in the Brain THC and CBD impact the brain through CB1 receptors, which can either accelerate or brake biological mechanisms. Sativa tends to activate areas like prefrontal cortex while indica suppresses activation of threat detection centers in the amygdala.
Effects on Different Brain Areas Regardless of whether one uses sativa or indica variety, there is a general suppression of neural circuits within basal ganglia and cerebellum leading to less physical mobility. THC/CBD also cause reduction in electrical activity within hippocampus causing deficits in memory; increase appetite by activating neurons stimulating appetite through two mechanisms - cognitive mechanism creating preoccupation with food & signaling from hypothalamus regulating blood sugar levels; provide some pain relief via effects on CB1 receptors present all over nervous system including spinal cord