The Link Between PArkinsons Disease and Cannabis

Our bodies make natural Cannabinoids called Endocannabinoids that help regulate functions like sleep, appetite, mood, and other processes by binding to receptors throughout the body and brain. The the main two receptors are called CB1 and CB2 receptors.

The Cannabis plant contains 144 cannabinoids called Phytocannabinoids, as well as other therapeutic components like terpenes, flavonoids, and amino acids.  When we ingest or inhale Cannabis, the cannabinoids within the plant are able to act just like our Endocannabinoids and attach to our receptors to initiate a regulations response.

The Phytocannabinod THC attaches to the CB1 receptors and Cannabinoil (CBD) attaches to CB2 receptors.  There are other Phytocannabinoids that attach to other receptors in our bodies, but for Parkinsons Disease we will concentrate on CB1 Receptors. Each receptor in our body has a different job, or controls a certain function.  We can find all receptors throughout our whole body. The majority receptors found in the brain are CB1, therefore when considering regulation of brain functions related in Parkinsons Disease, THC is the main Cannabis Cannabinoid beneficial to managing symptoms of PD.

CB1 receptors are found in particularly high numbers in the basal ganglia, a circuit of brain cells that controls movement and is affected in Parkinson’s.