Georgia's Low Dose THC Program

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis ruderalis; Cannabis ruderalis may be included within C. sativa; all three may be treated as subspecies of a single species, Cannabis. sativa; or Cannabis. sativa may be accepted as a single undivided species. The genus is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from Central Asia, with some researchers also including upper South Asia in its origin. {REF}

Common Types of Cannabinoids Found in Cannabis

• Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA)
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• Cannabidolic Acid (CBDA) 
• Cannabinol  (CBN)
• Cannabigerol (CBG)
• Cannabichromene (CBC)
• Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
• Cannabidivarin (CBDV)

Tetrahydrocannabinol is one of at least 113 cannabinoids identified in cannabis. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. Although the chemical formula for THC describes multiple isomers, the term THC usually refers to the Delta-9-THC isomer with chemical name-trans-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol. Like most pharmacologically active secondary metabolites of plants, THC is a lipid found in cannabis, assumed to be involved in the plant's evolutionary adaptation, putatively against insect predation, ultraviolet light, and environmental stress." {REF} Delta-8-THC is,  "Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8-THC, Δ -THC) is a psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It is an isomer of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC, Δ -THC), the compound commonly known as THC. Delta-8-THC has antiemetic, anxiolytic, orexigenic, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties." {REF} Delta-8-THC is legal in the federally in the USA whileDelta-9-THC is illegal federally but legal in some states in the USA in some form. 

 Find out the legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction below.

 THCV is a new potential treatment against obesity-associated glucose intolerance with pharmacology different from that of CB1 inverse agonists/antagonists.[6] GW Pharmaceuticals is studying plant-derived tetrahydrocannabivarin (as GWP42004) for type 2 diabetes in addition to metformin {REF}

• THCV is an appetite suppressant. In contrast to THC, THCV may dull the appetite. This may be good for consumers focused on weight loss, but THCV should be avoided by patients treating appetite loss or anorexia.
• THCV may help with diabetes. Research shows promise in THCV’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance.
• THCV may reduce panic attacks. It appears to curb anxiety attacks in PTSD patients without suppressing emotion.
• THCV may help with Alzheimer’s. Tremors, motor control, and brain lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease appear to be improved by THCV, but research is in progress.
• THCV stimulates bone growth. Because it promotes the growth of new bone cells, THCV is being looked at for osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions. {REF}

The benefits of CBN are manifold. First and foremost, CBN is by far the most potent sedative of any identified marijuana compound. It may help you get a restful night’s sleep without the grogginess or side effects of prescription sleeping pills. Evidence of its ability to treat insomnia goes back as far as 1976. A study from 1995 on insomniac mice all but proved its efficacy concerning promoting better sleep.

As a result, one of the primary uses of CBN is to treat insomnia. As we mentioned above, it is even more sedative than Valium. THC-high marijuana strains that also contain CBN and myrcene may be good options if you’re sleep-deprived.

CBN is synergistic with D9THC and CBD regarding sleep inducement. When you combine it in the right ratios, it may provide at least 6 hours of sleep without you waking up feeling drowsy. {REF}

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the Cannabis sativa plant, which is also known as marijuana or help, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

It's a naturally occurring substance that's used in products like oils and edibles to impart a feeling of relaxation and calm. Unlike its cousin, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the major active ingredient in marijuana, CBD is not psychoactive. {REF}

CBG has been found to act on very specific physiological systems and problems, and results for medicinal use are promising:

• Endocannabinoid receptors are prevalent in eye structures, and interestingly, CBG is thought to be particularly effective in treating glaucoma because it reduces intraocular pressure. It is a powerful vasodilator and has neuroprotective effects to boot.
• In animal experiments involving mice, CBG was found to be effective in decreasing the inflammation characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease.
• In a recent 2015 study, CBG was shown to protect neurons in mice with Huntington’s disease, which is characterized by nerve cell degeneration in the brain.
• CBG is showing great promise as a cancer fighter. Specifically, CBG was shown to block receptors that cause cancer cell growth. In one such study, it was shown to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells in mice, thereby slowing colon cancer growth. CBG inhibited tumors and chemically-induced colon carcinogenesis, therefore demonstrating a very exciting possibility for a cure for colorectal cancer.
• European research shows evidence that CBG is an effective antibacterial agent, particularly against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) microbial strains resistant to several classes of drugs. Since the 1950s, topical formulations of cannabis have been effective in skin infections, but researchers at the time were unaware of the plant’s chemical composition.
• In a very recent 2017 study, researchers showed that a form of CBG purified to remove delta-9 THC was a very effective appetite stimulant in rats. This may lead to a novel non-psychotropic therapeutic option for cachexia, the muscle wasting and severe weight loss seen in late stage cancer and other diseases.
• In a study that looked at the effects of five different cannabinoids on bladder contractions, CBG tested best at inhibiting muscle contractions, so it may be a future tool in preventing bladder dysfunction disorders. {REF}

Cannabichromene, or CBC, doesn’t get a lot of praise or attention, but it has shown to have profound benefits. Similar to cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBC stems from the all-important cannabigerolic acid (CBGa). From there, enzymes cause it to convert into or cannabichrome carboxylic acid (CBCa). In this case of CBCa, it passes through the CBC synthase (the enzymes that gets the specific process underway).  Over time, or if exposed to heat CBCa with break down and become cannabichromene, through a process known as decarboxylation.

• Antimicrobial – CBC Fights Bacteria and Fungi. It exhibits “strong” antibacterial effects on a variety of gram-positive, gram-negative and acid-fast bacteria; CBC shows “mild to moderate” activity against different types of fungi too.
• Anti-Viral – It may play a role in the anti-viral effects of cannabis.
• Anti-inflammatory Properties – CBC can reduce edema (swelling) as well as inflammation of the intestinal tract. CBC appears to fight inflammation without activating cannabinoid receptors, CBC produces a stronger effect when combined with other cannabinoids.
• Analgesic – Reduces pain, although it is not as strong as THC. CBC contributes to the overall analgesic effects of cannabis. CBC fights pain by “interacting with several targets involved in the control of pain” at the spinal level. CBC is non-psychoactive, scientists are hopeful that these cannabis compounds can be used to treat pain – without the high.
• Anti-Depressant– It fights depression. CBC and a number of other cannabinoids may “contribute to the overall mood-elevating properties of cannabis.” It doesn’t seem to activate the same pathways in the brain as THC.
• Stimulates Brain Growth – CBC appeared to increase the viability of developing brain cells – a process known as neurogenesis.
• Anti-Proliferative – inhibits the growth of cancerous tumors. This could be a result of its interaction with anandamide (an endocannabinoid, which means our body produces it naturally). It affects the CB1 receptors, as well as the CB2 receptors, and has been found to fight against human breast cancer. CBC inhibits the uptake of anandamide, which allows it to stay in the bloodstream longer.
• Migraines – CBC has also been a successful remedy for migraines. {REF}