cannabinoid 2 (CB2), that are connect to the endocannabinoid that our body naturally produces and to the plant-produced cannabinoids like THC and CBD (Cannabidiol). Plant-based cannabinoids are called phytocannabinoids.

CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain, and appear to link mostly to THC. The CB1 receptors are where the high from marijuana use comes from, and also regulates pain-perception. Research in this field is limited due to the legal restrictions on THC marijuana.

CB2 receptors are mostly in the immune system and the spleen. Some research indicates their presence in the brain’s nerve bundles. The CB2 receptors link to CBD, and work as anti-inflammatories. Initial research shows they have immune-boosting functions as well.

What is a receptor?

A receptor is a protein molecule that receives chemical signals from outside a cell. These chemical signals bind to a receptor and elicit a cellular or tissue response. So, a receptor is a protein-molecule that recognizes and responds to chemical signals.

What is a ligand?

A molecule that binds to a receptor is called a ligand. A ligand can be one of many different things. It can be a protein, a peptide, a neurotransmitter, a hormone, a pharmaceutical drug, or a toxin. In a pharmacological sense, it is important that viruses and microbes can be ligands. This means that diseases may be triggered or controlled by the virus or microbe binding to the ECB receptor. Cannabinoid-based drugs have the potential to interrupt or destroy the bond between a ligand and receptor.

This why medical and pharmacological research into cannabinoids is so important, and also why it has so much potential for the development of new drugs.