CONTENTS page.                  Top of page

HOW CANNABIS WORKS
IN THE BODY

A selection of resources (reading and video playlist),
from complete novice to more advanced.

Obviously, how cannabis works is the same whether you have a prescription or not, but this page started as an introduction for those completely canna-naive and morphed into something else.

Trialling feature:
Click the corresponding
coloured link to jump to that section


- Beginner's Guide to the Endocannabinoid System

- YouTube playlist and further reading about Cannabinoids and Terpenes

- Information about Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)

- Information about Cannabis and Cancer

- Scientific Research and Educational Links

Click the Image below
to access my
Beginners Guide to The Endocannabinoid System
(to read online):

Or click here to download it in PDF format 

Below is a YouTube playlist (40 minute total) I put together to help make the biology of cannabis easier to understand (I hope). 

It discusses:
- The Endocannabinoid System (our bodies produce some cannabinoids and we have receptors)
- Cannabinoids (e,g, THC, CBD, CBG, CBN)
- Terpenes (smelly but healthy, they're also in essential oils)
- The Entourage Effect (different components complementing one another)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHxQLz4lTgPU6BCZqQk4QDM3PMWSgoILl

Here are some links so you can read the basics about these topics

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-202108112569 [Accessed 5th July 2022]

https://cannigma.com/plant/cannabinoids-and-their-effects/ [Accessed 5th July 2022]

https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/list-major-cannabinoids-cannabis-effects [Accessed 5th July 2022]

 https://mcph.org.uk/cannabinoid [Accessed January 2025]

https://thecannabispages.co.uk/medical-cannabis-101/terpenes/ [Accessed 5th July 2022]

https://www.essentiapura.com/the-entourage-effect-explained/ [Accessed 5th July 2022]

https://mcph.org.uk/terpene [Accessed January 2025]

And whether your knowledge of cannabis in a medical context is negligible or really quite advanced, if you're wanting a dynamic resource exploring current areas of research and sharing stories of successes, I'd recommend you consider signing up for the Effective Cannabis Newsletter. It's international, not UK specific, but it's informative and varied and because they only select a handful of topics each month, it isn't overwhelming, so you're more likely to actually look at it (I speak from experience):
https://www.effectivenewsletter.com/

FURTHER READING 
Russell C, Rueda S, Room R, Tyndall M, Fischer B. Routes of administration for cannabis use - basic prevalence and related health outcomes: A scoping review and synthesis. Int J Drug Policy. 2018 Feb;52:87-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.11.008 Epub 2017 Dec 22. PMID: 29277082. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29277082/ [Accessed 5th July 2022]

Cannabis Oil vs. Dried Flower: How Do They Compare? Plantedu.com (November 2018)
https://plantedu.com/cannabis-oil-vs-flower [Accessed 5th July 2022]

Cannabis Hyperemesis
Syndrome (CHS)

For those who aren't familiar with the term, Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome is a rare but increasingly understood set of symptoms, first described in 2004 [1], brought about by a rare, adverse reaction to long-term cannabis use. As with psychosis, for instance, triggered by THC, it seems to subside once use stops, though can be re-triggered by other factors. I feel it's worth mentioning at this point that although I'm definitely not against pharmaceutical interventions per se (they shouldn't be the first choice of treatment though), it's often conversely the case that issues triggered by those may well persist after stoppage. They may if you develop adverse issues with cannabis, but this is still believed to be a fairly rare condition. As ‘hyper’ means lots of, or high, and ‘emesis’ is sickness, hence you take anti-emetics to try and relieve it, you can probably guess what this condition involves.

I was definitely coming from a place of cynicism as to whether this is another made up tool dreamed up to discredit cannabis as a health treatment. But I'd say that the best place to turn in those situations is to converted cynics who've seen it for themselves. Enter Megan Mbengue and Codi Peterson [2][3], who are currently running a survey for anyone who is diagnosed with, or thinks they might have CHS. I don't know if this is open to applicants outside of the U.S., but I thoroughly recommend the resources if you'd like to learn more on the topic. I've attended a couple of Codi’s online lectures on other topics, and I think he explains things really well.

References

1.Cue L, Chu F, Cascella M. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. [Updated 2023 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549915/ [Accessed January 2025]

2. CannMed Coffee Talks: Amirault, B. (2024) Surveying Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome with Megan Mbengue and Codi Peterson (podcast). https://cannmedevents.com/2024/10/02/surveying-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-with-megan-mbengue-and-codi-peterson/.[Accessed: January 10, 2025]

3. Medical Genomics (2024) New Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) with Megan Mbengue (Trusted Canna Nurse) and Codi Peterson (Cannigma). https://youtu.be/ez7PyEESrSU?si=mjP4TMY3vW547WDE [Accessed: January 10, 2025]

Further Reading

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome survey and Genomic investigation. (2021, July 7). https://ethanrusso.org/cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-survey-and-genomic-investigation/ [Accessed January 2025]

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: genetic susceptibility to toxic exposure. (2024b, October 23). https://ethanrusso.org/cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-genetic-susceptibility-to-toxic-exposure/ [Accessed January 2025]

Library. (2024, October 23). https://ethanrusso.org/category/library/ [Accessed January 2025]

Cannabis and Cancer


Cannabis isn’t legal in the UK as a Cancer treatment, per se, though it can be prescribed for the sickness or pain associated with it. As getting rid of a tumour was the reason I started taking cannabis, to good effect, I have now heard testimonials and spoken to or met countless people who credit their recovery to its action too.

So, I’m not telling people to break the law, but the purpose of this website is to educate, to provoke thought and to provide a compelling argument that the law is currently a threat to health rather than a help. Whereas I’m not suggesting that cannabis holds no risks, and I'd argue that pretty much everything does. How many people are allergic to nuts, for example? But they're sold all over, with warnings highlighting that. But their constant exaggeration and bias with regards to cannabis in political arenas are clearly not evidence-based and remain divisive rhetoric, consistently going against scientific advice (the Wootton report [1], sacking of David Nutt [2].

CANNABIS AND RESEARCH

Although Cannabis research has been happening for decades, like any clinical research, getting access if you’re not part of an institution such as a hospital trust or university, or prepared to pay handsomely (which let’s face it, gets you most things), is challenging. Varying degrees of more accessible and beginner/ intermediate level information are more readily available, particularly if you’re willing to brave Meta or Instagram (I think you can find all the individual campaigners mentioned on there). These are mostly US or Canada-based. Go to my Scientific Research Sources section for journals and practitioners.

References
1. Oakley, A. (2012). The Strange case of the two Wootton Reports: what can we learn about the evidence–policy relationship? Evidence & Policy, 8(3), 267–283. https://doi.org/10.1332/174426412x654022 [Accessed January 2025]

2. Travis, A. (2018, February 14). Chief drug adviser David Nutt sacked over cannabis stance. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/30/david-nutt-drugs-adviser-sacked [Accessed January 2025]

CANCER- SPECIFIC EDUCATION LINKS.

Jindrich Bayer offers testimonials and an idea of the kind of treatment regimes currently thought efficacious.
CURE FOR CANCER: THE RICK SIMPSON PROTOCOL and RSO/JBO STORIES BY JINDRICH BAYER. (n.d.). CURE FOR CANCER: THE RICK SIMPSON PROTOCOL and RSO/JBO STORIES BY JINDRICH BAYER. https://www.hempcures.work/ [Accessed January 2025]

Cannabis Health radio is an extensive collection of podcasts from Cancer Survivors
Cannabis Health Radio. (2024, December 18). Cannabis Health Radio. Available at: https://cannabishealthradio.com/[Accessed January 2025]

The subject of this podcast, Corrie Yelland (Cancer Survivor, based in Canada), shares regularly about the successes of cannabis as a therapeutic intervention and like other campaigners mentioned here, helps so many people with her expert therapeutic knowledge..
Cannabis Health Radio. (2022, September 28). Episode 355: Celebrating 10 years cancer free after being given a few months to live — Cannabis Health Radio. https://cannabishealthradio.com/podcast/episode-355-celebrating-10-years-cancer-free-after-being-given-a-few-months-to-live [Accessed January 2025]

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH and EDUCATIONAL LINKS

You can get access to way more in terms of scientific studies if you're part of an Institution, such as working for a School or Hospital, but there are places....

You can sign up easily enough for a Biomed Central account which is free and you can access many Open Access Journal publications:
https://www.biomedcentral.com/about

Codi Peterson: A cannabis prescribing pharmacist based in America with a special interest in the endocannabinoid system. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a couple of lectures by Codi, and he’s knowledgeable and explains everything very clearly.
The Cannigma (no date) Codi Peterson, PharmD, The Cannigma. https://cannigma.com/author/codi-peterson/.

DrugScience: Some of the most knowledgeable clinicians in the country about cannabis, regularly producing reports and educational and very user-friendly resources. David Nutt was famously sacked as advisor to the UK Government for expressing his views on the harms (or more accurately, the relative lack of) that cannabis poses.
About | Drug Science (no date). https://www.drugscience.org.uk/about

EduCanNation is a Canada-based educational and support organisation, often making online lectures, which really are very high quality (including the two I mentioned) for a small charge. Just remember there’s a time difference! 
HOME | EduCanNation | Cannabis Education (no date). https://www.educannation.info/

Journal of Cannabis Research is an Open Access Journal, which means that anyone can access it, and it has a built-in search facility.
Journal of Cannabis Research (2024). https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/.

Mike Robinson (Founder of the Global Cannabinoid Research Center, Cancer survivor, PTSD and addiction recovery)
Center, G.C.R. (no date) GCRC. https://globalcannabinoidrc.com/.

You can also sign into Pubmed (various methods), which is from the US Government, National Library of Medicine:

Science Open: As the name suggests, another Open Access database.
ScienceOpen (2021). https://www.scienceopen.com/.

Trusted Cann Nurse is a US based cannabis prescriber who often educates via social media. You can find her on Meta and Instagram.
Trusted Canna Nurse (no date) Trusted Canna Nurse | LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/trusted-canna-nurse.


Page updated January 2025