What’s in a Flower? A Cannabinoid Mind Game

A fun article to learn interesting facts about the cannabis plant and the industry surrounding it.

You’re more likely to be struck by lightning than win the lottery.

Fact.

You’re more likely to be trampled by cows than die in an airplane crash.

Fact.

You’re more likely to eat a cricket in your sleep than while you’re awake.

Fiction (Fried crickets are delicious in Thailand, by the way; You should try them.)

You might not enjoy culinary exploration like I do, but you will enjoy this fun game: Cannabinoids, Fact or Fiction!

Figure 1. Are you ready to play?!

Save your answers to see your results at the end.

1. Cannabinoids are the only medically active compounds found in Cannabis. Fact or Fiction?
2. All cannabinoids have intoxicating properties. Fact or Fiction?
3. Cannabinoids combat cancer and relieve pain. Fact or Fiction?
4. There are two cannabinoids: THC and CBD. Fact or Fiction?
5. Cannabinoids work together in what’s known as the entourage effect. Fact or Fiction?
6. All Cannabisplants contain cannabinoids. Fact or Fiction?
7. Humans internally create their own version of cannabinoids. Fact or Fiction?
8. Too many cannabinoids in your system can kill you. Fact or Fiction?
9. Cannabinoids are psychedelics akin to psilocybin and LSD. Fact or Fiction?

Avoid being struck by lightning or trampled by cows, check out the answers below to see how you did on our game!

What other interesting cannabis facts do you know?

Answers

1. Fiction. There are well over 100 different terpenes found in Cannabis. Terpenes have important medical properties.
2. Fiction. Cannabidiol–among other cannabinoids–is not reported to have intoxicating properties.
3. Fact. There are many studies showing the efficacy of cannabinoids against a range of cancers, and pain relief is possible even in patients with neuropathic pain.
4. Fiction. THC and CBD are the most well-known cannabinoids. Other cannabinoids include CBG, THCA, and THCV, among others.
5. Fact. The entourage effect has been shown to alter and supplement the medicinal properties of each individual cannabis compound.
6. Fact. Though hemp varieties have significantly less complex cannabinoid profiles, all Cannabis plants contain cannabinoids.
7. Fact. Dubbed ‘endacannabinoids,’ these compounds are near molecular twins to the cannabinoids found in cannabis.
8. Fiction. While there are rare cases of people suffering fatal heart failure after using cannabis¹, these cases are not statistically significant enough to claim causality from cannabis use. Unless you find some way to smoke the weight of a bulldozer in a few hours, you can’t overdose on cannabinoids like THC.
9. Fact. While you’d need to find something like Nepalese cream hash and eat a significant dose of it, cannabis can send you on a full-blown, psychedelic experience akin to consuming psilocybin mushrooms or LSD, according to Chris Kilham, The Medicine Hunter.

Reference

1. Sattout and Nicol, “Cardiac arrest following cannabis use: a case report”, Cases Journal, 2009, 2: 208.