: What exactly does cannabis do to you?
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Cannabis contains molecules called cannabinoids, the most commonly recognized being THC. Cannabis use lead to the discovery of these molecules, which lead to the discovery of cannabinoid receptors, specifically CB1 and CB2. That lead to the discovery of endocannabinoids, signaling molecules found in most tissues of lots of animals, including humans, which serve the purpose of intercellular signaling.
There are a lot of CB1 receptors in the brain, and the whole signaling system plays a role in many bodily functions, but specifically memory, pain regulation, emotion, and addictive behavior.
So cannabis activates a lot of these receptors indescriminately, causing the psychoactive effects of using/consuming cannabis.
There is no conclusive evidence one way or the other on whether this is good or not, it *seems* to help with certain conditions or diseases, but given its classification as an illegal substance not nearly enough research has been done on it.
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