Cannabis for pets? Sure, but old Fido won’t lose all motivation and vigilance; Felix won’t stop bringing half-dead mice into the house; the bird won’t start spouting philosophy; and Seabiscuit would still win races. There is no cause for alarm or skepticism, because this stuff only contains cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive cannabinoid in Cannabis sativa.
Cannabinoids have been found throughout the animal kingdom by scientists. Called endocannabinoids, they are distinguished from the phytocannabinoids (phyto=plant) derived from cannabis. These naturally occurring compounds are produced by our bodies and circulate in our bloodstream, binding to cannabinoid-specific (CB) receptors in our brain and peripheral nervous system to regulate certain vital functions like higher thought, sleep, and appetite.
CBD, however, has no affinity to CB receptors, instead of prolonging the effects of our body’s own cannabinoids. Without this affinity, there is no psychoactivity, and hence no euphoric narcosis. What is more, CBD has been found to mitigate the effects of delta-9 tetrohydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid in marijuana that gets us high.
Having anti-oxidant and antipsychotic properties, CBD has been proven effective in the treatment of many otherwise pharmacoresistant ailments including cancer, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and migraines. There are also no known adverse side effects related to the application of CBD. As we humans occupy our own niche in the animal kingdom and have similar cannabinoids in our biological systems, there is no reason to believe that CBD wouldn’t help our pets as well. And the anecdotal evidence is starting to pile up.
Much More at: Merry Jane
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