How the THC in marijuana works and impacts the brain?
When marijuana is smoked, the THC is absorbed by the blood through the lungs. This THC filled blood penetrates the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain. There, THC gets attached to cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoid receptors are particles in the brain that interact with a naturally produced substance in the body called anandamide to perform various functions. Though what those functions are exactly, it is not clear. THC activates the cannabinoid receptors to set off a serious of cellular level reactions which result in abnormality in certain brain functions. Cannabinoid receptors are found mostly in the following areas of the brain. Cerebellum – associated with body movement coordination Hippocampus – learning and memory Cerebral cortex (frontal lobe, cingulated and parietal regions) – learning and acquisition of knowledge Nucleus accumbens – reward Basal ganglia – movement, action selection Other areas of the brain which contain cannabinoid receptors in moderate amounts are Hypotha
