Research Links ‘Runner’s High’ to Cannabinoid Receptors in the Brain
by Chane Leigh
Valentine’s day is just around the corner. For many people, this means finding something special for that someone special in their lives. Valentine’s day is a day to celebrate being struck by Cupid’s arrow. Themed chocolates, stuffed animals, favorite foods, intoxicating beverages, jewelry, and sex run abundant on this special day.
Another thing that runs abundant on Valentine’s day is weed! In many places, cannabis is legal, and as you may be well aware, cannabis makes a great gift! But don’t just buy it. Be sure to pair it with something else nice if you can, like flowers, candy, jewelry, a bong, a rolling tray, or a new bowl. Remember, though; Valentine’s Day should never be about lavishly expensive gifts. Sure, diamonds and gold are nice, but so are many other things in life. It’s time to focus on love and enjoy the first Valentine’s day of the age of Aquarius this year. Cannabis can help make this happen by giving the body a boost of feel good.
Cannabis has a lot in common with the other above-mentioned items that are usually gifted on Valentine’s Day. That’s because they all tend to produce a naturally occurring chemical reaction in the body, triggering the production of Anandamide. Molecular formula C22H37NO2, better known as Anandamide AKA the “Bliss Molecule,” is a chemical produced by our body that is responsible for feelings of bliss and happiness. The science behind Anandamide is supported by research published on the NCBI stating,
“Anandamide is an N-(polyunsaturated fatty acyl)ethanolamine resulting from the formal condensation of carboxy group of arachidonic acid with amino group of ethanolamine. It has a role as a neurotransmitter, a vasodilator agent and a human blood serum metabolite. It is a N-(long-chain-acyl) ethanolamine, an endocannabinoid, a N-(polyunsaturated fatty acyl) ethanolamine and a N-acylethanolamine 20:4. It derives from an arachidonic acid.”
When you take a sip of coffee, tea, or your favorite beverage, and it’s good, that momentary feeling of ah comes from a blast of Anandamide. Your body rewards you with this when you do things that make you happy. A hug, a kiss, a gift, sex, dinner, even a cup of coffee or cannabis all trigger anandamide production. Anandamide is part of the body’s reward center.
Just like cannabis, Anandamide works with the endocannabinoid system. You could say they go hand in hand. With that in mind, it might be a great idea to pair your Valentine’s gift this year with cannabis and other Anandamide triggering items like chocolate, coffee, or jewelry. Now I’m not going to give you a corny list of strains with lovey names to go with your gift. What I am going to give you is some tips on making your Valentine’s day a lit one this year if you happen to be a lover of the lady we all know as Mary Jane. If you don’t smoke top-shelf, Valentine’s Day is definitely worth splurging on a gram or an eighth of premium product.
When you go to purchase, ask for flavor over potency, and you may just be surprised at the results. That top-shelf bud goes great with a new gift like a bowl, bong, or rolling tray and wraps. If you want to take it further, add in cannabis concentrates like some crumble, distillate, and even a little kief as a nice topping. This lets you make your own super stoney anandamide producing concoction.
If you have that someone special, it isn’t about how much you spend, it’s the thought you put into it. A homemade card accompanied by a favorite candy bar and a preroll will do the trick with that right person. There are all kinds of different ways to pair cannabis with your Valentine’s gift this year.
Since cannabis is known to trigger the bliss molecule, you may want to start your special day with your favorite method of consumption to help get the Anandamide flowing. I call it a wake and bake and enjoy mine with coffee and a doobie, but others enjoy being “pen pals” with their vape pens or having “munchin brunchins” with edibles after breakfast.
This year has been a wild one so far and last year was one for the books. Take some time this Valentine’s Day to let that special someone in your life know just how special they are to you. Spend as much of the day together as you can. Hold hands, laugh, smile, and love a little longer, stronger, and deeper this year with the help of cannabis and Anandamide. You might just find this Valentine’s Day to be filled with “CannaBliss” with the pairing of cannabis and the perfect gift. No matter what you chose to do this Valentine’s day, if you and your loved one both have a love for cannabis, your day is sure to be filled with CannaBliss.
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