What is the Entourage Effect?
The word entourage creates vivid imagery of popular celebrities, musicians, and athletes entering or leaving events with a swath of their friends, family members, and business advisors. For many, it brings back memories of a TV series that aired from 2004 to 2011 or a blockbuster film of the same name released in 2015. Today, we’re talking about a significantly different type of entourage, otherwise known as “the entourage effect”.
The entourage effect is a theory in the THC space that hypothesizes a unique permutation of effects and benefits as a result of ingesting more than one type of cannabinoid. THC is a cannabinoid known to drive the intoxicating effects of hemp-derived products, whereas CBD is known to promote calmness, and lack the intoxicating effects. Therefore, one might assume that a THC seltzer would feel intoxicating, and a CBD seltzer would feel calming. As an example of the entourage effect, a THC CBD seltzer would somehow feel somewhat intoxicating, while also calming and relaxing. In fact, this study on the co-administration of CBD with THC found that the presence of CBD did not worsen negative cognitive effects when compared to taking THC alone. Furthermore, CBD did not influence the subjective or pleasurable effects of THC.
What Happens Without the Entourage Effect?
Without the entourage effect, the consumption of a cannabinoid would result in an experience exclusive to that cannabinoid. A CBD seltzer, or beverage that contains only CBD as an active ingredient, would offer calming, relaxing, and peaceful sensations to its consumer. While the effects of a CBD seltzer might vary depending on the individual, you should always consult with your healthcare provider for serious questions and concerns.
How CBD Drinks Work in Our Bodies
So, how exactly does a CBD drink work in our body once we consume it? After ingesting a CBD beverage, the CBD enters the digestive system along with the beverage it was in. Once it starts processing in the stomach, the stomach lining starts absorbing the CBD. Once passed into the small intestine, the remaining CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestine’s wall, which can take anywhere from half an hour to 2 hours. This range in hours is based on a variety of factors, including the contents of a person’s stomach to begin with.
The absorbed CBD is passed off to the liver where it undergoes first-pass metabolism, and some of it is broken down by enzymes. This means that not all the CBD that is ingested would reach the next step. The CBD that survives enzymatic breakdown enters systemic circulation throughout the entire body. This is where CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which affects pain, mood, and inflammation, primarily through CB1 and CB2 receptors. However, CBD has little binding affinity for these receptors, and binds to TRPV1 receptors which are known to mediate pain perception, inflammation, and body temperature. While everyone will react differently, studies show that CBD is non-intoxicating and promotes relaxation, pain relief, and mood improvement.
The Effects of a THC Drink
The digestive process of a THC drink is largely similar to that of a CBD drink. The difference in experience occurs when THC is passed onto the liver. In the liver, THC is metabolized and converted into a new compound. This conversion stands as the reason driving the widespread belief that CBD is not intoxicating and THC is. The conversion results in 11-hydroxy-THC, which has stronger psychoactive effects than THC. Once it enters the body through systemic circulation, it is used by the ECS. This conversion of THC has a higher binding affinity with CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are found primarily in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are found in the immune system and peripheral organs.
Known to be stronger because of its psychoactivity, THC’s effects can result in euphoria, altered time perception, and heightened sensory experiences. By binding to CB1 receptors, it can modulate pain perception, and even stimulate appetite. The effects of THC can take longer to onset, leaning towards 1 to 2 hours, and can last longer.
The Effects of THC and CBD in a Seltzer
What if you could consume a seltzer that contained equal parts of THC and CBD in order to experience the power of the entourage effect? With jixxie, you can step into the world of hemp infused beverages, and experience both cannabinoids in a unique combination. The effects of THC and CBD in a seltzer will only vary based on dosage, which is why jixxie comes in two levels. The ingestion and processing of jixxie is the same for our 2 mg THC and CBD flavors and our 4 mg THC and CBD flavors.
The process of digesting and absorbing THC and CBD in a seltzer is the same as previously detailed processes of each individual cannabinoid. The experience diverges at one critical point which is where the entourage effect comes into play. After metabolizing, CBD and the 11-hydroxy-THC (result of the liver’s conversion of THC) interact with the ECS uniquely. Research suggests that CBD alters the way THC binds to CB1 receptors, reducing its psychoactive effects. In essence, this entourage effect translates to one where the dosage of THC is reduced in effect by the presence of CBD! This unique combination can enhance pain relief, reduce nausea, and promote relaxation without causing excessive psychoactive effects. In short, the interaction between THC and CBD creates a synergy that mitigates the adverse effects associated with THC alone, while offering the therapeutic benefits of CBD.
Are There Side Effects to THC and CBD?
While both compounds can have side effects on their individual consumption, this can vary between individuals. You should always consult your doctor or healthcare provider if you have serious questions about taking either compound. However, CBD is known to be typically well tolerated even in large doses. Side effects of CBD are thought to be the result of interactions with any other medications you may be taking.
It’s also important to remember that the lines between side effects and benefits from consumption can be blurred. In total, it seems as though any negative side effects from THC can be mitigated and reduced based on how CBD interacts with THC after metabolizing. For jixxie, we’ve heard plenty of positive reviews about the experience consuming our beverages, along with reports from “the morning after”, often exclaiming delight for a lack of groggy, clouded, or hangover-adjacent sensations.