By Luke Sumpter Reviewed by: Gonzalo Díaz-Cacho


Dopamine. You’ve probably heard of this brain chemical before. Also known as the “feel-good” hormone, this molecule plays an important role in our mood. But aside from promoting happiness, dopamine contributes to more complex feelings and behaviours, including reward and addiction.

Do you know what else gives rise to feelings of happiness? Cannabis. This herb can rapidly catapult us into a positive state. This effect is due to THC which, according to studies, generates a short-term increase in dopamine levels in the brain. And indeed, cannabis research over the years has drawn a connection between smoking or ingesting cannabis and a rise in dopamine concentration.

However, things get a little bit more complex when comparing the short-term and long-term effects. Acutely, cannabis does appear to boost dopamine. But the herb might interfere with normal dopamine signalling when used chronically. Continue reading to discover the importance of dopamine, how cannabis impacts this brain chemical, and how CBD also influences this system.

What Is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. What does this mean? Well, neurons (brain cells) release this chemical to transmit electrical signals chemically between one another. But not every neuron spends its time churning out dopamine. The body reserves this role for nerve cells located in the substantia nigra—a region of the brain that plays a fundamental role in reward and movement. Overall, dopaminergic neurons make up approximately between 3 and 5% of this area.

These specialised cells craft dopamine using tyrosine (an amino acid). After manufacturing this neurotransmitter, they store it in synaptic vesicles—spherical packages that merge with cell membranes and allow neurons to safely release the chemical. Neurons lie in wait ready for a shock. Once they receive a jolt of electricity (known as an action potential), they release dopamine. The molecule[5] then travels across the synaptic cleft to bind to any of the five subtypes of dopamine receptors: D1, D2, D3, D4, or D5.

Technical details aside, what impact does this seemingly simple action have on our overall state of consciousness? Dopamine's vital function in the brain means it plays an important role in:

Executive function Motor control
Motivation Reinforcement
Reward Learning
Mood Attention

This single molecule has a massive impact on how we operate in daily life. It sways the decisions we make, helps us get out of bed, and even plays a role when we reach for a joint or bong. You see, dopamine pretty much has full control over what we view as rewarding behaviour.

What Is Dopamine?
  • Dopamine and the Reward System

Only a handful of factors drive human behaviour. First, there are things we can’t live without, such as water, food, and shelter. Second, there are rewards—certain behaviours that cause us to feel pleasure.

But how does the brain recognise the value of a reward? It has a specialised reward system. Regions of the brain that make up this reward system use dopamine as a chemical messenger. These neurons start to fire when the brain expects a reward. As well as making us feel happier in the moment, dopamine strengthens synaptic pathways and causes us to develop emotional memories tied to specific rewards.

As this network strengthens, the reward system begins to reinforce behaviours associated with rewarding outcomes. Why would your brain choose not to have a good time? It all makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. After all, the reward associated with landing a meal kept our ancestors alive. Without the motivation of a reward circuit, they would have spent their time sitting around starving to death.

However, this system can and does backfire. The brain quickly becomes fond of sugary foods and pleasant psychotropic experiences—the cannabis high included. While these sources of joy are great in moderation, they can take a toll when used chronically over long periods. And a strongly reinforced reward system can keep us chasing the pleasant effect, without much regard for the long-term consequences.

The effects of dopamine span past behaviour and mood, affecting broader aspects of human physiologically, including:

Control of nausea and vomiting Pain processing
Movement Kidney function
Heart rate Blood vessel function
Lactation

Among these additional roles, dopamine contributes to human movement. The nervous system allows us to voluntarily contract our skeletal muscles, enabling us to articulate our joints and move. Dopamine is involved in the biochemical communication that fine-tunes an organism’s movement. In cases of Parkinson’s disease, the degeneration of dopamine neurons leads to spontaneous movement, poor balance, and reduced motor coordination.

Smoking or eating cannabis causes a change in mood, focus, and motivation. Dopamine also impacts these sensations, so it comes as no surprise that using cannabis influences dopaminergic function.

Constituents from the cannabis plant have a broad impact on the human body because they interface with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The receptors, signalling molecules, and enzymes that make up this network help to regulate a host of physiological processes, from bone remodelling to appetite.

Components of the ECS also show up in dopamine neurons. Here, they serve as somewhat of a traffic controller. Most neurotransmitters in the brain travel in an antegrade fashion. This means that they’re synthesised in the presynaptic neuron and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.

Endocannabinoids go against the grain. They travel in a retrograde manner, from postsynaptic to presynaptic neurons. This directional difference gives them a unique function.

By travelling backwards, they can regulate the incoming signals from other neurons[1]. This interaction is extremely nuanced, but in simplified terms: by inhibiting the flow from GABA neurons, endocannabinoids help to enhance the firing of dopamine neurons. In contrast, by inhibiting incoming glutamate signals, they reduce the firing rate of dopamine neurons.

The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) binds to a site known as cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) to modify presynaptic input. Interestingly, cannabinoids such as THC also bind to this receptor, which means they also have the ability to impact dopamine firing.

  • Short-Term Effects of Marijuana on Dopamine

The effects of cannabis on dopamine vary depending on certain variables, including frequency and quantity.

Following short-term use, cannabis causes a surge in dopamine. But how does it do this? THC, the primary psychotropic component of cannabis, effectively mimics 2-AG. It starts to bind to the CB1 receptors located on presynaptic GABA and glutamate neurons. The molecule disrupts normal ECS signalling[2] and results in increased dopaminergic cell firing and increased dopamine release.

Therefore, THC directly impacts the reward system of the brain. As a behaviour that ramps up sensations of reward, smoking high-THC cannabis causes temporary feelings of relaxation, euphoria, creativity, and motivation. However, these feelings begin to wane with chronic use.

Ilustración del cerebro humano que muestran el aumento de la dopamina en el cerebro  al practicar actividades placenteras
  • Long-Term Effects of Marijuana on Dopamine

Using cannabis consistently over many years changes the way the brain reacts to cannabinoids, and causes a shift in the dopaminergic system itself. Chronic use causes a blunting of the dopamine reward system, and although researchers aren’t entirely sure why this occurs, adaptation to high levels of THC is often associated with reduced motivation[3] and negative emotions.

A 2019 paper published in the journal Addiction Biology documents a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that assessed the effects of cannabis[4] on chronic and occasional cannabis users. The researchers also carried out functional magnetic resonance imaging to observe how the herb affected the participants' brains. They found significant neurometabolic alterations in the reward circuitry of occasional users.

In contrast, these changes were absent in the brains of chronic users, suggesting reduced responsiveness of the reward circuitry to THC. These findings point toward possible dopamine blunting and the development of tolerance following long-term, heavy use.

  • Weed and Dopamine: Does Cannabis Increase the Happy Hormone?

Yes. As THC mimics endocannabinoids in the brain, it causes changes in the release of neurotransmitters such as GABA and glutamate. Overall, this catalyses an initial increase in dopamine neuron firing and an increase in dopamine level.

However, these effects start to diminish over time. As tolerance builds, THC no longer produces the same effects, and a blunting of the dopamine system occurs.

What About CBD and Dopamine?

So, you’re aware that THC impacts the dopamine system by mimicking our endocannabinoids, but it’s not the only cannabinoid that causes changes to the reward system. Whereas THC indirectly modulates incoming neurotransmitters to dopamine neurons, CBD directly binds to dopamine receptors.

As a non-psychotropic cannabinoid, CBD doesn’t produce a high as THC does. Instead, many users report a clear-headed and relaxing effect that doesn’t impair cognitive function. Though the molecule does not bind to the major ECS receptors in the same way as THC, it does attach itself to a variety of “expanded ECS” receptors, as well as the D2 dopamine receptor.

Research published in the journal Translational Psychiatry set out to explore the mechanisms by which CBD impacts the dopaminergic system. They found that the cannabinoid works as a partial agonist at the D2 dopamine receptor, meaning it directly interacts with the reward system in the brain.

Future research will hopefully explore the significance of this relationship, how it might frame CBD as a holistic compound, and if frequent high doses cause any detrimental impact on the reward system of the brain.

What About CBD and Dopamine?

Should You Be Worried About the Effect of Marijuana on Dopamine?

With the knowledge you now have about cannabis and dopamine, if anything, it should improve your relationship with the herb. Knowledge is power, and knowing exactly how cannabis impacts important neurotransmitters in your brain will hopefully motivate you to use the herb responsibly.

Using anything to an extreme always comes with consequences. Too much cannabis can lead to an impacted reward system and poor motivation. However, smoking or eating cannabis occasionally won’t only help you to avoid this, but will offer a more pleasant experience every time you choose to indulge.

External Resources:
  1. Endocannabinoid modulation of dopamine neurotransmission https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. The effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the dopamine system https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Cannabis blunts the brain’s reward system https://lms.mrc.ac.uk
  4. Reduced responsiveness of the reward system is associated with tolerance to cannabis impairment in chronic users https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
  5. Dopaminergic neurons https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: