Almost everyone loves it, many even believe they are addicted to it. But chocolate can be more than just a stimulant, although this has received little attention. Now it has been found that chocolate also contains a lot of chemicals that affect the brain, including anandamide, a component that acts very similarly to marijuana.
Anandamide was first found in chocolate in 1996. The discoveries at the University of Manchester as part of the International Congress on the History of Science, Technology and Medicine 2013., showed that chocolate was not always accepted as a good thing. For some time, chocolate was held responsible for certain diseases in society. Again, a certain similarity to marijuana becomes apparent. Anandamide is the closest substance in the body to cannabinoids.
Many people have a craving for chocolate and love to eat it. The explanation for this could be the anandamide contained in chocolate. Anandamide is also produced by the body and is not the only chemical in chocolate that mimics the activities of cannabis components (known as cannabinoids). In fact, researchers have identified a variety of chemicals found in chocolate that are capable of activating the human cannabinoid system, either directly or indirectly.
According to Dr Daniele Piomelli, one of the scientists who first identified cannabinoids in chocolate, these chemicals likely play a larger role than just the anandamides produced by the pleasure of consumption. Piomelli tells Science News that the activity of "chocolate cannabinoids" may be more specific than that of THC because anandamide is already present in the brain to control certain functions.
"When someone smokes a joint, the THC goes into the brain and activates all the cannabinoid receptors there. This gives you a global high".
Many people turn to chocolate when they feel depressed or frustrated.
Interestingly, dark chocolate seems to contain a much higher amount of cannabinoids (two to three times more) than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is also helpful for high blood pressure and is considered the healthier chocolate option.
In a series of studies, researcher Daniele Piomelli at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego found several anandamide-like substances in chocolate, as already mentioned. Of particular interest were two anandamide-like components that were discovered in higher amounts and could have an influence on the high of cannabis consumers: N-oleoylethanolamine and N-linoleoylethanolamine.
Using in vitro experiments, Piomelli found that both N-oleoylethanolamine and N-linoleoylethanolamine delay and prolong anandamide breakdown. Piomelli further noted that the anandamide-like substances in chocolate do not anogize at the receptors, but they do prevent the breakdown of anandamide and presumably cannabinoids as well. If this is the case, the cannabis high can accordingly be prolonged by dark chocolate. In this context, it is also suspected that certain effects of cannabis could also be intensified by dark chocolate. The prerequisite in any case is the consumption of larger amounts of dark chocolate (preferably with 80% or 90% cocoa content) before after and during consumption is best. Hot chocolate made of cocoa powder could also be a good option, because the cocoa content is very high here.
Cannabis-infused chocolate is an absolute trend product in the USA
There are already many reports from users who have had their own experiences with this, but it definitely needs to be explored further. Therefore, I wish all cannabis and chocolate lovers a lot of fun with further research and experimentation and I am looking forward to your opinions and experiences. In any case, we will also test the thing more thoroughly and let you know then 😉
Your Juan
See also our cannabis chocolate recipe:
- Cannabis chocolate
- Strawberries covered with marijuana chocolate
- Hot Cannabis Chocolate
- Chocolate cannabis cake