According to the PBS documentary “Clearing the Smoke: The Science of Cannabis”, it is due to receptors on cells throughout the body. You can think of receptors almost as “locks” and when the right “key” comes along and connects with the lock, it releases a message. Typical messages could be that the body is under attack, and the immune system needs to respond, or even something as simple as a registering of pain.

 

 

In the case of Rick Simpson Oil, researchers found two cannabinoid receptors on cells throughout the body. For these receptors, cannabinoids present in RSO are the all-important “key”. These cannabinoid receptors are called the CB1 and CB2 receptors. The CB1 receptors are mainly located in the brain but are present in many major organs throughout the body, such as the heart and liver.

CB2 receptors are found on cells throughout the immune system. When these cells mutate and become cancerous, they no longer die like normal cells, but grow and spread uncontrollably. Importantly, though, they still retain their CB2 receptors, even when they become cancerous.

These CB2 receptors act as a target for the cannabinoids present in RSO. When those compounds hit the receptors, they key and lock come together and release a critical message – the cannabinoids tell the cancerous cells to die.

Surprisingly, what follows is the cells “commit suicide”, a process called apoptosis. This is why full spectrum Rick Simpson Oil is able to kill cancerous cells so effectively.