Cannabis has a unique influence on the body. Medical marijuana has been used as a treatment for pain and other ailments since ancient times. Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical compounds, many of which are cannabinoids. These active compounds interact with receptors in the body. These receptors are part of the body’s complex nerve system, which uses neurotransmissions to send and receive information between the brain and the body. Cannabinoids interact with these receptors and effectively alter the brain’s normal communications. The body actually makes its own version of cannabinoids. Certain cannabinoids in cannabis resemble the molecular structure of the body’s cannabinoids, that are known as endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids send nerve impulses to the brain to trigger different effects on the body. The cannabinoids from cannabis act like endocannabinoids and are recognized by the brain, allowing cannabis to affect behavior, mood, coordination and more.