The Researcher OG

People with epilepsy didn’t do as well on CBD as the pharma industry thought they would.

CBD helped open the door, and for some families, it was life-changing. But epilepsy is complicated, especially refractory epilepsy. There are medication interactions, liver enzyme issues, clobazam interactions, valproate concerns, sedation, dosing problems, and the simple truth that not every seizure disorder responds the same way.

I know that from research, but I also know it from living it.

I have severe refractory epilepsy. For years, I seized so much that traveling as a Civil Rights Lobbyist became almost impossible at times. I was trying to represent kids with autism and epilepsy in special education disputes and cases of abuse that often ended up litigated, while my own nervous system was taking me out of the game.

I ran several epilepsy support groups online because I understood what it felt like when seizures controlled the calendar, the body, and the future.

Epilepsy takes us out.

But CBGa and CBG put us back in the game.

That doesn’t mean they’re magic. It means they deserve serious attention. A 2021 study on CBGa in Dravet syndrome models found that CBGa showed anticonvulsant potential, while also highlighting that the molecule still presents challenges researchers need to understand. That’s real science. Not hype. Not a cure claim. A reason to keep going.

For me, CBGa changed the cannabinoid conversation. It became more than the mother cannabinoid. It became a tool for balance, function, and support when the standard lanes weren’t enough.

CBD opened a door.

CBGa and CBG may help build the next room.

Mike Robinson, Researcher OG



Cannabigerolic acid, a major biosynthetic precursor molecule in cannabis, exhibits divergent effects on seizures in mouse models of epilepsy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34384142/

Two people can use the same cannabinoid combo for the same disease, illness, or health issue and still have two completely different outcomes.

That doesn’t mean the plant failed.

It means the ECS is personal.

Our Endocannabinoid System is tied into pain, mood, inflammation, sleep, appetite, immune function, memory, trauma response, gut function, metabolism, and more. That’s a lot of biology for one formula to walk into. One person may respond beautifully to THC:CBD. Another may need CBG, CBGa, CBDa, CBC, CBN, THCV, terpenes, diet changes, hydration, better sleep, or a completely different ratio.

This is why copy-and-paste cannabis medicine doesn’t work for everyone.

Genes matter. Liver enzymes matter. Tolerance matters. Receptor expression matters. Gut health matters. Past trauma matters. Hormones, inflammation, medications, stress, and lifestyle all affect how cannabinoids are metabolized in the body.

A 2023 review on cannabinoid individuality explained that individual variation is one of the biggest challenges in setting standard safe doses for cannabis products. That’s the part too many people skip. Cannabis isn’t aspirin with a leaf on it. It’s a plant medicine interacting with one of the most adaptive systems in the human body.

This is also why one person can feel calm from a cannabinoid formula while another feels wired. One gets pain relief; another gets nothing. One sleeps, another starts cleaning the house at midnight like the ECS hired them for the night shift.

The answer is not to blame the patient or worship the product.

The answer is personalization.

Cannabinoid medicine works best when we respect the person, not just the plant.

Mike Robinson, Researcher OG



An Individuality of Response to Cannabinoids
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10058560/

CBD doesn’t always work by hitting the ECS like a hammer.

Sometimes it works by helping the body keep its own tools around longer.

One of the biggest topics of conversation around CBD is FAAH, or fatty acid amide hydrolase. FAAH is an enzyme that breaks down anandamide, one of our main human-made endocannabinoids. Anandamide is often called the bliss molecule because it helps regulate mood, stress response, pain, memory, appetite, and the nervous system's response to life coming at us sideways.

When FAAH breaks down anandamide too quickly, the signal may fade faster than the body needs. Research has shown that CBD moderately inhibits anandamide degradation and enhances anandamide signaling. That means CBD may help anandamide remain in the system longer, giving the ECS more time to do what it was designed to do.

This is one reason CBD is so interesting. It’s not just about CBD acting alone. It may help our own endocannabinoids work better by slowing down the cleanup crew.

That matters for balance.

The ECS is constantly adjusting. Upregulation, downregulation, stress, trauma, THC use, poor sleep, inflammation, and diet all shape how this system responds. CBD may help by supporting tone, not forcing the system, but giving our own molecules more room to breathe.

And yes, cannabinoids from the plant may also be affected by the same metabolic and transport pathways that influence how long they remain active in the body.

This is why formulation matters. CBD alone is one thing. CBD with the right cannabinoids, terpenes, diet, and lifestyle support is a deeper conversation.

Sometimes balance isn’t about adding more.

It’s about letting the good stuff last longer.

Mike Robinson, Researcher OG



Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3316151/