As lawmakers continue to debate the legalization of medical marijuana, biologists say science supports the medicinal value of pot, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Scientists have identified that marijuana activates the on-off switches in the body that can affect certain cells, including those that affect motion, memory, appetite and judgment, the Times reports.
Dubbed “cannabinoid receptors,” these signals alert the body to danger during times of stress, but need to be calmed down in order not to damage themselves, reports the Times.
Marijuana has been shown to stimulate the cannabinoid receptors and possibly regulate their signaling.