What Is the Endocannabinoid System?
A System You Were Born With
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the body's most far-reaching regulatory networks — and one of the least talked about. Discovered in the early 1990s during research into how cannabinoids interact with the body, the ECS is now understood to play a significant role in maintaining internal balance across multiple physiological processes. Researchers describe this balance as homeostasis: the body's ongoing effort to keep itself stable regardless of external change.
How It Works
The ECS operates through a network of receptors, endogenous cannabinoids (called endocannabinoids), and the enzymes that build and break them down. Two primary receptors form its backbone:
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CB1 receptors — concentrated in the brain and central nervous system, associated with cognition, movement, and emotional processing
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CB2 receptors — found predominantly in immune tissues, relevant to the body's inflammatory and immune responses; also present in the skin
Plant-derived cannabinoids — phytocannabinoids like CBD, CBG, CBN, and CBDA — interact with or influence the ECS in various ways. Research into exactly how is ongoing, but the ECS itself is now well-established science, not fringe theory.
Why It Matters for Midori
Understanding the ECS shapes how Midori approaches every formulation. By selecting cannabinoids based on their distinct mechanisms of interaction with this system, every product is built with intention — designed to complement the body's own regulatory architecture rather than work around it.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Our Extracts
Full Spectrum Oil is a whole-plant hemp extract that preserves the complete cannabinoid profile — CBD, CBG, CBN, CBDA, and trace cannabinoids — along with terpenes and up to 0.3% THC. It's the extract most associated with the entourage effect, the idea that hemp's compounds work better together than in isolation. Note: FSO products carry a risk of returning a positive drug test result.
CBD isolate is hemp's purest form — a crystalline powder refined to a single compound at 99%+ purity, with all other cannabinoids and terpenes removed. Isolates only reach their full potential when paired with other cannabinoids and terpenes, which is why Midori uses them as building blocks rather than a finished ingredient.
Broad spectrum CBD contains multiple cannabinoids and terpenes but has been refined to remove detectable THC. Rather than using a pre-made broad spectrum extract, Midori builds its own — combining individual cannabinoid isolates at precise ratios to create what we call the Midori Broad Spectrum. This approach lets us specify the exact milligram amount of each cannabinoid in every formula, rather than working from an estimate. Each blend is then enhanced with a curated selection of plant-derived terpenes to deepen the entourage effect and define each product's botanical character.
The entourage effect is the theory that hemp's cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytochemicals work more effectively together than any single compound does in isolation. Research is ongoing, but it's the foundation of Midori's formulation philosophy — using precisely built broad spectrum blends and curated terpene profiles to preserve the plant's full botanical complexity.
Terpenes are the naturally occurring aromatic compounds that give plants their distinctive scents — hemp contains over 100, including linalool, myrcene, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene. Beyond their sensory role, terpenes are thought to interact with the endocannabinoid system and influence how cannabinoids are experienced. Midori selects and blends specific plant-derived terpenes into each formulation to support its intended character.
Our Cannabinoids
Cannabigerol (CBG) is the biosynthetic precursor to CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids — making it relatively rare in finished extracts. It interacts with the endocannabinoid system through a distinct mechanism from CBD, and Midori incorporates it into select formulations to broaden the cannabinoid profile for a more complete botanical experience.
Cannabinol (CBN) is a mildly active cannabinoid that forms as THC oxidizes in the hemp plant over time. It's best known for its association with evening wellness routines, and Midori includes it in restorative formulations alongside chamomile, passionflower, and a curated nighttime terpene blend.
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is the raw, unheated precursor to CBD found in fresh hemp — it converts to CBD through decarboxylation. CBDA interacts with serotonin receptors and COX-2 enzymes through mechanisms distinct from CBD, and Midori uses it in select formulations to keep the extract closer to the plant's native chemistry.
Researchers are actively studying CBD's interaction with the endocannabinoid system, a regulatory network involved in processes including sleep, mood, appetite, skin balance, and the body's response to physical stress. Many people incorporate CBD into daily wellness routines for its botanical properties and the sense of balance they associate with consistent use. Midori products are designed to support everyday wellness — not to treat any medical condition.
Our Products & Formulations
Every Midori formula is built on the Midori Broad Spectrum — a proprietary blend of individual cannabinoid isolates (CBD, CBG, CBN, and CBDA depending on the formula) combined at precise, performance-driven ratios. Because we start from isolates rather than a pre-blended extract, we can guarantee the exact milligram amount of each cannabinoid in every product. This foundation is then elevated with plant-derived terpenes and a curated set of functional botanicals, each chosen for their complementary role in the formula. Every ingredient has a purpose; nothing is decorative.
Topicals are applied directly to the skin, where cannabinoids interact with local receptors without entering the bloodstream in meaningful amounts — making them well-suited for targeted use. Ingestibles are processed through the digestive system and work systemically, with a slower onset and longer duration. Many people use both as complementary parts of a broader wellness routine.
Yes. Midori's formulations contain no animal-derived ingredients and are never tested on animals. For full ingredient information, refer to the INCI list on each product page.
Yes — Midori products are designed to integrate into an existing routine, and our botanical actives are well-established in professional formulation. If you take prescription medications or have specific skin sensitivities, consult a healthcare professional before adding new actives. A patch test is always advisable for reactive skin.
Dosing & How to Use
There's no universal CBD dose — the right amount depends on body weight, metabolism, and the specific product and concentration. Start low, observe your response over several days, and adjust incrementally.
For most adults new to CBD ingestibles, 25 –50mg per day is a common starting point, taken consistently at the same time each day. If you don't notice a response after five to seven days, increase gradually. Because CBD accumulates with regular use, allow at least two weeks before assessing whether a dose is right for you.
For ingestibles, once or twice daily — morning and evening — is the most common approach, helping maintain a steady level in the system. Topicals can be applied as needed to the area of focus at any time of day.
Topicals typically produce a localized effect within 15–45 minutes of application. Ingestibles generally take 30 minutes to 1 hour to take effect, with results lasting four to six hours or longer. Longer-term effects from consistent use are typically observed over weeks, as cannabinoids accumulate in the body's lipid-rich tissues.
Safety & Testing
Yes. All Midori products are tested by independent, accredited laboratories for cannabinoid content, THC levels, and contaminants including pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbial impurities. Certificates of Analysis (COAs) can be found in the About Us drop down.
Midori's broad spectrum extracts are processed to bring THC to non-detectable levels, and standard drug tests screen for THC metabolites — not CBD. That said, no hemp-derived product can guarantee a negative result; individual factors like frequency of use and body composition affect outcomes. If you're subject to regular testing, review the product COA and consult your testing administrator before use.