Marijuana and Cannabinoids

Marijuana is from

hemp plants called phytocannabinoids

The psychoactive compound found in marijuana

(delta)9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

hashish

concentrated resin

dabs

extracted from cannabis using butane and vaped

compounds found exclusivly in cannabis

• (delta)9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

  • Main psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis

• Cannabidiol (CBD)

  • Not psychoactive but may be medicinally relevant

  • Anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nausea effects

  • Some CBD products are approved for childhood seizure disorders

• Cannabinol (CBN)

  • Primary degradation (breakdown) product of THC

  • Low in fresh cannabis but increases as it is stored due to exposure to oxygen and light

  • Low in fresh cannabis, but increases as it is stored due to exposure to oxygen and light

  • Minimal psychoactive activity

psysiological effects

• Bloodshot eyes

• Dry mouth

• Hunger

• Increased heart rate

• Increased blood flow

• Muscle relaxation

• Drowsiness

behavioral/psychological effects

• relaxation/stress relief

• euphoria/disinhibition

  • Increased laughter

• Impaired reaction time (longer to react)

  • Stoned driving is dangerous

• Alterations of perception

  • Time slows

First-time use and high doses can lead to adverse psychosis-like symptoms

• Depersonalization

• Derealization (feeling the world is unreal)

• Paranoia and agitation

• Hallucinations

depersonalization

feeling separated from self

Derealization

feeling the world is unreal

endocannabinoids

• Cannabinoid receptor agonists that are synthesized by the body

  • The endogenous cannabinoids were discovered after the CB1 receptor, which was discovered decades after its ligand, THC, was identified

  • function as a retrograde messenger

anandamide and 2-AG

lipid soluble; can’t be stored in vesicles; synthesized and released when needed, triggered by a rise in intracellular Ca2+

• 2-AG is a full agonist at CB1 and CB2

• Anandamide is a partial agonist

THC increases…

the rewarding properties of food

Cannabinoids work on GABAergic neurons in the…

VTA

negative effects on cognition

The CB1 receptor impairs memory

cannabis tolerance is

dose dependent

amotivational syndrome

Apathy, aimlessness, decreased motivation, lack of planning, decreased productivity

Endocannabinoids enhance the

incentive motivational properties of food and food-mediated reward

CB1 antagonists may be useful in treating

obesity

only CB1 is found in the brain; especially abundant in

• Basal ganglia (coordinated movement and motivation)

• Cerebellum (motor control)

• Hippocampus (learning and memory)

respoinsible for: psychoactive effects, mood, memory, and pain modulation

CB2 is located primarly in…

the periphery and has a role in immune response

are associated with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects without producing psychoactive effects

retrograde messengers

• They can produce the release of many types of neurotransmitters, including glutamate, GABA, and monoamines

rimonabant

The first CB1 antagonist approved for such use in Europe had to be taken off the market

• Caused depression and suicidal thoughts in too many patients (up to 10% and 1%)

Pain perception: genetically altered mice that lack CB1 and CB2 receptors demonstrate hyperalgesia (increased pain sensitivity)

increased pain sensitivity 

cannabidol (CBD)

similar structure to THC; not intoxicating or dependence-producing

CBD is NOT a cannabinoid receptor

agonist

synthetic cannabinoids

marinol (dronabinol)

cesamet (nabilone

marinol (dronabinol)

• Schedule III drug

• Synthetic delta 9-THC (same structure)

• Approved in the US to treat

  • Anorexia associated with weight loss in AIDS patients

  • Nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy in cancer patients

Cesamet (nabilone)

• Schedule II drug

• Similar structure to THC

• Approved in the US to treat some conditions as Marinol