marijuana / cannabinoids

cannabinoids

naturally contained in cannabis

especially concentrated in the sticky, yellow resin secreted at the flowering top of the female plant

9-THC

the most important psychoactive compound

marijuana

dried cannabis and contains a mixture of leaves, small stems, and flowering tops

hashish

dried resin concentration consisting of trichomes (the plant part with the highest THC content)

20-60% THC

hash oil

alcoholic extraction from hashish

dab

includes other extractions from cannabis

can be >90% THC

smoking

most common route of administration

20-30% of the THC can be absorbed

vaporizing

route of administration including dabbing

inhalation of vapor

eating

route of administration with low absorption of THC due to first-pass metabolism in stomach and liver (but metabolic products are even stronger)

cannabis sativa (hemp)

one of the earliest cultivated non-food plants

among the strongest natural fibers

cannabidiol (CBD)

thought to have similar benefits as THC without strong psychoactive effects

synthetic THC

approved in US for treatment of nausea and anorexia in AIDS and cancer patients

CBD medication

approved in US for severe childhood epilepsy

11-hydroxy -THC

active metabolic product after oral consumption of delta 9-THC (first pass metabolism), more potent than 9-THC itself

11-nor-9-carboxy-THC

inactive metabolite used in drug tests

spice and K2

herbs laced with synthetic cannabinoids and sold under several names

marketed as “safe” legal alternatives to marijuana but not safe or legal (can cause intoxication, withdrawal, psychosis, and overdose death)

CB1 receptors

located on presynaptic terminals for retrograde signaling

anandamide

endocannabinoid that is a partial agonist for CB1 receptors

2-AG

endocannabinoid that is a full agonist for CB1 and CB2

endocannabinoids

lipid neurotransmitters and retrograde messengers

high lipid solubility

CB1

receptor expression mostly in brain and spinal cord

important for rewarding effects

most abundant GPCR in mammalian brain

CB2

receptor expression mostly in immune system

rimonabant

CB antagonist into hippocampus that blocks deficits in working memory

reward, feeding, and learning

behaviors that endocannabinoids are normally involved in

THC effects in mice

rewarding, increases feeding (pleasure), impairs learning/memory, hypoalgesic (reduced pain)

all blocked by CB1 antagonist

CB1 antagonist or knockout effects

reduces reward, decreases feeding (motivation), impairs extinction learning, hyperalgesic (enhanced pain)