Chapter 15: Cannabis

how did Europeans become exposed to psychological effects of Cannabis

trade routes, colonization, and the introduction of hemp for industrial use, which led to its recreational and medicinal applications.

legal status of marijuana since 1937

has undergone significant changes, with various states legalizing its use for medicinal and recreational purposes, while it remains illegal federally in the United States.

how was marijuana being described in years leading up to 1937 Marijuana Tax Act

as a dangerous substance linked to crime and moral decline, often associated with minority groups and used as a scapegoat for social issues; “Assassin of the Youth”

two most consistent physiological effects of marijuana

increase HR and reddening of the eyes

effects of marijuana on driving ability

can impair motor skills, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the risk of accidents.

effects of marijuana on lungs and immune system

can include respiratory issues such as chronic bronchitis and impaired immune response due to the inhalation of smoke.

effects of marijuana on sperm motility

can lead to decreased sperm motility and altered sperm morphology, potentially affecting fertility.

abuse potential of marijuana

a risk of developing dependence, particularly in heavy users, with potential withdrawal symptoms.

hashish

concentrated resin from cannabis plant

sinsemilla

“without seeds” a method of growing more potent marijuana that maximizes THC content by eliminating male plants.

anencephaly

a condition, at birth, in which major portions of the brain, skull, and scalp are absent

anandamide

a chemical isolated from brain tissue that has marijuana-like properties

CBD

cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is being tested to treat several illnesses, including epilepsy

intraocular pressure

fluid pressure inside the eye

antiemetic

a drugs used to reduce nausea and vomiting

dronabinol

the generic name for prescription THC in oil in a gelatin capsule, used as an antiemetic

Marinol

brand name for dronabinol

neuropathic pain

a chronic condition that leads to persistent pain symptoms

cannabis

many active chemicals but delta-9-THC is the most active

can take up to _ for THC elimination

several weeks

What are the major differences between C. sativa and C. indica?

Cannabis sativa: originated in Asia, now grown worldwide and used for its fivers,, which hemp rope is made, tall plant, moderate in THC
Cannabis indica: in India, grown for its psychoactive resins and is cultivated in many areas of world, short plant, high in THC

How are hashish and sinsemilla produced?

hashish is substance from resin
sinsemilla is method of growing more potent marijuana; dried flowering tops of plants with pistillate flowers
The male plants are removed from the field before the female plants can become pollinated and prevent their energy in seed production.

What were the general conclusions of the 1944 LaGuardia Commission?

That in an effective does it does impair intellectual functioning in general, but it does not change the basic personality structure of the individual. It induces self-confidence, but more through thought, not performance. Possible diminution in physical activity. Those who had been smoking marijuana for a period of years showed no mental or physical deterioration due to marijuana.
These findings were not received well.

When and where was the earliest recorded medical use of cannabis?

n pharmacy book written in 2737 BC by Chinese emperor Shen Nung referring to euphoriant effects of cannabis, "Liberator of sin".

What is meant by "cannabinoid", and about how many are there in Cannabis? What is the cannabinoid found in brain tissue?

Over 400 chemicals and about 60 are unique to cannabis.

How is the action of THC in the brain terminated after about 30 minutes, when the half-life of metabolism is much longer than that?

When smoked, THC is rapidly absorbed into the blood and first distributed to the brain, then redistributed to the rest of the boy, so that within 30 minutes much is gone from the brain.

What two medical uses have been approved by the FDA for dronabinol?

It helped cancer chemotherapy patients gain weight by reducing nausea and vomiting and it stimulated appetite in AIDS patients, glaucoma

What evidence suggests that attitudes about the regulation of marijuana have changed?

increasing amount of research, citizens viewing it to be recreationally used, money spent on marijuana would reduce illicit drug trades

what is the potency of marijuana cigarettes made from flowering tops?

20% THCwha

what is the potency of marijuana cigarettes from leaves?

as little as 1% THC

hashish preparation

most potent, prepared by scraping or breaking off the tiny hairlike trichomes and packing them togher, with up to 65% THC by weight, relatively rare in US

sinsemilla preparations

a method of growing more potent marijuan by removing male plants

1920s Marijuana history

series of newspaper articles linked marijuana and crime, public interest increased

msot early regulation efforts were based on

concerns about use and criminal behavior (not based on direct evidence)

In 1969, US Supreme Court declared Marijuana tax act…

unconstitutional

Use of marijuana _ throughout the 1950s to 1960s

increased

Chemistry of cannabis

more than 400 chemicals are present, 70 are cannabinoids

delta-9-THC

most pharmocologically active cannabinioid, synthesized in 1964

11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC

major active metabolite

THC half life

19 hours

Pharmocology - after smoking

THC is rapidly absorbed into the blood and travels to brain, peak mood-altering and cardiovascular effects occur within 5-10 minutes

Pharmocology - oral administration

absorbed more slowly, peak effects after about 60-90 minutes

how long does it take for complete elimination of THC and its metabolites?

2-3 weeks

what two receptors does THC bind to?

CB1 and CB2

CB1 receptor

found throughout the body, but primarily in the brain

high density found in basal ganglia and cerebellium (movement coordination), hippocampus (memory), cerebral cortex (higher cognitive functions), and nucleus accumbens (reward)

CB2 receptors

found mainly outside the brain in immune cells, suggests that cannaboids play a role in modulation of immune system

cardiovascular effects of THC

increases heart rate in a dose-dependent fashion

other physiological effects

reddening of eyes, dry mouth/throat, pulmonary effects

acute pulmonary effects

few effects on breathing

chronic pulmonary effects

clinically significant impairment of pulmonary function

abuse potential for oral THC

modest at best

subjective effects

euphoria, mellowness, hunger, stimulation, infrequent users can feel more intense effects, food intake significantly increases by marijuana or oral THC

behavioral effects

verbal exchanges decrease, nonverbal social interactions increase

cognitive effects in infrequent users

slowed cognitive processing, disrupted short-term memory, disrupted inhibitory control, loss of sustained concentration or vigilance, disrupted visuspatial processing

cognitive effects in frequent users

slowed cognitive processing, may be tolerant to cognitive effects

epidiolex

Used to treat rare and catastrophic forms of childhood-onset epilepsy

withdrawal symptoms of THC include

anxiety, irritability, disrupted sleep, and decreased food intake

marijuana madness

Some studies have found a correlation between marijuana use and psychotic symptoms

decriminalization

generally means certain, small, personal consumption amont are a civil or local infraction but not a state crime

legalization

remove criminal penalities from production, possession, sale and usage of marijuana