Lecture 6: CANNABIS
Page 1: Cannabis Sativa
Title: Cannabis Sativa #16
Page 2: Famous Marijuana Smokers
Overview of notable individuals known for cannabis use.
Page 3: History
First use of cannabis: around 10,000 years ago.
Early medicinal uses: documented in China.
Introduction of hashish: 10th century.
Hemp as a widely growing plant across the globe.
Page 4: Historical Legislation
1619: Jamestown Colony, Virginia enacts law mandating farmers to grow hemp.
Cannabis not initially used as a recreational drug.
Evidence of first woven fabric from hemp: 7000-8000 B.C.
Page 5: Henry Anslinger's View
Henry Anslinger, prominent figure, labeled marijuana as:
An addictive drug causing insanity, criminality, and death.
The most violence-inducing drug in history.
Page 6: Canadian Legal History
First ban of marijuana in Canada: 1923, under the Opium and Drug Act.
1997: Marijuana falls under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
October 17, 2018: Cannabis legalized in Canada for legal age individuals with strict regulations.
Page 7: Cannabinoids
Marijuana is not a single drug; it's a complex of 400 chemicals, with 60 specific to cannabis.
Key cannabinoids include:
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Cannabinol
Cannabidiol (CBD)
Page 8: Pharmacokinetics - Administration
Common methods of administration:
Smoking a joint (10 - 20mg THC).
Chewing leaves, drinks, or food.
Oral THC is approximately 1/3 as potent as smoked THC.
Page 9: User Preferences in Canada
Marijuana usage statistics among Canadians:
70% smoke cannabis.
52% consume through food.
31% use vaping devices.
18% ingest cannabis oil.
16% drink it.
7% apply it to the skin.
Page 10: Pharmacokinetics - Absorption
Characterized by rapid absorption:
Highly lipid-soluble.
Absorbs quickly through lungs when smoked.
Peak concentration achieved within 30-60 minutes.
Duration of drug effects: 2 - 4 hours.
Page 11: Pharmacokinetics - Distribution
Cannabis distributes rapidly in the body:
Highly lipid-soluble and crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
Can penetrate the placental barrier.
THC accumulates in various organ tissues.
Page 12: Effects on Pregnancy
Consequences of crossing the placental barrier include:
Lower birth weights.
Shorter body lengths.
Increased risk of premature birth.
Higher risk of childhood cancer.
Attention deficits, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in children.
Page 13: Pharmacokinetics - Metabolization
Metabolization occurs primarily in the liver, featuring:
Stages of chemical transformation leading to over 30 different metabolites.
Notable metabolite: 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC.
Page 14: Pharmacokinetics - Excretion
Characterized by a very slow excretion rate:
Via feces and urine.
THC half-life: several days.
Some metabolites can persist for at least 30 days.
Page 15: Pharmacodynamics
THC effects on neurotransmitters:
Decreases acetylcholine (ACh) turnover, especially in the hippocampus.
Results in reduced ACh activity, increased serotonin (5-HT) activity, and a decrease in GABA activity and glutamate release.
Page 16: Cannabinoid Receptors Discovery
Cannabis interacts with specific receptors:
CB1: predominantly located in the brain.
CB2: primarily found in the immune system.
Page 17: Discovery of Receptors
Observations from cannabis use:
Small doses lead to significant rapid effects.
Comparison of synthetic cannabis: 100 times more potent than natural forms.
Page 18: Receptor Location
Distribution of cannabinoid receptors in the brain includes:
Cerebral cortex.
Hippocampus.
Hypothalamus.
Amygdala.
Basal Ganglia.
Cerebellum.
Page 19: Endocannabinoids
Presence of natural forms of THC in the brain:
Anandamide (labeled "internal bliss") and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG).
Page 20: Endocannabinoid Function
Retrograde neurotransmitter effects:
Produces both excitatory and inhibitory effects on neurons (GABA & Glutamate).
Involvement in lipid precursors and various neurotransmitter functions influencing cannabinoids.
Page 21: User Demographics
Canadian Cannabis Survey 2022 results:
27% of individuals aged 16 or older used marijuana in the past year.
Notable increase of 25% from the previous survey.
Page 22: User Demographics by Age and Sex
Past 12-month cannabis usage by demographic:
Distinct increases among age groups from 2021 to 2022
Figures indicating notable differences in usage rates across genders and age ranges.
Page 23: Frequency of Use
Frequency of cannabis use over the past year:
Statistics illustrating the changes between 2021 and 2022 across various frequency categories.
Page 24: Medical Uses of Cannabis
Therapeutic applications include:
Treatment of glaucoma: reduces intraocular pressure.
Treatment of asthma: alleviates pressure in the lungs.
Page 25: Further Medical Uses
Additional therapeutic uses involve:
Treatment for nausea and vomiting, especially beneficial during chemotherapy.
Treatment for cachexia: stimulates appetite.
Page 26: Physiological Effects
Physical effects of cannabis usage:
Bloodshot eyes due to vasodilation.
Increased heart rate and pulse.
Slight elevation in blood pressure.
Possible sleep disturbances.
Page 27: Acute Behavioral Effects
Impacts on behavior include:
Reduced hand-eye coordination.
Slower reaction times.
Decreased short-term memory functionality.
General decline in motor activity and the perception of time.
Page 28: Long-Term Effects
Long-term impacts of cannabis may involve:
Implications for respiratory health.
Temporary impotence in men and reduced libido in women.
Discrepancies in reproductive processes for all genders.
Tolerance development denoted by J Curve.
Page 29: User Perceptions
Insights from past 12 months: effects of cannabis use:
Perceived benefits and drawbacks across various aspects of life: friendships, physical health, mental health, home life, quality of life, work performance.
Page 30: Driving Under Influence
Statistics on driving behavior:
Frequency of driving within 2 hours of cannabis use - segmented by demographics.
Page 31: Marijuana & Mental Health
Interplay between marijuana use and mental health:
Co-occurrence of depressive symptoms with cannabis use.
Evidence suggests, individuals with depression are likelier to use cannabis, rather than vice versa.
Studies supporting ambiguous associations in these correlations.
Page 32: Amotivation Syndrome
Defining characteristics of Amotivation Syndrome:
Lack of motivation, low energy, little planning, lack of goals, lethargy, diminished gratification delay.
Page 33: Link Between Cannabis and Amotivation
Research findings: use of cannabis may predict lower self-efficacy over time, controlling for multiple variables.
Page 34: Neuroscience of Motivation
Neural correlates in Amotivation:
Involvement of the prefrontal cortex, brain's reward center, nucleus accumbens, and VTA (ventral tegmental area) in task difficulty and motivation.