Ch. 9 Marijuana [Cannabis]

What does it mean that marijuana is gastroprotective?

It reduces abnormally high gastric secretions and GI inflammation

The cannabis plant is also a source of ________-

hemp

When was the first known reference to marijuana's medicinal use?

in the pharmacopeia of traditional Chinese medicine

What is one problem with studying the effects of marijuana on intelligence?

It's hard to determine if the effects are short-term or long-term.

Anandamide

(AEA) is a shorter-acting and 4-10X less potent than THC - It is an endogenous cannabinoid that mimics THC and binds to cannabinoid receptors that scientists found.

Cannabis indica

A shorter, bushier plant with a lower THC to CBD ratio --- makes it less likely to induce anxiety and more likely to produce sedation and alleviate pain

Cannabis

A tall plant with serrated leaves. Also refers to any of the preparations or chemicals derived from the plant

Cannabis sativa

A tall, slender plant with light green serrated leaves that produces a higher THC to CBD ratio.

What is the average age among first-time users of marijuana?

19 - Marijuana is widely available among high school students

La Guardia Report

1944 -- found that marijuana was not addictive and that it produced no permanent negative effects to user or to society -- Anslinger rejected these findings

What is the duration of effect for marijuana?

2-8 hours

Most symptoms for marijuana withdrawal occurs...

24-48 hours after abstinence

What is success rate for treatment programs for cannabis dependence?

50% who enroll are successfully abstinent for 2 weeks, but among those... about half will resume marijuana use within the year -- this is similar to others who seek treatment for other substances

Cannabidiol (CBD)

A biologically active, yet non-psychoactive compound in cannabis

Amotivational syndrome

A condition of apathy, loss of motivation, and unwillingness to work associated with prolonged heavy use of marijuana

cannabinoid

A diverse group of physiologically active compounds found in cannabis and the human body that bind to cannabinoid receptors -- includes THC and CBD

What neurotransmitters are directly affected by Marijuana?

Anandamide and 2-AG

Why do cannabis plant growers usually separate the male and female plants?

Because THC production decreases once pollination occurs.

Why can marijuana help with weight loss?

CB 1 receptors are involved with insulin modulation in the pancreas and energy metabolism in the liver -- when these are blocked - less weight is gained even when the same food is consumed.

What 2 cannabinoid receptors did scientist discover in the rat brain?

CB1 and CB2

Where are CB2 receptors found?

CB2 receptors are found mostly in the spleen, tonsils, and cells of the immune system.

What does CBD do to the THC's negative effects?

CBD is nonpsychoactive, and has antioxidant, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, anti anxiety, antipsychotic, and neuroprotective properties that can modify some of THC's more negative effects

How does cannabis effect appetite? - in what brain structure?

Cannabis increase appetite, particularly for sweet food - by working on the hypothalamus (which contains many CB1 receptors)

Endocannabinoids

Endogenous substances such as anandamide and 2-AG that bind to the body's cannabinoid receptors

Marijuana is the ___________ most commonly used recreational drug in the world, surpassed only by.....

FOURTH most commonly used -- surpassed only by tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol

What happened when George H.W. Bush became president?

He promptly announced a major escalation of the war on drugs - massive wave of arrests

How has the tides turned for marijuana use since the 1990s?

Huge shift - use increased substantially. **legalization for medical use of marijuana **marijuana is legal in 29 U.S. states

Where are CB1 receptors present?

In all vertebrate species, predominate in the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM - as well as in the eyes, pancreas, liver, skin, uterus, and testes

What are the routes of administration for marijuana?

Ingested, smoked, inhaled with vaporizer

What happens when you drink alcohol when using marijuana?

It increase the concentration of THC in the blood, which in part explaines the increaed impairment seen when marijuana and alcohol are combined.

In the United States, which drug is the most commonly used illicit drug?

Marijuana

Give some examples in how Marijuana's effects can be more variable than other kinds of drugs.

Marijuana can be - stimulating or sedating - some users become grumpy, some gleeful, some groggy, some giggly...

How has having 2 different kinds of plants for marijuana have ramification in marijuana laws?

Most marijuana laws only mention Cannabis sativa -- some defendants have argued that they are not guilty of drug offenses because they had Cannabis indica

What did the Shafer Commission find?

Much to Nixon's dismay - no evidence that marijuana causes physical or psychological harm, harsh withdrawal, birth defects, brain damage, a compulsion to use hard drugs, or death resulting solely from marijuana intoxication.

phytocannabinoids

Naturally occurring plant compounds, such as THC and CBD, which bind to the body's cannabinoid receptors

Shafer Commission

Nixon asked the Shafter Commission to study marijuana -- it was the most comprehensive review of cannabis that had ever been produced by the federal government

What kind of drug is Marijuana?

Part stimulant, sedative, analegesic, and hallucinogen

What happened to the legalization of marijuana under President Clinton?

President Clinton further escalated the war on drugs - the number of jail sentences was 800% higher -- signed legislation that cut off federal aid to student marijuana offenders

With the election of Ronald Reagan as President, what happened to the legalization of marijuana?

Reagan described marijuana as "probably the most dangerous drug in the United States" and called for a "full scale anti-drug mobilization"

Legalization

Removal of criminal penalties. Legalization allows for full taxation and regulation. Alcohol and tobacco are two examples of legal drugs

What schedule drug is Marijuana?

Schedule I

How can Spice be dangerous?

Spice binds more fully to brain cannabinoid receptors than dose THC and may produce more intense effects - IN RESULT = Spice produces more anxiety, agitation, panic, paranoia, and psychosis than marijuana

Which of the phytocannabinoids is the most psychoactive and the most abundant in the flowering heads?

THC

What is Marijuana's therapeutic index? What has it been called according to the DEA's Administrative Law Judge?

TI = at least 1,000 (as high as 40,000) ** In its natural form, marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known

Marijuana

The leaves and flowers of the female cannabis plant that are dried and shredded

Hemp

The nonpsychoactive fiber of the cannabis plant

Decriminalization

To remove or reduce the criminal and/or monetary penalties associated with an action, although the underlying law remains

Bong

a filtration device generally used for smoking marijuana

joints

a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette

Dronabinol (Marinol)

a synthetic THC pill approved to raise appetite and diminish nausea and vomiting in cancer and AIDS patients

Administering THC at the same time as NSAIDs may also...

alleviate the memory and learning problems triggered by THC

In 1962, What did President Kennedy do after he fired Harry Anslinger? What happened to the attitudes toward marijuana?

authorized a committee to study America's drug problem -- attitudes about marijuana became more lenient (drug did not lead to insanity, homicide, and moral deterioration)

Why is marijuana withdrawal not as severe as compared with other drugs?

because THC is easily stored in fat tissue an dis slowly released voer time.

Marijuana works by means of ____________, which bind to ________________ receptors in the body.

by means of cannabinoids, which bind to cannabinoid receptors in the body.

Spice (K2)

commercially available psychoactive product, containing one or more synthetic cannabinoids - sprayed onto dried, shredded plant material and then smoked or eaten

Cannabis + barbiturates, benzodiazepines, alcohol, and other sedatives results in what?

enhances the sleep-inducing effects

What are some legal issues surrounding marijuana use?

inconsistent and ambiguous - drug penalties are not administered equally - high percentage of population in prison due to drug arrests - laws are inconsistent - in some states, possession is a misdemeanor

What is the research surrounding marijuana on intelligence?

inconsistent findings

smoking marijuana on a regular basis is associated with what?

increased risk of chronic cough and bronchitis.

What are some withdrawal symptoms of Marijuana?

irritability, restlessness, decreased appetite, weight loss, abnormal sleep

What method do smokers use to smoke marijuana?

joints, pipes, bongs

Chronic users are less responsive to what effects of marijuana?

less responsive to marijuana's hypothermic, cardiovascular, analgesic, locomotor, and immune effects - but not to its memory effects

Does THC and its metabolites have long or short half lives?

long - some metabolites may remain in the body for many days or for weeks after use.

Why does ingesting marijuana carry a higher risk of accidental overconsumption?

long onset of action and inconsistent absorption

What is the most common ROA for marijuana?

most commonly smoked or ingested

Is ingesting marijuana an effective means of enhancing absorption from the GI tract?

no - they are highly lipid soluble and don't dissolve well in digestive fluid - cannabis is commonly baked into food - liver metabolizes marijuana before it enters the brain - so less THC gets to the brain

Orally administered cannabis vs. smoking?

orally administered cannabis has a delay in onset but last longer than smoking - may last up to 12 hours

Why is vaporizing marijuana popular?

produces much less tar than smoking

What does treatment for cannabis dependence involve?

psychological approaches - - strengthen motivation to why quit - focus on skills relevant to quitting - avoid situations that interfere with abstinence

Does marijuana today generally have a higher or lower THC content?

significantly higher - users can smoke less to obtain the same effect, but higher THC also increases the risk of adverse reactions such as panic attacks.

What happens when the cannabis female plant is not pollinated?

the female plant continues to produce THC within the resin of the flowers

Harry Anslinger

the first director of the FBN (Federal Bureau of Narcotics) -- launched huge campaign against marijuana -- named it the "most violence causing drug.."

Unlike withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines..... marijuana withdrawal....

there is no major medical or psychiatric consequences from cannabis withdrawal

What does it mean that cannabinoids are immunomodulators?

they increase some immune responses and decrease others - modulate immune reactions in the brain and in the periphery - influence T cells - play a role in inflammation

What are the 3 disadvantages to Dronabinol (Marinol)?

(1) When marijuana is ingested - it has potential to actually increase nausea (2) may vomit out pill before it has a chance to work (3) the dose, onset, and duration of action are harder to control in an orally administered pill than with smoking (4) dronabinol only has THC - no synergistic effects of the organic form

How does aging of the plant effect the different chemicals that predominate?

* In young plant = CBDA predominates * aging --> CBDA converts to CBD * CBD converts to THC as the plant begins to flower

What brain structures does marijuana particularly effect?

* hippocampus (high concentrations) - important for formation of new memories * cerebellum and basal ganglia - help control and regulate movement and coordination * hypothalamus - modulate reward, emotions, hunger, sex, and sleep * cortex - affect perception and cognition * fairly rare in the brainstem!

With chronic exposure to THC what happens to the activity in the enzymes that metabolize THC and the number of CB1 receptors?

* increased activity in the enzymes that metabolize THC * decrease in the number of CB1 receptors

Marijuana in the 17th-18th Century America?

- George Washington grew hemp - marijuana was legal and widely available - anyone could walk into a pharmacy to purchase it

If the cannabis plant is harvested after it matures past its peak, what happens?

- THC is converted to other cannabionoids - produce a heavier, more sedating experience

How long does THC remain in the brain compared to other organs?

- THC is gone from the brain within a few hours - THC accumulates in the lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, adipose, and testes. -- this is bc they are lipid soluble

Acute effects of marijuana on the brain

- affected appetite, sex, and sleep - inhibited memory encoding and retrieval - impaired coordination - enhanced sensory perception - time seems long and drawn out - Analgesia

What are potential adverse effects of marijuana

- anxiety, paranoia - increase heart rate makes it dangerous for those with heart conditions - etc.

Marijuana's effects are dependent on.... ?

- dose - particular strain's potency - ratio of THC to CBD - user's previous experience - expectations, mood - environment marijuana was used.

What are some potential therapeutic benefits of marijuana?

- effective for treating chronic pain, reducing nausea and vomiting, stimulating hunger, and alleviating stiffness - effective against epilepsy, glaucoma, cancer stroke, Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and depression

acute effects of marijuana in the cardiovascular?

- elevated heart rate - elevated blood pressure - dilated blood vessels to the skin and eye.

At low and moderate doses of marijuana, what are some behavioral and psychological effects?

- emotional well-being, euphoria, talkativeness, relaxation, dreaminess, lethargy - sensory perceptions are magnified - learning, memory, and concentration are impaired - physical and emotional closeness but also anxiety and paranoia can occur

If cannabis plants are harvested at their peak floral state, what happens?

- high ratio of THC to CBD - more stimulating and mental high

How does climate affect the way Cannabis sativa is grown?

- hot, dry climate = produces a plant with weaker fiber and more psychoactive resin - cooler, humid conditions = make less resin and more durable fiber

Where does metabolism begin if its inhaled and if its ingested? Where does most metabolism occur?

- if inhaled - begins in the lungs - if ingested - begins in the stomach ** Most metabolism occurs in the liver, where marijuana is ingested by the cytochrome P450 System

acute effects of marijuana on the reproductive system

- involved in sperm production, fertilization, transport of the fertilized egg in the Fallopian tube, implantation of the egg in the uterus, development of the fetus, and initiation of suckling in newborns - may decrease sperm count and cause irregular menstrual cycles - inconsistent effects on libido

Marijuana and Dependence

- marijuana users can become depended, though less readily than other drugs and less severe - marijuana dependence is similar to that of others drugs - unable to stop and affects parts of their life, etc.

In regards to the prevalence of marijuana use.... how does it differ by gender and race?

- men are more likely to use than women - American Indians and Alaska natives report highest rates of marijuana use; followed by = blacks, whites, and Hispanics (Asians report lowest use)

According to a national poll, who are more likely to approve the legalization of marijuana?

- men more than women - Blacks and Whites more than Hispanics - Democrats and Independents more than Republicans - Younger adults more than older adults

When does marijuana withdrawal symptoms peak and last?

- peaks = 4-6 days - lasts = 1-3 wks

Cannabis that is high in THC and low in CBD can disrupt what in the brain?

- short-term memory encoding and retrieval - affects neuronal activity in hippocampus

The amount of THC varies with what variables?

- type of cannabis plant - growing conditions - timing of harvest - storage - age of the plant

Gateway drug

A drug whose use is thought to lead to the use of a harder drug

What is hemp?

A high-yield, low-maintenance crop that can flourish in a wide range of soil types, altitudes, and weather conditions, and is adaptable under stress -- selectively bred to increase its fiber content and is a good source of fiber, fuel, and food

THC

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive substance in cannabis

2-AG

It was a second and more abundant endogenous cannabinoid that was found - which binds both to CB1 and CB2 receptors

In the 20th century, early marijuana laws stemmed from....

fear and hostility toward foreigners rather than from the properties of the drug itself -- African Americans and Mexican immigrants were the scapegoat

What does the female cannabis plant produce?

flower clusters with a sticky, psychoactive resin that protects the flower from excessive heat and catches the pollen produced by male plants

how much CBD and THC does hemp contain?

hemp contains high amounts of CBD and only trace amounts of THC - therefore not psychoactive

Some argue that the adverse consequences of marijuana use comes from the collateral effects of use, and not from the drug itself. Give some examples.

illegality of marijuana >> anxiety, expense, exposure to criminal prosecution

What happens when marijuana is administered at the same time as morphine, codeine, or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)?

marijuana can increase the analgesic effect of these drugs

Regular use of marijuana will cause what kind of tolerance?

metabolic, cellular, and behavioral tolerance