Cannabis

Question 1

Cannabis

Answer 1

plant with many bioactive compounds including THC and CBD
contains photocannabinoids + non-cannabinoid constituents

Question 2

THC

Answer 2

tetrahydrocannabinol - primary psychoactive compound

Question 3

CBD

Answer 3

cannabidol

Question 4

cannabinoids

Answer 4

chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors
THC, CBD, endogenous, synthetic

Question 5

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 5

drug interactions with the body

Question 6

absorption

Answer 6

smoking = 25% bioavailability (rapid from lungs to brain)
ingestion = 6% bioavailability (2-6 hours for peak)

Question 7

distribution

Answer 7

THC - lipophilic = rapid distribution to tissues with high blood flow, sticks around in fat tissue
readily crosses blood brain barrier

Question 8

metabolism

Answer 8

active THC → 11-OH-THC (active)→ THC-COOH (inactive)
enzymes: cytochrome P450 2C9

Question 9

excretion

Answer 9

80-90% in 5 days (primarily as metabolites)
chronic smokers - can detect in urine for weeks

Question 10

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 10

Drug interaction with receptors

Question 11

cannabinoid receptors

Answer 11

Gi GPCRs
inhibit adenylate cyclase = decrease cAMP = inhibit Ca2+ = inhibition of NT release

Question 12

CB1

Answer 12

among most abundant GPCRs
brain, peripheral organs, peripheral nerves
THC is a partial agonist at CB1
CBD is a negative allosteric modulator at CB1

Question 13

CB2

Answer 13

immune cells

Question 14

Effects of THC

Answer 14

euphoria, relaxation, disinhibition, changes in perception, vasodilation, increase pulse
therapeutic: decrease nausea and intra-ocular pressure, increase appetite, chronic pain relief
adverse: anxiety, prenatal development, lung cancer, driving (decrease reaction time), psychosis, dependence

Question 15

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Answer 15

high specificity = less off-target side effects - easier dosing
nausea/vomiting, appetite loss, weight loss (cancer/HIV)

Question 16

Nabilone + Dronabinol

Answer 16

partial agonists at CB1
taken orally
less side effects than cannabis

Question 17

Nabiximols

Answer 17

botanical drug - sublingual spray
1:1 THC and cannabinol

Question 18

Rimonabant

Answer 18

inverse agonist at CB1
block binding of endogenous cannabinoids

Question 19

Endogenous Cannabinoids

Answer 19

molecules our bodies make that bind to cannabinoid receptors
mediate mood, feeding, motor function

Question 20

Anandamide (AEA) + 2-arachinoyl glycerol (2-AG)

Answer 20

made from phospholipid bilayer of cell membrane
retrograde neurotransmitters
synthesized on demand
increase in Ca2+ = synthesis of AEA + 2-AG = decreased release of other transmitters
inactivated and cleared from synapse by FAAH or MAGL
shut off firing in response to active neuron