Exam 2 Flashcards
Which plant does marijuana come from?
Hemp plant
What are the 2 different marijuana strains (from the plant)?
Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica
What is the main difference between the 2 different marijuana strains?
They produce different types of highs because they have different chemicals in them
What is a cannabinoid?
A type of chemical in marijuana.
What is a psychoactive cannabinoid?
The chemicals in the plant that produce psychoactive effects
How many psychoactive chemicals are there in marijuana?
60-85
How many non-psychoactive chemicals are there in marijuana?
400-500
What is the most important non psychoactive cannabinoid?
Cannabidiol (CBD)
What happens if we mix CBD (non-psychoactive) with THC (psychoactive)
When a pure CBD molecule is placed with other products, it will not produce psychoactive effects
What other cannabinoid is similar to cannabidiol (CBD)?
Cannabigerol
Where does 420 come from?
In 1971, a group of smokers met at 4:20pm after school and ever since then, 420 was used as code for weed.
How should we describe cannabis sativa’s high?
They have a cerebral kind of high since it has an increase on energy and mood.
How should we describe cannabis indica’s high?
The high for this plant is a bit more relaxing. It produces a numb feeling, makes you tired, and increases the effect of your sensory functions.
What is Cannabis Ruderalis?
A type of species that is mainly common in Russia
What is Hashish?
A drug that is extracted from the cannabis plant and contains some psychoactive chemicals
What is the THC concentration in Hashish?
8-14%
How is hashish made?
By dry scraping the THC out of the hemp plant leaves
What is hashish oil?
(different from hashish) It is a cannabis product that is created from hashish.
What is the THC concentration in hashish oil?
15-60%
How is hashish oil made?
Hashish is boiled in alcohol to dissociatedTHC molecules and it is then used as a concentrated oil product.
What is sinsemilla?
highly potent marijuana plant that are kept seedless by preventing pollination in order to retain a high concentration
What is the THC concentration of sinsemilla?
14-15%
What is Bhang?
It is a drink made from leaves of the marijuana plant
What is the THC concentration of bhang?
2-4% (max: 10%)
What is butane honey oil?
Also known as wax which is highly concentrated and can be smoked in a bong, pipe or joint
What is the THC concentration of BHO?
80%
How is BHO made? Who makes this product? What is the name of the process?
People who create BHO are called blasters and the process is called blasting. They take a long tube and blow butane gas through it to heat up. As the heated butane oil goes through the tube, it separates the THC from wax
In order, what is the lowest THC concentration to the highest?
Bhang, Hashish, sinsemilla, Hashish oil, BHO
What is Reefer Madness?
An example of one of the first public service announcements that brought attention to marijuana
The psychedelic era was in the year?
1960-1970s
What year was marijuana scheduled?
It became schedule 1 in 1972
What are the routes of absorption for marijuana?
Oral, inhalation, sublingually
Why does it take long for THC to get you high but gets quickly to the brain?
Because once the THC reaches the brain, it takes a while for it to do its job with receptors.
Once THC reaches the blood it is rapidly absorbed in the brain…why?
Because THC is a fat loving chemical that can get across the blood-brain barrier very quickly and easily
What is the difference between vaping and smoking?
In vaping, we are inhaling a vapor that has THC molecules dispersed. There is also a heat difference because when we smoke, the plant is burned. When we vape, the plant is heated up.
How long is the high for inhalation?
about 1 hour
How are brownies made (with THC)?
Marijuana is cooked with butter since THC is fat loving. The butter and THC mixture is then used to bake brownies.
How long does it take for edibles to kick in? How long does the high last?
It takes about 45 min to an hour for edibles to kick in but the feeling lasts 4-6 hours.
What is the issue with glass pipes?
They have lead in them which can enter our bloodstream and it is toxic
What is the issue with wood pipes?
They have dangerous chemicals that can also enter our body
What is the issue with metal pipes?
They have different toxic metals that over time can build up in our bodies
What are the “safest” types of pipes?
Stone because they don’t have many chemicals in them
How does the bong technique work?
In this case, we use marijuana with water and the smoke is not as hot as regular smoking.
Are smoking marijuana and vaping THC equally bad?
Yes. Vaping may be a bit worse because of all of the chemicals inside of vape cartridges (vitamin e acetate, pesticides, cyanide)
What enzyme breaks down THC?
P450 (hepatic cytochrome)
What is the first metabolite THC gets broken down into?Is it active or inactive?
2-hydroxy-delta-9-THC… it is an active metabolite that will be distributed back into the blood, reach the brain, and continue to make you high.
What is THC’s second metabolite?Is it active or inactive?
THC-COOH this metabolite is inactive
What is THC’s half life?
19-30 hours
Where is THC absorbed in our body?
In our fat cells. The more body fat you have, the more THC you will absorb.
Why is the urine analysis test positive for THC days/weeks after use?
since THC is in our fat cells, over time, they will get back into our blood stream and it will show up on the test
How is THC excreted?
Some of the THC does not get broken down and it will come out in the urine as purely THC. Most of it is broken down until THC-COOH (THC carboxyl) and comes out in urine
What metabolite do we test for in the urine?
THC Carboxyl (most comes out through feces.
What receptors does THC bind to?
Cannabinoid, anadamide receptors and possibly opioid receptors
What are the 2 types of cannabinoid receptors?
CB1 and CB2
What is the difference between the 2 cannabinoid receptors?
CB1 is mainly found in the brain
CB2 is found in our immune system
Where in the brain are CB1 receptors found?
In the pre-synaptic membranes (terminal buttons)
What is the role of Cannabinoid receptors in the brain?
they decrease Calcium and play a role with potassium
Is THC an agonist or antagonist drug?
Antagonist because its receptors infect calcium and decrease the amount of neurotransmitters being released
What were cannabinoid receptors meant for?
Anandimide: the chemical that is released when people are stressed, in pain or feel nauseous
Why is medical marijuana effective?
Because THC binds to the same receptor as anadimide but since it comes in higher doses, it helps with stress, pain, nausea, etc.
How does THC affect opioid receptors?Which specific opioid receptor does it bind to?
The chemicals that bind to these opioid receptors help with pain management so when they are activated (either by opioides or THC), they help decrease pain.
THC binds specifically to mu opioid receptors
How does someone on marijuana feel (psychologically)?
- senses are enhanced
- time perception is altered
- mild euphoria (relaxation)
- Hilarity
- mild analgesia (with indicia)
- paranoia
What are some cognitive impairments (while high on THC)?
- impaired perception
- impaired attention
- inability to learn/retain memory
- impaired psychomotor function
What are some physiological effects (while high on THC)?
- increased heart rate
- variation in BP
- Blood vessel dilation in eyes
- dryness of the mouth and throat
- increased appetite
What is the critical period?
Ages 12-18 (adolescents) that smoke marijuana can suffer from functional and structural damages during this age.
What are some long term cognitive effects from marijuana?
- attention
- memory
- filtering information
What is amotivational syndrome?
The theory that claims that regular marijuana users become unmotivated (not true)
What are some long-term physical effects?
-Cardiovascular
pulmonary
-immune system
- reproduction system
What is the name of the cancer causing THC chemicals
Carcinogens
Why are joints worse for our lungs than cigarettes?
Because marijuana smoke is a lot hotter and it is not filtered
How exactly is the immune system affected by THC?
Since CB2 receptors are found in our immune system, we see that people who smoke daily are more susceptible to infection
How exactly is the male reproduction system affected by THC?
Over time, it reduces testosterone and sperm formation in males (wont really affect fertility)
How exactly is the female reproduction system affected by THC?
In females, it affects the follicle stimulant hormone (the growth of eggs in ovaries). It also affects the Luteinizing hormone which is responsible for attaching an egg to a hormone. Women could also suffer from anovulatory cycle (skipping ovulations, heavy bleeding)
How is marijuana’s tolerance described?
There is some tolerance that develops over time. (needing more to get the same high)
What is reverse tolerance?
A theory that claims that over time, regular THC users will become less dependent because THC is absorbed in their fat so they will need less to get high. This theory is not true
How is marijuana’s psychological dependence described?
It is a huge issue because people love the feeling it gives.
How does the nucleus accumbens and dopamine come to play (marijuana)?
The nucleus accumbens is a part of the brain that receives dopamine. Some people argue that this dopamine plays a role in the dependency. (THC causes more dopamine to be released and gives a “good” feeling)
How is marijuana’s physical dependence described?
There are some withdrawal symptoms that occur. This includes restlessness, irritability, appetite suppression, insomnia, nausea, cramping and agitation
What is appetite suppresion?
Usually when marijuana users quit, they tend to realize they are less hungry since THC makes you more hungry
Is lethal marijuana overdose common?
No, deaths are not usually linked to marijuana. Most of the deaths that do occur are because of the combination of THC and other underlying health conditions.
What is a risk when obtaining marijuana from an unknown source?
Sometimes marijuana can be sold as a mixture with other drug (without one knowing). A common mixture is marijuana interlaced with PCP