marijuana Flashcards
what is the primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana? what is the range between psychoactive and inactive chemical
THC (Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana
There are 400-500 total chemicals in marijuana, both active and (inactive ex:CBD)
Only about 60-75 are psychoactive
What type of receptors does THC bind to in the brain?
anandamide
What is Salvia Divinorum? Does it affect the brain similar to marijuana or LSD
It comes from a plant Salvinorin A (the psychoactive chemical that leads to a high
Salvia binds to kappa opioid receptors and is an agonist (different receptor than THC binds to)
Review the different forms of marijuana? Which have the highest and lowest concentrations of THC?
Hashish 8-14% THC
Butane honey oil is up to 80% (Dabbing) in highest form
Does the length of the hallucinogen “trip” differ for the different hallucinogenic drugs we discussed in class?
salvia: lasts 1-5 minutes
DMT- pretty quick psychoactive effects; short trip of about an hour
Psilocybin (mushrooms) trip of about 2-5 hours
LSD- pretty long high, 5-9 hours
Mescaline (peyote) has a much longer trip (about 10 hours)
PCP can lasts hours to days
What is (are) the psychoactive chemical(s) in the drug “spice”?
Cannabicyclohexanol;
Which hallucinogen drugs affect serotonin receptors?
LSD, psilocybin (mushrooms) psilocin (mushrooms) DMT and MDMA
Which hallucinogenic drugs are chemically most similar to serotonin?
LSD, psilocybin (mushrooms) psilocyn (mushrooms) DMT
Which are most similar to norepinephrine?
Mescaline (peyote) and MDMA
Which hallucinogens discussed in class are naturally occurring
Psilocybin, psilocin, mescaline (peyote), lysergic acid amide, DMT, Salvia
Which hallucinogens discussed in class are human made?
LSD, Ketamine, PCP, spice, MDMA
What is the active chemical in psychedelic mushrooms?
Psilocybin: main psychoactive chemical
psilocin : another psychoactive chemical in shrooms, may be more potent than psilocybin
How does psilocybin differ compared to LSD in terms of strength?
Psilocybin is about 100 more times less potent than LSD
What is DMT, how is it taken, and how long do the effects last?
Hallucinogenic drug made from tree bark resin
Typically smoked or snorted
Cannot be taken orally
Physiological changes seen in 10 seconds
Hallucination in 10-15 minutes
Recovery in 60 minutes
Which neurotransmitters are affected by MDMA?
Norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin
What chemical is often added to ecstasy and why is the combination so dangerous?
Dextromethorphan (found in cough medicine)
When combined with ecstasy it leads to hyperthermia due to ecstasy increasing body temperature
What changes in the brain are observed in chronic users of MDMA?
Serotonin in long term users is often depleted and low
What negative side effects are caused by MDMA use?
Neurotoxicity, memory problems, attention issues, tachycardia, hyperthermia
Does it actually damage neurons?
Damage to 5-HT receptors; ecstasy causes degeneration of serotonin nerve terminals
What are some side effects people experience while taking ecstasy (e.g. while on the drug)?
Euphoria
Hug drug
Feel close to others
Emotional sensitivity
Lights appear brighter
Psychomotor driver
Depersonalization/derealization
Perception of space and time
How is peyote taken and what is the dosage? How long does it take the effects to begin?
Orally and can also be smoked
Dosage: 5 mescal buttons (200mg)
3-4 hours after ingestion you experience symptoms
What psychoactive chemical is found in peyote?
mescaline
How is the chemical metabolized and excreted from the body?
Most of the mescaline is not metabolized
Very little mescaline gets broken down in the body and comes out of urine as mescaline
For what uses were ketamine, MDMA, and PCP originally developed?
Ketamine: made as an anesthetic in the 1960s and used in the vietnam war for field surgeries
MDMA: meant to be used in therapy to promote empathy and lower defensiveness
PSP: meant to be used as an anesthesia and analgesia for surgery; failed because patients had severe reaction after waking up
Which neurotransmitter receptor does PCP affect?
Blocks glutamate NMDA receptors
