Marijuana Flashcards
Is it actually addictive?
Actually, yes. 9-10% of people who use it seem to have a very hard time quitting. How long / how much it takes to develop addiction is unclear.
Why is it hard to parse out the actual effects of cannabis / what parts of the brain it acts upon?
Because there’s a whole bunch of different crap in there - it’s not perfectly clear which ones should be studied.
3 main psychoactive components of cannabis?
THC, THCV, and cannabidiol.
Major active metabolite of THC? One effect it has?
OH-THC
Anxiolytic at low doses, anxiogenic at high doses.
Major inactive metabolite of THC?
THC-COOH
What happens when you use a cannibinoid antagonist for cannabis addiction?
It works, but causes severe depression.
What bad things happen when the doses of THC get too high?
Paranoia/panic and psychosis become more common.
What does cannabis use during adolescence seem to increase the risk for?
Schizophrenia. (correlation or causation?)
Is marijuana really a gateway drug?
Nah. People just go for what’s available.
What part of the brain is less active when marijuana is having an anxiolytic effect?
The ventral striatum.
5 toxic effects on cognition/CNS function?
Ataxia (balance and orientation) Reduced motivation Impaired memory Impaired perception Impaired conciousness
Most useful somatic effects of marijuana? (3 things)
Antiemetic
Reduction of intra-ocular tension in glaucoma
Increased appetite
3 notable criteria for cannabis withdrawal as will appear in the DSM V? (there are actually 7 criteria)
Irritablity, anger or aggression
Nerviousness or anxiety
Sleep difficulty (insomnia)
(others include decreased appetite, depression, restlessness, and physical symptoms)
Why is marijuana so dangerous for driving?
High lasts for about 2 hours.
Motor/visual impairment lasts for more like 10 hours, but you don’t feel it.
(and alcohol + marijuana = you’re fucked, if driving)
Why do people who smoke regularly take longer to test negative for marijuana?
It builds up in fat and is slowly released.
