Marijuana Flashcards
1
Q
Cannabis Plant Types
A
- Indica: THC female plants
- Sativa: hemp and cannabidiol (CBD)
- Active ingredients: cannabinoids (over 100)
- Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: main active ingredient
- Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol:
- Cannabidiol (CBD): medicinal effects
- Synthetic marijuana different chemicals but same effects
2
Q
Canbis preparations and THC Concentrations
A
- Marijuana
- Leaves and flowers
- THC concentration: 1-10/12% (grows more over time)
- Sin Semilla
- Unpollinated female flower
- 8-18%
- Hash
- Resin of leaves
- THC concentration: 8-46%
- Hash oil or red oil
- Boil hashish in alcohol
- THC concentration 15-60% >> average amont seized 56%
3
Q
History
A
- Probably originated in Asia
- Cultivated in China (8000 BC) for
- Fiber
- Intoxication effects
- Medical effects
- India >>recreational use
- Islam weed not forbidden in Koran
- Not in Europe til Napoleonic soldiers came back with hash
- Didn’t realize it was hemp plant
- Smoked and eaten with butter
- Became popular in prohibition bc couldn’t drink but could smoke
- The campaign against Mexicans against marijuana
- Reefer madness
- Heavy tax placed on anyone associated with it “marijuana tax act”
- Harry Anslinger made it illegal >> “violent drug”
- Pharmacological violence theory faded lead to “gateway theory”
4
Q
Marijuana today
A
- Legal in 11 states + DC
- Canada, Georgeia, South Africa, Spain, Uruguay
5
Q
Absorption (methods & storage)
A
- Inhalation:
- Blood levels peak >> 15 min
- Effects: 30-60 minutes
- Oral
- Very Lipid soluble
- Slowly increased speed adding oil >> baking it like cookies, brownies
- If taken as a pill >> absorption incomplete
- Peak effects >> 1-3 hours
- Distributes >> all areas of the body
- Accumulate in body fat
- Urine test + days after using
- Chronic users >> report a quicker high bc it’s already in the body
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6
Q
Endocannabinoids
A
- Brain & body have receptors for marijuana
- Brain
- Hippocampus
- Basal Ganglia
- Cortex
- Mesolimbic pathway
- hypothalamus
- Body CB2 receptor
- Brain
- Anandomine >> naturally occurring NT that has the same mechanism as THC
- None traditional NT have retrograde action
- Created in the presynaptic neuron
- Retrograde messengers made on-demand not stored in vesicles
- Bind to presynaptic receptors
- Inhibit the release of Ca ++ channels >> NT can’t be released
- Postsynaptic cell depolarized
7
Q
Physiological effects
A
- increase HR
- Blood vessels dialate red eyes
- increase or decrease apetite and sexual desire
8
Q
4 stages of high
A
- Buzz
- High
- Euphoria
- Exhilaration
- Laughter
- Stoned
- Relaxation
- Visual illusions
- slowing of time passage
- Comedown
9
Q
Health Problems
A
- Lung damage > Marijuana joint has same level of tar as tobacco, almost same CO…
- Puff for puff à Marijuana is as bad as tobacco or even worse
- The amount of tar and CO taken per joint is higher than in tobacco
- Immune system à in the lab THC suppresses it. In real lifeànot clear
- Cardiovascular system à can worsen preexisting conditions
- Reproduction à
- Males:
- Decreases testosterone
- Decreases sperm count (10 joints/day for 4 weeks)
- Increases abnormal sperm
- Females:
- Decreases LH (triggers ovulation)
- Pregnancy Lower weights, altered response to visual stimuli
- Cognitive effects Amotivational syndrome
- Changes in the person’s lifestyle, motivations and ambitions
- Hard to establish a direct causal link to marijuana
10
Q
Medical Controversy
A
- Marijuana is addictive
- Causes cognitive deficits
- Smoking marijuana is bad for the lungs
- Can’t be injected > not water soluble
11
Q
Medical uses
A
- Glaucoma > Reduces intraocular pressure
- Asthma > Bronchodilatation
- Nausea and weight loss > Cancer, AIDS, anorexia
–Other antiemetic are ineffective frequently
