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Cannabis

Cannabis. Factsheet: J. Meyer. What is Cannabis?. Marijuana is from the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis sativa , of the Cannabaceae family. All cannabis strains - both male and female plants – produce 60 cannabinoids including THC, the psychoactive ingredient.

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Cannabis

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  1. Cannabis Factsheet: J. Meyer

  2. What is Cannabis? • Marijuana is from the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, of the Cannabaceae family. All cannabis strains - both male and female plants – produce 60 cannabinoids including THC, the psychoactive ingredient. • When smoked or ingested, THC causes euphoria and relaxation. THC is found in every part of the plant, including the stems. The highest concentration is in the resin, which is most abundant in the flowers of female plants. New varieties are 20x more concentrated than in 60’s & 70’s • Marijuana has been described as a psychogenic (a cannabinoid), a narcotic (although it does not contain opium), and a hallucinogen (USA govt.). Opinion is divided on whether the drug is a CNS stimulant or a depressant. Marijuana is the most used illegal drug in the US & the world. Female plant

  3. Trends in US consumption Univ. Michigan Monitoring the Future, NIDA, 2011 NSDUH survey, SAMHSA, 2009

  4. Therapeutic uses • 16 states have legalized medical marijuana:Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.There are no recorded cases of overdose fatalities attributed to cannabis (WHO). Controversy continues over marijuana's medicinal properties because of reported variable medicinal efficacy in different individuals, its varying strength and problems with psychoactive component. The FDA has at present only approved extracted component. In July 2011, the Obama Administration rebuffed an administrative inquiry seeking to reassess cannabis' Schedule I status. Marijuana may be useful therapeutically for: • Marinol – for nausea, vomiting in cancer patients • Anorexia in AIDS patients • Glaucoma • Antiasthmatic • Muscle relaxant • Analgesic • Epilepsy

  5. Effects on the brain • THC binds to CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the brain which mimic naturally occurring endocannabinoids (anandamide), but with more powerful effects. CB1 receptors are found in the cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia, the cerebellum, the hypothalamus, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the hippocampus. • THC inhibits the release of neurotransmitters, including L-glutamate, GABA, noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-HT and acetylcholine. Natural endocannabinoids are rapidly inactivated by enzymes, but THC persists for extended periods of time, resulting in the noted physiological effects.

  6. Effects on the brain with heavy use • Damage to the fiber tracts of the corpus callosum • Decreased blood flow to temporal lobe, • frontal lobe, parietal lobe & thalamus • Lesions on prefrontal cortex • Shrinkage of hippocampus and amygdala • Memory loss (equivalent to 15 years aging) • Attention loss • Permanent cognitive damage (loss of 8 • IQ points for users who start when underage) • Psychosis; persecution beliefs, • social withdrawal, mood disorders (depression), • panic attacks, schizophrenia • Slowed responses • Accommodation by other brain areas to • cover deficits caused by damage

  7. Physiological effects/ Health risks • Cardiovascular: • Dose dependent increased heart-rate • Mild increase in blood-pressure • Vasodilation • Triggering of myocardial infarction CNS : • Sexual arousal /later loss libido • Change in interpretation of stimuli • Hunger (munchies) • Sedation Respiratory system: • Infections eg. sinusitis, bronchitis& asthma (damaged alveolar macrophages) • Irritation of the airways – narrowing or spasms • Possible weakening of the immune system • Sore throat, chronic cough • Smoking in a roll-up/pipe form is a source of carcinogens, tar and various compounds damaging to the lungs. A vaporizer or edible/ liquid form may be used to avoid this

  8. Types/Street names/Methods of use • Hashish THC= 2 – 8% (hash) • Ganja Dried tops of female plant, pot, weed, reefer • SinsemillaTHC = 7.6% (hydro, AK-47, blueberry, kind bud, 30’s) • Bhang THC = 1-2% • Effects depend upon whether it is swallowed or smoked; the amount taken; how long and how often it’s used; mood; age and whether alcohol or any other substance has been consumed with it. THC increases effect of alcohol. • Users smoke it in a cigarette called a joint, spliff, bone, nail or a roach. A glass pipe or a water pipe may be used. Still others mix it with food and eat it (especially brownies) or steep it like tea and drink it. • Blunts are made by replacing the tobacco inside a cigar with marijuana (often include other drugs). • Some become lively, talkative and giggle, whereas others experience anxiety, paranoia and fear. Strong forms of cannabis lead to hallucinations, confusion, agitation, panic attacks and paranoia. • Cannabis often heightens senses. Colors appear brighter, music louder and users may feel in tune with their bodies. weed, grass, Mary Jane, ganja, chronic, bud, cannabis, Buddha, kif, magic, magic smoke, jive, jive stick, joints, ju-ju, herb, gash, what, laughing grass, light stuff, rope, spliff, griff, Acapulco Gold, Kentucky Blue, Greta,

  9. Signs & Symptoms of Cannabis abuse/dependence • Symptoms of cannabis dependence are compulsive and longer than intended use, tolerance of effects, and withdrawal symptoms. • Withdrawal symptoms resemble those of nicotine: cravings, insomnia, tremors, irritability, mood swings, anger, anxiety, depression, restlessness, appetite loss, dreams. • Adolescents, pregnant or nursing mothers, and patients who have a family history of mental illness are particularly susceptible. Causes lower birth weight and small head. • Cannabis is less physically dependent than heroin, nicotine, alcohol and cocaine – however it is psychologically addictive. Koob, Kandel & Volkow (2008)

  10. References • Arnone, D., T.R. Barrick, S. Chengappa, C.E. Mackay, C.A. Clark, and M.T. Abou-Saleh (2008). Corpus callosum damage in heavy marijuana use: preliminary evidence from diffusion tensor tractography and tract-based spatial statistics. Neuroimage 41: 1067-1074. • Hanson, G. R., Venturelli, P. J., & Fleckenstein, A. E. (2001). Drugs and society. (11th ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. • Koob, G. F., Kandel, D. and Volkow, N. D. (2008) Pathophysiology of Addiction, in Psychiatry, Third Edition (eds A. Tasman, J. Kay, J. A. Lieberman, M. B. First and M. Maj), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK. doi: 10.1002/9780470515167.ch22 • McGrath J et al. 2010. Association between cannabis use and psychosis-related outcomes using sibling pair analysis in a cohort of young adults. Arch Gen Psychiatrydoi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.6. • NIDA. (2011, March). Trends and statistics. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/monitoring-future/overview-findings-2011 • Substance abuse and mental health services administration. (2011). Retrieved from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminiswebsitehttp://www.samhsa.gov/data/nsduh/2k10nsduh/2k10Results.htm

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