Post on 09-May-2015
MARIJUANAAndrea Trementozzi,
Rebecca Raftery, Julius Parker, Sophie
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Cannabis sativa• Botanical name for hemp
• Plant native to Central Asia
• Probably traded on Silk Road trade route, after Chinese discovered it 4000 years ago
• Napoleon III’s troops returned to France with hasish (“hash”) from Egypt in 1800s– This led to the introduction of hemp in the
Western World
Cannabis sativa
http://www.abc.net.au/health/library/img/cannabis_leaf.gif
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Endocannabinoids
• Exist naturally in nervous and immune systems of animals•Anandamide: neurotransmitter that binds
to cannabinoid receptors
• Act on presynaptic terminals
• Travel “backwards” from postsynaptic terminal and act on presynaptic terminal•Retrograde Signaling
Phytocannabinoids
• Found in the Cannabis sativa plant– THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol): primary
active drug component of hemp plant– Cannabinol (CBN): mildly psychoactive– Cannabidiol (CBD): not psychoactive
Synthetic Cannabinoids
• Created synthetically in the laboratory
• First reported synthesis was in 1963 by Mechoulam and Yehiel Gaoni
• Were able to reconstruct THC configurations in their lab
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http://origin.arstechnica.com/journals/science.media/cannabinoid.jpg
• CBD, CBG, CBN, and CBC are cannabinoids found in strain of hemp plant
• CBD is psychoactive (acts mostly on CNS causing changes in mood), CBG and CBN are non-psychoactive
• structures of each are very similar, most variation occurs in hydroxyl groups
• -THC has a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol structure
• -it is also psychoactive like CBD• -the difference between THC and CBD is
again one variation of a hydroxyl group• -CBD adds an extra hydrogen to create OH
on the lower left piece of the structure• -CBD also adds an extra hydgrogen where
there is none in THC
History of Usage
• Hemp seeds were used as food in China
• Sometimes used as tea leaves• Used fruits and leaves for medicinal
purposes• In Egypt, used for its effects on mind
and body– Anti-anxiety
How Cannabinoids Are Used
• Smoked in a joint, bong, cigar, or pipe
• Mixed in tea and food
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http://blog.bioethics.net/joint.jpg
Mind/Body Effects• Intoxication
• Dry Mouth
• Rapid Heartbeat
• Loss of coordination/ balance
• Slow reaction time
• Red eyes
• Distorted Perception
Mind/Body Effects cont’d
• Problems with short-term memory
• Decrease in problem-solving skills
• “The Munchies”
• (Anxiety/Paranoia)
• (Raise in blood pressure)
• (Sleepiness)
• http://health.howstuffworks.com/marijuana2.htm
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THC• delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
• Green/gray mixture of shredded & dried Cannabis leaves and flowers
• 3% of the average marijuana joint is THC
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Hashish (Hash)• Resin from trichomes (resin glands) in Cannabis plant
• Mainly cultivated in the Middle East and northern Africa
• Reddish-brown color
• Dried and compressed into balls, cakes, and cookie-like sheets
• Pieces are smoked from a pipe
Hashish, cont’d
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Hashish
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Marinol® (Dronabinol)
• Synthetic cannabinoid (chemically created)– Active ingredient Dronabinol = synthetic THC
• Prescription drug in the form of capsules• Primarily used to alleviate nausea in cancer
patients undergoing chemotherapy• Also used to stimulate appetite for patients
with anorexia due to AIDS
Marinol®, cont’d
http://www.rxlist.com/marinol-drug.htmwww.glenwoodsmith.comhttp://www.theodora.com/drugs/images/406.jpg
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Dronabinol vs. THC
• Dronabinol is the active ingredient in Marinol
• It is a synthesized variation of the regular delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol structure (basically the same structure as THC)
Mode of Action in the Brain
• Active ingredient, THC, in Cannibus, binds to g-protein-coupled receptors in the brain
• Prevents the natural endocannabinoids from binding correctly
• Most cannabinoid receptors are found in the cerebellum and basal ganglia– Explains the loss of motor control and balance
Mode of Action in the Brain, cont’d
• THC also binds to receptors in the hippocampus, causing problems with short-term memory
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Marijuana Statistics
• According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S.
• Reaction time for motor skills (like driving), is lowered by 41% after smoking 1 joint, and reduced 63% after smoking 2 joints.
The Law
• In MA, “Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is a civil offense, subject to a $100 fine like a traffic ticket… Possession of more than one ounce of marijuana is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.”
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4543
*If under 18, must attend drug awareness program, or pay $1,000 fine
Possession Incarceration Fine
≤ 1 oz. * Civil offense / none $100
> 1 oz. Misdemeanor / 6 mths $500
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4543
Medicinal Marijuana
• Drugs like Marinol® are legal in Massachusetts for medical purposes for people suffering from side effects of glaucoma, asthma, or chemotherapy
• For this reason, many think marijuana should be legalized
• Now legal (for medicinal purposes) in 14 states, although it is illegal under federal law
• In MA, Proposition 2 was passed in November 2008 to legalize marijuana for medicinal uses
Controversy
• Pro Legalization: Medical, agricultural, industrial uses of hemp plant override recreational aspects
• Anti Legalization: Marijuana is addictive and has damaging effects, and can cause long-term health problems (heart & lung disease, throat cancer, etc.)
http://www.duke.edu/~sgr5/p2.htm
Stances on Marijuana
• “I think hard drugs are disgusting. But I must say, I think marijuana is pretty lightweight.” -Linda McCartney
• “I now have absolute proof that smoking even one marijuana cigarette is equal in brain damage to being on Bikini Island during an H-bomb blast.” -Ronald Reagan
Stances on Marijuana, cnt’d
• “I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?” -Willie Nelson