1
Q
Phenotypes
A
- Hemp
- cultivated from fibre
- low content of active ingredients
- Marijuana
- cultivated for psychoactive ingredients
- cannabis derived into 3 species
- sativa, indica, ruderalis
2
Q
Sativa
A
- grows 5-18 feet
- most common subspecies in the west
- flowering initiated when darkness exceeds 11hr per day
- produce psychoactive effects (TCH)
3
Q
Indica
A
- grows 2-4 feet
- compactly branched
- used recreationally and medicinally
- produce psychoactive effects (THC)
4
Q
Ruderalis
A
- few psychoactive effects
- flowers due to age not light conditions (autoflowering)
- used in hybrids to enable autoflowering
- high in CBD (Canabidiol)
5
Q
Cannabis facts
A
- dioecious
- some plants have male flowers, other femal flowers
- female plants must be fertilized by pollen from male flowers
- cannabis flower have small hairs called trichomes
- trichomes on females high in THC production potential
- all cannabinoids contained within trichomes of raw flowers have an extra carboxyl ring attached to chain
- rather than containing THC, THCA is present in raw cannabis
6
Q
THCA
A
- not psychoactive
- must be converted to THC via decarboxylation
- main catalysts are heat and time
- drying cannabis over time results in partial decarboxylation
- smoking/vapourizing rapidly decarboxylate due to high temp
- decarboxylation also necessary for orally administered cannabis
- heating at 105C/220F for 40mins
7
Q
Cultivation of cannabis
A
- cultivation of he,p to derive clothing and rope in Neolithic era (10,000 years ago)
- some pre-historic sites suggest cannabis burning and possible inhalation of cannabis fumes
- enthogenic rituals or spiritual practices
- as early as 3000-4000 years ago, cannabis self-administration and human contact with spirits, demons, and deities began to appear in literature from china
- spread from India to china, to Middle East, to Africa
- found in Western Europe but psychoactive properties remained largely unknown
- no evidence of deliberate psychoactive use until 15th century
- introduced to US by Mexican labourers
- used by minorities
- used as folk remedy
- US declared that marijuana had no medical use
- potential for high abuse
8
Q
Forms of cannabis
A
- Marijuana
- dried leaves and flowers
- smoked, baked
- THC content increase over decades
- Hashish
- dried resin from female plant
- smoked, baked
- Hash oil
- 60% cannabinoids
- boiling hashish in alcohol
- filter out reside, evaporate alcohol
- Synthetic
- nabilone, Marinol,
- used to treat chemotherapy induced nausea
9
Q
The cannabinoids
A
- active ingredient = delta 9 THC
- entire family of drugs (cannabinoids) exists in cannabis and many contribute to its effects
- 8-THC
- cannabinol (CBN)
- cannabidiol (CBD)
- active ingredients depend upon preparation and route of administration
- burning cannabis changes many of cannabinoids and creates new ones with increased potencies
- new cannabinoids created during digestion and metabolism
- content of marijuana can change over time, especially if exposed to light and air
- THC converted to CBN
10
Q
Therapeutic effects of CBD
A
- medicinal use for anxiety, insomnia, pain, epilepsy, inflammation
- doesnt produce subjective high
11
Q
Absorption
A
- THC is a weak acid (pKa=10.6)
- extremely lipid soluble
- soluble in alcohol
- not soluble in water
- absorbed slowly in digestive system
- adding oil speeds absorption
- peak 1-3 hours after consumption
12
Q
Inhalation
A
- 10-25% of cannabinoids in joint enter lungs/body
- blood levels peal within 15 mins
- subjective effects last 30-60 mins
- depth of inhalation increases effects byt not holding in smoke
- cannot overdose because there are no receptors in medulla
- vaporizing has less chemicals
- burned at lower temp
- not complete combustion
13
Q
Distribution
A
- lipid soluble
- distributed throughout body depending on blood flow
- retained in adipose tissue
-some concentration in lungs, liver, kidneys
- peak subjective effects usually lag behind plasma conc
- at peak levels only 1% of administered dose enters brain
- brain levels of THC continue to rise for several hours after consumption
14
Q
Excretion
A
- most metabolism occurs in liver by CYP 450 enzymes
- 9THC converted to 11-hydroxyTHC (more active than 9THC)
- penetrate BBB more easily
- other metabolites are less lipid soluble and more easily secreted
- CBD
- slight effect on its own but block enzyme that metabolites 9THC
- prolonged action
- CBN
- speeds metabolism of 9THC
- CBD and CBN also displace bound THC in blood, increasing amount available to reach brain
15
Q
Excretion phases
A
- initial phase
- 9THC levels in blood fall rapidly
- redistribution (to adipose)
- half life of 30min
- later phase
- slower metabolism
- dependent on rate that THC released from lipid stores
- half-life 20-30 hours
- traces of THC detectable up to 30 days
16
Q
Cannabinoid receptors
A
- CB1: CNS
- CB2: immune system
-high concentrations of CB1 in GP, SN, cerebellum, hippocampus, caudate nucleus, Putamen, hypothalamus, amygdala
17
Q
Neuropharmacology
A
- endocannabinoids
- endogenous THC
- anandamide
- ananda - internal blood
- first endocannabinoids discovered in 1994
- effect on CB receptor not as profound as THC
- act as neuromodulators affecting
- NE, DA, 5HT, ACh, GABA, Histamine
18
Q
Cannabinoid receptors in NA
A
- in nucleus acumbens
- increase activity of mesolimbic DA system (reward)
- found in same region as opiate receptors
19
Q
Effects on body
A
- dry mouth
- bloodshot eyes
- dilation of small blood vessels
- intense hunger
- increased heart rate, fluctuations in BP and body temp
20
Q
Medically useful effects
A
- glaucoma
- THC reduced pressure of fluid in eyeball
- antiemetic
- stops nausea and vomiting
- useful in chemo
- antiepileptic/anticonvulsant
- movement and spasticity disorders
- MS, epilepsy, spinal cord injury
- pain
- CNS centre are less response to pain after cannabinoid administration
- as effective as morphine in reducing pain in rates
- blocking CB1 spinal cord receptors increases sensitivity to pain
Drugs And Behaviour
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