Chapter 14 - Marijuana Flashcards
History of cannabis cultivation
Originated in Central Asia
Cannabis uses
medical use, religious use, glaucoma?
History of use in the U.S
1839 AD: extracts/tinctures in Europe in N.America, outlawed in California in 1913, stigmatization begins in 1930s
When and why did it become illegal?
1937: Marijuana Tax Act, “Reefer Madness”
Basic pharmacology of marijuana
Smoked THC is easily absorbed by the lungs and blood plasma levels rise quickly
Oral consumption: prolonged but poor absorption of THC, resulting in low and variable plasma concentrations due to degradation in the stomach and first pass metabolism
Metabolites are excreted in feces and urine; complete elimination is slow bc THC persists in fat tissue – elimination half-life is 20-30 hours; THC-COOH can be detected in urine up to 2 weeks.
Mechanism of action of THC
THC mimics anandamide and binds to cannabinoid receptors, inhibition is turned off and DA is released
Areas of the brain effected?
cannabinoid receptors are expressed in many brain areas: metabotropic.
CB1 - brain, many organs
CB2 - immune system and brain - microglia and neurons
effects of ingesting THC
DA release, pleasure and relaxation
What are Endocannabinoids?
cannabinoid receptor agonists synthesized by the body
Source of endocannabinoids?
synthesized from membrane phospholipids in response to an increase in postsynaptic intracellular Ca2, removed by endocannabinoid membrane transporter
types of endocannabinoid signaling
retrograde signaling
non-retrograde signaling
neuron-astrocyte signaling
steps of feeling “high”, effects on mood?
buzz - high - stoned - comedown
How does dopamine levels after cannabis ingestion compare to that of opioids or cocaine?
THC has less reward and reinforcing properties than opioids
theraputic uses
pain relief, insomnia relief, anxiety relief
current status in the U.S and abroad
most widely used illicit drug in the world, legal in some states, recently decriminalized
