The article contains research numbers on the therapeutic effects of CB1 and CB2 receptors and also notes the difference in the two different cannabinoids. From a medical point of view, Mechoulam explains the surprising contrasts in experiences by differentiating the different components of medical marijuana use. These components known as “THC the psychoactive component” and “CBD a nonpyschoactive constituent” affects the users susceptibilities to the drugs and forms of marijuana used in today’s culture. The article does a very detailed description of the pharmacokinetics of THC and CBD in the body and is mainly aimed at the understanding of marijuana by healthcare professionals or those who have general knowledge in pharmacokinetics or medical…
The use of illegal drugs in the twenty-first century is very common. Cannabis, also known as marijuana, and other well-known names, are among the most frequently used drugs today. Marijuana comes from cannabis sativa, which is a hemp plant. The plant contains a chemical which is known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Some people smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes or in pipes or water pipes while other mix marijuana in foods such as brownies, cookies, or candy, or brew it as a tea. There are a few benefits of using cannabis. It’s used as a medicinal drug and can minimize physical pain and alleviate psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depression. However, the use of cannabis…
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is a Schedule 1 substance, which means that it has no medicinal purpose and has a high risk for abuse. Although marijuana is not federally legalized or approved by the FDA, 20 states (including Hawaii and Washington D.C.) have already legalized medical marijuana, and two of those states (Colorado and Washington) have already legalized marijuana for adult recreational purposes. When marijuana is ingested or smoked, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) a chemical naturally found in marijuana, targets neural receptors in the brain giving users a “high.” Altered perceptions and mood, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory are some of the effects that marijuana users may feel. Long term effects of heavy marijuana use include: respiratory problems (daily cough and phlegm production, frequent acute chest illness, and increased risk of lung infections), increased heart rate by 10-100 percent, and mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities. Studies have also shown marijuana to be psychologically addictive.…
Much of the information we know regarding the abuse-related effects of cannabinoids comes from preclinical studies using the drug discrimination procedure (Balster and Prescott, 1992; Wiley, 1999). The drug discrimination procedure is based on the ability of a drug to induce a specific set of interoceptive stimulus conditions perceived by animals that might be predictive of the subjective reports of perceptions/feelings induced by the same drug in humans. As a result, the drug discrimination procedure does not measure reinforcing/rewarding effects of drugs; however, there is usually a good correlation between those drugs belonging to a particular pharmacological class that serve as reinforcers and those that produce subjective/discriminative…
In the book “Cannabis and Cannabinoids” that Franjo Grotenhermen wrote in 2002, which mostly deals with the medical aspects of marijuana. There was a study that was recorded about the effects that THC the active ingredient in marijuana and the results were a little surprising. Marijuana was found to treat a wide range of various ailments such as: Tourette-Syndrome, appetite loss, weight loss, nausea, depression, HIV-infection, migraines, asthma, back pain, hepatitis C, sleeping disorders, epilepsy, spasticity, headaches,…
According to Elon (2006), “After marijuana became legal and sold in smoke shops in the Netherlands, consumption nearly tripled among 18 to 20 year olds.”…
The essential questions are whether the active ingredient in marijuana, a cannabinoid (chemical compound) known as THC, has any medicinal value; whether the risks associated with its use outweigh the benefits; and whether THC answers a need not currently met by any other medications on the market. In the course of that debate, several health risks are often cited:…
Another main societal issue associated with medical marijuana is the effect the substance has on individuals medically. Marijuana contains a chemical called THC that is known to affect the brain and human growth development. However, these medical issues do not begin to acknowledge the major health-related issues associated with the substance. Some of the most common issues related to marijuana use are excessive respiratory damage, increased risk of cancer and a weakened immune system. Studies have shown that 1 joint is just as damaging as 5 cigarettes to the lungs, due to the carcinogens present in…
Marijuana, is very harmful to the brain. The active ingredient in marijuana, “delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol “ abbreviated to THC, acts on cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells, and triggers the activity of those cells. Some brain areas have many receptors, but other areas of the brain have few or none at all. Researchers have found that THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is acted on by the “hippocampus“. Learning, is a very important aspect in society today. This part of the brain includes learning. Therefore, marijuana becomes an obstacle on the road of education, and path to success. The receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory…
Synthetic cannabinoids act on the same brain cell receptors as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the mind-altering ingredient in marijuana.…
Before you buy Cannabidiol, you should first know a few things about it. The most important thing is to first understand what Cannabidiol or CBD is. CBD is a natural substance that has been brought to the media spotlight because it has been found to work as a dietary supplement. The testing is still in the initial, but it looks promising. Recently, CBD oil has even turned into an accepted form of inflammation and anxiety relief.…
First, marijuana has not been shown or verified to have any detrimental effects on the human body. Also, marijuana has a substantial history of medical and clinical applications for people with certain conditions. Medical marijuana is often used as an anesthetic in a large number of countries all around the world (Koch, 2006). Glaucoma is another condition in which medical marijuana is distributed to patients, as it helps alleviate the symptoms and increase comfort in the person suffering, including lowering eye pressure (Southall, 2010). Fifteen states, as well as the District of Columbia, currently allow medical marijuana to be sold and prescribed to its citizens to this day (New York Times, 2011). Ostensibly, medical marijuana’s purpose is to relieve pain, nausea, and loss of appetite in those patients who have debilitating conditions, such as cancer or AIDS.…
In the past year, many medicinal benefits of marijuana have been discovered. Two scientists from the California Pacific Medical Center “found that a compound derived from marijuana could stop metastasis in many kinds of aggressive cancer” (Wilkey). One of the scientists discovered Cannabidiol, found in marijuana, also works with other types of aggressive cancers that have high levels of ID-1 present. Cannabidiol is also used to help with anxiety and nausea. Marijuana, which can also be used to help all fight obesity related diseases, contains an ingredient called THCV, and when this substance and Cannabidiol is introduced into a person’s system, it can help suppress hunger. Also, “tests in mice show the compounds boost the animal’s metabolism, [which led] to lower levels of fat in the livers and reduced cholesterol in the blood stream. THCV also increase[d] the animal’s sensitivity to insulin” (Gray).…
One of the advantages of medical marijuana is the fact that it can help manage pain felt by trauma patients, cancer patients and patients experiencing nerve damage. Marijuana has an active chemical component called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which can act as an analgesic that helps patients relax and deal with the pain. Another benefit that scientists have found in medical marijuana is that it can help prevent the worsening of Alzheimer’s disease among the elderly. According to studies, THC in marijuana has the ability to arrest the formation of plaques in the brain. HIV/AIDS patients as well as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy also benefit from the use of medical marijuana. These patients are known to have difficulty in stimulating appetites and in throwing up what they eat. Studies have shown that marijuana helps them eat by inducing their appetite. The plant also helps them keep their food down. Among brain cancer patients, it is revealed that THC in marijuana causes cancerous cells to undergo a process called autophagy. It means that the cancerous cells feed upon themselves and thus disappear, leaving healthy brain tissue alone. (testcountry) With all of the health benefits of medical marijuana, it seems beneficial to legalize this drug so that a wider range of patients can be…
In fact, the team also discovered that cannabis use for longer period of time was linked to a lower body mass index (BMI), better HDL cholesterol and reduced waist circumference. However, the researchers could not conclude whether this is a major positive health effect as pot did not reduce the risk of metabolic…