Marijuana
I. General facts
1. native to
2. female and resin most
potent
3. marijuana: Mexican
for cheap tobacco
4. hashish: dried
resin
5. over 80 cannabinoids identified
A. most famous delta-9-THC
a. Marinol:
pill form to inhibit nausea
B. burning, light, air change contents
II. History
1. considered medicinal in 19th century
A. e.g., for pain relief
2. introduced to
3. inaccurate neg.
info. (e.g., Reefer Madness)
III. Administration,
absorption, & distribution
1. orally:
absorption slow & incomplete
A. effects last 2-4 hrs (or longer)
B. nausea more likely
2. injections not
safe
3. smoking
A. peak effects in 30 min
B. depth of inhalation important
IV. Metabolism &
excretion
1. active THC in
body at least 45 days
V. Effects
1. MJ work at endogenous cannabinoid
(anandamide) receptors
2. dilation of eye
blood vessels
3. dry mouth &
hunger
4. increase HR
5. possible medically
useful effect
A. glaucoma, antimetic, bronchodilator,
analgesia, appetite stim.
6. sleep: causes
drowsiness & increased sleep
A. depress REM sleep
7. subjective
effects
A. people feel jovial
B. report heightened percept & creativity
(neither true)
C. high doses hallucinations
8. short-term
memory:
9. performance:
coordination problems
VI. Tolerance:
1. some people
report reverse tolerance (not true)
2. tolerance to
subjective effects, HR, hunger stim, memory prob.
3. no tolerance
1joint/daily for 28 days
VII. Withdrawal: mild not
life threatening
1. no withdrawal
1joint/daily for 28 days
VIII. patterns
of use
1. solitary use more
common now
2.
3. potency has
increased
IX. Reported harmful effects
(some are clearly myths)
1. violence &
aggression
2. mental
disturbances
3. intellectual
impairment
4. amotivational
syndrome
5. progression to
other drugs
6. reproduction
7. immunity
8. respiration:
chronic use reduced lung passages
9. cancer: more
carcinogenic material than tobacco