CANNABIS

Occurrence

Marijuana is grown wild and is cultivated throughout the world.

Uses

Marijuana has been used for recreation. Dronabinol, which contains cannabis, is used to treat anorexia in appetite loss associated with AIDS and for cancer chemotherapy induced nausea. It is also helpful to reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma.

Indications

The hemp plant, or cannabis (Cannabis sativa), continues to be the most frequently abused illicit substance in America. The dried leaves and flowering tops of the plant are referred to as marijuana, and it is typically smoked in pipes or rolled as cigarettes. It also may be consumed in baked goods. Hashish is a solid black resinous material obtained from the leaves of the plant and is usually smoked in a pipe.

Definition

Its principle, tetrahydrocannabinol, can be made syn- thetically.

Hazard

A mild hallucinogen. Sale is illegal in U.S. Use: Medicine, ophthalmology (treatment of glau- coma).

Mechanism of action

A cannabinoid receptor identified in the brain of several species, including humans, is termed CB1. It is one of the most abundant receptors in the CNS, and its distribution within the brain reflects the pharmacological effects produced by △⁹-THC. High receptor densities in the extrapyramidal motor system and the cerebellum are consistent with the actions of cannabinoids on many forms of movement.The effects of cannabinoids on cognition and memory may be due to the relatively dense receptor populations in the hippocampus and cortex. The presence of cannabinoid receptors in the ventromedial striatum and nucleus accumbens suggests an association with dopamine neurons hypothesized to mediate brain reward.

Side effects

Marijuana is unique among drugs of abuse in that there have been no credible reports of fatal overdose. The most prominent effect of acute marijuana use is intoxication, which can impair the cognitive and motor skills needed to complete complex tasks. Anxiety and panic reactions are occasionally reported in inexperienced users or following use of large quantities of marijuana. 9-THC causes its greatest effects on short-term memory, as measured in free-recall tasks.Marijuana does not affect the retrieval of previously learned facts. In contrast to alcohol, there is no residual hangover from a single use of high quantities of marijuana.
Heavy marijuana smoking produces bronchitis, and some individuals have evidence of precancerous lung conditions. However, definitive evidence of the relationship between marijuana smoking and the incidence of lung cancer is lacking.

Raw materials

Preparation Products