| AND NOW FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE....PART 2:
MODERN TIMES:
-Despite the many studies reporting the effects of MJ on the person, MJ is still listed as a schedule 1 drug, which is the class of forbidden drugs.
-This schedule lists the drug as having the highest potential for developing a depency and have no accepted use in medicine.
-In 1978, New Mexico passed a law which had the state's health dep. set up a research project to examine the efficacy of MJ in treating nausea induced by chemo patients
-This ended abruptly, however, because it is politically advantageous to be 'tough on drugs'. This concept extended to laws pertaining MJ and in 1992, high ranking officials of the Bush administration unilaterally and without public hearing ended these programs to help and study the effects of MJ on chemo patients.
-In the past 2 years we have seen a swing back to reintroduction of MJ as a medicinal agent, being legalized to selected patient populations.
FORMS:
-I think we all know what the stuff looks like, but for the ummm...sheltered.
-The most common for of MJ preparation is when the material of the female plant is dried.
-For the most part, all of the different forms of the drug do the same things and unless things are added, have the same psychoactive compounds.
PSYCHOACTIVE COMPOUNDS:
-The principle psychoactive compound in MJ is delta9-THC. another is delta8-THC and cannabidol. delta9 and cannabidol make up 95% of the active compounds found in MJ
ABSORPTION, DIST., AND BIOTRANSFORMATION:
-Although as much as 50% of the delta9 is lost in combustion of the smoking, smoking MJ is the most efficient route of administration.
-There is a biphasic clearance pattern of MJ, which reflects the rapid movement of the delta9 out of the blood and into fat stores. The second slower phase is due to the lowering levels in the blood and the diffusion that occurs from the fat back into the blood.
-There are differences in levels of MJ in chronic and naive reflecting the actual metabolism of the drug. This indicates that chronic users become more efficient in the metabolism of delta9.
-The overall half life of delta9 is approximately 58 hrs for naive users and 28 hrs for chronic users. To put this in perspective, it takes 4 1/2 half lifes for 96% of a substance to leave your system. Do the math. To dose again before this leads to an accumilation of the drug in your system.
-Despite the intense ability to dissolve in fats(lipids), delta9 does not easily cross the into the brain compartment. Approximately 1% of the absorbed dose crosses into the brain.
-I'm going to omit the biotransformation of the delta9, its boring.
ONSET OF EFFECTS, NON-BEHAVIORAL/BEHAVIORAL AND OTHER EFFECTS
-Pharmacological effects are maximal within 15 mins of smoking and decay to negligible levels in 3 hrs.
-If taken orally, levels don't peak until 2-3 hrs and duration lasts for 3-5.
-The consistant non-behavioral effects, regardless of administration are 1. increased heart rate. and 2. reddining of the eyes.
-Smoking MJ decreases intra-ocular pressure by as much as 30%, and this effect can last up to 5 hrs. Tolerance of this effect does not seem to develop which makes it very useful in relieving pain in people who suffer from glocoma, which is a build-up of pressure that can lead to blindness.
-MJ has been shown to suppress tumor growth in a couple of recent studies.
-There is a reliable effect on sleep in that it decreases REM sleep, but does not effect any of the other stages.
-MJ is frequently used by patients with multiple sclerorsis for muscle spasms and pain.
-There is evidence that cannabinoids are of therapeutic value in the treatment of tic in people with tourette syndrome, the reduction of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease(?) and some forms of tremor and dystonia(?) (-sounds like its good tho)
-Important note to what physiological functions that are NOT changed by MJ, like pupil diameter, body temp, respiration, blood glucose levels, and insulin secretion.
-For any drug to have an effect on your body, your body must be built to be affected by it, namely, have the correct receptors on neurons for the drugs to bind to and effect.
-Two cannabinoid receptors have been found in certain areas of the brain, which include the globus pallidus, the substantia nigra, the hippocampus, the cerebellum and the forebrain in general.
-There are also cannabiniod receptors located in the PNS as well.
-Two neurotransmitters have been found to act on these receptors that are found naturally in the body, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol(2AG). These both act kind of backwards in that they shut off the pre-synaptic side of the neuron rather than the post-synaptic neuron.
BEHAVIORAL CONSEQUENCES:
-1. there is a general sedating and relaxing effect at lower doses, 2. as the dose is increased disinhibition may be seen, 3. may impair motor skills, 4. increased relief from anxiety, 5. feelings of well-being, 6. periods of silence and introspection, periods of increased activity and jocularity(laughing, joyfulness)
-IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THESE COGNITIVE EFFECTS OF MJ ARE SUBJECT TO THE USERS EXPECTATIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE DRUG IS TAKEN. (the two most IMPORTANT factors relating to the behavioral effects of ANY drug)
-Unlike any other sedative or CNS depressant, the intoxication following MJ seems to be under volitional control of the user, which means that a person can overcome the sedating effects at will and appear normal if the situation demands it. (cool eh?)
-The behavioral variability observed between and within subjects raises doubts that the behaviors attributed to MJ are actual pharmacological outcomes. (will back with results of experiments later)
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
-There is documented development of tolerance to the effects of MJ, but the idea of 'reverse' tolerance where the drug has increased effects with repeated doses is false.
-An oral dose of 30 mgs of delta9(very big dose) was given every 4 hrs a day for 30 days and then suddenly stopped. the following effects were observed: irritability, salivation, decreased appetite, sweating, nausea, vomiting. This is a very mild withdrawal compared to how big the dosage was given and how long it was administered for.
-WITHDRAWAL IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR DEPENDENCY.
-Reports of chronic MJ use in costa rica and jamaica did not observe any withdrawal symptoms.
-There is some evidence for the potential of developing dependency for MJ from several reports of chronic users that have wanted to quit but were unable to do so without great difficulty.(all that it says on that)
NEXT WEEK:
experiments on MJ and some very interesting data. Also some of the cultural myths about it and the conclusion of the post.
also, i have been requested to do this for ethanol(alocohol), which i will gladly do after this one is finished. That one is a good one too. you'll be surprised if you stick around to read these posts longs enough.
also, in light of the request for ethanol, ill take requests. this is by far the most useful way to use xanga in my opinion ive seen so im happy to educate anyone. again, these are all slides off a course packet i am buying from the copy center in odg weekly by my prof. go head and buy one if u like. |
