Cannabinoids

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• Chapter 13
• Cannabinoids

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History of Cannabinoid Use
Poster currently being offered for sale, 2007
Poster advertising the 1936 film Reefer Madness
Book from the 1950s
http//www.laughparty.com/funny-pictures/Marijuana
-1114.jpg
http//www.ramblehouse.com/DeMexico.htm
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History of Cannabinoid Use Cannabis plant
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History of Cannabinoid UseAn 8000-year time line
of cannabis use around the world
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History of Cannabinoid Use

• Marijuana
• Sinsemilla
• Hashish
• Hash oil

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Mechanism of Action

• D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• Main active ingredient of cannabis plant
• cannabinol
• cannabidiol

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Mechanism of Action Mean time course of plasma
THC concentrations
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Mechanism of ActionTime course of plasma THC
concentrations
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Mechanism of Action Autoradiogram of a
horizontal section through a rat brain
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• Endocannabinoids
• Endogenous cannabinoids
• Made from arachindoinc acid
• Retrograde messenger

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Mechanism of Action Retrograde signaling by
endocannabinoids reduces GABAergic inhibition
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Acute Effects Behavioral

• Four stages of effects
• Buzz
• High
• Stoned
• Come-down

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Acute Effects Behavioral

• High doses
• Personality changes
• Perceptual distortions
• Hallucinations
• Occasional effects
• Anxiety or panic
• Paranoia
• Delirium

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Acute Effects Physiological

• Increased blood flow to skin
• Increased heart rate
• Increased hunger (munchies)

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Acute Effects Cognitive / Motor

• Motor performance
• Thinking /Speech
• Pain?
• Memory

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Acute Effects Self-administration
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Chronic Effects Probability of initiating
marijuana use as a function of age
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Chronic Effects Desensitization of cannabinoid
receptors produced by chronic THC exposure
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Chronic Effects

• Physical dependence?

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Chronic Effects

• Behavioral
• Health