Table of Contents:
[
General /
Adrenergic /
Amphetamine
]
[
Ergogenic /
Hormones /
Steroids
]
[
Over the Counter /
Recreational
]
[ Related / Drugs
Interactive Module ]
[ Alcohol
/ Caffeine / Tobacco
]
[ Cocaine / Marijuana / Heroin
]
The NCAA bans Marijuana .
What is the history of marijuana use?
Cannabis Sativa was originally used for weaving. However, the
plants medicinal properties were discovered in early Chinese
history.
- In 2657 BC in China, hemp was recommended as a cure for
gout, rheumatism, malaria, beriberi, constipation and absentmindedness.
- Marijuana is called hemp because of the woody fibers of
the stem which can be used to make cloth.
- The term cannabis comes from the Latin word for hemp.
- The mind-altering effects of cannabis were enhanced by
inhalation of the fumes of hemp seed thrown on hot bricks
during the 5th century BC The hashish pipe was used to cool
the hot fumes of the burning cannabis resin, which was known
as hashish
- In North America, hemp was planted near Jamestown in 1611
for use in making rope
- George Washington cultivated a field of hemp at Mount
Vernon
- In the early 1800s U.S. doctors used hemp for medicinal
purposes. As hemp was replaced by cotton the hemp plant
in the U.S became a weed
- The Harrison Act of 1914 prohibited cocaine and heroin
but not the use of marijuana
- The Marijuana Tax Act in 1937 was passed to prohibit the
use of hemp as an intoxicant and regulated its medicinal
use
- Marijuana remains an illegal substance, although 8 U.S.
states have passed laws to allow marijuana use for medical
purposes
What are the patterns of marijuana use in the United
States?
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Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit
substance of abuse in the United States. More than 20 million
Americans are current marijuana users.
Marijuana is one of the largest cash producing
crops in some states in this country.
What is the chemistry of marijuana?
Marijuana is derived from the plant Cannabis Sativa that grows
in many parts of the world. Most researchers agree that there
is only one species (sativa) and all the variants belong to
that species. Others believe that the variants are three distinct
species. India is considered to have the most potent resin.
Climate, soil, and selective plant breeding all have a large
influence on the potency of marijuana.
Cannabis consists of a male and female plant.
After releasing its pollen the male plant usually dies and the
male plant is removed once the female plant has been pollinated.
There are more than 400 different chemicals in
the cannabis plant. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the
primary psychoactive agent in marijuana.
THC is mostly concentrated in the flowering tops
and upper leaves of the female plant.
When the plant is crushed or eaten the flowering
tops produce resin in which THC is found. In cultivated marijuana
male plants are removed from the fields so that they can not
pollinate the female plants. Lack of pollination increases the
potency of female plants. This method produces a type of marijuana
known as Sinsemilla, which means without seeds in Spanish, which
is one of the most potent varieties of marijuana available.
The average concentration of THC is 7.5% and can reach as high
as 24%. The amount of THC found in "street" sold marijuana
ranges from 0.5% to 11%.
Hashish is another cannabis derivative that contains
the purest form resin.
Another derivative of cannabis plant is "ganja"
which consists of the dried tops of female plants. The weakest
from of marijuana is known as "bhang" popularly called
"ditch weed." It is made from parts of the cannabis
plant that contain the least amount of THC. Marijuana is also
mixed into drinks, teas and cookie or brownie batter.
What are the behavioral effects of marijuana use?
A general analysis of the pharmacology of marijuana is difficult
due to the variations in dosage, presence of contaminants and
the many additives and adulterants (such as PCP) added to marijuana
products. Marijuana produces both central nervous system excitation
and depression. These effects are expressed both behaviorally
and neurophysiologically. In most individuals low to moderate
doses of marijuana produce euphoria and relaxation. After a
few minutes of holding the smoke in the lungs most people experience
the "high." During this state the individual experiences
a dry mouth, increased heart rate, loss of coordination and
balance and slower reaction times; however, the state of euphoria
is usually short lived. A typical high from one marijuana cigarette
may last from 2 to 3 hours. Impaired memory and impaired physical
coordination are often side effects of use.
What are the physiological effects of marijuana use?
Marijuana affects the central nervous system. The effects of
marijuana on the CNS can vary depending on the route of administration,
the dosage, the setting and previous use. Marijuana users report
a sense of altered perceptions associated with hunger. High
doses can cause hallucinations, delusions and paranoia and anxiety.
Long-term users show a decreased interest in goals, decreased
concentration, and making appropriate decisions and memory loss.
Marijuana use can also cause serious damage to the lungs and
impair respiratory function. Cannabis produces more tar than
an equivalent weight of tobacco. Blood vessels of the eyes expand
due to vasodilation causing a reddening of the eye. Some users
experience high blood pressure. These effects can become intensified
with the use of other drugs such as LSD and psychedelic "mushrooms."
Marijuana use may interfere with sexual function
and reproduction. Marijuana increases vasodilatation in the
genitals delaying ejaculation. High doses over a period of time
lead to depression and a loss of libido and impotence. The total
number of sperm per unit volume is decreased during ejaculation.
These effects can be associated with lower fertility and a higher
chance of producing abnormal embryo.
Tolerance and dependence - Tolerance to a drug
means that the drug effect becomes less intense with repeated
use. Frequent use of marijuana can also produce tolerance, which
means that higher doses are needed to obtain the same effects.
Frequent use of high doses of marijuana in some cases can lead
to physical and psychological dependence.
What are the pharmacokinetic properties of marijuana?
Marijuana is most often inhaled, but it can also be eaten. The
bioavailability of marijuana is much higher when smoked. Delta-9
THC and the other cannabinoids are lipid soluble and can enter
the brain and other tissues very rapidly. The terminal half-life
of delta-9THC in blood is about 20 hours. Delta-9 THC is rapidly
metabolized to 11-hydroxytetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH) which
is converted into THC-COOH and THC-DI-OH. The half-life of these
metabolites is 50 hours or more. Twenty percent (20%) of the
metabolites remain in the body for 1 week. Complete elimination
may take up to 1 month. Measurable levels of THC in blood from
chronic users can be detected for several days or weeks after
their last marijuana use.
What are the therapeutic uses of marijuana?
Cannabis was used to treat many types of illnesses for thousands
of years throughout the world. The medicinal use of marijuana
in the U.S. was prohibited after the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act,
which categorized marijuana as a narcotic. During the past decade
there has been a renewed interest in the medicinal use of marijuana
in the U.S.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved
the use of purified THC as the drug called Marinol (ronabinol)
for treatment of nausea in cancer patients. Marijuana has also
been used to stimulate appetite in patents with advanced AIDS
who are suffering from severe anorexia.
What are the effects of marijuana use on athletic performance?
Marijuana use can cause changes in personality, induce hallucinations,
delusions and symptoms of psychosis. The primary effects of
marijuana produced on the CNS can impair short-term memory and
perception. Other effects associated with marijuana use are
tachycardia, bronchodilation, increased blood flow to the limbs,
and decreased maximal work capacity.
Can a person test positive from being in a room with
marijuana smokers?
Under extreme conditions and depending on the amount of time
an individual spends with marijuana smokers, it is possible
to inhale enough marijuana to test positive for marijuana. However,
most drug testing programs have established drug testing cut-off
levels that preclude this possibility.
