medicines mind-altering drugs

 l ysergic acid diethylamide (LSD),  mescaline,  psilocybin  tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (found in cannabis/marijuana)

Effects of LSD, mescaline, psilocybin  All three cause hallucinations (distortions in hearing and visual perception) i.e. hearing of voices and seeing of images which appear realistic but do not exist. This is because they disrupt the activity of the brain transmitter serotonin which is involved in the processing of hearing and sight.  In addition, each hallucinogenic also causes their own effects.

differences LSDmescalinepsilocybin Psychological dependence Effects of LSD may be experienced a year or more later after last use i.e. “flashbacks”. Nausea Trembling Liver damage Reduced appetite insomnia Feelings of relaxation Develop tolerance Sense of well- being

similarities in structure All three contain  benzene ring  amine group

similarities in structure Indole Ring

LSD  indole ring = a benzene ring to which is attached (fused) a five-membered ring with a nitrogen atom and a double carbon-carbon bond  amide  2 alkene - double bonds  2 amine groups: a secondary amine and a tertiary amine

psilocybin  indole ring  secondary amine  has an ionic end/tertiary amine ion  a phosphate group

mescaline  no indole ring  primary amine  ether (3 groups)

effects of cannabis The active ingredient in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and this has the following effects:  loss of sense of time  confusion  light-headedness  sense of floating  loss of inhibitions  euphoria  mental relaxation

tetrahydrocannabinol  phenol group,  ether  double carbon- carbon bond

legalize yesno no more or less damaging than other ‘legal’ drugs e.g. alcohol, tobacco offers pain relief from certain diseases such as AIDS and cancer relieves nausea in chemotherapy relieves tension and anxiety in terminally ill patients helps decrease pressure inside eyeball in patients suffering from glaucoma better control of quality of cannabis reduction of crime – police freed up to investigate other crimes Individual freedom argument reduces ability to drive causes dependence the possibility of cannabis users moving on to harder drugs – is a gateway drug harmful effects: Increased heart disease and cancer, may suppress immune system, respiratory ailments