Cannabis

The use of marijuana for medicinal proposes dates back more then 5ooo years.

الحشاشون طائفة إسماعيلية، انشقت عن الفاطميين. أسسها الحسن بن الصباح الذي اتخذ من قلعة آلموت في فارس مركزًا لنشر دعوته وترسيخ أركان دولته. وقد تميزت هذه الطائفة باحتراف القتل والاغتيال لأهداف سياسية ودينية متعصبة. وكلمة الحشاشين: Assassin دخلت بأشكال مختلفة في الاستخدام الأوروبي بمعنى القتل خلسة أو غدراً أو بمعنى القاتل المحترف المأجور.

Cannabis spp. Cannabis is native to South Asia, where it was first cultivated and developed into the two varieties. It is now a cultivated crop and an invasive in many parts of the world. There are three species known: Cannabis sativa, C. indica and C. rudelaris The leaves are the most recognisable and well- known aspect of the cannabis plant. Despite the great degree of variation found naturally in local populations of cannabis, the leaves do not alter greatly in appearance between varieties.

What is Marijuana? Marijuana is the dried mix of flowers and leaves form the female Cannabis Sativa plant. Hashish is the resin, or sap, harvested from the plant. Hashish oil is the essential oil of the female Cannabis Sativa plant.

Cannabis Biology Major Drug Component – delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - binds to specific receptors in brain THC- produced in glands on leaves and flowers -- female plants produce more glands -- gland production stimulated by heat, sunlight, drought -- sinsemilla (sin = without semilla = seeds) – particularly strong Hashish – product - relatively pure resin GlandsTHC

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive substance found in the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, or marijuana.psychoactivehempmarijuana

Modes of Absorption The most common method of absorption is smoking. Either in a loosely rolled cigarette called a joint, or through a pipe or water pipe.

Smoking and the Body THC enters the body through the Lungs. The smoke is inhaled and held in the lungs. All affect how much THC will enter the plasma THC crosses the blood barrier through the capillaries in the lungs After inhalation THC can reach the brain in about 14 seconds

THC Effects Along with euphoria, relaxation is another frequently reported effect in human studies. Other effects, which vary dramatically from person to person, include heightened sensory perception (e.g., brighter colors), laughter, altered perception of time, and increased appetite. After a while, the euphoria subsides, and the user may feel sleepy or depressed. In some users, marijuana can produce anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic. Marijuana users who have taken large doses of the drug may experience an acute psychosis, which includes hallucinations, delusions, and a loss of the sense of personal identity. Although the specific causes of these symptoms remain unknown, they appear to occur more frequently when a high dose of cannabis is consumed in food or drink rather than smoked. The connection between marijuana use and cardiovascular risk could be partly explained by marijuana’s ability to increase heart rate (and blood pressure—at least initially) and reduce the blood's capacity to carry oxygen.

Cont… Marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus, which can be particularly disruptive to young people, who are at a stage in their lives when they should be absorbing critical information and skills needed to realize their full potential. THC also disrupts coordination and balance by affecting information processing in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks, participating in athletics, and driving are also affected. Not surprisingly, because marijuana impairs judgment and motor coordination and slows reaction time, an intoxicated person has an increased chance of being involved in and being responsible for an accident. And in fact, a recent systematic review of nine independent studies concluded that acute marijuana consumption is associated with a doubling of the risk of a motor vehicle crash, especially of fatal collisions.

Cannabinoids Type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1) are found in CNS Stimulation of these receptors has analgesic and anticonvulsant effects as well as antiemetic/antinausea effects

The Cannabis High Described Gives sensation of euphoria, relaxation, sexual arousal 1 st time users may experience nothing (experts say they must learn to appreciate the effects) Marijuana tends to inhibit aggression and accentuate caution as opposed to alcohol Marijuana causes time expansion (over estimation of time elapsed) Workers say that smoking marijuana help them to work harder

Marijuana smoke can have harmful effects on the heart. increased cardiac oxygen consumption Reduced blood flow in coronary arteries Increased carboxy-haemoglobin levels, reducing the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen negative overall impact on atherosclerotic heart disease.

Cannabinoids Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals which activate the body’s cannabinoid receptors. Before other types were discovered, the term referred to a unique group of secondary metabolites found in the Cannabis plant and now sometimes termed phytocannabinoids, which are responsible for the plant's peculiar pharmacological effects.

Cannabinoids There are three general types of cannabinoids: endogenous cannabinoids produced in the bodies of humans and other animals herbal cannabinoids present in the Cannabis plant synthetic cannabinoids similar compounds produced in a laboratory

Cannabinoid Receptors Beforethe 1980s, it was often speculated that cannabinoids produced their effects through non specific interaction with cell membranes, instead of interacting with specific receptors. The discovery of the first cannabinoid receptors in the 1980s helped to resolve this debate. These receptors are common in animals, and have been found in mammals, birds, fishes, and reptiles. There are currently two known types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2.

CB1 Receptors Found primarily in the brain (specifically basal ganglia, limbic system, including the hippocampus, and cerebellum) Most dense in brain regions involved with thinking and memory, attention and control of movement Also present in both male and female reproductive systems as well as in the lungs, liver and kidneys Appear to be responsible for the euphoric and anticonvulsive effects of Cannabis Essentially absent in the medulla oblongata, the part of the brain that is responsible for respiratory and cardiovascular functions. Thus, there is no risk of respiratory or cardiovascular failure as there is with many other drugs.

CB2 Receptor CB2 receptors are almost exclusively found in the immune system (T cells, macrophages, B cells), with the greatest density in the spleen CB2 receptors appear to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory and possible other therapeutic effects of Cannabis Also expressed on peripheral nerve terminals

Endocannabinoids Both Δ9-THC, the psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, and anandamide, an endogenous neurotransmitter in our brain, bind o the same cannabinoid receptor

Withdrawal Symptoms

Warning Marijuana is illegal in most places Marijuana is, in general, much less dangerous than it is made out to be, and certainly less harmful than legal drugs like tobacco and alcohol. It is impossible die from marijuana, unlike most other illegal drugs and many legal ones. Most of the supposed scientific evidence for brain damage, infertility, etc. have been disproven.