1. Effects of Cannabanoids on the brain! Delta 9-THC

2. Psycoactive Cannabinoids Euphoria Euphoria Enhancement of sensory perception Enhancement of sensory perception Tachycardia Tachycardia Antinociception Antinociception Impairment of memory Impairment of memory Difficulties in concentration Difficulties in concentration The use of psycoactive cannabinoids increase the activity of Dopamine neurons which are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward. This activation of dopaminergic neurons facilitates the mesolimbic nervous system. The use of psycoactive cannabinoids increase the activity of Dopamine neurons which are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward. This activation of dopaminergic neurons facilitates the mesolimbic nervous system.

3. DELTA 9-THC Induces cell death Induces cell death Causes shrinkage of Neurons and DNA fragmentation in the hippocampus. Causes shrinkage of Neurons and DNA fragmentation in the hippocampus. THC once in the bloodstream reaches the brain in seconds and then acts on the cannabinoid receptors in the brain activated by the neurotransmitter Anandamide and activates neurons. THC can mimic/block the actions of neurotransmitters and interfere with the normal brain function.

4. Cannabinoid Receptor sites There are 3 main Receptor sites : Basal Ganglia – responsible for unconscious muscle movements. Hippocampus – located in the Temporal Lobe is responsible for short-term memory. Cerebellum - responsible for co-ordination.

5. ‘THE MUNCHIES’ Endocannabinoids bind with receptors in the brain and “activate hunger”. There are 3 neuromodulatory lipids involved in the endocannabinoid system. 1. Arachidonic Acid 2. Anandamide 3. 2-arachidonylglycerol They bind to G protein-coupled receptors (CB1 receptors) in the brain.

6. G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors. CB1CB2 Highest densities occur in the hippocampus, cerebellum and the striatum. Highest densities occur in the hippocampus, cerebellum and the striatum. Causes stimulation of K channels Causes stimulation of K channels Inhibits adenylate cyclase. Inhibits adenylate cyclase. CB1 receptors trigger a cascade of reaction causing the decline in nerve impulses when there is cannabinoid consumption. CB1 receptors trigger a cascade of reaction causing the decline in nerve impulses when there is cannabinoid consumption. Memory loss can be attributed to flooding of cannabinoids into the hippocampus Memory loss can be attributed to flooding of cannabinoids into the hippocampus They are essentially absent in the medulla oblongata. They are essentially absent in the medulla oblongata. Highest densities occur in the spleen and in haemopoietic cells and has only 44% of overall nucleotide sequence identity with the CB1 receptors. Highest densities occur in the spleen and in haemopoietic cells and has only 44% of overall nucleotide sequence identity with the CB1 receptors. Immunosuppressive actions of marijuana. Immunosuppressive actions of marijuana. Mediates the inhibition of adenylate cyclase and activation of mitogen- activated protein. Mediates the inhibition of adenylate cyclase and activation of mitogen- activated protein. CB2 receptors have been shown to modulate acute pain, chronic inflammatory pain, post-surgical pain, cancer pain and pain associated with nerve injury. CB2 receptors have been shown to modulate acute pain, chronic inflammatory pain, post-surgical pain, cancer pain and pain associated with nerve injury.

7. Magnetic Resonance Imaging – MRI The real damage caused by the abuse of this class C drug can be seen on an MRI scan. The difference in the The difference in the amount of brain tissue between the user and the non-user is very evident. The use of cannabinoids affects the limbic system (emotion, reward) and the hippocampus (memory) the greatest.

8. Cannabinoids and the Brain The effects on the brain of cannabinoids are extreme but there are some known positive effects relating to a few neurological disorders: Epilepsy Epilepsy Multiple MultipleSclerosis Alzheimers Disease Alzheimers Disease Parkinsons Disease Parkinsons Disease Schizophrenia Schizophrenia

9. References cannibus.net cannibus.net www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html Health.howstuffworks.com Health.howstuffworks.com www.springer.com www.springer.com www.springer.com Oxfordjournals.org Oxfordjournals.org www.mindhacks.com www.mindhacks.com www.mindhacks.com Images.theage.com Images.theage.com Users.lycaeum.org Users.lycaeum.org