1. Ron Bradbury, Presenter Marijuana One of the Oldest Known Drugs Part 11 Drugs and Our Society

2. 1.M edicinal value - described by ancients in writings -Chinese / Greeks / Persians / Romans - muscle spasms / pain / indigestion a. Euphoric effects - 20th century - “heinous drug” - b. Use restricted - Marijuana Tax Act (1937)

3. 2.Hemp plant - “cannabis sativa” a. delta-9-tetrahydracannabinol (THC) - grows throughout the world - grows throughout the world b. Several factors influence THC levels - gender / soil / climate / harvesting / etc - gender / soil / climate / harvesting / etc c. Between 4% and 24% THC

4. Chemical Makeup of Marijuana 3.C ontains more than 500 chemicals -60 unique to plant -called ‘Cannabinoids’ a. Carcinogenic compound in smoke - called benzopyrene - 50% to 70% more b. Inhalation of marijuana smoke - 5 times as much tar

5. Species of Marijuana 4.Three primary species a. Cannabis sativa - higher THC level - higher THC level b. Cannabis indica - grown for psychoactive properties - grown for psychoactive properties c. Cannabis ruderalis - low potency of THC - low potency of THC

6. Marijuana Terminology 5.Wording used in the marijuana drug culture a. Ganja - top and flowers of female cannabis plant - top and flowers of female cannabis plant b. Bhang - lower leaves / stems / and seeds - lower leaves / stems / and seeds c. Sinsemilla (without seeds) - unfertilized female cannabis plant - unfertilized female cannabis plant

7. Other Forms of Marijuana 6.Hashish and hash oil a. Hashish - ‘resin’ of the cannabis plant - ‘resin’ of the cannabis plant - THC more potent - THC more potent - smoked in a pipe - smoked in a pipe b. Hash oil - THC content of 60% - THC content of 60% - mixed with tobacco and smoked - mixed with tobacco and smoked

8. THC Levels 7.Up to 1990: average THC was 2% to 5% - much stronger today - from 8% to 16% a. Varies from grower to grower b. Depends on type of fertilizers used / soil conditions / cultivation / etc.

9. Points of Origin 8.Marijuana plant: resilient / grow anywhere a. Areas of production - high growth rate in Columbia / Mexico - high growth rate in Columbia / Mexico - other Latin American countries - other Latin American countries - Caribbean and Asia - Caribbean and Asia b. Grows freely in former Soviet Union

10. Areas of Production, cont. - produce 11,000 metric tons on 2.5 million acres - produce 11,000 metric tons on 2.5 million acres c. 25% used in US is domestic - important to economy: California / Kentucky / No. Carolina / Oregon / Tennessee - important to economy: California / Kentucky / No. Carolina / Oregon / Tennessee - federal / state / private lands - federal / state / private lands

11. Extent of Use 9.4 th most commonly used drug worldwide - 7% of Americans used in past 30 days - 40.4% in lifetime (sporadic) a. India / Jamaica / Greece / Egypt - daily / greater quantities - daily / greater quantities b. Male high school athletes - higher rate (non-athletes) - higher rate (non-athletes) - female athletes less (non-athletes) - female athletes less (non-athletes)

12. Extent, cont c. Correlation: - lower grades - lower grades - higher truancy - higher truancy - less religious commitment - less religious commitment d. Cost varies greatly: - Boston to Honolulu - Boston to Honolulu - $150.00 to $300.00 per ounce - $150.00 to $300.00 per ounce

13. Pharmacology of Marijuana 10.Smoked or ingested -commonly smoked in US -ingested: other countries a. Smoked - takes effect more quickly - takes effect more quickly - THC: 3 times more potent - THC: 3 times more potent - effects: 2 to 4 hours - effects: 2 to 4 hours

14. Pharmacology, cont b. Ingested - effects last longer (3 – 12 hours) - effects last longer (3 – 12 hours) c. Rolled into cigarettes - reefer / joint / stick / rock / etc. - reefer / joint / stick / rock / etc. c. Made into a “blunt” d. Smoked in pipes / bongs - bongs: filtered through water - bongs: filtered through water

15. Pharmacology, cont. 11.Absorption -reaches brain in seconds -psychological / physical effects a. Euphoric - sensory effects - sensory effects - last several hours - last several hours - intensive: felt in 30 minutes (peak) - intensive: felt in 30 minutes (peak)

16. Pharmacology, cont. b. Smoked b. Smoked - half THC absorbed in lungs - half THC absorbed in lungs - ingested: much less - ingested: much less 12.Tolerance - no physical tolerance develops (animal studies) studies) - disputed as to humans

17. Tolerance, cont. - likely among daily users - likely among daily users b. No evidence of reverse tolerance - get high with less - get high with less - usually the setting / familiarity - usually the setting / familiarity 13.Physical dependence - does not occur

18. Physical Dependence, cont. - young people it may (sensitive) - young people it may (sensitive) a. Withdrawal symptoms (vary) - nervous / tension / restlessness / - nervous / tension / restlessness / appetite change appetite change - sleep disturbance (70 mos. daily use) - sleep disturbance (70 mos. daily use) b. Immediate effect: reduce aggression b. Immediate effect: reduce aggression

19. Psychological Dependence 1.Believe it can result in dependence - most occasional - do not become compulsive 2.Drug itself = not lead to increased use a. Perceived need is responsible - compulsive use / dependence - compulsive use / dependence - need is psychosocial - need is psychosocial

20. Decriminalization and Legalization 1.1972: Presidential Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse -recommended decriminalization a. 1973 to 1978: 11 states decriminalized - Oregon was first - Oregon was first - still illegal to possess (infraction) - still illegal to possess (infraction) b. Illegal in every state except Alaska - 4 ounces (grown / possessed) - 4 ounces (grown / possessed)

21. Decriminalization / Legalization, cont. c. 1998: Oregon referendum re-criminalize d. Recent reform initiatives: - Alaska Hemp: yes = 41% / no = 59% - Alaska Hemp: yes = 41% / no = 59% - California Prop. 36: drug treatment - California Prop. 36: drug treatment yes = 61% / no = 39%

22. Reform Initiatives, cont. e. Mendocino County Measure G - legal cultivation / personal possession - legal cultivation / personal possession - yes = 58% / no = 42% - yes = 58% / no = 42% f. Colorado Amendment 20 - medical use: yes = 54% / no = 46% - medical use: yes = 54% / no = 46% g. Massachusetts Question 8 - drug treatment: yes = 48% / no = 52% - drug treatment: yes = 48% / no = 52%

23. Reform Initiatives, cont. h. Nevada Question 9 - medical use / creation of legal supply - medical use / creation of legal supply - yes = 65% / no = 35% - yes = 65% / no = 35% i. Oregon Measure 3 - prohibition of asset forfeiture without - prohibition of asset forfeiture without conviction conviction - yes = 67% / no = 33% - yes = 67% / no = 33% - Utah: yes = 69% / no = 31% - Utah: yes = 69% / no = 31%

24. Behavioral Effects 1.A new user has to learn how a. First step: - deeply inhaling the smoke - deeply inhaling the smoke - hold in lungs (20 to 40 seconds) - hold in lungs (20 to 40 seconds) b. Second step: - learn to identify effects - learn to identify effects c. Third step:

25. Behavioral Effects, cont. - learning to control effects - learning to control effects d. Final step: - labeling effects as “pleasant” - labeling effects as “pleasant” e. Because of this learning process: - first time user - first time user - does not achieve euphoric “stoned” or “high” of repeat user - does not achieve euphoric “stoned” or “high” of repeat user

26. Behavioral Effects, cont. 2.Effects by experienced user - well established - cannabis high has several stages a. Initial effects: - often somewhat stimulating - often somewhat stimulating - elicit mild tension / anxiety - elicit mild tension / anxiety b. Replaced by feeling of well-being

27. Behavioral Effects, cont. c. Later effects: - feel introspective / tranquil - feel introspective / tranquil - rapid mood changes - rapid mood changes - periods of hilarity - periods of hilarity - followed by contemplative silence - followed by contemplative silence 3.One of the most consistent effects: - short term memory - tasks such as learning is difficult

28. Behavioral Effects, cont. - remembering new information - remembering / following a sequence of directions of directions 3.Everyday use while intoxicated: -unable to easily recall information told seconds or minutes before seconds or minutes before a. One researcher (A. Wikler) said:

29. Behavioral Effects, cont. “The drunkard staggers only when he walks... the pothead forgets only when he talks.” “The drunkard staggers only when he walks... the pothead forgets only when he talks.” b. No comprehension of time - more time passed than actual - more time passed than actual - most reported psychological effect - most reported psychological effect

30. Behavioral Effects, cont. c. Loss of concentration demonstrated - in interpersonal communications - in interpersonal communications 4.Half-Life of THC - rapidly absorbed into bloodstream - distributed first to the brain - then rest of body

31. Behavioral Effects, cont. a. Within 30 minutes - most already gone from brain - most already gone from brain b. THC remaining in blood - half-life of 19 hours - half-life of 19 hours c. Metabolites formed in liver - half-life of 50 hours - half-life of 50 hours

32. Behavioral Effects, cont. d. After one week: - 15% to 20% - 15% to 20% - THC and its metabolites - THC and its metabolites - might still remain in the body - might still remain in the body