“”Spice” is an umbrella term for a variety of synthetic cannabinoid products whose inhalation has been associated with an increasing number of toxic side effects resulting in emergency department visits. These side effects (including psychosis, tachyarrhythmia, and seizures) are not typically seen with marijuana (Cannabis sativa) use.”
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Cannabis, a complex plant: different compounds and different effects on individuals.
“Cannabis is a complex plant, with major compounds such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, which have opposing effects. The discovery of its compounds has led to the further discovery of an important neurotransmitter system called the endocannabinoid system.
This system is widely distributed in the brain and in the body, and is considered to be responsible for numerous significant functions.
There has been a recent and consistent worldwide increase in cannabis potency, with increasing associated health concerns. A number of epidemiological research projects have shown links between dose-related cannabis use and an increased risk of development of an enduring psychotic illness. However, it is also known that not everyone who uses cannabis is affected adversely in the same way.
What makes someone more susceptible to its negative effects is not yet known, however there are some emerging vulnerability factors, ranging from certain genes to personality characteristics.
In this article we first provide an overview of the biochemical basis of cannabis research by examining the different effects of the two main compounds of the plant and the endocannabinoid system, and then go on to review available information on the possible factors explaining variation of its effects upon different individuals.”
Doctor: Marijuana is a needed option
“There was a personal reason why Dr. Gary Blick became one of the nearly 100 physicians in the state who are licensed to prescribe medical marijuana.”I did this because my 91-year-old mother, who has glaucoma,” he said. “Her glaucoma eye drops had failed to produce the desired results and she was facing surgery.”
Glaucoma is a disease in which the eye typically has excessive internal pressure, damaging the nerve fibers of the retina, the delicate tissue at the back of the eye that’s sensitive to light and color.
“She was needing surgery to repair her eyes,” he said. “But after we started her on medical marijuana, her pressures dropped, and when she stopped smoking marijuana, the pressures went back up again.”
He said her testimony in Hartford last year had the legislative committee considering the bill “in stitches,” even though her testimony countered testimony of the president of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians, who said marijuana would not be helpful to glaucoma patients.
“So one of the senators said, `Are you aware of Gloria Blick‘s testimony?’ To which he replied, `Well, I guess it would help some people.’ To which the senator replied, `Isn’t that what we’re here for?’ ”
Blick sees medical marijuana as just one of the arsenal of options that physicians should have to ease pain and provide relief for various diseases.”
More: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Doctor-Marijuana-is-a-needed-option-4740995.php#src=fb
Rx Marijuana: Most Readers Support Use
“In one way or another, more than 80% of MedPage Today readers have a favorable opinion about medical marijuana.
A total of 60.7% of the more than 5,600 readers who voted in our survey last week indicated they have always favored medical marijuana, while another 20.4% who had previously opposed the legalization of pot as a medication indicated a change of heart (read “My Cannabis Conversion” by Dr. Sanjay Gupta).
Many readers suggested medical marijuana is a better option than the current crop of legal opiates.”
More: http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/41176
Why Pot Makes You Feel Good
“Explaining the chemistry behind medical marijuana that got Sanjay Gupta and others to finally believe.”
“Last week, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta grabbed headlines for coming out in support of the validity of the medical use of marijuana, something he had opposed in the past. What changed his mind? …”Science”.
Here’s what he — and those studying the chemistry of marijuana — now understand.”
More: http://www.alternet.org/drugs/why-pot-makes-you-feel-good
Loss of CB1 receptors leads to decreased cathepsin D levels and accelerated lipofuscin accumulation in the hippocampus.
“Early onset of age-related changes in the brain of cannabinoid 1 receptor knockout (Cnr1-/-) mice suggests that cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor activity significantly influences the progression of brain aging. In the present study we show that lack of CB1 receptors leads to a significant increase in lipofuscin accumulation and a reduced expression and activity of cathepsin D, lysosomal protease implicated in the degradation of damaged macromolecules, in the hippocampus of 12-month-old mice. The impaired clearance of damaged macromolecules due to the low cathepsin D levels and not enhanced oxidative stress may be responsible for the lipofuscin accumulation because macromolecule oxidation levels were comparable between the genotypes within the same age group. The altered levels of autophagy markers p62 and LC3-II suggest that autophagy is upregulated in CB1 knockout mice. Increased autophagic flux in the absence of CB1 receptors is probably a compensatory mechanism to partially counteract decreased lysosomal degradation capacity. Together, these results suggest that CB1 receptor activity affects lysosomal activity, degradation of damaged macromolecules and thus it may influence the course and onset of brain aging.”
Crosstalk between Dopamine D2 receptors and cannabinoid CB1 receptors regulates CNR1 promoter activity via ERK1/2 signaling.
“Previously, we found that chronic methamphetamine treatment altered CB1 R-dependent cAMP/PKA/DARPP-32/T34/PP2B signaling and decreased levels of CB1 R protein and mRNA in the nucleus accumbens. These findings suggested the existence of signaling interplay between mesolimbic dopamine and CB1 R. In the current study, we further investigate interactions between CB1 R and D2 R signaling. Activation of either CB1 R or D2 R increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation, while co-stimulation of CB1 R and D2 R evoked an additive effect on the phospho-ERK1/2 signal. This effect was mediated through a PTX-sensitive Gαi/o pathway in primary striatal cells. Furthermore, the mRNA level of CB1 R was increased via D2S R by treatment with D2 R agonist quinpirole in D2S R/C6 glioma cells. This effect could be suppressed by co-treatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126. To test if D2S R could transcriptionally regulate CB1 R, the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) of the CNR1 gene was sequenced from rat brain. Results showed that the CNR1 gene includes two exons, which contain 375 bp. of 5′-UTR and are separated by a 17-kb. intron. A luciferase reporter assay showed that the maximal D2S R-responsive promoter activity is located in the -1 to -222 region of CNR1 promoter. Overall, we demonstrate previously unidentified crosstalk between D2 R and CB1 R via ERK1/2 signaling that enhances the expression of CB1 R by modulating its promoter activity.”
Cannabis users have higher premorbid IQ than other patients with first onset psychosis.
“A number of studies have reported that patients with psychosis who use cannabis have better cognitive performance than those who do not.
… we tested the hypothesis that patients who smoked cannabis would have a higher premorbid IQ than patients who did not.
Patients who had ever smoked cannabis had significantly higher current and premorbid IQ compared to patients who had never used cannabis…”
Pot Is Not a Gateway Drug! – DiscoveryNews
“Pot has been blamed for years as a gateway to doing harder drugs. But new data suggests that not only is this blame misappropriated but there’s actually another more accessible and damaging culprit out there.”
Pot Is Not A Gateway Drug! (Video) – msn
“Pot has been blamed for years as a gateway to doing harder drugs. But new data suggests not only is this blame misappropriated, there’s actually another more accessible and damaging culprit out there…”