Physical And Pharmacological Effects Of Marijuana

Introduction:Cannabis, which is the most abused illicit drug in America (Gold, Frost-Pineda, & Jacobs, 2004,; NIDA, 2010, 2010), is also the most abused drug worldwide (UNODC, 2010. It is a Schedule-I substance in the United States, which means it is not legal for medical use and is highly addictive (US DEA 2010, 2010). Doweiko (2009) states that not all cannabis is abused. When referring to cannabis that has abuse potential, Doweiko suggests naturaliscbduk the use of the term marijuana. This paper uses the same terminology for clarity.

The debate over marijuana's legal status is raging around the world. It has been legalized in many Union states for medical use. This is called "medical marijuana", and it is praised by both advocates and opponents. This is why it was decided that this article would be based on the topic of the pharmacological and physical effects of marijuana.

What is marijuana?

Marijuana can also be called cannabis sativa. Some cannabis sativa plants are not prone to abuse and are known as hemp. Many fiber products, including newspaper and artist canvas, are made from hemp. We call cannabis sativa, which has potential abuse potential, marijuana (Doweiko 2009). It's interesting to see that even though marijuana has been extensively studied for years, researchers still don't know a lot about it. Although neuroscientists and biologists are well aware of the effects of marijuana, they don't know why (Hazelden 2005).

Deweiko (2009), Gold and Frost-Pineda (2005) point out that there are over 600 known chemicals in cannabis plants. Researchers have identified more than sixty of these compounds that could be responsible for psychoactive effects on the brain. THC is the most potent and well-known of these chemicals. Deweiko agrees with Hazelden (2005) that although we have many information about the neurophysical effects THC has, it is not clear why.

Neurobiology

THC, a psychoactive substance that affects the central nervous systems (CNS), is directly affecting them. It has a wide range of neurotransmitters that it affects and also catalyzes biochemical and enzyme activity. THC stimulates the CNS by activating specific neuroreceptors within the brain. This triggers various emotional and physical reactions. Only substances that are chemically identical to those produced by the brain can activate neurotransmitters. Scientists know that THC stimulates brain function and that it can activate neurotransmitters. It's still not clear why the brain has natural cannabinoid receptors or how they function (Hazelden 2005; Martin 2004). We do know that marijuana stimulates cannabinoid receptors twenty times more than any other neurotransmitter (Doweiko 2009).

The relationship between THC, the neurotransmitter Serotonin is perhaps the most mysterious. The most stimulating psychoactive drugs are the ones that stimulate serotonin receptors, with nicotine and alcohol being the most prominent. Regardless of the relationship between marijuana and the chemical, serotonin remains a poorly understood neurochemical. Its supposed neuroscientific functions and purposes are still largely hypothetical (Schuckit & Tapert 2004). Neuroscientists have confirmed that marijuana smokers have high levels of serotonin activity (Hazelden 2005). It is possible that this link between THC (and serotonin) may explain the "marijuana preservation program", which allows users to abstain from alcohol. This helps them avoid withdrawal symptoms and keeps them from consuming alcohol. Although "marijuana maintenance", which is an aid to alcohol abstinence, is not scientifically proven but it is something I have witnessed personally with many clients.

It is interesting to note that marijuana mimics many of the neurological effects of other drugs, making it difficult for researchers to classify it in a particular class. It can be classified as a psychedelic, hallucinogen, or serotonin inhibit. It mimics opioid-like chemical reactions. Other chemical reactions mimic stimulants (Ashton 2001; Gold Frost-Pineda & Jacobs 2004, 2004). Hazelden (2005) categorizes marijuana as a cannabinoids, a special type of marijuana. This confusion can be attributed to the complex nature of marijuana's psychoactive properties, both well-known and undiscovered. A recent client of mine couldn't recover from the visual distortions he experienced as a result pervasive psychedelic usage as long as he continued to smoke marijuana. It was likely that active cannabis had psychedelic effects (Ashton 2001). Although marijuana is not strong enough for these visual distortions, it was strong enough that the brain could not heal and recover.

Emotions

The brain is home to cannibinoid receptors, which have a broad impact on many functions. On the emotional level, stimulation of the brain’s nucleus incumbens can pervert the brain’s natural reward centres. Another is the amygdala, which controls emotions and fears (Adolphs Trane Damasio & Damasio 1995; Van Tuyl 2007, 2007).

My observation is that heavy marijuana smokers, whom I work with, seem to have a commonality in using the drug to control their anger. This observation is backed by scientific research. In fact, research has shown that marijuana use and anger management are clinically significant (Eftekhari Turner & Larimer 2004). Fear can cause anger, which is a defense mechanism that protects against the emotional consequences (Cramer 1998). Fear is a primary function of the amygdala, which is highly stimulated by marijuana use (Adolphs Trane Damasio & Damasio 1995; Van Tuyl 2007, 2007).

THC's Neurophysical Effects:

The neurological messages between transmitters, receptors control not only emotions but also psychological functioning. This is how the body controls both voluntary and nonvolitional functions. The cerebellum, as well as the basal Ganglia, control all bodily movement. These two areas are the most stimulated in the brain by marijuana. This is why marijuana has a physiological effect that causes altered blood pressure (Van Tuyl 2007) and weakening muscles (Doweiko 2009). THC eventually affects all neuromotor activity in some way (Gold, Frost, Pineda, and Jacobs, 2004).

One interesting phenomenon I've observed in clients who choose marijuana is that they smoke marijuana before eating. This can be explained by the effects of marijuana on "CB-1", a receptor in the brain. CB-1 receptors are located in the brain's limbic system or nucleolus. This controls the reward pathways (Martin 2004). These reward pathways affect our appetite and eating habits. They are part of the body’s natural survival instinct. Dopamine is released when we eat food, and this rewards us with dopamine (Hazeldon 2005). Martin (2004) makes the connection by pointing out that marijuana users are unique in the way the stimulation of the CB-1 receptor directly triggers the appetite.

What is the difference between high-grade and low-grade?

One of my current clients explains that he used to smoke up to 15 joints of low-grade marijuana every day, but switched to high-grade when it became ineffective. He eventually stopped smoking high-grade marijuana, and he found that fifteen joints of it was ineffective. He did not always get the "high" he was looking for. The entire process took place within five years after the client had his first experience with marijuana. What is the difference between high-grade and low-grade marijuana? And why does marijuana lose its effects over time?

THC is the key to determining how potent marijuana is. The street's potency increases as the market becomes more competitive. This has led to a rise in potency, which responds to the demand. The average joint of marijuana today contains the same amount of THC as 10 average joints of marijuana from the 1960's (Hazelden 2005).

The part of the cannabis leaf being used to produce THC will determine how high it is. Cannabis buds can be up to nine times as potent than fully grown leaves. High-quality buds can produce higher levels of THC when they are made from hash oil (Gold, Frost, & Jacobs, 2004,).

Tolerance

Tolerance is clinically defined as the need to increase the amount of marijuana smoked or to intensify the dosage. The brain works efficiently. The brain recognizes that neuroreceptors have been stimulated but not by neurotransmitters and reduces the chemical output to bring the total levels back down to normal. As the brain has "tolerated" higher levels of chemicals, the smoker will no longer feel high. The cycle continues as the smoker increases the dose. For a time, the smoker might find it more effective to switch grades. The brain may stop producing the chemical completely and rely on synthetic versions (Gold, Frost, Pineda & Jacobs 2004; Hazelden 2005).

Why is there no withdrawal?

The other side of tolerance is called "dependence." The body ceases to produce its own natural chemicals and requires the user to continue to smoke marijuana to maintain the chemical functions. It is becoming extremely difficult for users to stop smoking marijuana because the body has now ordered the consumption of THC. Studies show that marijuana dependence is more severe than cocaine and other harder drugs (Gold, Frost, Pineda, & Jacobs 2004).

The body can react in dangerous and often harmful ways when it stops using stimulants or opioids. This is due to the brain's natural neurotransmission of these chemicals having stopped long ago. This is called withdrawal (Haney 2004; Hazelden 2005; Tabakoff & Hoffman 2004).

Although research has shown similar withdrawal reactions in marijuana users to those in alcohol and other drugs (Ashton 2001), I have seen the lack of withdrawal symptoms in many clients that I have met. Although they may feel the cravings, they do not experience the same neurophysical withdrawal symptoms as other drug users. This is a common reason marijuana smokers claim that marijuana "isn't a drug". They should not be subject to the same treatment or pursue recovery efforts as any other drug or alcohol abusers.

THC is unique in the way it is stored within the body, so there is no acute withdrawal. THC, unlike alcohol, can be expelled from the body in a matter of days. THC is initially rapidly distributed by the heart, brain, and lungs when it is inhaled by a smoker (Ashton 2001). THC is converted to protein eventually and stored in body fat and muscles. The second stage of THC storage in body fat reserves is much slower. The slow release of THC from fat stores begins when the user stops smoking. Although the body's reentry rate is too slow for any psychoactive effects to be produced, it can help ease withdrawal symptoms. The more one smokes, the more THC one has. THC is stored more efficiently when there is more body mass (Doweiko 2009). It can take as long as 30 days for urine screens to show cleared THC levels in large clients.

THC's slow, taper-like cleansing is similar to the slow rate at which you feel the psychoactive effect. Clients say that they don't feel high from smoking marijuana immediately. It takes time for the body to adjust to the effects before they experience the high. This is due to the slow absorption into fatty tissue of THC, which reaches peak levels in about 4-5 days. The physiological response to marijuana smoking will increase rapidly as the THC slowly releases into the bloodstream. This leads to a second high. The user will continue this process until high levels of THC build up in their bodies and reach the brain. Finally, the THC will be distributed to the motor, limbic and neocortical areas previously described (Ashton 2001).

Physiology

So far, we have described the neurology and neurophysiology behind marijuana. There are also many physical aspects to marijuana smoking. National Institute on Drug Abuse (2010) states that marijuana smokers may have the same respiratory problems as those who smoke tobacco. These include daily cough, phlegm, frequent acute chest illnesses, and an increased risk of developing lung infections. Research has shown that chronic marijuana smokers have greater health problems than non-smokers due to respiratory illnesses.

Although there is no definitive evidence to support the negative effects of marijuana on biophysical health, it has been suggested that some research may be lacking. Although we know marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic carbons than tobacco smoke, it is not conclusive (Ashton, 2001, Gold, Frost-Pineda, & Jacobs, 2004, NIDA, 2010). Some research has shown that marijuana smokers have a dysregulated growth of epithelial cell in their lung tissue, which could lead to cancer. However, other studies have not shown any positive associations between marijuana and lung, upper respiratory or upper digestive tract cancers. The most shocking fact is that experts all agree that there has never been a single recorded death due to marijuana smoking.