Ron Bradbury, Presenter

MarijuanaOne of the Oldest Known Drugs

Part 11

Drugs and Our Society

1.1. Medicinal valueMedicinal value- described by ancients in writings- described by ancients in writings-- Chinese / Greeks / Persians / RomansChinese / Greeks / Persians / Romans- muscle spasms / pain / indigestion- muscle spasms / pain / indigestion

a. a. Euphoric effectsEuphoric effects- 20- 20thth century century- “- “heinous drugheinous drug””- -

b. Use restricted b. Use restricted - - Marijuana Tax ActMarijuana Tax Act (1937) (1937)

2.2. Hemp plantHemp plant

-- “ “cannabis sativa”cannabis sativa”

a. delta-9-tetrahydracannabinol (THC)a. delta-9-tetrahydracannabinol (THC)

- grows throughout the world- grows throughout the world

b. Several factors influence THC levelsb. Several factors influence THC levels

- gender / soil / climate / harvesting / - gender / soil / climate / harvesting / etcetc

c. Between 4% and 24% THCc. Between 4% and 24% THC

Chemical Makeup of Chemical Makeup of MarijuanaMarijuana3.3. Contains more than 500 chemicalsContains more than 500 chemicals

-- 60 unique to plant60 unique to plant

-- called ‘called ‘CannabinoidsCannabinoids’’

a. Carcinogenic compound in smokea. Carcinogenic compound in smoke

- called - called benzopyrenebenzopyrene

- 50% to 70% more- 50% to 70% more

b. Inhalation of marijuana smokeb. Inhalation of marijuana smoke

- 5 times as much tar- 5 times as much tar

Species of MarijuanaSpecies of Marijuana

4.4. Three primary speciesThree primary species

a. a. Cannabis sativaCannabis sativa

- higher THC level- higher THC level

b. b. Cannabis indicaCannabis indica

- grown for psychoactive properties- grown for psychoactive properties

c. c. Cannabis ruderalisCannabis ruderalis

- low potency of THC- low potency of THC

Marijuana TerminologyMarijuana Terminology5.5. Wording used in the marijuana drug Wording used in the marijuana drug

cultureculture

a. a. GanjaGanja

- top and flowers of female - top and flowers of female cannabis cannabis plant plant

b. b. BhangBhang

- lower leaves / stems / and seeds- lower leaves / stems / and seeds

c. c. SinsemillaSinsemilla (without seeds) (without seeds)

- unfertilized female cannabis plant- unfertilized female cannabis plant

Other Forms of MarijuanaOther Forms of Marijuana

6.6. Hashish and hash oilHashish and hash oil

a.a. HashishHashish

- ‘- ‘resinresin’ of the cannabis plant’ of the cannabis plant

- THC more potent- THC more potent

- smoked in a pipe- smoked in a pipe

b. b. Hash oilHash oil

- THC content of 60%- THC content of 60%

- mixed with tobacco and smoked- mixed with tobacco and smoked

THC LevelsTHC Levels

7.7. Up to 1990: average THC was 2% to 5%Up to 1990: average THC was 2% to 5%-- much stronger today much stronger today-- from 8% to 16% from 8% to 16%

a. Varies from grower to growera. Varies from grower to grower

b. Depends on type of fertilizers used / b. Depends on type of fertilizers used / soil conditions / cultivation / etc. soil conditions / cultivation / etc.

Points of OriginPoints of Origin8.8. Marijuana plant: resilient / grow anywhere Marijuana plant: resilient / grow anywhere

a. Areas of productiona. Areas of production

- high growth rate in Columbia / - high growth rate in Columbia / MexicoMexico

- other Latin American countries- other Latin American countries

- Caribbean and Asia- Caribbean and Asia

b. Grows freely in former Soviet Unionb. Grows freely in former Soviet Union

Areas of Production, Areas of Production, cont.cont.

- produce 11,000 metric tons on - produce 11,000 metric tons on 2.5 2.5 million acres million acres

c. 25% used in US is domesticc. 25% used in US is domestic

- important to economy: - important to economy: California / Kentucky / No. California / Kentucky / No. Carolina / Oregon / Tennessee Carolina / Oregon / Tennessee

- federal / state / private lands - federal / state / private lands

Extent of UseExtent of Use

9.9. 44thth most commonly used drug worldwide most commonly used drug worldwide

-- 7% of Americans used in past 30 days 7% of Americans used in past 30 days

-- 40.4% in lifetime (sporadic) 40.4% in lifetime (sporadic)

a. India / Jamaica / Greece / Egypta. India / Jamaica / Greece / Egypt

- daily / greater quantities- daily / greater quantities

b. Male high school athletesb. Male high school athletes

- higher rate (non-athletes)- higher rate (non-athletes)

- female athletes less (non-athletes)- female athletes less (non-athletes)

Extent, contExtent, cont

c. Correlation: c. Correlation:

- lower grades - lower grades

- higher truancy- higher truancy

- less religious commitment- less religious commitment

d. Cost varies greatly:d. Cost varies greatly:

- Boston to Honolulu- Boston to Honolulu

- $150.00 to $300.00 per ounce- $150.00 to $300.00 per ounce

Pharmacology of MarijuanaPharmacology of Marijuana

10.10. Smoked or ingestedSmoked or ingested

-- commonly smoked in UScommonly smoked in US

-- ingested: other countriesingested: other countries

a. a. SmokedSmoked

- 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

Pharmacology, contPharmacology, cont

b. b. IngestedIngested

- effects last longer (3 – 12 hours)- effects last longer (3 – 12 hours)

c. Rolled into cigarettesc. Rolled into cigarettes

- reefer / joint / stick / rock / etc.- reefer / joint / stick / rock / etc.

c. Made into a “c. Made into a “bluntblunt””

d. Smoked in pipes / bongsd. Smoked in pipes / bongs

- bongs: filtered through water - bongs: filtered through water

Pharmacology, cont.Pharmacology, cont.

11.11. AbsorptionAbsorption

-- reaches brain in secondsreaches brain in seconds

-- psychological / physical effects psychological / physical effects

a. a. EuphoricEuphoric

- sensory effects- sensory effects

- last several hours- last several hours

- intensive: felt in 30 minutes - intensive: felt in 30 minutes (peak)(peak)

Pharmacology, cont.Pharmacology, cont.

b. b. SmokedSmoked

- half THC absorbed in lungs- half THC absorbed in lungs

- - ingestedingested: much less: much less

12.12. ToleranceTolerance

-- no physical tolerance develops no physical tolerance develops (animal(animal

studies)studies)

-- disputed as to humans disputed as to humans

Tolerance, cont.Tolerance, cont.

- likely among daily users- likely among daily users

b. No evidence of reverse toleranceb. No evidence of reverse tolerance

- get high with less - get high with less

- usually the setting / familiarity- usually the setting / familiarity

13.13. Physical dependencePhysical dependence

-- does not occur does not occur

Physical Dependence, cont.Physical Dependence, cont.

- young people it may (sensitive)- young people it may (sensitive)

a. Withdrawal symptoms (vary)a. Withdrawal symptoms (vary)

- nervous / tension / restlessness /- nervous / tension / restlessness /

appetite changeappetite change

- sleep disturbance (70 mos. daily use)- sleep disturbance (70 mos. daily use)

b. Immediate effect: reduce aggressionb. Immediate effect: reduce aggression

Psychological DependencePsychological Dependence

1.1. Believe it can result in dependenceBelieve it can result in dependence

- most occasional - most occasional

- do not become compulsive- do not become compulsive

2.2. Drug itself = not lead to increased useDrug itself = not lead to increased use

a. Perceived need is responsiblea. Perceived need is responsible

- compulsive use / dependence- compulsive use / dependence

- need is psychosocial- need is psychosocial

Decriminalization and LegalizationDecriminalization and Legalization

1.1. 1972: 1972: Presidential Commission on Presidential Commission on Marijuana and Drug AbuseMarijuana and Drug Abuse-- recommended decriminalizationrecommended decriminalization

a. 1973 to 1978: 11 states decriminalizeda. 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 Alaskab. Illegal in every state except Alaska - 4 ounces (grown / possessed)- 4 ounces (grown / possessed)

Decriminalization / Legalization, cont.Decriminalization / Legalization, cont.

c. 1998: Oregon referendum re-criminalizec. 1998: Oregon referendum re-criminalize

d. d. Recent reform initiatives:Recent reform initiatives:

- - Alaska HempAlaska Hemp: yes = 41% / no = 59%: yes = 41% / no = 59%

- - California Prop. 36California Prop. 36: drug treatment : drug treatment yes = 61% / no = 39%yes = 61% / no = 39%

Reform Initiatives, cont.Reform Initiatives, cont.e. e. Mendocino County Measure GMendocino County Measure G - legal cultivation / personal - legal cultivation / personal

possessionpossession - yes = 58% / no = 42%- yes = 58% / no = 42%

f. f. Colorado Amendment 20Colorado Amendment 20 - medical use: yes = 54% / no = 46%- medical use: yes = 54% / no = 46%

g. g. Massachusetts Question 8Massachusetts Question 8 - drug treatment: yes = 48% / no = 52%- drug treatment: yes = 48% / no = 52%

Reform Initiatives, cont.Reform Initiatives, cont.h. h. Nevada Question 9Nevada Question 9

- medical use / creation of legal supply - medical use / creation of legal supply

- yes = 65% / no = 35%- yes = 65% / no = 35%

i. i. Oregon Measure 3Oregon Measure 3

- prohibition of asset forfeiture without- prohibition of asset forfeiture without

convictionconviction

- yes = 67% / no = 33%- yes = 67% / no = 33%

- - UtahUtah: yes = 69% / no = 31%: yes = 69% / no = 31%

Behavioral EffectsBehavioral Effects1.1. A new user has to learn howA new user has to learn how

a. a. First stepFirst step:: - deeply inhaling the smoke- deeply inhaling the smoke - hold in lungs (20 to 40 seconds)- hold in lungs (20 to 40 seconds)

b. b. Second stepSecond step:: - learn to identify effects- learn to identify effects

c. c. Third stepThird step::

Behavioral Effects, cont.Behavioral Effects, cont. - learning to control effects- learning to control effects

d. d. Final stepFinal step::

- labeling effects as “pleasant”- labeling effects as “pleasant”

e. Because of this learning process:e. Because of this learning process:

- first time user- first time user

- does not achieve euphoric - does not achieve euphoric “stoned” or “high” of repeat user“stoned” or “high” of repeat user

Behavioral Effects, cont.Behavioral Effects, cont.

2.2. Effects by experienced userEffects by experienced user

- well established- well established

- cannabis high has several stages- cannabis high has several stages

a. Initial effects:a. Initial effects:

- often somewhat stimulating- often somewhat stimulating

- elicit mild tension / anxiety- elicit mild tension / anxiety

b. Replaced by feeling of well-being b. Replaced by feeling of well-being

Behavioral Effects, cont.Behavioral Effects, cont.

c. c. Later effectsLater effects::

- feel introspective / tranquil- feel introspective / tranquil

- rapid mood changes- rapid mood changes

- periods of hilarity- periods of hilarity

- followed by contemplative - followed by contemplative silencesilence

3.3. One of the most consistent effects:One of the most consistent effects:

- short term memory- short term memory

- tasks such as learning is difficult- tasks such as learning is difficult

Behavioral Effects, cont.Behavioral Effects, cont.- remembering new information- remembering new information

- remembering / following a sequence- remembering / following a sequence

of directionsof directions

3.3. Everyday use while intoxicated:Everyday use while intoxicated:

-- unable to easily recall information toldunable to easily recall information told

seconds or minutes beforeseconds or minutes before

a. One researcher (A. Wikler) said:a. One researcher (A. Wikler) said:

Behavioral Effects, cont.Behavioral Effects, cont.

““The drunkard staggers only The drunkard staggers only when when he walks . . . the pothead he walks . . . the pothead forgets forgets only when he talks.” only when he talks.”

b. No comprehension of timeb. No comprehension of time

- more time passed than actual- more time passed than actual

- most reported psychological - most reported psychological effect effect

Behavioral Effects, cont.Behavioral Effects, cont.

c. Loss of concentration c. Loss of concentration demonstrateddemonstrated

- in interpersonal - in interpersonal communicationscommunications

4.4. Half-Life of THCHalf-Life of THC

- rapidly absorbed into bloodstream- rapidly absorbed into bloodstream

- distributed first to the brain- distributed first to the brain

- then rest of body- then rest of body

Behavioral Effects, cont.Behavioral Effects, cont.

a. Within 30 minutesa. Within 30 minutes

- most already gone from brain- most already gone from brain

b. THC remaining in bloodb. THC remaining in blood

- half-life of 19 hours- half-life of 19 hours

c. c. MetabolitesMetabolites formed in liver formed in liver

- half-life of 50 hours- half-life of 50 hours

Behavioral Effects, cont.Behavioral Effects, cont.

d. After one week: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