Podcast
Questions and Answers
What factor does NOT influence the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) in cannabis?
What was the typical THC content range of cannabis in the 2000s?
Which cannabis preparation is derived from the dried resin of the female plant?
In which decade did the average THC content of cannabis first reach approximately 10%?
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What form of cannabis typically contains the highest concentration of THC?
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What is one key characteristic of the female cannabis plant in relation to seed production?
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Which cannabinoid receptor is primarily involved in the effects of cannabis on physiological functions?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a medically beneficial potential effect of cannabinoids?
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What factor complicates the understanding of cannabis's impact on memory and focus for frequent users?
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Which of the following best describes a potential pathway that may underlie the craving for cannabis based on human fMRI evidence?
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Study Notes
Psychopharmacology of Addictive Behavior - Week 8: Cannabis/Cannabinoids
- The course is PYB260
- The lecture covers the action and effects of cannabis/cannabinoids
- The lecturer is Melanie White, QUT
Lecture Outline
- What is cannabis?
- History of cannabis
- Administration, distribution, and excretion of cannabis
- Physiological and performance effects of cannabis
- Conditioning, tolerance, and withdrawal effects of cannabis
- Harmful effects of cannabis
Reflection Questions
- Describe the absorption, distribution, and excretion profile of THC from oral vs. inhalation routes of administration
- What are the impacts for intended medicinal vs. recreational use desired properties?
- Explain the action of cannabinoids at the different CB receptors, the locations of these receptors, and how these give rise to different effects.
- Describe 3 medically beneficial potential effects of cannabinoids and name a drug licensed in Australia for some of these effects.
- Describe a friend with heavy cannabis use and forgetfulness/distractibility.
- Based on animal studies, how might cannabis use be linked to these problems?
- Based on human fMRI evidence, what pathways may underlie craving and compulsion to use cannabis?
What is Cannabis?
- Cannabis sativa
- Plants vary in size: male and female plants
- Female plants must be fertilized by pollen from male plants to produce seeds.
- Female plants produce sticky resin to attract pollen and protect seeds.
- Over 60 cannabinoids (all found only in cannabis).
- Amount of active ingredient Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC) varies.
- Preparation methods influence potency.
- Route of administration affects potency
- Inactive ingredients can alter potency or metabolism.
- All parts of the plant contain THC
- Burning, GI digestion, and metabolism can create new cannabinoids
Cannabis: Preparations
- Marijuana: dried leaves and flowers, usually smoked
- Hashish: dried resin from female plants, usually smoked or eaten
- Hash oil: hashish boiled in alcohol then evaporated, can be smoked
- Concentrates: extracts (dabs, wax, shatter), using butane hash oil solvent, can be vaporised
- Edibles: foods containing cannabis.
- Medicinal cannabis: TGA approved, capsules, or oral solutions
- THC content varies over time (1.5% - 30% but typically 3-15%)
- Industrial hemp contains less than 0.5 - 1% THC.
Table 1: Profile of Cannabinoid Content
- Data on cannabinoid content of seized cannabis samples in NSW.
- Figures for THC-A and THC content and others across various cannabis types (marijuana, sinsemilla, herbal)
Table 2: Profile of Cannabinoid Content (Indoor/Outdoor)
- Data on cannabinoid content of seized indoor and outdoor grown cannabis samples during NSW cannabis eradication program.
- Ranges, Mean (95%CI), and Median for various cannabinoids show differences between types of cannabis.
Historical Uses of Cannabis
- Fibre (e.g., clothes/textiles, paper, rope)
- Oil (lamp oil & food), ingredient in soap, paint, and varnish (seeds)
- Medicinal purposes
- Psychoactive properties
- Use continues for some of these purposes
Pharmaceutical Cannabinoids
- Marinol (dronabinol): THC extracted from cannabis, used for nausea & vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- Nabilone (Cesamet): synthetic THC, used for nausea & vomiting associated with cancer treatment, and weight loss associated with HIV
- Sativex: THC and CBD, and other cannabinoids; used to treat neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis patients.
- Epidyolex: CBD; used to treat seizures in people with rare epilepsy disorders.
History of Cannabis
- Indigenous use before recorded history.
- Historical medical uses (e.g., rheumatism, mania, whooping cough, & epilepsy).
- Legislation and regulation over time, including bans & legalisation, based on international and national levels.
- Australian usage and history of regulation over time.
2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS)
- Data about drug use in Australia, aged 14 and over.
- Figures provide information on prevalence of cannabis use.
Qld data from NDSHS 2022-23
- Data on cannabis use in Queensland.
- Figures and data for capital and regional averages
Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD)
- Systemic review/meta-analysis of 21 studies on the risk of CUD.
- Cannabis use correlates with a risk of CUD.
- Risk of CUD increases if use is early and frequent.
Harmful Effects of Cannabis
- Ongoing controversy around harm; no simple answers.
- Effects on reproduction (e.g., testosterone levels, sex drive, sperm motility, fertility in females, potential risk to offspring)
- Effects on respiration (e.g., bronchodilation, inflammation of airways, respiratory illness and cancer)
- Effects on violence (No convincing evidence of causality, but widely held belief of increased hostility and paranoia.)
- Effects on the brain (e.g., damage, loss of mental function, amotivational syndrome)
- Cannabis as a gateway drug (Correlation is high, but no causal evidence. Also, social or personality factors may be contributing.)
Effects of Cannabis
- Physiological and behavioral effects:
- Memory
- Attention
- Mood
- Performance (e.g., reaction time, complexity of tasks)
- Driving
- Sleep
- Psychosis
THC: Lethal Dose?
- Phylogenetically higher animals are less susceptible to the acute toxicity of THC.
Conditioning, Discrimination, Tolerance, and Withdrawal
- Conditioning/learning
- Discrimination (e.g. reliably discriminating THC from placebo)
- Tolerance develops
- Withdrawal symptoms
Administration, Absorption, and Distribution
- Oral administration
- Inhalation
- Distribution in the body
Excretion
- Phase 1 and Phase 2 excretion of THC
- Metabolism of other cannabinoids
Conclusion
- Summary of key learning points regarding cannabis.
- Importance of administration, distribution, and excretion, and physiological/behavioral effects.
- Importance of learning about harmful effects.
Reflection Questions (repeated)
- These are in the lecture outline or slide set.
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Description
Explore the action and effects of cannabis and cannabinoids in this Week 8 quiz from the PYB260 course. Delve into topics like THC absorption, the physiological impact of cannabis, and its harmful effects. Reflect on the medicinal versus recreational uses and the role of cannabinoid receptors.
