Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is a hemp plant that originated from Asia. At first sight of the plant it looks quite bizarre and unusual. Cannabis can grow up to twenty feet tall with at least five leaflets that have sharp teeth like edges. Although the leaflets make the plant appear unappealing, the flower gives off a different message with its vibrant colors, ranging from light green to dark purple. Before any part of the cannabis can be absorbed into the human body it must first go through a process called “curing.” Curing is the process of drying out the leaves and flowers of the plant. Once absorbed into the body, you get a sudden feeling of relaxation and happiness, medically known as euphoria. The use of cannabis has been …show more content…
“Marijuana contains more than 460 active chemicals and over 60 unique cannabinoids” (Seamon et al. 1037-1044). Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds within the cannabis such as, THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). These two chemical compounds are responsible for more the majority of the active effects of marijuana. THC is more active in cannabis than CBD; it is responsible for the antiemetic affects and pain relief. THC is also the reason you get that “high” feeling that comes after digesting the cannabis.
The last five years have shown a remarkable increase in publications on cannabidiol mainly stimulated by the discovery of its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects. These studies have suggested a wide range of possible therapeutic effects of cannabidiol on several conditions, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory diseases, nausea and cancer (Zuardi).
Although users do not know how it works once in your body the cannabis is for anyone diagnosed with those illnesses or pains to anyone in those legalized (medical cannabis) states. Although cannabis does not compare to the harm of tobacco smoke, it still has some harms such as acquiring wheezing, coughing and bronchitis. But with a small transition of eating it or using a vaporizer, you eliminate all those undesired health risks. A vaporizer gives you all the vapor of the
Marijuana is composed of approximately over four hundred chemicals. According to the Mayo Clinic "Marijuana contains at least 60 chemicals called cannabinoids. Researchers are evaluating how effective some of these cannabinoids might be in controlling symptoms of certain medical conditions. For example: THC, an abbreviation for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is the main component responsible for marijuana's mind-altering effect. It also may help treat signs and symptoms such as nausea and vomiting that are associated with a number of medical conditions. Cannabinol and cannabidiol, these compounds have some of the properties of THC, but cause less psychoactive effects — the high. [...]” Medical marijuana can be used to treat a variety of illnesses ranging from anxiety to more life threatening diseases like cancer.
Medical marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a controversial topic because many find it beneficial as others find the usage to be recreational. Throughout the years, medical marijuana has gone through periods of times in which it was legal and illegal. Over the years laws have been developed in order to try and regulate the usage of the drug. Studies have shown many the benefits of treating diseases and symptoms. Today it is used in treatment with many different diseases and disorders such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and multiple sclerosis. As medical marijuana has different species and uses of the product, it is important to depict where the drug can be used for treatment. The usage of this drug enables patients to have a more positive and livable outcome with treatments.
The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, which is also the most responsible for its intoxicating effects, is known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC is one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana, and there are over sixty of them. It is the cannabinoid that produces the high, and although there are other cannabinoids present, the effect is different with the absence of THC. They interact with THC to affect its impact in a variety of ways: enhancing or attenuating it, speeding up or slowing down its onset, and influencing how long the effect lasts (Caulkin 7).
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds that are produced by cannabis and hemp plants. THC, a widely-known cannabinoid that comes from the cannabis plant, is one of the main compounds responsible for producing the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana use. Unlike THC, CBD, (short for Cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid and does not result in any type of high. It can be legally extracted from the hemp plant and consumed in support of a healthy, natural lifestyle. Although some people in the cannabis industry claim that CBD and THC should be used together for maximum health benefits, we at Omega CBD do not find this to be
Marijuana is a drug that divides people. Some people claim it as the wonder drug of the '90s, capable of relieving the symptoms of many serious illnesses. Others curse the day the cannabis plant was ever discovered. From pain relief to stimulating the appetites of patients on chemotherapy, marijuana seems to have plenty going for it as a medicine. The legalization of marijuana is a large controversy in many parts of the world today, but the obvious negative effects that the drug induces has kept it from being legalized. Many researchers have a strong positive attitude towards marijuana. It has been said that the drug is “worth investigating and even providing as a medicine for pain relief, severe
(Breene, Sophia). Cannabidiol contains pain relieving, anti-inflammatory and antipsychotic properties which makes many doctors believe that medical marijuana, or drugs made from cannabidiol at the very least, can help with “cancer related pains, pain from HIV or AIDS, [and] pain related to multiple sclerosis.” (Nampiaparampil, Devi) Medical marijuana works similar to opioids by binding to receptors in the brain however with medical marijuana THC mimics the natural neurotransmitter anandamide, (Breene, Sophia) a chemical that boost memory and learning, dulls pain, and stimulates appetite, by replacing it and binding itself with another neurotransmitter called dopamine, the chemical that mediated pleasure in the body. (Mandala, Anany). Do to THC’s interruption of the brain's natural processes, and the affects of smoke being inhaled when marijuana is consumed, medical marijuana may not be the alternative people are looking
Cannabis is natural, while pharmaceuticals are loaded with a wide assortment of chemicals that a great number of people can't even pronounce not to mention completely understand. These chemicals can prompt myriad reactions for the patients who use them. Pain killers can be extremely addictive and ruin patients' lives, while other standard medications can bring about gastrointestinal issues, visual deficiency, internal bleeding, organ failure, and even demise from complications or overdose. Numerous patients just can't deal with the every day long term effects of prescription drugs. With medical cannabis, patients can reap the benefits managing their side effects without worrying about habit, overdose or, genuine symptoms that aren't justified
Medical marijuana is a plant made of over 400 natural compounds and 80 of them are only found in cannabis plants. These unique compounds are called Cannabinoids. The Cannabinoids attach to receptors in the brain that search the body for similar compounds that occur, such as dopamine. The 5 major cannabinoids are THC, CBD, CBN, CBC, and CBG.
Researchers are focused on six non-hallucinogenic cannabis-derived chemicals, known as cannabinoids (University of St. George’s London, 2013). Research has shown that cellular receptors for marijuana’s active ingredients are present throughout the body, referred to the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system apparently has an impact on the autonomic nervous system, immune system, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system, cardiovascular system and endocrine network (Brody 2013). Over the past few years, researchers have shown interest in a cannabis-derived chemical known as cannabidiol (CBD). CBD does not cause a “high” and has been found to have
According to LEARN’s Prohbtd video, “CBD & THC are two cannabinoids of more than a hundred such chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant.” (LEARN) It is interesting to see more and more videos and other educational materials being introduced in regards to how beneficial cannabinoids are to the human body. Many people have conditions that would be benefitted by the continuous study of cannabinoids. ‘THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol is the feel good or high feeling portion of the plant and CBD or Cannabidiol is the medical part of the plant. The CBD is the part that researchers are trying to implement for use for individuals different medical conditions. We all have an endocannabinoid system that helps to keep us healthy and balanced biologically.’
What is Cannabis? Cannabis occurs naturally as dried flowering of cannabis sativa plant.[1] Commonly known as marijuana, It is either consumed by smoking or as an infused edible form. Cannabinoids are the active compounds extracted from cannabis. Currently, marijuana may be obtained at registered pharmacies over the counter in many states only on the recommendation of physician. As it is not classified as medicine, prescription cannot be dispensed in measurable quantity. Not only is it available in raw form but is also sold as a constituent of other edible products such as muffins, lemon bars, lollipops and gummy bears! This availability of the product in such infused forms gives the users a false sense of harmlessness associated with its use. The two proven indications for the use of the synthetic cannabinoid (dronabinol) are chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and AIDS-related anorexia. Other possible effects that may prove beneficial in the oncology include
Using marijuana for medicinal purposes was not recently discovered. According to riversideonline.com people have been using marijuana for pain relief since the 1800s. In fact, the THC that is in cannabis can work well in treating cancer pain as codeine, a mild pain reliever.
First, CBD and THC are only two of the sixty cannabinoids in marijuana. What is CBD? It is a cannabinoids find in marijuana called cannabidiol and is different than THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) because CBD is a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory but it doesn’t give you the mind altering “high” that THC does. (3) The body produces its own kind of cannabinoids to deal with pain. (4)
A “cannabinoid” is just any group of compounds that contain the active ingredients of cannabis. THC is the abbreviation of tetrahydrocannabinol, it is a lipophilic molecule. Lipophilic just means fat soluable. Luckily, this trait makes it easy for THC to travel through cell membranes. Eventually, “cannabinoids” reach the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. These receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system. The system plays an important role in the nervous system’s functioning, so any change in the endocannabinoid system will produce
Various forms of these polyketides exist as complex mixtures of compounds such as; mono- and diterpenes, flavones, phenylpropanoids, stilbenoids, flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, phytocannabinoids, alkaloids and more (Andre, Hausman, & Guerriero, 2016). Additionally, these compounds are essential as a natural defense mechanism against predators, attracting pollinators, along with exhibiting potent insecticide, antifungal, and antibacterial properties (Andre et al., 2016). Cannabinoids have not only demonstrated a versatile array of functions but have unveiled an underlying endogenous lipid system known as the endocannabinoid system which is involved in; immunomodulation, inhibiting metabolic pathways involved in various forms of cancers, attenuating pain receptors, and antiepileptic activity (Burstein & Zurier, 2009; Cabral, Rogers, & Lichtman, 2015; Fine & Rosenfeld, 2013; Grotenhermen,Franjo; Müller-Vahl, 2012; Hermanson & Marnett, 2011). Therefore, cannabis demonstrates promising pharmaceutical potential in the treatment of myriad of diseases such as; multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, duvet syndrome, and more (Aso & Ferrer, 2014; Blair, Deshpande, & DeLorenzo, 2015; Lastres-Becker, Molina-Holgado, Ramos, Mechoulam, & Fernández-Ruiz, 2005; Zajicek & Apostu,