Marijuana.com

Hashishi

Pharmacology and therapeutics
3-26-'07 | Salem-News.com | by Dr. Phillip Leveque

Marijuana/cannabis pharmacology is probably the most complex of any therapeutic agent. The pharmacology appears to be put together by a Rube Goldberg- like madman.

There are several unique factors of this medicine. First of all, it is effective for an incredible list of apparently disparate medical conditions (probably 100 or more).

Secondly, the most prominent active ingredient, THC, is one of the most potent drugs with two milligrams being the effective dose. For morphine, it is six milligrams.

The THC medical effects are modulated by CBD, a relative structure which is present in natural THC at about 1% of the THC.

Fourth, euphoria, feeling high, which is considered to be a bad side effect of pure THC, (the composition of Marinol) is caused by a metabolized form, Hydroxy THC which effect is modulated/reduced by CBD and possibly related structures.

Because the medical effects of cannabis/marijuana/THC effect two different areas of the body, this article will concentrate on the brain or central nervous system:

The medical conditions seemingly medicated by the brain are as follows:

(1) Alzheimer's rage. The precise cause of this doesn't seem to be known, but if euphoria or "good feeling" is beneficial and blood vessel dilation are effects of THC, these could be the actions.

(2) Relief of severe pain is probably the most common reason for marijuana/cannabis use. THC and many other cannabinoids acting on CB receptors in the brain reduce pain similar to morphine.

(3) Seizures like epilepsy, but also others, are well controlled by the natural cannabinoids. I don't believe Marinol has been recommended for this.

(4) Neuromuscular spasm conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Tourettes, Restless Leg Syndrome, etc., are effectively treated with marijuana/cannabis.

(5) Some physicians are treating schizophrenia, depression, ADD/ADHD etc. successfully.

(6) Most recently, PTSD has been found to respond very favorably to marijuana/cannabis treatment.

(7) Withdrawal symptoms of morphine/heroin, nicotine, alcohol, etc. have historically been treated with cannabis/marijuana. This may seem strange to many who think marijuana addictive. If it is, it is far less addictive than these others.

If some aspect of "Reefer Madness" seems to appear in these writings, I must confess I don't use it, but the pharmacology of cannabis is so complex that I feel a bit foolish by trying to simplify it.

Cannabis research has produced literally thousands of medical article which seem to be so complex that government pseudo-scientists can't read or understand them.

__________________
SWP



"I'm not into this detail stuff. I'm more concepty." -- "If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't, I'll just respond, cleverly." -- "Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this administration except for those instances where Colin's still learning." -- "As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns: the ones we don't know we don't know."