CHEN JP; PAREDES W; LI J; SMITH D; LOWINSON J; GARDNER EL
Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol produces naloxone-blockable enhancement of presynaptic basal dopamine efflux in nucleus accumbens of conscious, freely-moving rats as measured by intracerebral microdialysis.
Psychopharmacology Berl. 1990; 102(2): 156-62
This study examined the effects of acute administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, on extracellular efflux of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites as measured by in vivo microdialysis in nucleus accumbens of conscious, freely-moving rats. delta 9-THC, at low doses (0.5-1.0 mg/kg), which significantly enhance brain stimulation reward (intracranial self-stimulation), significantly increased DA efflux in nucleus accumbens. Augmentation of DA efflux by delta 9-THC was abolished by removal of calcium (Ca++) ions from the perfusion fluid, indicating a Ca(++)-dependence of delta 9-THC's action. Augmentation of DA efflux by delta 9-THC was either totally blocked or significantly attenuated by doses of naloxone as low as 0.1 mg/kg. Given the postulated role of mesocorticolimbic DA circuits in mediating and/or modulating brain stimulation reward, the present data raise the possibility that marijuana's rewarding effects, and hence its euphorigenic effects and abuse potential, may be related to pharmacological augmentation of presynaptic DA mechanisms. Additionally, the DA mechanisms enhanced by marijuana appear to be modulated by an endogenous opioid peptide system.
ELSOHLY MA; JONES AB; ELSOHLY HN
Cross-reactivity of selected compounds in the Abbott TDx cannabinoid assay.
J Anal Toxicol. 1990 Sep Oct; 14(5): 277-9
Immunoassay procedures, both enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay, continue to be widely used to screen samples for recent marijuana use by analyzing the urine samples for 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (11-nor-delta 9-THC-9-COOH) (the major urinary metabolite of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol [delta 9-THC]). Using commercially available immunoassay reagents, the cross-reactivity of the antiserum utilized in Abbott's TDx cannabinoid assay (a fluorescence polarization immunoassay) was evaluated. This cross-reactivity was evaluated against a group of cannabinoids and noncannabinoid phenolic constituents of Cannabis, some cannabinoid metabolites, and other agents that appear in normal urine samples. In general, the antiserum was equally reactive toward 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid, its glucuronide, and the corresponding delta 8-isomer, which was the acid moiety utilized in standards and controls of the assay prior to January, 1990. Reduced binding to the antiserum was observed with hydroxylated derivatives of delta 9- and delta 8-THC, and the other cannabinoids, in general, exhibited limited binding potentials toward the antibody. For the noncannabinoid constituents, no binding was observed at the highest concentrations evaluated (40 mg/L).
GIERINGER, DALE H
Marijuana, driving, and accident safety. Special Issue: Marijuana--an update.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1988 Jan-Mar Vol 20(1) 93-101
Discusses studies on the influence of marihuana on traffic and transportation safety, including (1) laboratory studies of marihuana impairment as related to psychomotor skills, impact on driving, tolerance, and alcohol use; (2) anecdotal reports of marihuana involvement in accidents; and (3) epidemiological accident studies. It is concluded that marihuana presents a real but secondary safety risk and that alcohol is the leading drug-related accident risk factor.
GURNEE CG; VIGIL DE; KRILL SMITH S; CROWLEY TJ
Substance abuse among American Indians in an urban treatment program.
Am Indian Alsk Native Ment Health Res. 1990; 3(3): 17-26
Chart reviews were used to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of 68 urban American Indian people attending an Indian-oriented outpatient substance-abuse treatment program in Denver, Colorado, and to describe program staff's assessment of client's response to treatment. Alcohol and marijuana were the drugs abused most frequently. The program admitted about equal numbers of males and females; age averaged 24 years. Although Colorado has only Ute reservations, 49% of clients were Sioux, while none were Ute. Moreover, 87% of clients were not active in Indian religion and culture. Clients had low educational achievement and very low income. Few were in stable marriages. In comparison to counselors, clients underestimated the severity of their problems. By counselors' assessment, 78% of clients did not finish the program, and only two fully achieved the treatment goals. Areas for further clinical research are suggested.
KELLY TH; FOLTIN RW; EMURIAN CS; FISCHMAN MW
Multidimensional behavioral effects of marijuana.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1990; 14(6): 885-902
1. Five groups of three healthy adult male volunteers (n = 15), all reporting occasional, controlled marijuana use, gave written consent and participated in residential studies lasting 6 to 15 days. 2. Subjects smoked marijuana cigarettes (0, 1.3, 2.3 or 2.7% THC, w/w) at 0945, 1330, 1700 and 2030 every day, and each subject received both active and placebo marijuana cigarettes in 2-5 consecutive day phases, with placebo and active doses presented in an alternating fashion. 3. In comparison with placebo, active marijuana produced a variety of effects on measures of human behavior, including increases in food consumption and errors on psychomotor tasks, decreases in bouts of tobacco-cigarette smoking and verbal interactions and no changes in rates of task performance, time spent under social conditions or social cooperation. 4. Dimensions of human behavior were differentially sensitive to the effects of smoked marijuana. 5. The simultaneous measurement of multiple dimensions of human behavior is a useful procedure for determining dose potency following marijuana administration.
LEIRER VO; YESAVAGE JA; MORROW DG
Marijuana carry-over effects on aircraft pilot performance.
Aviat Space Environ Med. 1991 Mar; 62(3): 221-7
This study finds evidence for 24-h carry-over effects of a moderate social dose of marijuana on a piloting task. In separate sessions, nine currently active pilots smoked one cigarette containing 20 mg of delta 9 THC and one Placebo cigarette. Using an aircraft simulator, pilots flew just before smoking, and 0.25, 4, 8, 24, and 48 h after smoking. Marijuana impaired performance at 0.25, 4, 8, and 24 h after smoking. While seven of the nine pilots showed some degree of impairment at 24 h after smoking, only one reported any awareness of the drug's effects. The results support our preliminary study and suggest that very complex human/machine performance can be impaired as long as 24 h after smoking a moderate social dose of marijuana, and that the user may be unaware of the drug's influence.
LUTSKY I; ABRAM SE; JACOBSON GR; HOPWOOD M; KAMPINE JP
Substance abuse by anesthesiology residents.
Acad Med. 1991 Mar; 66(3): 164-6
A 1989 cross-sectional substance abuse survey of 260 former anesthesiology residents of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) during the previous 30 years yielded 183 responses (70.3%). Over three-fourths (77.2%) of those who responded reported that they had used alcohol when they were residents; 20.0% had used marijuana; and 15.7% had used cocaine. Forty-three of the 178 respondents had used unprescribed psychoactive drugs. Twenty-nine (15.8%) had been self-admitted problematic substance abusers during their residencies: 23, alcohol dependent and six, drug dependent; among the latter were four with a dual (alcohol and drug) dependency. More than 85% considered the drug policy information available during their residencies had been inadequate; institutional drug-control policies were rated 'fair-to-poor' by more than 70%. Thirty-five of the residents had observed their teachers using alcohol and/or other drugs to the detriment of their teaching; approximately one-third of these infractions had gone unreported.
MATHRE, MARY L
A survey on disclosure of marijuana use to health care professionals. Special Issue: Marijuana--an update.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1988 Jan-Mar Vol 20(1) 117-120
Surveyed 898 members (aged 14-73 yrs) of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws to determine their willingness to share information about their marihuana use (MU) with physicians or nurses. Findings reveal that only 17% of Ss had been questioned about their MU by a physician during their last health care visit. Ss stated that they generally would not volunteer information about MU. Most Ss (59%) indicated that they would admit to MU if asked. It is concluded that most users are not being asked about MU by health care professionals.
NDOSI, N.K.
Cannabis and its health-damaging effects
The Dar es Salaam Medical Journal, v 10(2) pp. 10-12 ( 1993), Niger
CANNABIS / CANNABINOIDS / MARIJUANA ABUSE / MARIJUANA SMOKING / SUBSTANCE ABUSE / HEALTH PROMOTION / ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR
Cannabis is derived from the plant Cannabis sativa. Bhang or marijuana might be the cheapest and most readily available form of cannabis abused mainly by adolescents and young adults in Tanzania, but concrete data is lacking. Some of the drug abusers are mentally unstable individuals who lack self criticism and adequate self restraint. When bhang is smoked, cannabinoids are readily absorbed from the lung and bound by the grey matter of the brain. Cannabinoids are psychoactive ingredients which cause complex behavioural changes with stimulant and depressed properties. This article therefore, aims at raising more awareness concerning the health-damaging consequences of bhang abuse. . African Index Medicus
PAGE, J BRYAN; FLETCHER, JACK M; TRUE, WILLIAM R
Psychosociocultural perspectives on chronic cannabis use: The Costa Rican follow-up. Special Issue: Marijuana--an update.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1988 Jan-Mar Vol 20(1) 57-65
Conducted a 4-yr follow-up of Costa Rican marihuana users and matched nonusers previously studied by W. E. Carter et al (1980). 57 of 82 Ss were available at follow-up. They completed a test battery including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS); measures of lateralized motor and tactile performance, learning and memory, sustained attention and concentration, and speeded motor planning; the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF); and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Results indicate that users were slower in processing and on self-paced measures requiring sustained attention than nonusers. Anthropological findings are discussed with reference to cognitive function testing.
PROSS SH; KLEIN TW; NEWTON CA; SMITH J; WIDEN R; FRIEDMAN H
Differential suppression of T-cell subpopulations by thc (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).
Int J Immunopharmacol. 1990; 12(5): 539-44
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the major psychoactive component of marijuana, has been shown to suppress various immune functions in vivo and in vitro. THC suppresses murine T-lymphocyte proliferation; however, the effects on T-cell subsets remain unclear. We have stimulated cultured murine splenocytes with the mitogens concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) while exposing them to varying concentrations of THC. After three days, the cells were analyzed by the fluorescent activated cell sorter for the following T-cell markers--Thy1, L3T4 and Ly2. The Ly2 cells represent the suppressor/effector T-cells while L3T4 cells represent the helper T-cell subpopulations. The results show that the dose response suppressive effect of THC on T-cell proliferation reflects a preferential inhibition of Ly2 vs L3T4 cells. The effects of THC on other functional parameters are in the process of investigation.
RAINONE, GREGORY A; DEREN, SHERRY; KLEINMAN, PAULA H; WISH, ERIC D
Heavy marijuana users not in treatment: The continuing search for the 'pure' marijuana user.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1987 Oct-Dec Vol 19(4) 353-359
Attempted to locate 'pure' (i.e., exclusive) marihuana smokers to examine the relationship between heavy exclusive marihuana use and problem behaviors. Of the 99 adults and adolescents responding to an advertisement for heavy marihuana users, 12 met the criteria for exclusive marihuana use, suggesting that the pure user is a rare phenomenon. While only 10% of the Ss reported ever seeking treatment, nearly half reported problems resulting from their marihuana use. Findings suggest that heavy marihuana users who had engaged in lifetime multiple drug use had been introduced to marihuana early in life. It is concluded that efforts to locate pure users should be directed toward high-school aged populations.
RETTORI V; AGUILA MC; GIMENO MF; FRANCHI AM; MCCANN SM
In vitro effect of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol to stimulate somatostatin release and block that of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone by suppression of the release of prostaglandin E2.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 Dec; 87(24): 10063-6
Previous in vivo studies have shown that delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal active ingredient in marijuana, can suppress both luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH) secretion after its injection into the third ventricle of conscious male rats. The present studies were designed to determine the mechanism of these effects. Various doses of THC were incubated with either stalk median eminence fragments (MEs) or mediobasal hypothalamic (MBH) fragments in vitro. Although THC (10 nM) did not alter basal release of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) from MEs in vitro, it completely blocked the stimulatory action of dopamine or norepinephrine on LHRH release. The effective doses to block LHRH release were associated with a blockade of synthesis and release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) from MBH in vitro. In contrast to the suppressive effect of THC on LHRH release, somatostatin release from MEs was enhanced in a dose-related manner with a minimal effective dose of 1 nM. Since PGE2 suppresses somatostatin release, this enhancement may also be related to the suppressive effect of THC on PGE2 synthesis and release. We speculate that these actions are mediated by the recently discovered THC receptors in the tissue. The results indicate that the suppressive effect of THC on LH release is mediated by a blockade of LHRH release, whereas the suppressive effect of the compound on growth hormone release is mediated, at least in part, by a stimulation of somatostatin release.
ROFFMAN, ROGER A; STEPHENS, ROBERT S; SIMPSON, EDITH E; WHITAKER, DANIEL L
Treatment of marijuana dependence: Preliminary results. Special Issue: Marijuana--an update.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1988 Jan-Mar Vol 20(1) 129-137
Assessed the posttreatment outcome status of 99 marihuana-dependent adults randomly assigned to a relapse prevention-oriented cognitive-behavioral treatment model (RP) or a nonbehavioral treatment approach emphasizing social support and group discussion (SS). Although significant reductions in marihuana use occurred in both the RP and SS groups at 1 mo, findings suggest that the RP group had used marihuana on average a smaller number of days for the month than had the SS group. It is concluded that adult chronic marihuana users who are not concurrently abusing other substances can successfully be recruited into an abstinence-oriented treatment program.
SCHRAGER L; FRIEDLAND G; FEINER C; KAHL P
Demographic characteristics, drug use, and sexual behavior of i.v. drug user with AIDS in Bronx, New York.
Public Health Rep. 1991 Jan Feb; 106(1): 78-84
Intravenous (i.v.) drug users are a key factor in the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, yet epidemiologic information about this population, especially those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is scarce. The demographic characteristics, drug use behavior, and sexual practices of i.v. drug users who developed AIDS were prospectively studied at the Montefiore Medical Center from October 1984 to February 1988. The early wave of i.v. drug users with AIDS was characterized by poverty, minority overrepresentation (more than 80 percent were black or Hispanic), and initiation of i.v. drug use at an early age (median age 19 years). Injection of drugs and sharing of needles was frequent. Most had used so-called shooting galleries, but only for a minority of injection episodes. Heroin or cocaine use was almost universal, nearly always accompanied by abuse of another substance, usually alcohol or marijuana. Fewer than a third had ever participated in a methadone maintenance program, but more than 40 percent had been in prison since 1978. All patients had been sexually active, often with partners who were not i.v. drug users. The research suggests a complex interaction existing between high-risk demographic characteristics, drug use practice, and certain types of sexual behavior, all of which contributed to the early spread of HIV infection in this population. Efforts that are directed toward interrupting i.v. drug user-related transmission of HIV need to include consideration of these characteristics.
SIDNEY S
Evidence of discrepant data regarding trends in marijuana use and supply, 1985-1988.
J Psychoactive Drugs. 1990 Jul Sep; 22(3): 319-24
Between 1985 and 1988, the estimated number of current marijuana users (i.e., use within the past 30 days) in the United States declined 36%, based on self-report data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. During the same time period, estimated nondomestic production of marijuana available for consumption in the United States increased 58% and domestic production increased 119%, while there was no clear-cut trend in prices. Reports of marijuana use associated with emergency room visits more than doubled in these years. The reasons for these apparent discrepancies in the data regarding the supply and use of marijuana are unknown. The possible causes of change in these and other measures of illicit drug use are examined because they form the basis for assessment of the efficacy of the recently proposed 1989 National Drug Control Strategy.
SIDNEY S
Evidence of discrepant data regarding trends in marijuana use and supply, 1985-1988.
J Psychoactive Drugs. 1990 Jul Sep; 22(3): 319-24
Between 1985 and 1988, the estimated number of current marijuana users (i.e., use within the past 30 days) in the United States declined 36%, based on self-report data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. During the same time period, estimated nondomestic production of marijuana available for consumption in the United States increased 58% and domestic production increased 119%, while there was no clear-cut trend in prices. Reports of marijuana use associated with emergency room visits more than doubled in these years. The reasons for these apparent discrepancies in the data regarding the supply and use of marijuana are unknown. The possible causes of change in these and other measures of illicit drug use are examined because they form the basis for assessment of the efficacy of the recently proposed 1989 National Drug Control Strategy.
SOMMER, ROBERT
Two decades of marijuana attitudes: The more it changes, the more it is the same. Special Issue: Marijuana--an update.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1988 Jan-Mar Vol 20(1) 67-70
Examined the effect of the 1976 California reduction in penalties for marihuana possession on the attitudes of undergraduates toward the use of the drug, as part of the author's periodic assessment of student attitudes toward marihuana use (MU). Results indicate that the reduction in possession penalties was accompanied by a significant decrease in Ss' acceptance of MU. It is suggested that tolerance of MU by law enforcement officials increased during the same period. Speculation on the effects of further penalty reduction is included.
SPECTER S; LANCZ G; WESTRICH G; FRIEDMAN H
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol augments murine retroviral induced immunosuppression and infection.
Int J Immunopharmacol. 1991; 13(4): 411-7
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component in marijuana, and the murine retrovirus, Friend leukemia virus (FLV), have been demonstrated to depress cellular immune function, including lymphocyte blastogenic transformation and natural killer cell activity. The present study demonstrates tht the two agents can work in concert to depress these immune activities more severely than either agent administered by itself. When 7.5-10 micrograms/ml THC was added in vitro to spleen cells from mice infected 2-4 weeks earlier with FLV there was a noticeable decrease, beyond that seen with the drug or virus alone, for both lymphocyte blastogenesis and natural killer cell cytotoxicity. In addition, when both FLV and THC were administered to mice concurrently with infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV), mortality attributed to the retrovirus infection occurred significantly more rapidly than in the absence of the drug and HSV. The data indicate that THC acted in the presence of a HSV infection to enhance the FLV induced mortality. By extrapolation to the human condition, these results suggest that marijuana could serve as a cofactor, possibly in conjunction with opportunistic pathogens, in the progression of infection due to the human immunodeficiency virus from latency to overt acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
WU, TZU CHIN; TASHKIN, DONALD P; ROSE, JED E; DJAHED, BENHAM
Influence of marijuana potency and amount of cigarette consumed on marijuana smoking pattern. Special Issue: Marijuana--an update.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1988 Jan-Mar Vol 20(1) 43-46
Monitored the smoking patterns of 15 healthy adult male habitual marihuana users. Ss were observed while they smoked marihuana cigarettes (joints) containing 0.004% (placebo) or 1.24% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Ss reported feeling significantly more intoxicated after smoking the THC joint than after the placebo joint; however, there were no significant differences for the 2 strengths of marihuana in smoking parameters (e.g., puff number, inhaled volume of smoke). Results do not support observations by M. Perez-Reyes et al (1982) that less potent joints are smoked less aggressively or that the same smokers consume a smaller portion of more potent than less potent joints.
ZACNY JP; CHAIT LD
Response to marijuana as a function of potency and breathhold duration.
Psychopharmacology Berl. 1991; 103(2): 223-6
The present study examined the effects of systematic manipulation of breathhold duration (0 and 20 s) on the physiological and subjective response to active (M; 2.3% delta-9-THC) and placebo (P; 0.0% delta-9-THC) marijuana in a group of ten regular marijuana smokers. During the eight-session experiment, subjects were exposed twice to each of four experimental conditions (P0, P20, M0, M20), scheduled according to a randomized block design. A controlled smoking procedure was used in which the number of puffs and puff volume were held constant. Expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) levels were used to monitor smoke intake. Breathhold duration affected CO absorption; significantly more CO was absorbed from both P and M smoke after 20 s of breathholding (mean CO boost = 6.9 ppm) than after no breathholding (mean = 4.4 ppm). Heart rate was minimally affected by the breathhold manipulation. Effects of marijuana on mood were not consistently affected by breathhold duration. The results confirm previous findings that prolonged breathholding does not substantially enhance the effects of inhaled marijuana smoke.
ZWEBEN, JOAN E; O'CONNELL, KATHLEEN
Strategies for breaking marijuana dependence. Special Issue: Marijuana--an update.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1988 Jan-Mar Vol 20(1) 121-127
Discusses the process of withdrawal from marihuana and describes psychological and behavioral strategies for breaking marihuana dependence. Pharmacological adjuncts to these strategies that affect the endogenous opiate system are described. Improvement of the physical well-being of dependent patients, including stabilization of eating patterns, is considered. Behavioral strategies for breaking marihuana dependence involve identifying the stressors accompanying behavioral risk for drug abuse and developing coping strategies for withdrawal problems such as insomnia.
| HOFFMAN D;BRUNNEMANN K D; GORI G B; WYNDER E L On the Carcinogenicity of Marijuana Smoke Recent Advances in Phytochemistry; 9 (1975) p 63-81 | ||
| Comparison of Gaseous and Particulate components of Marijuana & Tobacco Smoke. | ||
| Substance/Carcinogen | Marijuana Smoke | Tobacco Smoke |
| Gas Phase Analysis: | ||
| Carbon monoxide (vol%) | 3.99 | 4.58 |
| Carbon monoxide (mg) | 17.6 | 20.2 |
| Carbon dioxide (vol%) | 8.23 | 9.38 |
| Carbon dioxide (mg) | 57.3 | 65.0 |
| Ammonia (ug) | 228 | 178 |
| HCN [Hydrogen cyanide] (ug) | 532 | 498 |
| Isoprene (ug) | 83 | 310 |
| Acetaldehyde (ug) | 1200 | 980 |
| Acetone (ug) | 443 | 578 |
| Acreolin (ug) | 92 | 85 |
| Acetonitrile (ug) | 132 | 123 |
| Benzene (ug) | 76 | 67 |
| Tolulene (ug) | 112 | 108 |
| Dimethylnitrosamine (ng) | 75 | 84 |
| Methylethylnitrosamine (ng) | 27 | 30 |
| Particulate matter analysis: | ||
| Phenol (ug) | 76.8 | 138.5 |
| o-Cresol (ug) | 17.9 | 24 |
| m-,p-Cresol (ug) | 54.4 | 65 |
| 2,4- and 2,5-dimethylphenol (ug) | 6.8 | 14.4 |
| * Cannabidiol (ug) | 190 | - |
| * Delta-9 THC (ug) | 820 | - |
| * Nicotine (ug) | - | 2850 |
| Naphtalene (ng) | 3000 | 1200 |
| l-methylnaphthalene (ng) | 6100 | 3650 |
| 2-methylnaphthalene (ng) | 3600 | 1400 |
| Benzo(a)anthracene (ng) | 75 | 43 |
| Benzo(a)pyrene (ng) | 31 | 22.1 |
| mg = milligram (thousands of a gram) ug = microgram (millionth of a gram) ng = nanogram (billionth of a gram) Subtances marked with * are psychoactive | ||