Cannabinoids abuse

Cannabinoid Interaction with Brain Reward Systems The Neurobiological Basis of Cannabinoid Abuse." In Marijuana/Cannabinoids Neurobiology and Neurophysiology, edited by Laura L. Murphy and Andrzej Bartke. Boca Raton, Fla. CRC Press. 

Cannabinoids were used in medicine in the form of their crude extracts many centuries ago. Lately the use of cannabis for so-called recreational purposes has become a national vice of substantial proportions. Several attempts have been made to focus the potentially useful pharmacological properties of marijuana into drug molecules with no abuse potential. 

Johnston LD, O Malley PM, Bachman JG, et al Monitoring the Future National Results on Adolescent Drug Use Overview of Key Findings, 2003 (NIH Publ No 04—3506). Bethesda, MD National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2004 Jorda MA, Rayman N, Valk P, et al Identification, characterization, and function of a novel oncogene the peripheral cannabinoid receptor Cb2. Ann N Y Acad Sci 996 10-16, 2003... 

Makriyannis A, Banijamali A, Van der Schyf C, Jarrell H. The role of cannabinoid stereochemistry and absolute configuration and the orientation of A9-THC in the membrane bilayer. Structure-activity relationships of cannabinoids. In Rapaka RS, Makriyannis A, eds. Interactions of Cannabinoids with Membranes. National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph 79. Rockville, MD US Department of Health and Human Services, 1987. 

Pertwee RG (1990). The central neuropharmacology of psychotropic cannabinoids. In DJK Balfour (ed.), Psychotropic Drugs of Abuse (pp. 355 429). Pergamon Press, Elmsford, New York. 

Cocaine is clearly the drug of abuse most extensively studied around the world, when compared to other substances such as cannabinoids, heroin or amphetaminelike compounds. 

As shown in Table 2, cocaine concentrations are detected in almost all the studies targeting psychoactive substances or drugs of abuse in the literature, with the exception of Algiers and Serbia, where cannabinoids were found whilst cocaine was not (Tables 3 and 4). In the literature, cannabinoid concentrations are either expressed as A -tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) or as the sum of cannabinol, cannabidiol and THC (known as CBs). 

See National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Protocol Number 04-AA-0072, Clinical Trial of the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Antagonist, SR141716(Rimonabant),to Reduce Voluntary Ethanol Drinking in Healthy, Non-Treatment Seeking Individuals Who Consume Between 20 and 40 Drinks Per Week http //clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/deiail/A 2004-AA-0072.html... 

Abuse potential Some patients may use these agents for mood elevations or psychedelic experiences. Cannabinoids, barbiturates, opiates, and alcohol may have additive effects with anticholinergics. 

Cannabinoid hyperemesis. Nineteen patients were identified with chronic cannabis abuse and a cyclical vomiting illness. Pol-low-up was provided with serial urine drug... 

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