Cannabis physiological effects

Several physiological roles of endocannabinoids have been identified, including memoiy, cognition, movement, and pain perception (Stella et al. 1997). Elucidation of the endocannabinoid systems is essential to the understanding of the effects of cannabis. There are both similarities and some pointed differences between the effects of exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids. 

The significance of transfer of cannabinoids into human breast milk depends on whether it occurs at levels sufficient to elicit physiological or behavioral effects in a nursing infant. Comprehensive development studies of the infants of mothers using cannabis during pregnancy and/or lactation are required. Such studies are now in progress. (14). 

A9-Tfetrahydrocannabinol (A9-THC), the psychoactive constituent of Cannabis binds to a specific G-protein coupled receptor in the brain. Although the cannabinoid receptor in the rat and in the human has been cloned, its physiological function is unknown. The well established behavioral effects of THC and the abundance and anatomical localization of the receptor in the brain suggest a role for the receptor in the control of movement, memory, emotions and pain modulation, amongst other activities. 

In contrast, animal research is devoid of many of the above critiques and results are thus not confounded by, for example, polydrug use, low sample sizes, pretreatment differences, etc. Consequently, the main focus of this chapter rests on such animal models and the effects of acute and chronic cannabis administration on learning, memory, and related brain physiology. 

This chapter reviews common research methods used to recruit, screen, and enroll research subjects, to administer cannabis to them, and to measure its physiological and psychological (including both subjective and cognitive) effects. Methods of monitoring for and minimizing possible adverse effects of cannabis (both physical and psychological) will also be described. 

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