Cannabis sativa Cannabinoids, Hashish

Marijuana and hashish are derivatives of the cannabis sativa plant 919 Cannabinoid effects in the CNS are mediated by the CB1 receptor 919 Endocannabinoids are endogenous ligands for the CB1 receptor 919 Endocannabinoids serve as retrograde messengers 920 There are many similarities between endogenous opioid and cannabinoid systems 921... 

Marijuana and hashish are derivatives of the cannabis sativa plant. Although cannabinoids have been used for centuries for recreational and therapeutic purposes, dramatic advances in cannabinoid neurobiology have occurred since 1990 [34-37]. This is attributable to the cloning of cannabinoid receptors and the discovery of endogenous cannabinoids, termed endocannabinoids. 

The resin secreted by Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa, varieties of hemp, is known variously as marijuana, hashish or bhang and is abused as a hallucinogenic drug. It appears however to have some beneficial properties and is currently under test as an antiemetic in cancer therapy. The secretion contains a number of interrelated oxygen heterocycles, some of which are shown in Scheme 281, which attempts to indicate their biosynthetic relationships (70MI22401). The cannabinoids are probably derived from a monoterpene unit based on p-menthane and 5-n-pentylresorcinol (olivetol), acting the part of a polyketide. 2,2-Dimethylchromene biosynthesis also requires the intervention of an isoprene fragment. 

Hexanoate is also likely to feature as a starter unit in the formation of the cannabinoids, a group of terpenophenolics found in Indian hemp (Cannabis sativa Cannabaceae). This plant, and preparations from it, known under a variety of names including hashish, marihuana, pot, bhang, charas, and dagga, have been used for centuries for the pleasurable sensations and mild euphoria experienced after its consumption, usually by smoking. 

A >tetrahydrocannabinol is one of the active principles of cannabis (constituent of marijuana or hashish from Cannabis sativa) with lower psychoactivity than A -tetrahydrocannabinol. It is a cannabinoid receptor agonist and has (euphoric) sedative and mild PSYCHOTROPIC (hallucinogenic) properties, and ANTIEMETIC activity. A >tetrahydrocannabinol (A -tetrahydrocannabinol) is an active cannabinoid. It is a constituent of marijuana. The active (6aR,10aR)-(-)-trans-form = dronabinol. It is a CANNABINOID RECEPTOR AGONIST and has (euphoric) SEDATIVE and mild PSYCHOTROPIC (hallucinogenic) properties, and ANTIEMETIC activity. 

Cannabinoids are a group of C2i compounds found in the plant species Cannabis sativa. The principal psychoactive cannabinoid is A -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Figure 34-29). THC is typically consumed by smoking marijuana, which is a mixture of crushed leaves, flowers, and sometimes stems from the cannabis plant. Hashish, the dried, resinous... 

SOURCE K.H. Davis et al., "The Preparation and Analysis of Enriched and Pure Cannabinoids from Marihuana and Hashish," Uoydia 33 (1970) 453 F. Merkus, "Cannabivarin and Tetrahydrocannabivarin, Two Constituents of Hashish," Nature 232 (19711 579 P.S. Fetternrwn et al., "Mississippi Grown Cannabis sativa L.," Journal of Pharmaceutical Science 60 (1971) 1246 P. Chambon et al., "Problemes Poses Par la Culture Locale du Chanvre et Dosage des Chanvre," Bulletin des Traveaux de la Societa de Pharmacia da Lyon 16 (1972) 46. 

Marijuana consists of the leaves and flowering parts of the plant Cannabis sativa and is usually smoked in cigarettes ( joints or reefers ) or pipes or added to food (usually cookies or brownies). Resin from the plant may be dried and compressed into blocks called hashish. Marijuana contains a number of cannabinoids the primary psychoactive one is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is also available in capsule form (dronabinol or Marinol) as an appetite stimulant, used primarily for AIDS-related anorexia, and as treatment for vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. 

Cannabinoids are compounds that can be extracted from the cannabis sativa plant (marijuana) or the cannabis indica plant (hashish - Arabic word meaning grass), or produced synthetically, or produced in the body after ingestion and metabolism of cannabis, or even occur naturally within the body or brain (Solowij, 1998). The primary psychoactive cannabinoid is Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In this text the drug will most often be labeled THC, but occasionally the other terms will be used, especially in describing specific studies that refer to specific sources of the THC (e.g., marijuana). 

---