Cannabis varieties

Pharmacological Profiles of Anxiolytics and Sedative—Hypnotics. Historically, chemotherapy of anxiety and sleep disorders rehed on a wide variety of natural products such as opiates, alcohol, cannabis, and kawa pyrones. Use of various bromides and chloral derivatives ia these medical iadications enjoyed considerable popularity early ia the twentieth century. Upon the discovery of barbiturates, numerous synthetic compounds rapidly became available for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. As of this writing barbiturates are ia use primarily as iajectable general anesthetics (qv) and as antiepileptics. These agents have been largely replaced as treatment for anxiety and sleep disorders. 

Research on CBl knockout mice demonstrated the pivotal role of CBl receptors in cannabis dependence knockout mice have been shown not to self-administer cannabinoids (Ledent et al. 1999) and also to fail to exhibit symptoms ofSRl417l6A-precipitated withdrawal (Ledent et al. 1999 Lichtman et al. 2001). Although the research summarized earlier is consistent in reporting the occurrence of a variety of withdrawal symptoms following cessation of exposure to cannabinoids (which were injected), precipitated withdrawal in mice following chronic exposure to marijuana smoke was more recently reported (Lichtman and Martin 2002). 

Inexperienced users or individuals who are exposed to the drug unexpectedly (e.g., who unknowingly consume PCP-adulterated cannabis) may develop severe anxiety and panic because of the intensity and variety of symptoms. Perceptual distortions have sometimes led to extremely violent behavior, accidents, or self-damaging acts. An especially high risk of violent behavior has been reported in acutely intoxicated PCP users who have a history of psychiatric problems. Intoxication with doses in excess of 150 mg may lead to convulsions, coma, and death from respiratory arrest. Other complications include hypertensive crisis, intracerebral hemorrhage, and renal failure (Table 6-5). 

Some people find that carmabis makes them anxious and paranoid, both inexperienced users or people who are anxious or those who consume strong varieties or high doses of cannabis. Very heavy use by people who already have a predisposition to mental health problems may lead to very distressing experiences. 

These hallucinogenic properties were recognized when Cannabis was administered in a variety of ways. The Scythians threw hemp seeds on hot rocks... 

There is evidence for Cannabis use as early as 5,000 B.C. in Central Europe and there are probable references to it in the earliest writings of China and Egypt. The frozen tombs of the inhabitants of Siberia in about 500 B.C. have yielded quantities of seeds along with a variety of devices for burning them. A very hot, dry climate appears necessary for producing grass with high psychedelic activity, which may account for the failure to use Cannabis as an intoxicant in Northwestern Europe. ... 

In their next study, Shoyama and Nishioka isolated new spirocom-pounds cannabispirol and acetyl cannabispirol. This is in addition to the already known cannabispirone and cannabispirenone from a Japanese hemp variety. The two scientists included them in their biogenetic schema alongside the cannabinoid acids. In a further study, Shoyama et al. dealt with the biosynthesis of propylcannabinoid acids by in vitro incubation with raw enzyme solution from three species of Cannabis sativa KL. A biogenetic schema is presented illustrating the relationship between methyl, propyl and pentyl cannabinoid acids. 

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. 

In 1902, A Compend of Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Prescription Writing prescribed Cannabis indica—Indian hemp for a variety of colorful conditions Uterine affections, as chronic metritis [inflammation of the womb], subinvolution, menorrhagia, dysmen-orrhoea [painful menstruation], etc.,—its powers as an anodyne and stimulant of the uterine muscular fibre render it a very efficient agent. ... 

Until the twentieth century, cannabis was a legal product in every state. It was an accepted medication for a variety of conditions, and a frequent ingredient in patent medicines. In 1906, the Pure Food and Dmg Act forbade the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or misbranded or poisonous or deleterious foods, drugs, medicines, and liquors, including those containing cannabis. The law put most patent medicine manufacturers out of business. 

Despite society s focus on the marijuana high, cannabis historically has provided many meaningful industrial and medicinal values that are not attributed to its psychoactive effects. Researchers discovered that cannabis crops farmed as far back as 12,000 years ago yielded hemp, a distinct variety of the cannabis plant associated with little or no psychoactivity. The first evidence of the medicinal use of cannabis can be traced to a Chinese health publication from... 

Touting it as a nerve tonic, doctors began to prescribe tincture of marijuana for a variety of conditions. However, pharmacies posted a warning that large doses of this medicinal remedy were dangerous and considered narcotic (addictive). In addition, physicians found that cannabis stimulated the appetite. By 1887, dentists found hemp to be an excellent topical anesthetic for performing dental procedures on their patients. Cannabis was also found to be a powerful disinfectant. 

The three most prevalent varieties of the Indian hemp plant are Cannabis sativa (C. sativa), the most common of the three varieties, which is tall, loosely branched, and grows as high as 20 feet Cannabis indica, which is three or four feet in height, pyramidal in shape, and densely branched and Cannabis ruderalis, which grows to a height of about two feet with few or no branches. There is disagreement over whether these three cannabis types are different species or whether C. sativa is the main species of Indian hemp, with the other plants... 

When protected from exposure to air and light, marijuana may retain its THC content for many months. Other THCs exist that are roughly as potent as THC, but they are found in much smaller quantities and in only a few varieties of cannabis. 

Throughout history, Cannabis has been appreciated as a healing herb. By the time of Christ it was used in India and China for the relief of pain, reduction of fever, surgery, stimulation of appetite and treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, bronchitis, migraine, insomnia and a variety of neurological diseases. Between 1840 and 1900, more than a hundred contributions were made to the Western medical literature that recommended Cannabis for one ailment or another. 

Close-up of three Cannabis seed varieties. Ihe very small ones tn tne middle are from 9,000-ft. Himalayan wild Nepali hash plants. 

Hemp is made from the bast fibers of Cannabis sativa. This is a larger plant than flax, and produces much coarser fibers. Abaca or Manila hemp is very different from plain hemp. Abaca is made from Musa textilis, commonly called the fiber banana plant. The core fibers of the leaf sheaths of this plant are resistant to salt water, which makes them useful for rope and fabric to be used at sea. It is also used to make handicrafts such as hats and household items. Paper made from abaca has a wide variety of uses, including paper currency (i.e. Japanese yen notes), sausage casings, industrial filters, and tea bags. The finest grade abaca is woven into a cloth called pinukpok. 

The history of the use and identification of Cannabis sativa L. is long and complex. It is one of the oldest cultivated plants, used for the production of oil from the seeds, and fibre from the stems for rope and fabrics, and has long been used as a psychoactive drug due to the presence of cannabinoids in the resins produced by the plant. Indeed, there is evidence of cannabis use from Neolithic burial sites. The name Cannabis sativa was first used in Linnaeus Genera Plantarum in 1753, but since that publication there has been considerable debate about the number of species and varieties that exist - this has been recently summarized succinctly by Gigliano [1]. The debate has centred on (i) the characteristics of the fruit, and (ii) meiosis and pollen fertility. It is now generally accepted, however, that there is only one species, namely Cannabis sativa L., which exhibits great diversity due to both selection in the wild and in the cultivated environment. 

Cannabis products can be found in a large number of forms, including herbal material, resin and oil. A wide variety of utensils associated with cannabis use may also be encountered by the forensic scientist. To determine whether or not cannabis products are present, a thorough physical examination of the material should be carried out. The next step is determined by the type of drug submitted for analysis. Herbal material may be identified directly by observation of the... 

At the present time, it is possible to carry ont identification and quantification of a wide variety of drugs, ranging from those which are entirely herbal or fnngal in origin Cannabis and its prodncts), throngh those which are semisynthetic (cocaine and diamorphine), to those which are entirely synthetic (the amphetamines). A wide variety of techniqnes can be applied for their analysis and it is rare that an issue of sensitivity becomes apparent. In terms of dmg identification and quantification, the dmg analyst is in a particnlarly strong position. 

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