Marijuana immune system effects

Because marijuana is a natural product it can also harbor bacteria and fungi, some of which can be harmful if inhaled. Scientists have found bacteria such as Aspergillus, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Streptococcus on marijuana samples. This is especially significant for people with compromised immune systems, such as cancer or AIDS patients, many of whom may consider marijuana to counter some of the effects of their disease or treatments. 

CB1 is found predominantly in the brain and is associated with many of the effects from THC. CB2 is found in the spleen and other organs and is associated with the immune system its role is still not fully understood. The discovery of these receptors, as well as their locations in the body, has allowed scientists to learn more about how marijuana affects the human brain and body. 

Much research has focused on marijuana s effects on the immune system. Some research has shown that one type of immune system cell called the macrophage (scavenger cell) is particularly sensitive to THC exposure. Macrophages clear the body of viruses, bacteria, and particles that are inhaled or ingested. These studies found the presence of cannabinoid receptors on macrophages, suggesting that THC can disrupt normal immune system functions and may eventually inhibit the body s natural immune response. 

Early studies on the effects of marijuana on the immune system attributed these to the ability of THC to perturb cellular membranes since it was highly lipophilic. However, it was soon recognized that THC also exhibited specificity of action at the physiological and pharmacological levels as well as in distribution in organs and cells. Studies performed on various rodents demonstrated that THC produced a characteristic tetrad of behavioral effects that consists of catalepsy, antinociception, hypothermia, and hypomobility (see Wiley and Martin 2003). These centrally mediated effects could be elicited following intravenous, intrathecal, and intraperitoneal administration. Furthermore, use of radiolabeled THC in hybridization studies revealed a distribution of binding in rodent brain slices that was consistent with that attributed to areas in the brain that correlated with specified behavioral activities. 

The lOM report describes the effect of THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana cannabinoids, which are the compounds related to THC and marijuana, the unpurified plant substances. The lOM report studied the effects of isolated cannabioids and concluded that they have a natural role in pain modulation, control of movement, and memory. The role on cannabioids in the immune system was unclear and the report concluded that the brain develops tolerance to cannabioids. While animal research demonstrated dependence on cannabioids, the potential for dependence was seen as occurring under a more narrow range of conditions than for drugs such as minor tranquilizers, opiates, cocaine, or nicotine. Withdrawal symptoms were observed in animal studies but were mild compared to drugs such as minor tranquiflzers or opiates. 

Data on the longer-term effects of marijuana unfortunately arc sparse and difficult to interpret. The research that has been conducted has focused on four central systems respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, and reproductive. 

---