Cannabis resin

The analysis of the reported source countries (ARQ, 2002-2006 period) suggests that cannabis resin production takes place in some 58 countries while cannabis herb (marijuana) production occurs in at least 116 countries. The caveat here is that cannabis herb is thought to be produced even in countries where the main supply concentrates on resin. Cannabis herb production is globally far more dispersed than global cannabis resin production. 

The plant Cannabis sativa produces the psychoactive diug A9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Recreationally, THC is consumed in form of marijuana (dried flowers and leaves) or hashish (resin). The cultivation and possession of Cannabis for recreational use is not... 

A9-THC (2.1 in Fig. 2) is the only major psychoactive constituent of C. sativa. It is a pale yellow resinous oil and is sticky at room temperature. A9-THC is hpophihc and poorly soluble in water (3 p,g mL ), with a bitter taste but without smell. Furthermore it is sensitive to light and air [4]. Some more physical and chemical data on A9-THC are fisted in Table 1. Because of its two chiral centers at C-6a and C-lOa, four stereoisomers are known, but only (-)-trans-A9-THC is foimd in the Cannabis plant [5]. The absolute configuration of the... 

Inhalation (IH) The administration of volatile gases and vapours, followed by drug absorption in the lungs or nasal mucosa. Examples include general anaesthetics like nitrous oxide, nicotine from the tar droplets in tobacco smoke, cannabinoids from cannabis leaf smoke and various opiates from burning opium resin. 

Several products are derived from the cannabis plant (table 10.1). Hashish and charas are the dried resin exuded from the female flowers. These have the highest content of A9-tetrahydrocannabinol (TFIC) at 10-20% and have the most potent psychoactive effects. Ganja and sinsemilla are the dried tops of the female plants, which averages 5-8%. Marijuana and bhang are derived from the rest of the plant and have the lowest TFIC concentration (2-5%). 

Cannabis and cannabis resin were reclassified from Class B to Class C in January 2004. On 18th... 

Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) is a dioecious annual flowering plant. Marihuana is the Spanish name for the dried leaves and female flowering tops of the hemp plant. Hashish is the resin which originates from these female flowering tops. The hemp s natural homeland is most likely in the regions north of Afghanistan and the Altai mountains of southern Siberia (Russia). It is not clear when and where cultivation of hemp Cannabis sativa L.) started. It seems most likely that the cultivation of hemp may have originated in northeastern Asia (north and north-east China and southeastern Siberia). 

Jacob A, Todd AR (1940), Cannabis and Cannabol Constituents of Cannabis indica resin. Nature 145, 350. 

Cahn RS, Cannabis indica resin, Part 111. The constitution of Cannabinol, J Chem Soc 1342-1353, 1932. 

In the past 25 years, anecdotal reports of beneficial effects in MS sufferers of smoking Cannabis (the herb or resin of Cannabis sativa L.) have resulted in a considerable amount of research and interest from academia, industry and government. Several products containing cannabis extracts or carefully standardized mixtures of constituents are in development with a number of clinical trials being carried out. In a few countries, products... 

The hemp plant, or cannabis (Cannabis saliva), continues to be the most frequently abused illicit substance in America. The dried leaves and flowering tops of the plant are referred to as marijuana, and it is typically smoked in pipes or rolled as cigarettes. It also may be consumed in baked goods. Hashish is a solid black resinous material obtained from the leaves of the plant and is usually smoked in a pipe. 

Stromberg, L. Minor components of Cannabis resin V. Mass spectrometric data and gas chromatographic retention times of cannabinoid components with retention times shorter than that of cannabidiol. J Chromatogr 1974 96 179. 

Aponte and M. Montenegro. Effects of the resin and smoke condensate of CS197 Cannabis sativa on the oestrous cycle of the rat. Bull Nar 1981 33(3) 55-61. 

Herbal cannabis seizures, in contrast, were down in 2005, a trend seen across continents. The reasons for this decline are due to increased eradication and are occurring in the context of stabilised demand and may be related to decreased transnational trafficking due to a growing reliance on domestic cultivation. Cannabis resin seizures were also down, but this can be directly tied to the decline in hashish production in Morocco. 

The production of cannabis resin (also known as hashish) is concentrated in North Africa (Morocco) and in the South-West Asia/Middle East region, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. UNODC surveys conducted in collaboration with the Moroccan authorities revealed a fall in the area of cannabis resin cultivation in that country in recent years, from a peak of 134,000 ha in 2003 to 76,400 ha in 2005. Resin production declined even more strongly, from 3,070 mt in 2003 to 1,070 mt by 2005. Most of this production is consumed in Europe. 

Global cannabis resin seizures also declined in 2005 due to lower production of cannabis resin in Morocco. The world s largest cannabis resin seizures continued to be reported by Spain (52% of global hashish seizures in 2005), followed by Pakistan (7%) and Morocco... 

Trafficking in cannabis resin, 2005 (countries reporting seizures of more than 10 kg)... 

Estimates for both cannabis herb and cannabis resin showed a decline for the year 2005. This decline follows several years of sustained growth. Global cannabis herb production is now estimated at 42,000 mt, down from 45,000 mt in 2004. Global cannabis resin production... 

More than half (57 %) of all seizure cases involved cannabis (herb, resin, oil, plants and seeds). Opiates (opium, morphine, heroin, synthetic opiates and poppy seeds), accounted for 17 per cent, with heroin alone accounting for 14 per cent of the total. This is followed by seizures of the amphetamine-type stimulants (12 %). About half of these seizures (or 5.5 % of the total) is accounted for by methamphetamine, followed by amphetamine (2.5 %) and ecstasy (2%) the rest (2 %) includes Captagon tablets (Near East) and Maxiton Forte (Egypt), ephedrone (methcathinone) and various undefined amphetamines. Coca products account for 9 percent of global seizure cases the bulk of coca related seizure cases concern cocaine (8 % of total). 

The largest seizures worldwide are for cannabis (herb and then resin), followed by cocaine, the opiates and ATS. All cannabis related seizures amounted to more than 9,700 mt in 2005, including 5,947 mt for cannabis end products (herb, resin and oil). Cocaine seizures amounted to 752 mt, opiate seizures, expressed in heroin equivalents, amounted to 125 mt and ATS seizures (methamphetamine, amphetamine, non-defined amphetamines and ecstasy) amounted to 43 mt. 

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