CANNABISA DRUG OF ABUSE

OVERVIEW

Introduction History World drug report Data Forms and modes of usage Chemistry Mechanism of action Long term effects Short term effects Analysis References

CANNABIS

It is a generic term used to denote several psychoactive preparations of the plant Cannabis Sativa

Cannabis Sativa is a fast growing annular plant of the family Cannabaceae

The active chemical in cannabis is THC Varieties – C Indica, C Mexicana,

C Americana

HISTORY

• The medical use of the cannabis plant goes back at least 5,000 years to ancient China, where the emperor Shen Nung listed it in his classic pharmacopeia, the Pen Ts'ao.

• It is also listed in the medical works of India including the famous Hindu surgeon Susruta, and the Roman physicians Pliny and Galen.

• Most of the herbal guides of the Muslim and European cultures also gave frequent reference to its medical value,

• Used by most of the world's cultures for its healing properties, there was a tremendous burst of medical research in the 19th century.

• Cannabis was listed in medical texts of the last century as a treatment for over 100 different health conditions, and

• Queen Victoria's personal physician wrote in praise of its therapeutic value.

UN Office On Drugs and CrimeWORLD DRUG REPORT 2006

Approximately 4 per cent of the world's adults-some 162 million people-use cannabis every year, making it the world's most widely used illicit drug.

“the annual prevalence of abuse among the age group of 15-64 in India is 3.2 per cent for cannabis, 0.4 per cent for opiates and 0.01 per cent for Ecstasy” i.e. about 2.3 million people are dependent on cannabis in India alone

Consumers and Producers

- www.unodc.org/world_drug_report.html

USE OF CANNABIS 2003-2004 (or latest year available) Source: World Drug Report 2006

- www.unodc.org/world_drug_report.html

Forms and modes of usageHerbal Cannabis Marijuana -combination of the flowering tops and leaves.   Bhang – dried mature leaves, twigs and fruiting shoots of

male and female plant, least potent - sabji, satti, sidhi

Ganja – flowering or fruiting tops, coated with exude of female plant

- rusty green colour - joint sticks,Thaisticks, buddha sticks Marijuana and ganja are smoked in hand rolled cigarettes,

pipe or chillum or can be brewed as tea

Contd….

Charas Crude resin from leaves and flowering tops of female plant Green to brown to black Hashish, Black Moroccan, sulpha, nasha, kif, khit, red seal,

red Lebanese Smoked in pipe or by placing a bit on tip of cigarette , baked

or eaten as hash cookies THC content – 4% - 12%

Contd….

Hashish oil Thick, oily liquid, extracted from hashish by solvent extraction Golden brown to black Hash oil, red oil, honey oil Smoked in a bong or hookah or by putting a few drops on

cigarette or joint THC content – 20% to 60%

Chemistry

Over 60 structurally similar compounds, “Cannabinoids” The major active principle in all cannabis products is Δ9-

tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC or simply THC)

Others include cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN)

Mechanism of action

Two specific cannabinoid receptors

CB1 - brain and peripheral tissues. CB2 - immune system

ANANDAMIDE (Sanskrit word for “bliss”), the natural neurotransmitter that fits into the receptor sites.

Receptors for anandamide found in several regions of the brain, The highest densities being in the frontal cerebral cortex (higher functioning), hippocampus (memory, cognition), basal ganglion and cerebellum (movement), and striatum (brain reward ).

THC activates neurons because its chemical structure mimics the natural neurotransmitters

Receptor sites in brain

(movement)(movement)

))

(Learning,memory)(Learning,memory)

(temp (temp

regulationregulation)) (Fear)(Fear)

Long Term Effects

Brain &CNS Dulls sensory & cognitive skills Impairs short term memory Alters motor coordination

Reduced Concentration

Immune system Impair the ability to fight off microbial and viral infection

Cardiovascular system Increased heart rate Decreased blood flow to the limbs Decreased blood pressure Reduced oxygen carrying capacity of blood

Contd….

Respiratory system Damages the lungs(50% more tar than tobacco) increased risk of lung cancer and chronic bronchitis obstructed airways

Reproductive systemMALE SPECIFIC decreased sperm production

Reduced testosterone levels FEMALE SPECIFIC

alters the normal ovulatory cycle

May cause fetal abnormalities

Short term effects

blood shot eyes relaxation and loss of inhibition increased appetite affected perception of color, sound and other sensations impaired coordination affected thinking and memory confusion restlessness feelings of excitement hallucinations anxiety or panic, or detachment from reality decreased reaction time paranoia. dryness of mouth

Analysis

Microscopic examination: cystolith hair

Color/spot tests:1. Duquenois-Levine Test:

Solution A: 2%vanillin and 1% acetaldehyde in ethyl alcohol Solution B: conc. HCL Solution C: chloroform

Result: Purple color

2. Fast blue B Test: Solution A: fast blue B salt and anhydrous sodium sulphate(1:40) Solution B: chloroform Solution C: .1N aq. NaOH soln

Result: purple red color

TLC INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS

HPLC FTIR GCMS H-NMR

Contd…

references

Encyclopedia of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances; Giri Raj Shah

Handbook of CNS agents and local anesthetics; Matthew Verderane Hallucinogens- A Forensic Drug Handbook; edited by Richard R

Laing, Jay A Siegel Clarke’s isolation and identification of drugs in pharmaceutical body

fluids and postmortem material- A. C Moffat Essentials of Medical Pharmacology; 5th edition, KD Tripathi Modi’s Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology; edited by BV

Subrahmanyam Toxicology-A case oriented approach; by John Joseph Fenton Casarett and Doulls Toxicology- The Basic Science of Poisons;

edited by John Doull, Curtiss D Klassen, Mary O Amdur

Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology;2nd edition, Krishnan Vij

www.who.int/substance_abuse/facts/cannabis/en www.nida.nih.gov www.emedicine.com www.unodc.org/world drug report.html

Contd…