Cannabis and the exocannabinoid and endocannabinoid systems. Their use and controversies

Cannabis (marijuana) is one of the most consumed psychoactive substances in the world. The term marijuana is of Mexican origin. The primary cannabinoids that have been studied to date include cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is responsible for most cannabis physical and psychotropic effects. Recently, the endocannabinoid system was discovered, which is made up of receptors, ligands and enzymes that are widely expressed in the brain and its periphery, where they act to maintain balance in several homeostatic processes. Exogenous cannabinoids or naturally-occurring phytocannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system. Marijuana must be processed in a laboratory to extract tetrahydrocannabinol and leave cannabidiol, which is the product that can be marketed. Some studies suggest cannabidiol has great potential for therapeutic use as an agent with antiepileptic, analgesic, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties; however, the findings on cannabinoids efficacy and cannabis-based medications tolerability-safety for some conditions are inconsistent. More scientific evidence is required in order to generate recommendations on the use of medicinal cannabis.

Cannabis medicinal en Argentina: perspectiva desde la salud pública / Medicinal cannabis in Argentina: a public health perspective

Esta revisión analiza la situación actual de la utilización del como herramienta terapéutica dentro del ámbito de la salud en Argentina, haciendo referencia a los distintos actores involucrados y dilemas futuros que pueden presentarse. Paracomprender en su totalidad el marco social, cultural e histórico, se desarrollan distintos aspectos, como la descripción química y biológica del , evolución del consumo a través de la historia, las repercusiones del consumo y las distintas aplicaciones que tiene en el campo de la medicina. También se describen las diferentes realidades que hay en el mundo, así como las legislaciones de otros países y la comparación de estas con la que tenemos en nuestro país. Finalmente se mencionan los desafíos pendientes y sus posibles abordajes.(AU)

This review analyzes the current situation of the use of cannabis as a therapeutic tool in the field of health in Argentina,referring to the different actors involved and future dilemmas that may arise. To fully understand the social, cultural andhistorical framework, different aspects can be defined, such as the chemical and biological description of cannabis, theevolution of consumption throughout history, the repercussions of recreational consumption and the different applicationsthat it has on the medical field. It also describes the different realities that exist in the world, as well as the laws of othercountries and the comparison of these with the one we have in our country. Finally, the pending challenges and theirpossible approaches, are mentioned.(AU)

Los pro y contra de la legalización de la marihuana / Pros and cons of legalizing marijuana

Ya son varios los países que han aceptado la marihuana como una droga "blanda", diferente a otras más peligrosas. Incluso se le ha atribuido diversas propiedades terapéuticas. Otros sin embargo piensan que su uso debería prohibirse, dadas las interferencias mentales y las alteraciones del comportamiento que produce, ya sea por su consumo esporádico, como también por los daños permanentes a que lleva su consumo crónico. Con el objeto de aclarar estas divergentes apreciaciones, se revisa la literatura científica existente. De ello se deduce el grave riesgo de su consumo crónico, especialmente para el adolescente por el significativo incremento de cuadros psicóticos y esquizofrénicos, los cuales pueden llegar a ser permanentes, mientras que su consumo durante el embarazo daña el desarrollo cerebral del feto en forma similar a lo que hace el alcohol en el síndrome fetal alcohólico. Investigaciones científicas también señalan que al fumar sus hojas, se va produciendo un daño bronquial, aún más grave que con el tabaco, incluyendo el cáncer pulmonar. En conclusión, el concepto de que la marihuana es una droga "blanda", libre de riesgos para la salud, constituye un grave error, dado la concluyente investigación científica disponible que señala lo contrario.

There are already several countries that have accepted marijuana as a soft drug, separating it from more dangerous ones. Yarious therapeutic properties have even been attributed to its use. Others, however, think that its use should be prohibited due to the mental interference and behavioral changes produced either by its occasional use as well as the permanent mental damage linked to chronic marijuana use. In order to clarify this divergence of opinions, the scientific literature is reviewed. It is concluded that there is a serious risk, especially for teenagers, associated to chronic marijuana use due to the presence of more frequent psychotic and schizophrenic episodes, which can be permanent, while consumption during pregnancy results in brain damage to the fetus, similar to fetal alcohol syndrome. Scientific research also indicated that smoking marijuana produces an even more severe bronchial damage than tobacco, with risk of lung cancer. In conclusion, the notion that marijuana is a risk-free soft drug is a serious mistake, based on the available conclusive scientific research that shows the opposite.

Effect of (-)- Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinoid on the hepatic redox state of mice

(-)-∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), a psychoactive component of marijuana, has been reported to induce oxidative damage in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we administered (∆9-THC to healthy C57BL/6J mice aged 15 weeks in order to determine its effect on hepatic redox state. Mice were divided into 3 groups: (∆9-THC (N = 10), treated with 10 mg/kg body weight (∆9-THC daily; VCtrl (N = 10), treated with vehicle [1:1:18, cremophor EL® (polyoxyl 35 castor oil)/ethanol/saline]; Ctrl (N = 10), treated with saline. Animals were injected ip twice a day with 5 mg/kg body weight for 10 days. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and DNA oxidation were used as biomarkers of oxidative stress. The endogenous antioxidant defenses analyzed were glutathione (GSH) levels as well as enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver homogenates. The levels of mRNA of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 were also monitored. Treatment with ∆9-THC did not produce significant changes in oxidative stress markers or in mRNA levels of CB1 and CB2 receptors in the liver of mice, but attenuated the increase in the selenium-dependent GPx activity (∆9-THC: 8 percent; VCtrl: 23 percent increase) and the GSH/oxidized GSH ratio (∆9-THC: 61 percent; VCtrl: 96 percent increase), caused by treatment with the vehicle. ∆9-THC administration did not show any harmful effects on lipid peroxidation, protein carboxylation or DNA oxidation in the healthy liver of mice but attenuated unexpected effects produced by the vehicle containing ethanol/cremophor EL®.

Narcotics and their toxic behaviour

Narcotics have been a matter of great concern and pose increasing threats and dangers to humanity. The lack of awareness and knowledge about the abused drugs has further aggravated the situation. Various aspects of the addictive chemicals have been studied and the introductory notes on the major abused drugs, amphetamine 1, methamphetamine 2, 2, 5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine 3, mescaline 4, cocaine 5, morphine 6, heroin 7, codeine 8, diazepam 9, pencyclidine 10, 1-piperidinocyclohexane cardonitrile 11, methaqualone 12, delta9- tetrahydrocannabinol 13 and methadone 14 have been presented. The pharmacological behaviour of the abused drugs are, as well, being discussed

Exposicao humana aos produtos obtidos da Cannabis sativa L / Human exposition to the products obtained from Cannabis sativa L

A Cannabis sativa L (Linee - 1735), por intermedio de seus principais produtos (maconha, marijuana, haxixe etc.), ocupa o primeiro lugar entre as drogas ilicitas usadas atualmente em todo mundo, nao somente por produzir efeito de euforia, mas tambem pela facilidade de obtencao e seu baixo preco no comercio de drogas. Entretanto, as opinioes sobre os riscos a saude humana com relacao ao uso de seus produtos continuam controversas. A fim de contribuir para o entendimento dos problemas decorrentes da exposicao humana ao THC, principal principio ativo da planta, responsavel tanto pelos efeitos nocivos como pelos prazeirosos, preparou-se esta monografia que trata da disposicao cinetica do farmaco (absorcao, distribuicao, biotransformacao, e excrecao), seus efeitos toxicos a curto e a longo prazo bem como as possibilidades de seu uso na terapeutica