Synthetic cannabinoid Receptor Agonists

September 27, 2014

Synthetic cannabinoid Receptor Agonists

Synthetic cannabinoid Receptor Agonists are also known as spice. These are a collection of herbs or plant material which has been sprayed with synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, often referred to as synthetic cannabinoids, producing a cannabis-like effect when smoked. Today there are more than one type of cannabinoids that have been identified but they are all active as they mimic the psychoactive effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active principle in cannabis. Most compounds come from the JWH chemical family, such as JWH-018.

For emphasis it is good to repeat that these synthetic cannabinoids are functionally similar to tetrahydrocannabinol often shortened as THC. THC is the most active principle of cannabis. Like THC, they bind to the same cannabinoid receptors in the brain and other organs as the endogenous ligand anandamide. More correctly designated as cannabinoid receptor agonists, they were initially developed over the past forty years as therapeutic agents, often for the treatment of pain. However, it proved difficult to separate the desired properties from unwanted psychoactive effects.

Synthetic cannabinoid

In the past years especially in the late 2008, several cannabinoids were detected in herbal smoking mixtures and incense as well as room odorisers. Typical of these were Spice Gold, Spice Silver and Yucatan Fire, but many other products later appeared. They do not contain tobacco or cannabis but when smoked, produce effects similar to those of cannabis. These products are typically sold via the Internet and in ‘head shops’. The spices are therefore as dangerous as cannabis and so should be avoided.

The fact that these spices are referred to as synthetic cannabinoids does not mean that they are similar to the real cannabinoids in all aspects in fact most of these synthetic cannabinoids are not related to the real cannabinoids in structure and hence though they can mimic the activities of the cannabinoids but they may work in a way that will cause more harm. The cannabinoid receptor agonists form a diverse group, but most are lipid soluble and non-polar, and consist of 22 to 26 carbon atoms. This therefore means that they would therefore volatilize readily when smoked. A common structural feature is a side-chain, where optimal activity requires more than four and up to nine saturated carbon atoms. The synthetic cannabinoids can be classified into seven major structural groups. These groups are;

Naphthoylindoles (e.g. JWH-018, JWH-073 and JWH-398).
Phenylacetylindoles (i.e. benzoylindoles, e.g. JWH-250).
Cyclohexylphenols (e.g. CP 47,497 and homologues of CP 47,497).
Classical cannabinoids (e.g. HU-210).

Other cannabinoid receptor agonists include substances such as oleamide. Oleamide is an endogenous substance that is also used in plastics manufacture. Another one is methanandamide. Oleamide and methanandamide are both related to anandamide in structure. Despite the similarities in structure with the anandamide the activities of these two synthetic cannabinoids have been questioned. It is thought that neither methanandamide nor other arachidonyl derivatives related to anandamide would be sufficiently volatile to be smoked. Certain fluorosulfonates exhibit agonist activity at cannabinoid receptors, as does naphthalen-1-yl-(4-pentyloxynaphthalen-1-yl)methanone, but the latter appears not to be psychoactive, at least when administered orally.

Physical state

SyntheticCannabinoids Most of these synthetic cannabinoids are either solids or oils as they exist in pure state. Smoking mixtures are usually sold in metal-foil sachets, typically containing 3 g of dried vegetable matter to which one or more of the cannabinoids have been added. Typically, a solution of the cannabinoids has been sprayed onto the herbal mixture to give it the drug effect. Just like any other business oriented producer you will find a number of plants listed on the packaging but the plants mentioned on the packaging may not even be present. This is utmost dangerous as you may be using these spices thinking you are safe based on the ingredients wrote on the packaging while in real sense you are using substances you do not even know. These spices are often sold while containing high amounts of Vitamin E which is purported to be used in masking the analysis of the most active cannabinoids. The producers of these spices will put more cannabinoids in the samples to confound the forensic chemical detection.

The cannabinoid receptor agonists mimic the effects of THC and anandamide by interacting with the CB1 receptor in the brain. Several research studies have shown that some synthetic compounds bind more strongly to this receptor than THC as measured by the affinity constant Ki. All of the cannabinoids found in smoking mixtures have, like THC (Ki = 10.2nM), high affinity to the CB1receptor although small variations in Ki values occur between different publications. The substance HU-210 has a particularly low value of Ki (0.06nM), and it binds over 100 times more tightly to the CB1 receptor than THC.

However, little is known about the detailed pharmacology and toxicology of the synthetic cannabinoids and few formal human studies have been published. It is possible that, apart from high potency, some cannabinoids could have particularly long half-lives potentially leading to a prolonged psychoactive effect. In addition, there could be considerable inter-and intra-batch variability in smoking mixtures, both in terms of substances present and their quantity. Thus, there is a higher potential for overdose than with cannabis.

Finally, Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an experienced doctor who has been in the frontline fighting drug addiction. He runs a website that equips readers of better ways to overcome not only drug addiction but also serious health problems that have caused nightmares to the world population. Get in touch with her today and learn more.

Synthetic cannabinoid Receptor Agonists

Marijuana Smoker’s Processing Emotional Information In The Amygdala

September 19, 2014

Marijuana Smokers Process Emotional Information Differently In The Amygdala

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. It contains the psychoactive which results in mind-altering chemical called the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and other compounds related to it. Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used all over the world especially in the United States. Its use had declined for close to a decade and then became very common as from 2007 as the effects associated with it are becoming more diminished. Marijuana is usually smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints or smoked in blunts-cigars that have been emptied off tobacco. The smoke has a pungent smell usually sweet-and-sour, odor. It can also be mixed in foods and drinks.

When marijuana is smoked the THC is rapidly passed from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the substance to the brain. When it is ingested in foods and drinks, this process is much slower. According to the Institute of Medicine published in Mar 1999 report titled “Marijuana and Medicine: assessing the Science Base”: the THC enters the brain, it causes the user to feel euphoric (high) by acting on the brain’s reward system which consists of regions that are responsible for governing pleasurable things like sex and chocolate as well as to most drugs of abuse. THC activates this receptors of the brain by simulating brain cells to release the chemical dopamine.

Marijuana

The users describe two stages of feeling high after intake of marijuana: initial simulation (giddiness and euphoria), followed by sedation and a pleasant tranquility. Their also reported altered perceptions of time and distance as well as heightened sensitivity to sights and sounds. Relaxation is also another frequently reported effect in users of marijuana. They tend to become more relaxed and there is a feeling of bliss and contentment. Their appetite is also greatly improved. After a while, this effects subsidized and the user may feel sleepy or depressed. On rare occasions, marijuana use may produce anxiety, fear, distrust or panic. Users may get very paranoid and anxious until the euphoria reduces.

Marijuana also affects brain development, and when it is used heavily by young people, its effects on their memory and thinking capacity may last a long time or even be permanent. According to a recent study of marijuana users, those who started using at a very young age showed greatly reduced connectivity among brain areas responsible for learning and memory. Those who started smoking heavily in their teens have lost an average of 8 points in IQ between the age 13 and 38, according to a study in New Zealand. Those who started smoking marijuana in their adulthood did not show fairly large declines in their IQ. Marijuana also impairs a person’s ability to form new memories and to shift focus. The substance THC disrupts a person’s coordination and balance by binding to the receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia responsible for regulating balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time.

Large intakes of marijuana makes users have acute psychosis, which is basically hallucinations, delusions, and a loss of the sense of identity. Marijuana users are very much likely to end up depressed, anxious and generally their loose the will to live and become suicidal as well as personality disturbances. One of the controversies on the same is the amotivational syndrome, defined as a diminished or absence of the drive to take part in any rewarding activity. As a result of the endocannabinoid system regulating mood, these associations make a certain amount of sense; however, this research is yet to be completed to help us better understand how marijuana use is connected to mental illness in the future. This research also shows that, individuals with one or two copies of the Val variant have a higher risk of developing schizophrenic-type disorders if they used marijuana during adolescence.

Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with increased neurobehavioral problems in baby after birth. The baby’s endocannabinoid chemicals are mimicked by the marijuana THC and other compounds. This in result causes poor development of the endocannabinoid system in the brain of the fetus. This will in future result in poor memory, problems in attention and problem solving hence they become very slow in responding to their surrounding stimuli. THC exposure also disrupts synapses which help connect nerve cells and allow for the efficient transfer of neurotransmitters. The child is also likely to develop more psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety, attention-deficit disorder, and schizophrenia.

Marijuana

Marijuana use for a long time causes the brain to continually make the user crave for the same as one tends to get addicted. The development of the frontal cortex is affected and as a result affect a person’s reward system leading to prolonged addiction, and ultimately affects one’s decision making. This addicts are more likely to get impaired executive function and a proclivity to choose the easier task. This may be seen in the user taking part in criminal activities and engaging in violence.

Research has shown that heavy marijuana users tend to have more problems in their daily life or it makes their existing problems worse. They report lower life satisfaction, poorer mental and physical health, more relationship problems, and they also have less academic and career success compared to non-marijuana users. They tend to drop out of school more, they are the highest number of the absentees in their places of work and also are likely to get into accidents more. They have poor coordination. Marijuana users who have become addicted should seek help in rehabilitation centers. As of late, more research is being carried out to determine more effects of marijuana in the brain. It has also been introduced in the medical field as it is given to cancer patients to increase their appetite and to reduce pain.

Marijuana smokers process emotional information differently in the amygdala

THC on Neurodevelopment of Fetuses

September 17, 2014

Long Term of THC on Neurodevelopment of Fetuses

The most vulnerable state in a woman’s life is during pregnancy. This is because at this time she not only has one life to take care of but also another young life that is even more vulnerable. This therefore calls for caution. A woman who is pregnant should be wary of what passes through her mouth and proceeds right into her body. This is because whatever she eats can either make her gestation period and life after a healthy affair or a nightmare. More often than note the life behaviors of a pregnant mother impacts on the life of the foetus as well and therefore it is important for a pregnant woman to distance herself from all drugs and other risky life choices that may impact negatively on the life of her offspring. Just as good nutrition and clinical visits are emphasized to pregnant women it is also good to encourage these women to stay away from harmful drugs like cocaine, bhang and even alcohol. Unfortunately pregnant women have not seen the need to quit indulging in these risky behaviors even when they are expectant. If current research findings are to be believed, about 4% of women in the USA use illicit drugs while pregnant. Seventy five percent of these cases report the use of marijuana. Despite the widespread use of this product, the public is not aware of the potential neurobehavioral effects of this drug on the fetus or the newborn infant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most effective compound found in cannabis sativa. Unfortunately it is effective for all the wrong reasons as it affects the neurodevelopment in fetus and newborn infants. Needless to say it has been used in few doses to avoid nausea and vomit in cancer patients. It has also been used to increase appetite in patients but when used for non medical reasons nothing good can come out of this compound.

THC

Effects of cannabis during pregnancy

Recent studies have proved that children who are exposed to marijuana prenatally encounter such problems as social and cognitive disturbances. One of these study suggested exposing children to heavy marijuana use prenatally increased the risk of giving birth to low weight babies and the reduced head circumference in teenagers is a proof to this argument. It is also exposing fetus to heavy marijuana use prenatally increased the risk of childhood leukemia. Exposing fetus to heavy use of marijuana prenatally also resulted in both long term and short term memory loss. Even as the infants grow into youths they become very poor in judgmental skills and mostly become very slow in learning and adopting new ideas.

In another study, 42 postmortem fetal brain samples from pregnant women at mid gestation (between 18 – 22 weeks old) who voluntarily underwent saline induced abortion, a decrease in dopamine receptor (D2) mRNA expression in amygdala with significant prevalence in male fetuses. 7 Extensive marijuana exposure in utero was associated with the lowest reported mRNA levels. However this study did not show whether this change is transient or permanent but still it was able to prove that exposure to heavy use of marijuana resulted in low mRNA levels.

Effects of Cannabis during breast feeding

When a woman continues to use marijuana, the THC compound in it will not quit causing the side effects it is known for to this infant but will still continue to hurt the life of the infant. The compound will not stay in the mother alone but will be passed to the infant when breast feeding since it is secreted in milk. This may cause side effects in the life of the infant as it will be absorbed and retained in the body of the infant. Researchers opine that at the point of intake into the infant the proportions of the dangerous compound in the milk is minimal to cause any clinical problems but it is sufficient enough to cause serious long-term effects in the infant. It may take time but in the end it affects the neurobehavioral functioning of an infant .Infants exposed to marijuana through breast milk will test positive in urine screens for about 2-3 weeks. One study of 16 women indicated decreased plasma levels of prolactin especially in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

thc

THC decreases IQ in children

When you are pregnant but you choose to indulge in using marijuana during your pregnancy be sure to have a child that is not very well upstairs. The exposure of a child to THC prenatally will decrease their Intelligence Quotient. This problem affects the teens as that is the period that they try to accomplish things by themselves. Most of the dangers that THC cause to infants are seen during the teen. They become poor planners which make it rather difficult to keep the pace with their other fellows.

The use of marijuana in pregnant women is a cause for concern everywhere and it is advisable that women should stay away from using marijuana not only for their health but also for the life of their offspring. The effects of marijuana that they absorb in their blood during infancy end up affecting them during their entire lives. THC is a dangerous compound and so women should avoid interacting with it to save their children from long-term neurobehavioral anomalies.

Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an experienced doctor that has helped many cancer patients in their fight against the disease. She is also dedicated to offer help to addiction patients. She founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is home to many people seeking health breakthrough. Call on her now and learn more on how to fight drug addiction.

Long Term of THC on Neurodevelopment of Fetuses

Effects of Heavy Use of Cannabis On the Brain and Body

August 15, 2014

Effects Of Chronic, Heavy Cannabis Use On The Executive Brain Function

What is cannabis?

This is a plant which is commonly known as marijuana and by many other names. Though this plant is sometimes used for medicinal value, it is commonly used for recreational purposes as a depressant. If the drug is taken in large doses it can be an hallucinogen.

What makes cannabis to have effects in the brain?

Heavy Cannabis There is a specific chemical which is found in the cannabis, and which is responsible for the effects that cannabis have in the brain. This chemical is called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This chemical varies in quantity in the cannabis depending on factor such as the part of plant that is used, the plant variety, and the condition under which the plant was grown. This is what makes cannabis from different geographical areas to be different.

When this chemical enters in the brain, it causes the user to have a ‘high’ feeling. This is because the chemical (THC) enter the brain reward system and activates it. This occurs by stimulating the brain cells to release another chemical known as dopamine.

How does cannabis have medicinal value then?

Cannabis when taken in small doses may cause little or no harm in your body. When it is abused can have an intense negative effect on your body though. For medicinal value of cannabis, small doses are administered due to the properties of the chemical THC which emulates properties which make it have medicinal value. These properties are:-

Cannabis has shown to be effective as an anti-nausea drug.
It has also shown to be effective in the treatment of glaucoma, which is a very serious eye condition.
It has likewise shown to be valuable in stopping loss in weight, improving moods and also easing of pain. This is according to (National Task Force on Cannabis 1994:17)

What are the effects of using cannabis?

Just like we earlier mentioned, when cannabis is abused it can have effects on the user. These effects can be categorized as either short term or long-term effects. There are effects which will be witnessed after a short period of abuse, while there are others which may take quite long before they are witnessed on the cannabis user. In most cases, the short-term effects are the ones considered as effects of cannabis abuse.

The following are the general effects of cannabis abuse:-

Mood fluctuations – the person experiences mood changes occasionally, revolving around relaxed, ‘high’, sleepy, anxious depressed and many other mood forms.
Impaired memory and attention – the person faced difficulty in remembering as well as paying attention.
Stronger sensory experience
Increased heart beat rate may result
The person may be faced with dizziness and nausea
Cannabis abuse has been associated with abnormal hunger.
May cause dilated pupils and blood-shot eyes.
Other effects of cannabis abuse worthy mentioning are confusion, anxiety, hallucination, delusion, agitation and sometimes paranoia. In the long run, apart from these short term effects of cannabis, it may lead to smoking related cancers. This is in the most cases the respiratory system cancer. It may also lead to permanent memory loss and difficulty in learning.

What effects can cannabis abuse have on employees?

The effects of cannabis in employees may make the workplace an abyss. In any given workplace, teamwork is key, but how the employees relate determines whether teamwork will ever exist in a given firm. The usage of cannabis by either the employees or the CEO affects the workplace in the following ways:-

Poor interpersonal relations – the employees will not relate well, since the cannabis effect of ‘highness’ cause disrespect. The cannabis user rarely relates well with the other employees and hardly respects the authority.
Poor/ low output – the output of the employees who use cannabis decline. This is as a result of impairment in memory and retention of instruction. For instance, a person may forget how a given machine is normally operated, though he/she has been working with it before.
Activities such as meetings and time bound tasks will be negatively affected. This is especially the case with the person whose memory has been affected and cannot remember scheduled events like meetings.

Heavy Cannabis

Accident proneness – the employee who uses cannabis will be at a high risk of causing accident especially if he/she is working by use of machines which can cause accidents. For instance, if an employee was using an electrically powered machine, a small mistake may lead to shock or even loss of one’s live.
The levels of error are high- this can be a serious problem especially with doctors, where a small error may cost life of a patient. If a doctor is using cannabis, errors such as wrong prescription of drugs, inappropriate operation, misinterpretation of results etc. may occur, causing damage or loss of live of the patient. Imagine of a surgeon who is to do a surgery but he/she is in cannabis ‘highness!’ actually a serious damage may occur, since the surgeon cannot be keen with details.
Relationship with clients will be negatively affected. A cannabis user cannot maintain good relationship with the clients since his/her attention may be impaired. This causes clients/ customer decline in numbers over time and hence losses to the firm.

If you need help with cannabis addiction or know of a friend suffering from this addiction, call in live or email us and we will help you get trusted treatment and advice. We are true professionals with proven track records and are very reliable in treatment.

Effects Of Chronic, Heavy Cannabis Use On The Executive Brain Function

Marijuana the Addictive Drug

May 13, 2014

Marijuana the Addictive Drug-How it affects human health

Marijuana is one of the drugs abused by drug addict. Drug addiction has serious consequences to the drain

We are encouraged by nutritionist to serve more of vegetables in all our meals for healthy living and to keep our bodies strong and detoxified. There are several plants commercially produced for this purpose and great investment is being done by agriculturalist to ensure that this worthy objective is not only achieved but also sustained. While this is being done there are some few individuals who are in the business of doing the direct opposite. I am talking about those farmers who are commercially producing the herb called marijuana. This is not just a herb but a serious drug which is very illegal in most nations. Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds. This plant material can also be concentrated in a resin called hashish or a sticky black liquid called hash oil.

Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States and many other states globally. It is mostly being used by young people and this has been very evidence in the last two decades where there has been steady increase of young people in relation to a diminishing perception of drug risk that may be associated with the increased public debate over drugs legal status. Although marijuana is illegal in most states some governments have passed laws allowing its use in treatment of certain conditions.

Marijuana the Addictive Drug-Effects of Marijuana to the Brain

The THC will rapidly pass from the lungs into the blood streams when marijuana is smoked carrying with it the chemical into the brain and other vital organs of the body, besides smoking it can also be absorbed into the body slowly when ingested in food or drinks. When ingested, it will acts on specific molecular targets on brain cells, called cannabinoid receptors which are ordinarily activated by chemicals similar to THC that naturally occur in the body and are part of a neural communication network called the endocannabinoid system. This system plays an important role in normal brain development and function.

The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana over activates the endocannabinoid system, causing the high and other effects that users experience. These effects include altered perceptions and mood, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking, problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory.

Marijuana the Addictive Drug-Other Health Effects of Marijuana

Marijuana use may have a wide range of effects, particularly on cardiopulmonary and mental health. It’s smoke is irritant to the lungs and frequent marijuana smokers can have same respiratory problems with tobacco smokers like coughing and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illness, and a heightened risk of lung infections. One study found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than those who don’t smoke marijuana, mainly because of respiratory illnesses.

Marijuana also raises heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours. It is estimated that marijuana users have a 4.8-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug. This risk may be greater in older individuals or in those with cardiac vulnerabilities.

A number of studies have linked chronic marijuana use and mental illness. High doses of marijuana can produce a temporary psychotic reaction (involving hallucinations and paranoia) in some users, and using marijuana can worsen the course of illness in patients with schizophrenia. A series of large studies following users across time also showed a link between marijuana use and later development of psychosis. This relationship was influenced by genetic variables as well as the amount of drug used, drug potency, and the age at which it was first taken those who start young are at increased risk for later problems.

Marijuana use has also been linked to other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities. However a lot more research is still needed to confirm and better understand these linkages.

Nevertheless marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of neurobehavioral problems in babies because THC and other compounds in marijuana imitate the body’s own endocannabinoid chemicals. Marijuana use by pregnant mothers may alter the developing endocannabinoid system in the brain of the fetus which may cause the fetus to have problems with attention, memory, and problem solving. Additionally, because it seriously impairs judgment and motor coordination, marijuana contributes to risk of injury or death while driving a car. A recent analysis of data from several studies found that marijuana use more than doubles a driver’s risk of being in an accident. The combination of marijuana and alcohol is worse than either substance alone with respect to driving impairment.

Marijuana the Addictive Drug-Marijuana the Addictive drug

Contrary to common belief, marijuana is addictive. Estimates from research suggest that about 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana; this number increases among those who start young to about 17 percent, or 1 in 6 and among people who use marijuana daily to 25-50 percent.

Long-term marijuana users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms including irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which can make it difficult to abstain. Behavioral interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational incentives have proven to be effective in treating marijuana addiction. Finally when you come across any addictive drug of any kind, you must be ready to take the most immediate step of getting well in the care of experts. Dr. Dalal Akoury, Founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is an expert offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. This is the kind of professional you need in matters of this magnitude. I will highly recommend that you seek the services of doctor Akoury and you will be well in no time.

Marijuana the Addictive Drug-How it affects human health

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