Some interesting info on Mary Jane

Forum Closed

The LiveVictoria.com forum is now to new posts. All the historical content is still available to browse.

if you are looking for musicians to play with, please view the Bands Seeking Musicians list, or use the Musicians Directory

You can use our pages on social media to connect:

Some interesting info on Mary Jane

Message Board > General Chitchat > Some interesting info on Mary Jane

[Jump to Last Post]

Big Fat Bud

Medical Attributes of Cannabis sativa - Marijuana
by Gina Kim, Daniel Siani, and Anastasia Gurdock
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, PA
(July, 1997)

Cannabis sativa is an erect herb commonly known as hemp or marijuana, or by vernacular names such as grass, weed, refer, and pot. C. sativa is a member of the Cannabinaceae or hemp family. Marijuana can be cultivated illegally in eastern and central North America. Marijuana was legal in the United States for industrial, recreational and medicinal uses until 1937 (Anon., 1996a).

C. sativa contains about sixty various psychoactive chemicals called cannabinoids. The most active component in C. sativa is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which is found in greatest concentrations in the flowering tops and leaves of the hemp plants. The word marijuana refers to the whole plant and the resin from hemp or also called hashish (Anon., 1996b).

Presently, C. sativa has four medicinal values. First, it is used to relieve nausea and increase appetite. Second, it brings about the reduction of intraocular pressure in glaucoma. Third, it causes a reduction of muscle spasms. Fourth, it provides relief from mild to moderate chronic pain (Anon., 1996a).

In 1975, a study was conducted testing the effects of marijuana on the cardiovascular system. People between the ages of 30-40 years, whom had never smoked marijuana were used for this experiment. Results showed that there is no direct cardiac effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) unless the THC dose is 50 fold. There were no changes in stimulation of ephedrine production (which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system), levels of blood glucose, lactate or pyruvates and fatty acid fractions. Changes to these effects were observed when the THC dose was 50 fold (Beacansfield, 1975).

In a study in 1982, researchers analyzed the biological effects of chronic use of marijuana in human subjects. Pathological and biochemical tests were in a normal range. Chronic use did not produce serious, harmful effects in humans and a general medical examination showed no abnormalities. The researchers also concluded that marijuana can act as a hypotensive and reduce blood sugar, which is useful for treating hypertension, especially diabetic hypertension (Singh et al., 1981).

Marijuana alleviates nausea, vomiting, and the loss of appetite which results from the chemotherapy treatment (Anon., 1996a). A study conducted on cancer patients found that 14 out 20 patients exposed to THC showed an antiemetic effect. In comparison, patients exposed to the placebo or a "marijuana-like drug" showed no antiemetic effect (Sallan et al., 1975). The study concluded that THC is an effective antiemetic for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in a dosage of 10 mg per square meter per dose every four hours for at least three doses (Sallan et al., 1975). Also smoking the marijuana shows a stimulation of increase in appetite and it is starting to be used to treat anorexia and other eating disorders (Anon. 1996b).

A survey of oncologists found that 48% would prescribe marijuana to some patients if it was legal. Also, of these oncologists, 44% have recommended the illegal use of marijuana to patients to alleviate nausea and vomiting (Doblin and Kleiman, 1991). Another study found that smoking marijuana rather than ingesting marijuana orally resulted in 72% reduction in nausea and vomiting (Chang, et al, 1979).

In the 19th century, Cannabis was used to treat migraine headaches, which acted by blocking the pain and preventing attacks. Migraines are caused by the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin and smoking marijuana or the THC inhibited the release of serotonin. Now people with migraines smoke a small amount of marijuana when an early sign of attack appears. Researchers are not sure if the effect of cannabis on migraine is an analgesic or antiemetic (Volfe, et al., 1985).

Cannabis can be used to treat bronchial asthma. A study conducted on patients with bronchial asthma compared the effects of 500 mg of smoked marijuana (2% delta-9-THC) with 500 mg of smoked placebo marijuana (0% delta-9-THC). The marijuana immediately treated the bronchospasm but the placebo marijuana showed a gradual recovery of 30-60 minutes. It was concluded that cannabis is an effective treatment for bronchial asthma (Tashkin, et al., 1975).

There are some side effects of smoking marijuana. Most people experience a "high" which is characterized by mood changes, easy laughing, elation, heightened awareness, mild aberrations of fine motor co-ordination, and minimal distortion of their activities and interactions with others (Sallan, et al., 1975). Another common side effect is somnolence which means an inducement of sleep. When marijuana is smoked at a high dose people can undergo a paranoid ideation, apprehension, fear, panic and frightening visual hallucinations (Sallan, et al., 1975). The manifestation of the side effects are dependent upon the dose of marijuana smoked.

LITERATURE CITED
Anon. 1996a. Don't Jail Medicinal Marijuana Patients. NORML. http://www.norml.org/medical/medmj.shtml

Anon. 1996b. Tetrahydrocannabinol - THC. http://www.ch.ic.ac.wk1/vchenlib/mim/bristol/thc.htm

Beacanfield, P.C.R. 1975. Some cardiovascular effects on cannabis, experiment in 30-40 year olds. Amhearst 87:143-146.

Chang, et al. 1979. Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol as an antiemetic in cancer patients receiving high dose methotrexate. Annals of Internal Medicine 91:819-824.

Doblin, R. and M. Kleiman. 1991. Marijuana as antiemetic medicine: A survey of oncologists' experiences and attitudes. F. Cline Oncology 9:1314-1319.

Sallan, S.E., N.E. Ainberg, and E. Frex. 1975. Antiemetic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. The New England Journal of Medicine 293:795-797.

Singh, N., S. Vrat, B. Ali, and K.P. Bhargava. 1981. An assessment of biological effects of chronic use of cannabis in human subjects. Quarterly Journal of Crude Drug Research 19: 81-91.

Tashkin, D.P., B.J. Shapiro, Y.E. Lee, and C.E. Harper. 1975. Effects of smoked marijuana in experimentally induced asthma. American Review of Respiratory Disease 112.

Volfe Z., A. Dvilansky. and I. Nathan. 1985. Cannabinoids block release of serotonin from platelets induced by plasma from migraine patients. International Journal of Clinical and Pharmacological Research 5:243-246.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This paper was developed as part of the BIO 368 - Medical Botany course offered at Wilkes University during the summer of 1997. Course instructor was Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D. ([email protected]). The information contained herein is based on published sources, and is made available for academic purposes only. No warrantees, expressed or implied, are made about the medical usefulness or dangers associated with the plant species in question. - Sun, 12 Jan 2003 9:00pm

Anonymous

All you reefer addicts should be sent to Alaska to build airstrips.... - Sun, 12 Jan 2003 9:12pm

Troutbreath

All people who post anonymously on this board should be sent to Alaska to clean the latrines of the reefer addicts building airstrips. - Sun, 12 Jan 2003 10:24pm

ROSS B AY
User Info...

Don't you know that the latrines of reefer addicts contain much burritto and K.D. remnants man? MMMmmmmmm.......remnants. - Sun, 12 Jan 2003 10:35pm

Anonymous

hey "trout breath"im guessing thats not your real name.so knock off your upstanding citizen posture.all of us are anonymous to some degree.some more than others.its a choice. - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 2:56am

The Voice Of Reason

Though the physical effects of pot aren't that severe, consider the fact that it's caused so many lazy assholes, it's caused parents to have 30 year old children living in their basements, and has caused a lot of people to create awful music. Most dope smokers shouldn't even be allowed to have lighters in their posession, nevermind pockets full of pamphlets or pro-pot rhetoric. - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 9:41am

Troutbreath

You're right Ross Bay! What was I thinking? You are the true 'voice of reason' as usual. - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:10am

Troutbreath

and yes, I am an upstanding citizen and I want everyone to know I had to get up off the couch to say that. - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 11:14am

Anonymous

who the fuck is ross bay.?nice guess tho.i have no doubt that you are a cool dude. - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 12:45pm

ROSS B AY
User Info...

ROSS B AY is the wind beneath your wings..... - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 12:59pm

Anonymous

some say love it is a flower - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 1:04pm

Anonymous

what's a latrine man? - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 1:49pm

Troutbreath

This boy is in for a rude shock if he ever goes Treeplanting! - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 2:02pm

ROSS B AY
User Info...

or gets conscripted. - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 2:59pm

no fresh air, coke smoke only
User Info...

mmmmmmmm... mary jane... - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 6:33pm

Big Fat Bud

Pot doesn't cause people to be lazy. People who are lazy will be lazy, regardless of whether or not they smoke pot. I know lots of non-smokers who are lazy. - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 7:00pm

Anonymous

somebody guessing again? - Mon, 13 Jan 2003 7:42pm

Anonymous

It caused me to be lazy. Fuck who am I kidding! Stoagies! - Wed, 15 Jan 2003 10:05pm

< Go Back >

< Post Reply >

Not logged in Log In / Register (optional)

Featured Events

Lead Guitarist - Rolling Stones Tribute ...

Get Opportunity Updates by Email

Featured Historical Events

Featured Article

What sort of license and insurance do I need for driving large vans in BC?

The Victoria Ska and Reggae Society rents passenger and cargo vans for events, tours, festivals, and community use. One of the most common questions we get is: “Do I need a Class 4 licence to rent or drive one of your vans?”

Read Article

Published by: Victoria BC Ska and Reggae Society

Author: Kurt Loewen