 | Cannabis drug: Encyclopedia II - Cannabis drug - Immediate effects of human consumption
Cannabis drug - Immediate effects of human consumption
The nature and intensity of the immediate effects of cannabis consumption vary according to the dose, the species or hybridization of the source plant, the method of consumption, the user's mental and physical characteristics (such as possible tolerance), and the environment of consumption. Effects of cannabis consumption may be loosely classified as cognitive and physical. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Cannabis sativa species tends to produce more of the cognitive or perceptual effects, while Cannabis indica tends to produce more of the physical effects.
Cannabis drug - Cognitive, behavioral, or perceptual
Cannabis has a broad spectrum of possible cognitive, behavioral, or perceptual effects, the occurrence of which vary from user to user. Some of these are the intended effect desired by users, some may be considered desirable depending on the situation, and others are generally considered undesirable. Users of cannabis report that these kinds of effects are more often produced by the sativa species of cannabis.
Cannabis drug - Physical or sensory
Cannabis also has effects that are predominantly physical or sensory. It is widely believed that the indica species of Cannabis is more likely to produce effects like these.
- Anti-emetic properties
- Modulation of working and short-term memory
- Impairment of short-term memory
- Dizziness
- Enhancement of many other drugs (including alcohol, ecstasy, tobacco, heroin, cocaine, LSD, psilocybin and many others)
- Auditory or visual hallucinations at high doses in some users
- Exaggerated ambidexterity
- Paramnesia, repetitiveness and ambiguation
- Increased appetite (sometimes referred to as "the munchies")
- Increased sexual pleasure
- Increased awareness of sensation
- Increased awareness of patterns and colors
- Increased mental activity, like metacognition
- Induced sense of novelty
- Initial wakefulness followed by drowsiness and lassitude
- Introspective or meditative states of mind
- Loss or gain of inhibitions
- Mild euphoria, feelings of general well-being
- Nausea in certain individuals
- Relaxation or stress reduction
- Tachycardia (Increased heart rate)
- Dry mouth (sometimes referred to as cottonmouth or pasties)
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (sometimes referred to as blood-shot eyes or dry eyes)
- Immune system modulation
- Pain relief (especially headaches, cramps, and eye pain due to elevated intraocular pressure).
- Increased appetite, food subjectively tastes better.
- Reduced nausea, (especially from chemotherapy), though may cause or exacerbate nausea for some.
- Dilation of alveoli (air sacs) in lungs, resulting in deeper respiration.
- Increase in productive coughs
- Dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation), resulting in:
- Increased blood flow and heart rate
- Reddening of the conjunctivae (red eye)
- Lower intra-ocular pressure (beneficial to glaucoma patients).
- Lower blood pressure while standing. Higher blood pressure while sitting (note that this can lead to instances of orthostatic hypotension).
- Induces drowsiness (beneficial to sufferers of insomnia and sleep deprivation).
Cannabis drug - Active ingredients, metabolism, and method of activity
Of the approximately 400 different chemicals found in Cannabis, the main active ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC). THC can degrade to CBL & CBN (other cannabinoids), which can make one feel sleepy and disoriented. Different marijuana products have different ratios of these and other cannabinoids. Depending on the ratio, the quality of the "high" will vary.
THC has an effect on the modulation of the immune system which may have an effect on malignant cells, but there is insufficient scientific study to determine whether this might promote or limit cancer. Cannabinoid receptors are also present in the human reproductive system, but there is insufficient scientific study to conclusively determine the effects of cannabis on reproduction. Mild allergies to cannabis may be possible in some members of the population.
A study has shown that holding cannabis smoke in one's lungs for longer periods did not conclusively increase THC's effects[3].
Cannabis drug - Lethal dose
It is generally considered to be impossible to achieve a lethal overdose by smoking cannabis. According to the Merck Index, 12th edition, the LD50, the lethal dose for 50% of tested rats, is 42 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. That is equivalent of a 75 kg (≈165 lb) man ingesting all of the THC in 21 one-gram cigarettes of maximum-potency (15% THC) cannabis buds, assuming no THC was lost through burning or exhalation. For oral consumption, the LD50 for rats is 1270 mg/kg and 730 mg/kg for males and females, respectively, equivalent to the THC in about a pound of 15% THC cannabis. Only with intravenous administration — an unheard of method of use by humans — may such a level be even theoretically possible.
There has only ever been one recorded verdict of fatal overdose due to cannabis, however this finding was found on multiple professional reviews to be "not legitimate".
In January 2004, Lee Maisey of the United Kingdom was found dead. The coroner's report stated "Death due to probable cannabis toxicity". It had been reported that Maisey smoked about six joints a day. Mr. Maisey's blood contained 130 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) of the THC metabolite THC-COOH.
The validity of the finding did not stand up well under review. As reported on 2004-01-28 in the Neue Züricher Zeitung, the Federal Health Ministry of Switzerland asked Dr. Rudolf Brenneisen, a professor at the department for clinical research at the University of Bern, to review the data of this case. Dr. Brenneisen said that the data of the toxicological analysis and collected by autopsy were "scanty and not conclusive" and that the conclusion "death by cannabis intoxication" was "not legitimate". Additionally, Dr. Franjo Grotenhermen of the nova-Institute in Cologne, Germany said: "A concentration of 130 ng/ml THC-COOH in blood is a moderate concentration, which may be observed some hours after the use of one or two joints. Heavy regular use of cannabis easily results in THC-COOH concentrations of above 500 ng/ml. Many people use much more cannabis than Mr. Maisey did, without any negative consequences."
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