Before I break down the mechanisms behind medical marijuana, I would like to emphasize that I am not affiliating my favorite childhood T.V. show with marijuana usage. However, given the show is set in the late 1960‘s and 1970’s, the gang travels in flowery hippie van, Shaggy’s food consumption is at a much higher level than that of a normal growing teenage boy, and his best friend is a talking dog, it is not too much of a stretch to assert that Shaggy was likely a recreational marijuana user. If you haven’t yet made these associations, I apologize for shattering the illusions of your childhood. However, I would like to use these meddling kids to help describe the pathways involved in medical marijuana usage and how it can be used to treat diseases.
Your brain naturally has cannabinoid receptors that help regulate many different functions. This does not mean that our brains are hard-wired for marijuana. Endocannabinoids are chemical compounds that occur naturally in the brain that bind to the same receptors as chemicals found in marijuana (such as THC) do. The two endocannabinoids found in the brain are AEA and 2-AG which bind to receptors called cannabinoid receptors. There are two known cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are present in several areas of the brain involved in memory, cognition, movement, pain reception, and appetite. Less is known about CB2, but it may play a role as a messenger in the immune system. AEA primarily binds to CB1 receptors, which helps stimulate appetite, control motor movements, reduce nausea/vomiting, and relieve pain. Cannabinoids found in marijuana, like THC, are chemicals that also bind to CB1 receptors, leading to similar effects like when AEA binds. Cannabinoids can be produced synthetically without using the actual plant in production to mimic the positive actions of THC while eliminating the negative side effects like paranoia. Synthetic is the only form approved for medical marijuana treatment in Minnesota.
Let’s think of Scooby-Doo as our CB1 receptor. Normally, Scooby has access to giant sandwiches (these will represent AEA) which allow him to fulfill his big appetite, be relaxed and not in any pain or distress. However, when a villain (representing diseases like cancer, ALS, or epilepsy) is present, Scooby-Doo becomes disoriented and distressed; he is forced to run and no longer has access to the giant sandwiches he needs. The villain causes Scooby to run with spastic, uncontrolled movements and he cannot function properly.
However, Scooby can regain his appetite, concentration, and motor control if he’s given Scooby Snacks. Let’s think of Scooby Snacks as synthetic cannabinoids found in medical marijuana (and no, I’m not suggesting the snacks were spiked in the show). These cannabinoids help stimulate CB1, or in this case, help feed Scooby-Doo. The Scooby Snacks help Scooby’s appetite like a sandwich (AEA) would. The Scooby Snacks also help him calm down and stop spastic movements, side effects caused by the villain’s presence.
All of the diseases approved for medical marijuana treatment in Minnesota involve severe pain, loss of appetite, nausea/vomiting, severe wasting, or spastic movements. These diseases include: cancer associated with severe/chronic pain, nausea/severe vomiting, or severe wasting, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Tourette’s Syndrome, ALS, Crohn’s Disease, seizures (including epileptic seizures), severe and persistent muscle spasms (including those characteristic of MS), and terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than one year if the illness or treatment produces severe/chronic pain, nausea/severe vomiting, or severe wasting. As we can see in our Scooby-Doo example, medical marijuana (the Scooby Snacks) helps the CB1 receptor (Scooby) function more normally in the presence of a disease (villain), which means a regained appetite and control of motor functions, combating common side effects of the disease. Though we have not yet found cures for these horrible diseases, medical marijuana is one way to help those suffering from these diseases to regain control and capture their villains to the best of their ability.
This post was written by Kayla Tureson in response to an article read in the Neurochemistry class at Concordia College. It is intended to bring awareness regarding the mechanisms involved in medical marijuana.
**”Scooby-Doo and the Medical Marijuana Mystery” is not an actual episode, just an attempt at a clever title**
The article about this topic can be found here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1098882313000087
The Minnesota state website regarding the new law can be found here: http://www.health.state.mn.us/topics/cannabis/
Image sources:
Scooby Sandwich image: http://cdn.patch.com/users/315111/2014/09/54066b1cb96cd.jpg
Scooby running from villain image: http://www.blastr.com/sites/blastr/files/images/assets_c/2010/10/Scooby-and-Shaggy-halloween-251158_800_600-thumb-330×247-48792.jpg
Scooby tangled with the gang image: http://images.yuku.com.s3.amazonaws.com/image/png/6d536be677b00af57f327c80e431cc53b9f77648_r.png
Scooby and Fred image: http://www.englemed.co.uk/graphics/scooby_doo2.jpg
Scooby-Doo and the Medical Marijuana Mystery
