There were numerous topics discussed during the last election, and one subject on the ballots of some states was the legalization of marijuana. Some of the states were deciding on medical implementation, and others passed a new law for recreational use.
California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada voted in favor of recreational use. These four states are now a part of the few states that have legalized this drug. However, there is still no federal laws allowing the use of cannabis nationally. More states are approving this drug, but what are the consequences?
A lot of people use the drug without knowing what it is actually doing in your body. Most people know that alcohol is bad for your liver, but they do not know how marijuana is effecting the brain. There is science available to describe this, but I will give you a quick overview.
Neurochemistry
An article in the Elsevier Journal, written by B. M. Fonseco and colleagues, details the neurochemistry behind endocannabinoids. There are natural endocannabinoids in your brain, including Anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arichidonoylglycerol (2-AG). These ligands will bind to two main receptors, which are called CB1 and CB2. They are able to bind a few other miscellaneous receptors, but CB1 and CB2 are the most common.
The CB1 receptor is largely involved in cerebral areas, and the CB2 receptor is involved in immune cells. For this reason, the CB1 receptor is focused on in many studies in the brain. When people use cannabis, the main effects seem to be highly related to brain functioning.
When people smoke cannabis they also cause stimulation of these two receptors. The psychoactive component of marijuana, THC, binds to the CB1 receptor. This binding is what leads to the effects that are experienced when someone smokes.
The Munchies
One of the most well-known effects that marijuana has on people is an insatiable appetite. Most people know this occurs, but they do not know the science behind it. A paper in the International Review of Psychiatry, written by Tim C. Kirkham, explains why people get the munchies.
When receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) are stimulated they will cause further effects in the brain. The ECS will stimulate the hypothalamus to release the hormone ghrelin in the stomach. Ghrelin will make you feel really hungry, even if you do not need to eat.
The ECS will also stimulate the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. The nucleus accumbens is just another area of the brain, and dopamine will make you feel good. So not only do you feel hungry due to the ghrelin, but the food also tastes like the best thing you have ever eaten due to this dopamine release.
This combination of brain activities is what leads to the munchies. Since this hunger is biological, it seems likely that this could be used for medicinal purposes.
Therapeutic Uses
Natural endocannabinoids and cannabis have been shown to have multiple positive effects for therapeutic uses. Medicinal marijuana is different than recreational. There is less THC is medical marijuana, so the user does not get high. The point is to get the positive effects without the psychoactive component of the drug.
Medical marijuana has been used with patients on chemotherapy. Some of the positive things that cannabis can do is stimulate appetite, decrease the need to puke, and decrease pain levels. For these reasons, it is very useful for patients in chemotherapy to use this drug because they need to gain weight and experience less pain.
There is now research being done on whether or not cannabis would be a treatment option for individuals with eating disorders. The question is whether the effects of this drug, such as the need to eat, could overcome the desire to be thin. More research need to be done on this topic.
The Science Behind the Munchies
