Today in the United States the way of life is becoming increasingly quick-paced. People are more often getting a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner from fast food restaurants. In some, this habit becomes excessive and may lead to weight gain and if not checked, may lead to obesity. This is a problem that exists with many Americans. According to the CDC “more than 35% of U.S. men and women were obese in 2009–2010” Obesity can increase the risk of many diseases such as type II diabetes and it has been found recently that there is a tie to this type of diabetes and the infamous neural degenerative disease known as Alzheimer’s.
Type II diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood glucose because the body rejects its own insulin to lower these levels. This rejection is also accompanied by low levels of insulin in the body to begin with. We can treat this disease by administering insulin to these patients in order to lower their blood sugar levels and in conjunction with this we can encourage diet and exercise to solve the initial obesity problem. So diabetes is theoretically very easily treatable but obviously has no actual quick cure. When we look at Alzheimer’s there is no great way to treat it and maintain it. It is a continuous degradation of the mind and physical death of neurons and shrinking of the brain. All we can do for these patients is try to slow down the process and hope to make them comfortable.
The connection for these two diseases comes from the role of insulin in the brain. Insulin is important in the central nervous system because it regulates key processes such as neuronal survival and longevity and even plays a role in learning and memory. Type II diabetes’ main effect on its victims is low insulin levels in the body and thus lower levels in the brain. Also accompanying type II diabetes is the reduced insulin transport in the brain. These consequences result in neurons becoming energy deficient and then are susceptible to oxidation decreasing the cells’ functions. A main cause of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of beta-amyloid masses in the brain that destroy functionality of the neurons around it. Low levels of insulin in the brain cause certain active sites of the cells of the brain to become less active and this indirectly promotes the production of these masses. In short, type II diabetes can possibly result in the acquisition of Alzheimer’s disease.
This connection raises many new thoughts. The way we eat does not solely affect our weight and we’ve known this as those that are obese are often at risk of diseases relating to the heart. Things change when our eating habits begin to affect our minds and their longevity. What can we do to fix this? Should the government begin to regulate the food market? It seems that the general public cannot make the right decisions when it comes to eating. Soon, as obesity rates climb, we will see a dramatic increase in diabetes and then even a climb or earlier onset of Alzheimer’s. If we begin to see an early onset then the average obese person will be able to contribute less creating a burden on society in terms of healthcare taxes. Can we even begin to solve this problem at the basic level of encouraging diet and exercise or do we have to focus on treating Alzheimer’s because we cannot count on people to make good choices about their lives? Education for children may need to be set into place to ingrain the connection of eating, obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s much like we already drill the negative effects of cigarettes and alcohol into our youth.
There are so many things that need to be done about this issue but at so many levels that it is hard to know where to begin or where to focus our energy and attention. There are many negative implications for the future of these diseases as trends seem to be pointing toward a more obese America. At the basis of it all, we need to begin to watch what we eat so we may maintain our minds as we age.
THC and Cannabinoids Involved in Mental Disorder Therapies
Of the most notable mental disorders, anxiety, depression, schi
zophrenia, and eating disorders have been examined with relation to endocannabinoid therapies. The main theme behind endocannabinoids is that there is a direct link between decrease in them and an increase in observed anxieties and depression in tested mice. There was even a proposed method for treating eating disorders with this same assessment. As well, an increase from substances such as medical marijuana that contain and boost endocannabinoid levels in the body would counteract these disorders; the main problem with this method of treatment lays in the correlation, not causation, between marijuana usage and schizophrenia. The pharmaceuticals available to those who seek treatment will be dependent on further mice studies as well as the possible legalization of medical marijuana.
The two types of endocannabinoid receptors, those that bind to the incoming endocannabinoids in the cell membranes of the brain’s neuronal cells, are CB1 and CB2 alpha G proteins. What occurred most frequently in testing mice with the blockage of CB1 receptors was that they were necessary for the management of anxiety symptoms. The parts of the brain that handle stress symptoms were the areas of the brain where endocannabinoids were produced and CB1 receptors were expressed the most there. Additionally, deleting the CB1 receptor gene from mice enhanced depression-like symptoms and the ability to accept rewards. This also targets the feelings of pleasure/reward similar to those that humans experience when achieving a goal or eating a pleasurable food. CB2 receptors, when increased in expression, led mice to show less stress in response to stressful situations or stimuli. Cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive component of medical marijuana, has been shown to stimulate and increase amounts of CB1 receptor binding and counteract depression and anxiety. A future hope in research is that this same cannabidiol will allow for an increase in the pleasurable response from eating such that those with anorexia or bulimia will have proper treatment for once aspect of their disorder.
The overhanging problem with these treatment methods is that the current options are to either create THC or cannabidiol synthetically to produce pharmaceutically, or to use the naturally occurring forms in marijuana plants. The latter, of course, is illegal for medical therapeutic use in the majority of the United States. The draw towards a synthetic cannabidiol is the increase in the ratio of it in comparison to THC, which, in low ratio amounts, has a growing correlation with schizophrenia symptoms in marijuana users. The more THC there is in comparison to cannabidiol in marijuana or other compounds, the higher the likelihood of patients exhibiting schizophrenia-like symptoms. This is partially due to the prolonged activation of these endocannabinoid receptors in marijuana users, demonstrating an increase in likelihood of schizophrenia development in those patients who are already at risk. While this rate of risk is extremely low, it is still a prevalent concern in further developments of therapeutic drugs and legalization of medical marijuana. It seems impractical to produce a drug or legalize one that can result in a side effect as drastic as schizophrenia, but at the expense of treating depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, further research must be carried out to determine the best therapeutic method.
Photos courtesy of Google images.
How Might Medicinal Marijuana Affect Soldiers With PTSD?
Psychiatric disorders are under-reported illnesses that affect the quality of life for the suffering patient. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a subset of anxiety disorders in which one suffers from episodes of panic and anxiety after an extremely stressful situation. These feelings are brought back by a trigger, such as sounds and events that may remind the individual of the initial cause. (See http://www.ptsd.va.gov/ for more information about PTSD. While the stigma associated with reaching out for psychiatric therapy is still very much relevant, receiving this help is becoming both more common and socially acceptable. In response to this, the market for prescription drugs that treat those with mental issues is very profitable. Much is still unknown about all of the chemical pathways of the brain, and new findings may prove important in developing new pharmaceuticals. Activity and signaling in the brain is an area of continued research.
The endocannabinoid system plays a role in areas of the brain that function in memory, mood, cognition, and emotion. CB1R, a type of cannabinoid receptor, is essential for handling stressful situations that may result in anxiety and aggression. When this receptor is removed (referred to as CB1R knock outs), studies show that that mice exhibit increased anxiety and increased aggressiveness, especially in highly stressful situations. In addition, CB1R enables behavioral adaptation following the development of negative memories.
Phytocannabinoids are derivatives of marijuana, or cannabis, which can activate the endocannabinoid system and alter the central nervous system. While parts of the plant can be helpful in artificially stimulating the body’s response to stress, other parts of the plant can lead to negative effects. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical compound found in cannabis that is responsible for addictive and psychotropic properties. When abused, the changes to the central nervous system may lead to dependence.
Should marijuana be prescribed for soldiers returning with PTSD? Positive and negative consequences exist and would have to be weighed when making a decision in this case. Stimulation of the endocannabinoid system would lower anxiety levels, decrease aggressiveness, and assist in the elimination of destructive memories. These benefits, however, may not outweigh the harm that could ensue from the use of marijuana by those with PTSD, as it does not usually exist as the solitary problem for these individuals. Alcoholism is common in veterans as is abuse of other controlled substances and illegal drugs. (See http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-in-brief/substance-abuse-among-military-veterans-their-families for statistics and more information regarding substance abuse among veterans). The addictive properties of marijuana that lead to dependence may be destructive for an individual trying to cope with the stresses and imagery associated with war. Substance abuse of alcohol, marijuana, street drugs, or prescription drugs will only delay the healing that is desired.
Legalization of marijuana is a highly debated and highly controversial issue. While it can treat pain, anxiety, relieve nausea and increase appetite in chemo patients, and relieve eye pressure for those with glaucoma, there are definite risk factors that need to be considered. In the case of use of marijuana to treat the symptoms of PTSD, there is just as much room for debate. More studies will need to be completed before the whole picture can be known.
As with any other treatment, one should consult with a doctor before beginning any sort of action plan. Each individual should evaluate their own needs, genetic and environmental risk factors, and possible benefits before seeking prescriptions for any psychiatric disorder.
Endocannabinoid Manipulation: A New Frontier in Psychotherapy
Last Monday in class we read an article detailing the research of the use of endocannabinoids in the treatment of certain psychiatric disorders. Before we begin it is important that y0u understand what endocannabinoids are and what their normal role is in the human body. Endocannabinoids are a kind of neurotransmitter that is present in the body that influence your perception of appetite, pain sensation, mood and memory. There are two primary endocannabinoids that function in the endocannabinoid system, they are anandamide and 2-AG. These chemicals interact with two different receptors, cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2(CBR1, CBR2). CBR1 is found mostly in the brain, CBR2 was thought to be only present in the peripheral nervous system, but has only recently been discovered in the brain. This being said, the article focuses on how numerous psychiatric disorders affect this system and certain treatments that have been tried in order to remedy them. What most of these disorders boil down to is the matter that the endocannabinoid system, the relationship between the endocannabinoids and their receptors, is out of balance. In anxiety, it has been found that CB1R’s, which act in order to maintain an appropriate anxiety level in stressful situation, as well as to help in the reduction of fear responses in the body and to adapt to such situations in the future are not present in sufficient amounts in order to maintain healthy levels of anxiety, the same goes for CB2R’s. It has also been shown that lack of CBR’s are responsible for depression. Interestingly enough, schizophrenia appears to result from CBR’s being expressed in the wrong places, put another way it is not a matter of the system functioning improperly, but that it did not develop properly. The article also makes it a major issue to point out that cannabinoid use in adolescents and people with certain genetic abnormalities show an increased risk of developing shizophrenia later in life. Another major focus for this article was on the endocannabinoid cannabidiol(CBD) and its effects on these psychiatric disorders. It was interesting to see that CBD would only reduce anxiety once it had passed a certain threshold, whereas up until that threshold, it would actually increase anxiety, the researchers even found that an overdose of CBD would increase anxiety in test subjects. Researchers also found that CBD may have anti-psychotic properties. The article also talks about the interest that researchers have in treating eating disorders through endocannabinoid manipulation. It recounts numerous drugs that reduce nausea for cancer patients, induce appetite in AIDS patients, help with weight loss and help treat spasticity which results from multiple sclerosis.
All in all, it was a very interesting article and it seems to me that the research that these people are doing could lead to some promising treatments for very serious disorders. However, I do have one issue with people saying that because certain people are genetically predisposed to developing schizophrenia with cannabinoid use is not a sufficient reason in and of itself for the continued prohibition of marijuana for personal use. Certain people are genetically predisposed to become alcoholics, but people are not clamoring to ban alcohol for everyone because certain people unknowingly possess this genetic trait. That’s my bit, I’ll leave you until next week with my next rehashing of a scientific article.
Marijuana as a treatment for eating disorders?
There is a great deal of stigmatism about weight in the United States. While there is some media about self-acceptance and building confidence we constantly encounter a barrage of messages (whether intentional or not) through adds, television, magazines, the internet, celebrities that show unrealistic body images. Articles in magazines emphasize quick fix weight loss on the front cover along with celebrities in scant clothing or stories about how someone famous gained 20 pounds (The horror! The horror!). I feel like I see advertisements such as
Every time I’m on the internet. And we do have unrealistic expectations.
| Average U.S. Woman | Barbie Doll | Store Mannequin | |
| Height | 5’4’’ | 6’0’’ | 6’0’’ |
| Weight | 145 lbs. | 101 lbs. | N/A |
| Dress size | 11-14 | 4 | 6 |
| Bust | 36-37’’ | 39’’ | 34’’ |
| Waist | 29-31’’ | 19’’ | 23’’ |
| Hips | 40-42’’ | 33’’ | 334’’ |
Sonenklar, Carol. 2011. Anorexia and Bulimia (USA Today Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders. ) Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books.
It’s no wonder that rates of eating disorders continue to increase. A little over a year ago one of the girls I babysat for in high school was diagnosed with anorexia. She is 12 years old. This is when eating disorders got real for me.
First, a few factoids about eating disorders
- An eating disorder is characterized by abnormal eating patterns that attempt to satisfy a psychological rather than physical need. The three most common disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation, weight loss, an irrational fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. Bulima nervosa is characterized by a cycle of compulsive binging followed by purging through various means, such as vomiting, laxative/diuretic abuse, and extreme exercising. Binge eating disorder is the most common disorder and is characterized by frequent periods of compulsive overeating without accompanying purging behaviors.[i]
- Nearly 10 million females and 1 million males have a form of anorexia or bulimia in the United States. Millions more are struggling with compulsive eating disorder. Additionally, over 70 million people worldwide struggle with an eating disorder.[ii]
- Forty percent of new cases of anorexia are in girls between the ages of 15 and 19.[iii]
Marijuana in the Brain
Marijuana has 2 active chemicals: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol, both of which are linked in the endocannabinoid neurotransmitter system. The endocannabinoid system works backwards from many other neurotransmitters because it releases signals from the post-synaptic neuron to the CB1 and CB2 receptors on the pre-synaptic neuron as shown in the diagram below.
THC has been related through studies to the psychoactive, munchies, addictive qualities of marijuana and in high doses can cause or increase anxiety. There have also been studies that show that endocannabinoids interact with the dopamine system, playing a role in drug taking and seeking behaviors. [iv] Cannabidiol has been related to the therapeutic effects which is why marijuana is used in cancer treatments,pain relief, and has also been used as a treatment for schizophrenia.
Marijuana as a treatment for eating disorders
Marijuana has also been used as a way to help AIDS patients maintain a healthy weight as an effect of their disease they lose appetite and stop eating. This is part of the premise of using marijuana as a way to help gain or lose weight because of it’s link to the reward system and studies have shown that endocannabinoids CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus play a large role in food intake. Obviously, this is a very simplified synopsis of how the endocannabinoid system could be linked in a way that would help with the treatment of eating disorders. There is a lot that is still unknown about the endocannabinoid system and all of the parts of the brain of which it is an integral part. One of the objections that one could make about using marijuana as a medical treatment is that it is not specific enough to the effected brain area. Even if scientists were able to create synthetic products to emulate the positive effects of the drug without the addictive or psychoactive effects, there is currently no way to target specifically the hypothalamus, if that is the only part of the brain that is needed to be targeted with eating disorders. Is there enough known about the diseases or the endocannabinoid system to use it as a treatment? Another part to take into consideration is that a large part of the disease is about body image and perception, and while the treatment may help patients gain weight or change some stimuli of eating to positive, is that going to help with body image?
The legalization of marijuana is a complicated subject and there is a lot that we do not know about how the drug effects out brain. It has been shown to have therapeutic effects, whether or not those effects can help with eating disorder treatment is also very complicated and could use more research.
If you or someone you know have an eating disorder or you would like more information about eating disorders visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
[i] Sonenklar, Carol. 2011. Anorexia and Bulimia (USA Today Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders. ) Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books.
[ii] Sonenklar, Carol. 2011. Anorexia and Bulimia (USA Today Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders. ) Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books.
[iii] Eating Disorders Statistics.” National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Association Disorders. 2012. Accessed: September 29, 2012.
Queen Victoria Smoked Marijuana… to Relieve Cramps
Marijuana has been at the forefront of news headlines since Proposition 215, which made medical marijuana legal in California, was passed in 1996. However, marijuana has an illustrious history tracing back before the Romans and Greeks. Medical marijuana use finds its origins in China around 2727 BCE. Throughout centuries and generations marijuana mades its way to India, Africa, Europe, and the rest of the world. Even the first settlers of the Jamestown Colony way back in 1619 Virginia grew marijuana. The medicinal properties of marijuana were sought after many individuals. For example, Queen Victoria is prescribed marijuana in order to relieve cramps. Even with its medicinal aspects marijuana was banned in 1937 by the U.S. federal government. Although illegal, marijuana avoided harsh punishment by the Federal Government until Reagan administration in the 1980’s where a war on drugs was proclaimed. During the Reagan administration’s war on drugs an astounding amount of individuals where arrested, one person every 38 seconds. Since then marijuana has become one of the highest sold illegal drugs.
Here’s a short video outlining the history of marijuana, which was produced by Showtime for their hit show Weeds:
http://www.weedist.com/2012/09/a-brief-history-of-weed-according-to-weeds-showtime/
In order for marijuana to stay prevalent throughout history it must possess some positive medical application. Marijuana has been shown to relieve pain, nausea, and vomiting. In addition, marijuana also heightens a person’s senses. This the result of increased neurological activity due to the chemicals which make up marijuana: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol. These chemicals play in active role in stimulating the Endocannabinoid system housed within the brain. The Endocannabinoid system is a neurotransmitter system, which means that it responds to certain stimuli and sends a chain of signals throughout the brain to entice a physical reaction. Specifically, the Endocannabinoid system targets emotional balance and cognitive function. However, this system can be impaired if an overabundance of marijuana is taken which can lead to psychological disorders, such schizophrenia.
More research is required into the topic, however, there is a correlation between prolonged marijuana usage and increasing the 
onset of schizophrenia. Some of the main contributing factors to this correlation is the fact that marijuana use amplifies feelings of anxiety and depression. The cause of these factors comes from interactions between THC and cannabidiol with the Endocannabinoid system which not only affect emotion balance but other areas and neurotransmitters in the brain. It’s like a domino affect one neurotransmitter does not simply react by it self. It sets off a chain reaction through multiple pathways which, in a complex system like the brain, can have a devastating effect on an individual. Perhaps when more research is conducted a definitive answer will be found connecting neurological disorders and marijuana usage.
For further reading refer to this research article explaining in further detail neurological disorders and marijuana:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3186912/
Images Courteously of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Victoria_by_Bassano.jpg
http://www.vizworld.com/2009/05/showtimes-history-of-weed/
http://www.psmag.com/health/marijuana-use-hastens-onset-of-schizophrenia-29515/
The Ambiguous Line
In today’s world of scientific technology and intelligence, where the information we gain on a daily basis increases our human knowledge exponentially, the question is often raised, “Where do we draw the line?” From genetic engineering, to stem cell research, to the development of new pharmaceuticals, we consistently wonder if society is flirting with scientific boundaries we should not cross.
A recent and common debate among American citizens is legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. Currently, patients who are prescribed medical marijuana in states where its use is legal, are typically suffering from a terminal illness, have been diagnosed with AIDS (or other similar diseases), or are going through treatment for cancer. This is because marijuana has an inherent ability to suppress pain and vomiting while simultaneously stimulating one’s appetite. But, what are marijuana’s effects in the neuropsychiatric story? The answer is not a simple one.
Surprising to many, the body actually produces an endogenous “THC” (the active, psychotropic, ingredient in cannabis). These endocannabinoids, named anandamide and 2-AG, act on two specific receptors in the brain: CB1 and CB2. These are the same receptors that marijuana operates on when it is taken into the body. The interaction between the endocannabinoids and their corresponding receptors is called the eCB system.
Where eCB’s story becomes complicated for researchers is that it has seemingly opposing effects on the brain depending on the location it is acting on and the amount of anadamide or 2-AG that is stimulating the system. Thus, although evidence shows a strong connection between the deregulation of the eCB system and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety illnesses, researchers have been unsuccessful in developing a technique to target the system for therapeutic effects in patients with these disorders without experiencing numerous side effects.
For example, one area of neuropsychiatric research investigates the effects of endocannabinoids on the eCB system to model its connection to patients with high anxiety or anxiety-related disorders. Researchers found that stimulation of the eCB system in animal models has both anxiolytic as well as anxiogenic effects. This means researchers have found activation of the CB1 and CB2 receptors to suppress anxiousness in some studies while stimulating anxiousness in others. Therefore, as with most pharmaceuticals, the difficulty lies in targeting the drug to a specific area of the body to limit or purge the side effects or experiencing undesired action in the body. Want to make millions? Find a way to focus a drug on its intended destination without affecting any other part of the body.
However, apart from these pharmacological problems is the overall concern society has with prescribing a drug that is used illegally by many for recreational, and not medicinal, purposes. Does extending the terms for which medical marijuana may be prescribed simply increase its availability and likelihood to be abused by users? At what point do we say “No” to pharmaceuticals? Or, is withholding a drug from a patient, primarily because of possible concerns of abuse, morally wrong? After all, Adderall and Codeine are often abused, and yet, we find them in the hands of thousands of patients.
Until the eCB mystery is solved it may be a simpler question to answer. Or maybe the question remains unanswerable for now. But the time will come when scientists resolve the pharmacological questions and target the eCB system for therapeutic purposes and we will have to walk the ambiguous line in determining if and/or how we distribute marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Marijuana- the forbidden medicine?
Whether or not to legalize marijuana for medical purposes has been one of the most controversial topics discussed nationwide. And the society seems to be divided into two groups of people holding different opinions. While some believe the cannabis should be legalized for its medical beneficial capabilities. Others argue that it also has potential to cause other medical as well as social problems, and therefore should be kept illegal.
Within the two groups of people who hold opposite views against each other as mentioned above, there are many scientists who study the cannabis and the endocannabinoid system and conduct various researches on them. In the article “Endocannabinoid system and psychiatry: in search of a neurobiological basis for detrimental and potential therapeutic effects” Dr. Marco and her colleagues focused on the therapeutic effects of the cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which are the two major components of one of the most popular recreational drugs, cannabis, on mood disorders, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. Although, their research successfully yielded promising findings in rodent models, as any other drug, they had also found a correlation between the cannabis usage and higher possibility of triggering the genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. But this only suggests that further researches on this type of topic are needed, and the findings of Dr. Marco and her group opened up the possibility of the application of cannabis, especially THC, CBD, in psychiatry. As more and more studies have been done on the cannabis, this forbidden medicine has become less and less mystic, and hopefully could be used to improve many people’s quality of life.
While we are discussing the application of the cannabis in medicine, I decided to do a little bit of research on the cannabis on the internet. Interestingly, I found out that the usage of cannabis in medicine has been a long tradition in human history before it was used as a recreational drug. It had been recorded in the “Shennong Ben Cao Jing”, which is a Chinese medicine book written around 300BC to 200 AD. And then was widely used as Chinese medicine around the 16th century.
Growing up in a different country (Taiwan) where illegal drugs are strictly prohibited, it is very surprising to me that how accessible marijuana is here in the United States. Due to this reason, plus the over exaggerations by the media, I used to think that marijuana should never be legalized under any kind of circumstances; but after learning more information about its function in medicine, (such as reducing chronic pain, increasing appetite of chemo patients, even slowing down the growth of cancer cells), and how it could possibly help many people suffering from psychological illnesses, I think I’d have to think on this issue once again. There are many pros and cons of each side, and I believe each of them is very important. Therefore it is necessary to find a balance between them in order to seek the best interest of the entire society.
A Glimmer of Hope for those with Mental Illness
We have all heard it on the news both sides of the story concerning legalizing marijuana for recreational or just pure medical use, and up until recently I had been on the side that was all for it’s legalization and regulation. Why, you might ask? Well, I saw nothing wrong with it. I saw it as a drug that caused seemingly fewer deaths than alcohol but it’s legality was the exact opposite of alcohol in most of the US. I thought of it as a recreational drug and a pain reliever for those who needed it. Well, I thought about it like that until recently when we read an article about the connection between cannabis and the neurobiology of the brain. The connection that was recently found was that there is increasing evidence saying that cannabis users are at an increased risk for developing many neurological disorders including depression, anxiety disorders, psychotic problems and having the possibility of developing schizophrenia. This is caused by over-stimulation of the receptor in the brain that the main ingredient in marijuana binds to. This brings up another topic. Is the risk of getting schizophrenia or other disorders worth the pleasure you get out of it or the relief of pain that some people use cannabis for? For me, that answer is a very big NO! I can say that with the utmost confidence because I have suffered with Generalized Anxiety Disorder for almost 4 years now and I can say that no amount of pleasure that I would get from using marijuana would be worth the risk of getting any sort of mental disorder.
However, I am not saying we should get rid of any attempt to legalize marijuana because through the discussions in the class and through research and reading the article, I did find a glimmer of hope and potential in marijuana in respect to treatment of neurological and other disorders. There is a component of marijuana that has been shown to have incredible therapeutic potential. This component is called Cannibidiol (referred to as CBD for the rest of the post). CBD is the second most prevalent chemical in marijuana. CBD has been shown to have a hand in pain relieving effects, anti-depressant and anxiety reducing effects and also neuroprotective effects, all without the euphoric effects that smoking marijuana has. Neuroprotective basically means that CBD prevents or slows brain cell loss. Although there is still a lot of research to be done on exactly what CBD does and if there are any adverse effects, it is showing promise in relieving many things such as convulsions, inflammation, anxiety and nausea as well as inhibiting cancer growth. For anyone who is looking for more information concerning cannibidiol…
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabidiol)(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0cqpK5Wag)
We also talked about the thought that as medical advances and discoveries progress, there comes a point where we are taking all these medications to fall into what society has deemed “normal” and whether or not we should stop taking these medications, thus keeping the disorder but preserving who we are. My answer to this thought was that there are some things, for example anxiety disorder and schizophrenia, that needs to be medicated to be able to function on a day to day basis and that there are things that should be done before medication is taken, for example seeing a psychiatrist in the case of mental disorders or exercise in the case of obesity.
Well that is all for this week. Next weeks topic for discussion? Insulin and Alzheimers Disease.
Can medicinal marijuana be replaced?
There are many distinct mood disorders troubling society today given our increasingly busy and stressful lifestyles. Research over the years has given more and more insight into the brain and how it regulates these disorders, namely those pertaining to anxiety and depression. The system responsible for such processes is the endocannabinoid (eCB) system and more specifically the workings of the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain. We are now approaching treatment possibilities utilizing this system in conjunction with a component of cannabis, or marijuana, a commonly known and widely abused psychoactive drug. This component is called cannabidiol and has shown great potential to alleviate anxiety and depression in recent studies.
Our knowledge of this eCB system has proposed treatment ideas for anxiety and depression. It seems that a source of these mood disorders may be the deregulation of this system meaning it is not necessarily functioning properly. To combat this problem, researchers have utilized the ability to use neurotransmitter agonists to raise the functioning of the eCB system and therefore decreasing amounts of anxiety and depression in subjects. Despite any negative effects that marijuana might have it has been shown that it can produce these same results in those showing symptoms of mood disorders. This has been long known but only recently have there been sound research studies to show this is true. As mentioned, though, there are some negative effects that marijuana produces.
A fact not known to many about marijuana is that there is a strong correlation between overuse and symptoms of schizophrenia. Prolonged activation of the eCB with marijuana causes these symptoms in those that are slightly more susceptible to this psychotropic disease. This boils down to genetics as there have been genes that are associated with schizophrenia. This type of side effect of marijuana’s overuse is caused by the main active ingredient, THC. This component is what most opponents of marijuana legalization are concerned about. Cannabidiol, another ingredient can be used for its medicinal properties without having the undesired side effects as it works much like THC.
Cannabidiol (CBD) has the potential to replace marijuana and do away with controversies of medicinal marijuana. THC, the psychotropic component, would no longer be needed and CBD could be extracted and utilized for its medicinal properties. Scientists have shown that CBD plays a role in the eCB system much like THC as it has the ability to alleviate symptoms of depression at low doses. In higher doses it can be used in treating anxiety. This has great potential to come into the drug market after further research is done.
What needs to be done before CBD comes onto the market? Scientists need to first find which strain of the Cannabis sativa plant houses higher concentrations of CBD. There are many factors that affect these concentrations such has growing location, small species variations in the plant, and more simply, what type of growing season it was when grown. Once researchers find the optimal strain then there can be efforts to bio-fortify this strain to produce more CBD. High yield extraction methods can then be developed to separate CBD from the plant at a commercial scale. All of these issues need be addressed before we see CBD in the hands of mood disorder patients.