Cannabis, a complex plant: different compounds and different effects on individuals

Abstract

Cannabis is a complex plant, with major compounds such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, which have opposing effects. The discovery of its compounds has led to the further discovery of an important neurotransmitter system called the endocannabinoid system. This system is widely distributed in the brain and in the body, and is considered to be responsible for numerous significant functions. There has been a recent and consistent worldwide increase in cannabis potency, with increasing associated health concerns. A number of epidemiological research projects have shown links between dose-related cannabis use and an increased risk of development of an enduring psychotic illness. However, it is also known that not everyone who uses cannabis is affected adversely in the same way. What makes someone more susceptible to its negative effects is not yet known, however there are some emerging vulnerability factors, ranging from certain genes to personality characteristics. In this article we first provide an overview of the biochemical basis of cannabis research by examining the different effects of the two main compounds of the plant and the endocannabinoid system, and then go on to review available information on the possible factors explaining variation of its effects upon different individuals.

An Assessment of the Genotoxicity and Subchronic Toxicity of a Supercritical Fluid Extract of the Aerial Parts of Hemp

“…Cannabis sativa L. is a unique and complex plant with respect to its constituents and physiological properties, some of which have opposing effects [1]. Despite the fact that humans have utilized the C. sativa plant medicinally for millennia, its chemical profile and complex pharmacology have yet to be fully elucidated [1–3].…”

“…Despite the fact that humans have utilized the C. sativa plant medicinally for millennia, its chemical profile and complex pharmacology have yet to be fully elucidated [1–3]. One group of constituents that has been researched is the cannabinoids—oxygen-containing aromatic hydrocarbon compounds that constitute at least 70 of the estimated 400+ constituents in the plant (e.g., cannabichromene, cannabielsoin, cannabicyclol, and cannabidiol) [4–6].…”

Addiction and Mental Health Across the Lifespan: An Overview of Some Contemporary Issues

“…Cannabis has been linked to cognitive impairment and lower educational attainment of adolescents who use it frequently (Volkow, Baler, Compton, & Weiss, 2014). Cannabis use also heightens the risk of transient psychotic symptoms and psychiatric illness in predisposed individuals (Atakan, 2012). Especially in places where marijuana has been legalized, concerns are being raised about children's second-hand exposure to marijuana smoke, and about the rapidly rising number of children requiring treatment in emergency departments after ingesting it in baked goods prepared in their homes, such as brownies or cookies (Wang et al, 2016;Wang, Roosevelt, & Heard, 2013).…”

Determination of the Endocannabinoids Anandamide and 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: Analytical and Preanalytical Challenges and Pitfalls

“…Nevertheless, it is nowadays widely recognized that the ECS plays an important role in the fine-tuning of the homeostasis of many physiological key mechanisms, such as vascular, reproductory, metabolic, and immune functions. For comprehensive reviews summarizing the complexity and physiological relevance of the ECS see Di Marzo and De Petrocellis [19] and Atakan [20]. Great interest has been directed towards the pathophysiological role of the ECS in disease development and progression.…”