EFFECT OF CANNABIS ON THE

HUMAN BODY
Abstract
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, and by numerous other
names, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use
as a psychoactive or drug and as medicine. Pharmacologically,
the principal psychoactive constituent of Cannabis is
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); It is one of 483 known compounds
in the plant, including at least 84 other cannabinoids, such as
cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), tetrahydrocannabivarin
(THCV), and cannabigerol (CBG).
The effects of cannabisare caused by chemicalcompounds in
cannabis, including cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC). Cannabis has both psychological and physiological effects
on the human body. Five European Countries, Canada, and
twenty US states have legalized medical cannabis if prescribed
for nausea, pain or the alleviation of symptoms surrounding
chronic illness. Cannabis use is associated with social and
behavioral problems and carries a risk to physical and mental
health.
These effects caused by cannabis on different parts of the human
body are looked into in this project.
Cannabiniods and Cannabinoid Receptors
The most notably prevalent psychoactive substances in cannabis
are cannabinoids, most notably THC. The cannabinoid receptor
is a typical member of the largest known family of receptors
called a G protein-coupled receptor. A signature of this type or
receptor is the distinct pattern of how the receptor molecules
spans the cell membrane seven times.

The location of the cannabinoid receptor exists on the cell

membrane and both outside (extracellularly) and inside
(intracellularly) the cell membrane. CB1 receptors, the bigger of
the two, are extraordinarily abundant in the brain. CB2 receptors
are structurally different, found only on cells of the immune
system, and seem to function similarly to its CB1 counterpart.
CB2 receptors are most commonly prevalent on B-cells, natural
killer cells, and monocytes, but can also be found on
polymorphonuclear neutrophile cells, T8 cells and T4 cells. In the
tonsils, the CB2 receptors appear to appear to be restricted to
B-lymphocyte-enriched areas. THC andendogenous anandamide
additionally interact with glycine receptors.

Biochemical Mechanisms in the Brain

Cannabinoids usually contain a 1,1'-di-methyl-pyran ring,
constituting a family of about 60 bi-cyclic and tri-cyclic
compounds. Like most other neurological processes, the effects
of cannabis on the brain follow the standard protocol of signal
transduction, the electrochemical system of sending signals
through neurons for a biological response. The binding of
cannabinoids to cannabinoid receptors decrease adenylyl cyclase
activity, inhibit calcium N channels, and disinhibit K+A channels.
There are at least two types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and
CB2).
The CB1 receptor is found primarily in the brain and mediates
the psychological effects of THC. The CB2 receptor is most
abundantly found on cells of the immune system. Cannabinoids
act as immunomodulators at CB2 receptors, meaning they
increase some immune responses and decrease others. For
example, non-psychotropic cannabinoids can be used as a very
effective anti-inflammatory. The affinity of cannabinoids to bind
to either receptor is about the same, with only a slight increase
observed with the plant-derived compound CBD binding to CB2
receptors more frequently. Cannabinoids likely have a role in the
brain’s control of movement and memory, as well as natural pain
modulation. It is clear that cannabinoids can affect pain
transmission and, specifically, that cannabinoids interact with
the brain's endogenous opioid system and may affect dopamine
transmission. This is an important physiological pathway for the
medical treatment of pain.

Toxicity
No fatal overdoses with cannabis use have been reported as of
2010.THC, the principal psychoactive constituent of the cannabis
plant, has an extremely low toxicity and the amount that can
enter the body through the consumption of cannabis plants
poses no threat of death. The ratio of cannabis material required
to produce a fatal overdose to the amount required to saturate
cannabinoid receptors and cause intoxication is approximately
40,000:1.It was found in 2007 that while tobacco and cannabis
smoke are quite similar, cannabis smoke contained higher
amounts of ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and nitrogen oxides,
but lower levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Cannabis smoke contains thousands of organic and inorganic
chemical compounds. Over fifty known carcinogens have been
identified in cannabis smoke. These include nitrosamines,
reactive aldehydes, and polycyclic hydrocarbons, including
benz[a]pyrene. Marijuana smoke was listed as a cancer agent in
California in 2009.A study identifies cannabis smoke as a
carcinogen and also finds awareness of the danger is low
compared with the high awareness of the dangers of smoking
tobacco particularly among younger users. Other observations
include possible increased risk from each cigarette; lack of
research on the effect of cannabis smoke alone; low rate of
addiction compared to tobacco; and episodic nature of cannabis
use compared to steady frequent smoking of tobacco.

Psychoactive Effects
When THC enters the blood stream and reaches the brain, it
binds to cannabinoid receptors. The endogenous ligand of these
receptors is anandamide, the effects of which THC emulates.
Thisagonism of the cannabinoid receptors results in changes in
the levels of various neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and
norepinephrine; neurotransmitters which are closely associated
with the acute effects of cannabis ingestion, such as euphoria
and anxiety. Some effects may include a general perception,
euphoria, feelings of well-being, relaxation or stress reduction,
increased appreciation of humor, music (especially discerning its
various components/instruments) or the arts, joviality,
metacognition and introspection, enhanced recollection (episodic
memory), increased sensuality, increased awareness of
sensation, increased libido and creativity. Abstract or
philosophical thinking, disruption of linear memory and paranoia
or anxiety are also typical. Anxiety is the most commonly
reported side effect of smoking marijuana. Between 20 and 30
percent of recreational users experience intense anxiety and/or
panic attacks after smoking cannabis, however, some report
anxiety only after not smoking cannabis for a prolonged period
of time.
Cannabis also produces many subjective and highly tangible
effects, such as greater enjoyment of food taste and aroma, an
enhanced enjoyment of music and comedy, and marked
distortions in the perception of time and space (where
experiencing a "rush" of ideas from the bank of long-term
memory can create the subjective impression of long elapsed
time, while a clock reveals that only a short time has passed).
At higher doses, effects can include altered body image, auditory
and/or visual illusions, pseudo-hallucinatory, and ataxia from
selective impairment of polysynaptic reflexes. In some cases,
cannabis can lead to dissociative states such as
depersonalization and derealization; such effects are most often
considered desirable, but have the potential to induce panic
attacks and paranoia in some unaccustomed users.

Somatic Effects
Some of the short-term physical effects of cannabis use include
increased heart rate, dry mouth, reddening of the eyes
(congestion of the conjunctival blood vessels), a reduction in
intra-ocular pressure, muscle relaxation and a sensation of cold
or hot hands and feet.

Neurological Effects
The areas of the brain where cannabinoid receptors are most
prevalently located are consistent with the behavioural effects
produced by cannabinoids. Brain regions in which cannabinoid
receptors are very abundant are the basal ganglia, associated
with movement control; the cerebellum, associated with body
movement coordination; the hippocampus, associated with
learning, memory, and stress control; the cerebral cortex,
associated with higher cognitive functions; and the nucleus
accumbens, regarded as the reward center of the brain. Other
regions where cannabinoid receptors are moderately
concentrated are the hypothalamus, which regulates
homeostatic functions; the amygdala, associated with emotional
responses and fears; the spinal cord, associated with peripheral
sensations like pain; the brain stem, associated with sleep,
arousal, and motor control; and the nucleus of the solitary tract,
associated with visceral sensations like nausea and vomiting.
Experiments on animal and human tissue have demonstrated a
disruption of short-term memory formation, which is consistent
with the abundance of CB1 receptors on the hippocampus, the
region of the brain most closely associated with memory.
Cannabinoids inhibit the release of several neurotransmitters in
the hippocampus such as acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and
glutamate, resulting in a major decrease in neuronal activity in
that region. This decrease in activity resembles a "temporary
hippocampal lesion."
In in-vitro experiments THC at extremely high concentrations,
which could not be reached with commonly consumed doses,
caused competitive inhibition of the AChE enzyme and inhibition
of β-amyloid peptide aggregation, implicated in the development
of Alzheimer's disease. Compared to currently approved drugs
prescribed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, THC is a
considerably superior inhibitor of A aggregation, and this study
provides a previously unrecognized molecular mechanism
through which cannabinoid molecules may impact the
progression of this debilitating disease.

Long-Term Effects of Cannabis

Acute psychosis
Although there has been an association noted between cases of
acute psychosis and long-term cannabis use, the precise nature
of the relationship is controversial; evidence suggests that
cannabis use may worsen psychotic symptoms and increase the
riskof relapse.
Chronic psychosis
According to one review, long term cannabis use "increases the
risk of psychosis in people with certain genetic or environmental
vulnerabilities", but does not cause psychosis. Important
predisposing factors include genetic liability, childhood trauma
and urban upbringing.[7] A second review concluded that
cannabis use may cause permanent psychological disorders in
some users such as cognitive impairment, anxiety, paranoia, and
increased risks of psychosis. Key predisposing variables include
age of first exposure, frequency of use, the potency of the
cannabis used, and individual susceptibility.
Schizophrenia
Among people with schizophrenia there is insufficient evidence
to determine whether cannabis use leads to improvement or
deterioration of the condition, but patients who use cannabis
have been found to display increased cognitive performance
compared to non-users.
Use of cannabis in adolescence or earlier increases the risk of
developing schizoaffective disorders in adult life, although the
proportion of these cases is small. Susceptibility is most often
found in users with at least one copy of the polymorphic COMT
gene.
Cannabis with a high THC to CBD ratio produces a higher
incidence of psychological effects. CBD may show antipsychotic
and neuroprotective properties, acting as an antagonist to some
of the effects of THC. Studies examining this effect have used
high ratios of CBD to THC, and it is unclear to what extent these
laboratory studies translate to the types of cannabis used by real
life users.Research has shown that CBD can safely prevent
psychosis in general.
Depressive disorder
Less attention has been given to the association between
cannabis use and depression, though according to the Australian
National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre, it is possible this is
because cannabis users who have depression are less likely to
access treatment than those with psychosis.
Teenage cannabis users show no difference from the general
population in incidence of major depressive disorder (MDD), but
an association exists between early exposure coupled with
continued use into adult life and increased incidence of MDD in
adulthood. Among cannabis users of all ages, there may be an
increased risk of developing depression, with heavy users
seemingly having a higher risk.
Cancer
According to a 2013 literature review, marijuana could be
carcinogenic, but there are methodological limitations in studies
making it difficult to establish a link between marijuana use and
cancer risk. The authors say that bladder cancer does seem to
be linked to habitual marijuana use, and that there may be a risk
for cancers of the head and neck among long-term (more than
20 years) users. Gordon and colleagues said, "there does appear
to be an increased risk of cancer (particularly head and neck,
lung, and bladder cancer) for those who use marijuana over a
period of time, although what length of time that this risk
increases is uncertain."
Respiratory effects
A 2013 literature review by Gordon and colleagues concluded
that inhaled marijuana is associated with lung disease. Of the
various methods of cannabis consumption, smoking is
considered the most harmful; the inhalation of smoke from
organic materials can cause various health problems (e.g.,
coughing and sputum). Isoprenes help to modulate and slow
down reaction rates, contributing to the significantly differing
qualities of partial combustion products from various sources.
Reproductive and endocrine effects
Cannabis consumption in pregnancy is associated with
restrictions in growth of the fetus, miscarriage, and cognitive
deficits in offspring. Although the majority of research has
concentrated on the adverse effects of alcohol, there is now
evidence that prenatal exposure to cannabis has serious effects
on the developing brain and is associated with "deficits in
language, attention, areas of cognitive performance, and
delinquent behavior in adolescence. A report prepared for the
“Australian National Council on Drugs” concluded cannabis and
other cannabinoids are contraindicated in pregnancy as it may
interact with the endocannabinoid system

CONCLUSION:
Medical cannabis has several potential beneficial effects.
Evidence is moderate that it helps in chronic pain and muscles
spasms. Lesser evidence supports its use to help with nausea
during chemotherapy, improve appetite in those with HIV/AIDS
and also help with sleep.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that
cannabis is unlikely to be useful as medicine as "(1) it is an
unpurified plant containing numerous chemicals with unknown
health effects; (2) it is typically consumed by smoking further
contributing to potential adverse effects; and (3) its cognitive
impairing effects may limit its utility."