cannabisnews.com: Researchers Identify Clues About Marijuana Effects





Researchers Identify Clues About Marijuana Effects
Posted by CN Staff on March 08, 2004 at 21:39:47 PT
Press Release
Source: Newswise
Scientists have been studying cannabinoids, substances that are chemically related to the ingredients found in marijuana, for more than two decades, hoping to learn more about how the drug produces its effects--both therapeutic and harmful. Marijuana has been reported effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, nausea caused by chemotherapy and wasting caused by AIDS. However, like all drugs, it also causes numerous unwanted side effects, including hypothermia, sedation, memory impairment, motor impairment and anxiety. Research on cannabinoids could someday yield new, more effective drugs or drug combinations.
At Temple University’s School of Pharmacy and Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR), one of only a few centers in the nation focused on the basic science of substance abuse, several researchers are investigating how cannabinoids produce pharmacological effects in rats. One such study, “L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and WIN 55212-2, a cannabinoid agonist, interact to evoke synergistic hypothermia,” published in the February issue of the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, reveals how cannabinoids produce one of the drug’s most robust actions, hypothermia, or decreased body temperature. According to lead author Scott Rawls, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacodynamics at Temple’s School of Pharmacy, “To operate at maximum efficiency, the body needs to maintain a stable, normal temperature. When the body’s temperature is altered, as in hypothermia, normal body functions, such as blood pressure and circulation, are impaired.” Marijuana operates via two receptors in the body. One receptor, called CB1, is located in the brain and produces the drug’s psychoactive effects, including euphoria and dizziness. The other receptor, CB2, is found throughout the body and impacts the immune system. Substances in marijuana bind to one of these receptors and set off a chemical process that leads to an effect, such as hypothermia. Scientists have focused on this chemical process at the molecular level to pinpoint the exact molecules involved. Knowing that the molecule nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the regulation of body temperature, the Temple researchers set out to determine what role it might play in cannabinoid-induced hypothermia. By combining a cannabinoid with a substance that blocked NO synthesis, they found that cannabinoid-induced hypothermia increased more than two-fold. “This demonstrates the possibility that NO plays a part in regulating the impact of cannabinoids on body temperature and other cannabinoid-mediated actions,” said Rawls. “These findings could be helpful in determining the mechanisms that underlie some of the pharmacological actions of marijuana,” he added. Rawls’ research team is currently investigating the impact of cannabinoids on other physiological systems, such as analgesia and movement, and the brain neurotransmitters that mediate those systems.Source: Newswise (VA)Published: Tuesday, March 09, 2004Copyright: 2004 NewswiseContact: editor newswise.comWebsite: http://www.newswise.com/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on March 09, 2004 at 20:19:34 PT
ekim
No unfortunately he didn't mention anything about cannabis. 
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Comment #22 posted by ekim on March 09, 2004 at 20:07:33 PT
i missed Montel. 
did any one see him tonight did he get a chance to tell his Cannabis story.Montel could pour out his heart to millions of people and say that he has taken every med he can and is helped by Cannabis. Larry gave him one and a half minutes saying Cannabis helped then went to comerical. After that they talked to the lawyer and Lady who had MS and her own fund and the two Drs.every one was so concerned about the poor souls that had this dreded sickness so concerned but not one of them including Larry had the balls to ask Montel more about Cannabis helping him. They just keep shillen for the pill companys and Cannabis be damed.
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on March 09, 2004 at 19:40:37 PT
ekim
I must confess I am not a reader. I can't sit still long enough to read. When I was on the road with my husband I read almost a book a day but when you are going coast to coast you must sit still! LOL! 
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Comment #20 posted by ekim on March 09, 2004 at 19:05:22 PT
well i have never been in one 
but it seems that all would have to have a book to read. or it being on line. Jack has been wonderfull putting his on line. I remember Peter was the same. But i have had this Fats that Heal and Fats that Kill but i have yet to read it from cover to cover.
 I just drag it out when something comes up on it subject. I do feel that most of the suffering could be helped by more of us knowing how the bod is running and what it needs to operate.
 Most of the food is lacking in nutrients more jobs need to be made in manufacturing these nutrients or base elements that must be applied to the ground so it will replenish what has been taken out. anyone read this book
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Comment #19 posted by BGreen on March 09, 2004 at 18:57:06 PT
JoeCitizen
I knew about my mistake, but I was trying to make a joke.I wanted to have a subscript "2" so I could say "Just say NO 2 Cannabis." Get it?I'm a musician, not a chemist.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on March 09, 2004 at 18:53:02 PT
ekim 
If you can figure out how to do it I sure will listen. 
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Comment #17 posted by ekim on March 09, 2004 at 18:40:44 PT
FoM we could do a book club starting with this one
Fats that Heal Fats that Kill./ Udo Erasmus
page 73-82 Chapter 13 Essential Nutrients. Therapeutically, large amounts of w3 EFAs are being used to treat many degenerative diseases.Plus success requires that other essential nutrient levels are present. Seems we get only 13 of the 45 ENs of the 13 sodium only one near RDA. Vitamin is needed to prevent rancidity of EFAs in our bods. In some funtions like treatment of malaria short term deficency of vitamin E make w3 fatty acids more effective killers of the malaria -causing protozoa.GLAs substance made from linoliec acid 18:2w6 in healthy cells --from hemp-borage-evening primrose oils. Best results in arthritis and premenstrual syndrome. {glossary p.430}
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Comment #16 posted by JoeCitizen on March 09, 2004 at 09:21:46 PT
B Green - It's Nitric, not Nitrous
It's Nitric Oxide (NO) that's mentioned in the article, not Nitrous Oxide (N2O).Nitric Oxide is an important regulator chemical in the body. Nitrous Oxide (also known as Dinitrogen Oxide or Dinitrogen Monoxide) is laughing gas.On the topic of side effects and hypothermia: Smoking cannabis lowers your blood pressure, which can lead to both feelings of sedation/tiredness and hypothermia. I often feel cooler in temperature after smoking, which is nice in the summer but not during the colder months.Any effect that isn't the one you needed and tried for can be considered a side effect. Euphoria might help a depressed person, but for someone simply trying to keep their eye pressure down, it may not be needed.  The munchies are an important primary effect for nausea patients, but an annoying side effect to someone with neuropathic pain and weight problems.It really depends on what you are trying to do with the drug.JC
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Comment #15 posted by E_Johnson on March 09, 2004 at 09:06:32 PT
Are you sure?
GLA is associated with a STRONG immune system?OMG I thought it was anti-inflammatory.Oh no that means I have to stay away from it, not use it.Are you sure?Does it raise interferon? That is really dangerous because increased interferon triggers automimmune diseases.It it really does boost the immune system rather than calm it down -- there needs to be very strong warnings on this product for people with autoimmune diseases, whose immune systems are already way too strong.
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Comment #14 posted by mamawillie on March 09, 2004 at 09:01:45 PT
Body temp
I wouldn't call it hypothermia, but when I get high, I get so cold I shiver. I have my "smoking robe" that goes on every time. 
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Comment #13 posted by paulpeterson on March 09, 2004 at 05:46:42 PT
Virgil
I asked Dr. Russo lately about the presence of Omega 3 Fatty Acids in the "bud". His response was that the fatty acids are produced in the seed, not the leaf, and you better hope there is none in the leaf, because burning fatty acids turns into "trans" fatty acids (poisonous).In fact, the low THC "hemp" is genetically designed to produce the GLA (Omega 3) without the THC, meaning that those two chemicals are totally unrelated genetically.But you are entirely correct that Omega 3 Fatty Acids are incredibly important to our health. Some writers believe that a critical shortage of Omega 3 CAUSES ADD, many other brain imbalances, as well as metabolic disorders including inflammation, clumping in the arteries, etc.And by the way, isn't inflammation a "heating" reaction? Isn't "hypothermia" the very treatment they give dwowning/freeze victims, to keep the brain swelling down? Isn't this, in fact, the very mechanism that marijuana uses as an "analgesic" or "anti-inflammatory" treatment?This article, in other words, is not rocket science, just propoganda: to claim marijuana's magic to be a mere "side effect" that hurts rats, rather than just "chilling" them out. Paul Peterson, in Illinois
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Comment #12 posted by The GCW on March 09, 2004 at 05:37:13 PT
Virgil,
Consider spending Your $16 on hemp seed oil instead.omega-3 fatty acids which flax seed oil does have is available elsewhere also,including hemp seed oil; but GLA is hard to come by... and hemp seed oil does not taste bad. GLA being associated with a strong immune system; as You may know...
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Comment #11 posted by Virgil on March 09, 2004 at 05:10:56 PT
Taking all bets
GW Pharmaceutical will not list hypothermia on their warning label. The real point here is that this is a demonization study and their is true need to find out preventative properties of cannabis. Personally, I would like to know of THC-free cannabis bud. Does it have GLA and the omega fatty acids? What would THC-free cannabis bud offer in the way of nutrition.On the current PBS fundraising they have another nutrition guru saying that sugars cause inflamation and this would be true for starches high on the glucinic index. All of this is serious stuff as an older person's best investment in health is their nutrition. Last week I spent $16 on some flax seed oil for the omega-3 fatty acids and it was not for the bad taste. It is serious stuff. Last week I decided to head to a health food store that advertized on the radio and they will be expanding to the town I usually shop in. I thought they might have hemp oil. When I asked they said no and I gave them the pitch that it was the most nutritional oil there was and that I would buy it if they carried it.Inflamation is a subject that has bearing on the situation. I still have not read the Time article on inflamation, but it needs to be part of the cannabis conversation.
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Comment #10 posted by The GCW on March 09, 2004 at 04:31:54 PT
There are NO side effects... 
"However, like all drugs, it also causes numerous unwanted side effects, --including hypothermia, sedation, memory impairment, motor impairment and anxiety."All those "side effects" when thought of as positive instead of nagative, are good things and are not "UNWANTED SIDE EFFECTS.In fact, doesn't the pharm industry, make drugs that do those things when desired??? and then they are not UNWANTED side effects... either.Eating at all causes Us sedation along with good exercise...; some people can benefit from some memory impairment... and want far more impairment than cannabis is able to produce;... some people can benifit with some added "anxiety" in their life...; and motor impairment is not a problem for someone that can not move and wants to reduce other discomfort, or a person that has just used His moter skills a bunch and wants to unwind and feel some sedation and motor impairment... by way of cannabis instead of booze.As far as "hypothermia" goes; I can understand it, but like it was mentioned already, there are good uses for that effect, which would reduce it from "unwanted side effect" to cheap plant for when You want or need it, that grows almost for free; which is the problem, it competes with what is not cheap.& cannabis is not a drug.
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Comment #9 posted by Virgil on March 09, 2004 at 03:58:58 PT
Some more sorry demonization and waste
Hypothermia that comes when people fall in cold water is serious loss of body heat. I do not believe that what they say is true at all. I could see that they take some rats and get them excited and induce some calm that brings them to rest and their heart slows down. These guys are just getting goofy as they should be testing stuff for real in humans to see what it can help instead of stretching the use of terms for medical conditions far beyond their meaning.How about wasting taxpayer money for demonization studies makes people's blood boil? GW is about to put a hurting on all these misdirected studies as the spring that will bring the UK cannabis extracts is only two weeks away.I am waiting for the study that says Miracleplant leads people into a homosexual lifestyle. 
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Comment #8 posted by BGreen on March 09, 2004 at 02:19:38 PT
Do Hot Flashes Raise Whole Body Temperature?
If they do, and assuming cannabis decreases the body temperature in those women, could cannabis have a regulatory effect, working only when needed and not affecting a normally functioning hypothalamus?The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #7 posted by BGreen on March 09, 2004 at 02:09:01 PT
Another Scientific Experiment ... Anybody?
Knowing that the molecule nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the regulation of body temperature, the Temple researchers set out to determine what role it might play in cannabinoid-induced hypothermia. By combining a cannabinoid with a substance that blocked NO synthesis, they found that cannabinoid-induced hypothermia increased more than two-fold.“This demonstrates the possibility that NO plays a part in regulating the impact of cannabinoids on body temperature and other cannabinoid-mediated actions,” said Rawls. “These findings could be helpful in determining the mechanisms that underlie some of the pharmacological actions of marijuana,” he added.It seems that the "solution" to the alleged "hypothermia" appears to be adding a little Nitrous Oxide to our vapor.It brings a whole new meaning to "just say NO." :-)The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #6 posted by E_Johnson on March 09, 2004 at 00:48:24 PT
No this is an animal study
They shoot a rat up with as much THC as you'd get from smoking 300 joints in one minute.That's the only way to get noticeable effects.But of course American journalists are far too brain dead and far too overinvested in their own self-created drama to ever notice a little thing like that.
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Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on March 09, 2004 at 00:46:10 PT
Actually
Why was cannabis a female rememedy back in the day?One reason was probably -- hot flashes!
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Comment #4 posted by fivepounder on March 08, 2004 at 23:36:13 PT
say what?
Who needs air conditioning, just smoke a fat one.
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Comment #3 posted by BGreen on March 08, 2004 at 23:28:18 PT
As A Selfless Research Project For CNews
I've taken my temperature (orally) and I am 98.7°.I guess I'm really running a fever of 105° and should be in the hospital. ;-)The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 08, 2004 at 23:23:28 PT
BGreen
I'm done for the day but I saw your comment and thought of this. It probably isn't correct but here goes. Maybe it could help break a fever too. What do you think?
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Comment #1 posted by BGreen on March 08, 2004 at 23:17:22 PT
Hypothermia????
Good Lord Almighty, where do they come up with this stuff?Stedman's Medical Dictionary has this entry:Hypothermia: A body temperature significantly below 98.6°F (37°C).I've NEVER had anything resembling hypothermia in my life. I don't know anybody who has, either.The (warm and cuddly) Reverend Bud Green
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