Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the molecule that gives marijuana most of its psychological effects. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it functions very similarly to the body’s naturally occurring cannabinoid compounds (NIDA). For detail info go to blog about THC – https://tetrahydrocannabinol.com/
Certain regions of the brain connected to thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination, and time perception contain a concentration of cannabinoid receptors. According to NIDA, THC binds to and activates these receptors, which alters a person’s memory, enjoyment, motions, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception.
One of the many substances present in the resin that the marijuana plant’s glands release is THC. The reproductive organs of the plant have more of these glands than any other part of the plant. This resin contains more cannabinoids, which are substances exclusive to marijuana. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/ ), one cannabinoid, CBD, is not psychoactive and actually prevents THC’s high.
Effects on the body
According to NIDA, THC causes brain cells to release dopamine, which results in bliss. It also affects how the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in creating new memories, processes information.
Hallucinations, altered thinking, and delusions can all be brought on by THC. The effects start to take action 10 to 30 minutes after ingestion and remain for roughly two hours on average. However, even after the perceived high has subsided, psychomotor impairment may persist.
A.J. Fabrizio, a marijuana chemistry expert at Terra Tech Corp, a California agricultural company focused on local farming and medical cannabis, said: “In some cases, reported side effects of THC include elation, anxiety, tachycardia, short-term memory recall issues, sedation, relaxation, pain-relief, and many more.” According to a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, additional cannabinoids and terpenes (compounds that give plants their flavor and aroma) can modify and lessen adverse effects.
Risks
Marijuana is a widely used substance because of its effects. In fact, it is among the illicit narcotics that are used the most frequently globally. Advocates for mental health are worried about these consequences, though. According to NIDA, THC can cause schizophrenia symptoms to relapse.
The impairment of motor skills is another potential side effect of THC use. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, marijuana is the second-most prevalent psychoactive substance discovered in drivers after alcohol and may impair driving or related jobs for three hours after ingestion. Medical marijuana users are advised not to drive unless it has been determined that they can tolerate it and successfully perform motor functions.
Younger users of marijuana may experience short-term as well as long-term issues. According to Dr. Damon Raskin, medical director at Cliffside Malibu Treatment Center, “some of the side effects of THC include a decline in IQ, memory, and cognition, especially in younger people.” “Long-term implications, however, are still up in the air because not enough research has been done on them. There is some suggestion that it might affect a person’s airways and their ability to conceive in both men and women, but the findings are still unclear.”
Early marijuana usage may have negative effects on teenagers, according to a University of Montreal study that was published in the journal Development and Psychopathology in 2016. On some cognitive tests, smokers who start around the age of 14 perform worse than non-smokers. According to a study conducted on nearly 300 adolescents, marijuana users are more likely to drop out of school. The deficits did not appear to be the same in those who started later, at age 17.
According to NIDA, rats who were exposed to THC before birth, shortly after birth, or throughout adolescence later shown issues with particular learning and memory tasks.
Additionally, the medicine may interact negatively with several prescription drugs.
Medicinal uses
The National Cancer Institute claims that marijuana has been used medically for over 3,000 years. More than half of the US had approved medical marijuana use as of the beginning of 2017. The substance has also been made legal for recreational use in a number of states.
THC can either be taken out of marijuana or artificially produced, as it is in the case of the FDA-approved medication dronabinol. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, dronabinol is used to cure or prevent nausea and vomiting brought on by cancer medications as well as to enhance appetite in AIDS patients. It is a yellow-light resinous oil.
More research is demonstrating that THC provides a wide range of additional medical advantages when used correctly. For instance, a 2016 mouse study found that THC may be able to enhance memory when consumed in tiny quantities.
Because marijuana is “all-natural,” some claim that it is a better drug than prescription medications. It might not be the case. Raskin asserted that something is not necessarily healthy just because it is seen as “natural.” “For instance, poison oak may be dangerous. It’s not necessarily healthy or good for you just because something grows in the ground.”
Overdose
Due to overdose, edibles, or foods containing THC, have grown to be a significant issue in jurisdictions where marijuana usage is legal.
As opposed to the recommended lesser quantity, consumers frequently consume a complete portion of a cookie, according to Raskin. “Who, after all, consumes a half-cookie? A cookie is much simpler to swallow and is appealing to younger individuals or those who don’t want to inhale it as smoke.”
Raskin added that because to edibles’ exceptionally high strength, the effects of the substance can stay longer and be more intense when consumed through the digestive system. “The effect from inhaling THC can last 45 minutes to several hours, but edibles can linger for six to eight hours and are more likely to result in an overdose trip to the ER,” he said.
THC concentrations in marijuana
THC breaks down into cannabinol, a cannabinoid with distinct psychological effects, when it is exposed to air. The cannabis sativa L plant, which is used to make marijuana, is grown differently according on the THC content.
According to the North American Industrial Hemp Council, hemp is a kind of cannabis that only contains trace amounts of THC, as little as 0.5 percent. Both industrial and medical uses exist for hemp.
THC content in some cannabis strains can be as low as 0.3% by weight. THC accounts for 20% of the weight of other strains’ samples. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, THC levels range from 1 to 5 percent on average in marijuana, 5 to 15 percent in hashish, and 20 percent on average in hashish oil. THC level in marijuana used for recreational purposes varies greatly, and the more marijuana a user must take to achieve the desired effects, the lower the THC content of the marijuana.
