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August 1st, 2008, 10:21 AM
Marijuana and Medicine; Assessing the Science Base from the Institute of Medicine
Cannabinoids and Animal Physiology
INTRODUCTION
http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/images/para_start_shadow.gif
Much has been learned since the publication of the 1982 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report Marijuana and Health.1 (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch2.html#FOOT1) Although it was clear then that most of the effects of marijuana were due to its actions on the brain, there was little information about how THC acted on brain cells (neurons), which cells were affected by THC, or even what general areas of the brain were most affected by THC. Too little was known about cannabinoid physiology to offer any scientific insights into the harmful or therapeutic effects of marijuana. That is no longer true. During the past 16 years, there have been major advances in what basic science discloses about the potential medical benefits of cannabinoids, the group of compounds related to THC. Many variants are found in the marijuana plant, and other cannabinoids not found in the plant have been chemically synthesized. Sixteen years ago it was still a matter of debate as to whether THC acted nonspecifically by affecting the fluidity of cell membranes or whether a specific pathway of action was mediated by a receptor that responded selectively to THC (Table 2.1 (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch2_t1.html)).
Basic science is the wellspring for developing new medications and is particularly important for understanding a drug that has as many effects as marijuana. Even committed advocates of the medical use of marijuana do not claim that all the effects of marijuana are desirable for every medical use. But they do claim that the combination of specific effects of marijuana enhances its medical value. An understanding of those specific effects is what basic science can provide. The multiple effects of marijuana can be singled out and studied with the goals of evaluating the medical value of marijuana and cannabinoids in specific medical conditions, as well as minimizing unwanted side effects. An understanding of the basic mechanisms through which cannabinoids affect physiology permits more strategic development of new drugs and designs for clinical trials that are most likely to yield conclusive results.
Research on cannabinoid biology offers new insights into clinical use, especially given the scarcity of clinical studies that adequately evaluate the medical value of marijuana. For example, despite the scarcity of substantive clinical data, basic science has made it clear that cannabinoids can affect pain transmission and, specifically, that cannabinoids interact with the brain's endogenous opioid system, an important system for the medical treatment of pain (see chapter 4 (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch4.html)).
The cellular machinery that underlies the response of the body and brain to cannabinoids involves an intricate interplay of different systems. This chapter reviews the components of that machinery with enough detail to permit the reader to compare what is known about basic biology with the medical uses proposed for marijuana. For some readers that will be too much detail. Those readers who do not wish to read the entire chapter should, nonetheless, be mindful of the following key points in this chapter:
The most far reaching of the recent advances in cannabinoid biology are the identification of two types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and of anandamide, a substance naturally produced by the body that acts at the cannabinoid receptor and has effects similar to those of THC. The CB1 receptor is found primarilàúin the brain and mediates the psychological effects of THC. The CB2 receptor is associated with the immune system; its role remains unclear.
The physiological roles of the brain cannabinoid system in humans are the subject of much active research and are not fully known; however, cannabinoids likely have a natural role in pain modulation, control of movement, and memory.
Animal research has shown that the potential for cannabinoid dependence exists, and cannabinoid withdrawal symptoms can be observed. However, both appear to be mild compared to dependence and withdrawal seen with other drugs.
Basic research in cannabinoid biology has revealed a variety of cellular pathways through which potentially therapeutic drugs could act on the cannabinoid system. In addition to the known cannabinoids, such drugs might include chemical derivatives of plant-derived cannabinoids or of endogenous cannabinoids such as anandamide but would also include noncannabinoid drugs that act on the cannabinoid system.
This chapter summarizes the basics of cannabinoid biology--as known today. It thus provides a scientific basis for interpreting claims founded on anecdotes and for evaluating the clinical studies of marijuana presented in chapter 4 (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch4.html).
This book is available to read ON-LINE at:http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/index.html
It is a basic pharmacy reference to a lot of other drugs AND some Cannabis medicines being developed like this info:
TABLE 5.2 Cannabinoids Under Development for Human Use
http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/tables/ch5_t2.jpg
a (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch5_t2.html#a_ref)Clinical trials are to proceed in the next few years under a license from the British Home Office.10 SOURCES: Glain, 199827; Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, 19977; Striem et al., 199755; Nainggolan, 199737; Zurier et al., 199861; D. Abrams and E. Russo, personal communications, 1998; R. Dudley, personal communication, 1998; Pharmaprojects Database, 1998.
Cannabinoids and Animal Physiology
INTRODUCTION
http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/images/para_start_shadow.gif
Much has been learned since the publication of the 1982 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report Marijuana and Health.1 (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch2.html#FOOT1) Although it was clear then that most of the effects of marijuana were due to its actions on the brain, there was little information about how THC acted on brain cells (neurons), which cells were affected by THC, or even what general areas of the brain were most affected by THC. Too little was known about cannabinoid physiology to offer any scientific insights into the harmful or therapeutic effects of marijuana. That is no longer true. During the past 16 years, there have been major advances in what basic science discloses about the potential medical benefits of cannabinoids, the group of compounds related to THC. Many variants are found in the marijuana plant, and other cannabinoids not found in the plant have been chemically synthesized. Sixteen years ago it was still a matter of debate as to whether THC acted nonspecifically by affecting the fluidity of cell membranes or whether a specific pathway of action was mediated by a receptor that responded selectively to THC (Table 2.1 (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch2_t1.html)).
Basic science is the wellspring for developing new medications and is particularly important for understanding a drug that has as many effects as marijuana. Even committed advocates of the medical use of marijuana do not claim that all the effects of marijuana are desirable for every medical use. But they do claim that the combination of specific effects of marijuana enhances its medical value. An understanding of those specific effects is what basic science can provide. The multiple effects of marijuana can be singled out and studied with the goals of evaluating the medical value of marijuana and cannabinoids in specific medical conditions, as well as minimizing unwanted side effects. An understanding of the basic mechanisms through which cannabinoids affect physiology permits more strategic development of new drugs and designs for clinical trials that are most likely to yield conclusive results.
Research on cannabinoid biology offers new insights into clinical use, especially given the scarcity of clinical studies that adequately evaluate the medical value of marijuana. For example, despite the scarcity of substantive clinical data, basic science has made it clear that cannabinoids can affect pain transmission and, specifically, that cannabinoids interact with the brain's endogenous opioid system, an important system for the medical treatment of pain (see chapter 4 (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch4.html)).
The cellular machinery that underlies the response of the body and brain to cannabinoids involves an intricate interplay of different systems. This chapter reviews the components of that machinery with enough detail to permit the reader to compare what is known about basic biology with the medical uses proposed for marijuana. For some readers that will be too much detail. Those readers who do not wish to read the entire chapter should, nonetheless, be mindful of the following key points in this chapter:
The most far reaching of the recent advances in cannabinoid biology are the identification of two types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and of anandamide, a substance naturally produced by the body that acts at the cannabinoid receptor and has effects similar to those of THC. The CB1 receptor is found primarilàúin the brain and mediates the psychological effects of THC. The CB2 receptor is associated with the immune system; its role remains unclear.
The physiological roles of the brain cannabinoid system in humans are the subject of much active research and are not fully known; however, cannabinoids likely have a natural role in pain modulation, control of movement, and memory.
Animal research has shown that the potential for cannabinoid dependence exists, and cannabinoid withdrawal symptoms can be observed. However, both appear to be mild compared to dependence and withdrawal seen with other drugs.
Basic research in cannabinoid biology has revealed a variety of cellular pathways through which potentially therapeutic drugs could act on the cannabinoid system. In addition to the known cannabinoids, such drugs might include chemical derivatives of plant-derived cannabinoids or of endogenous cannabinoids such as anandamide but would also include noncannabinoid drugs that act on the cannabinoid system.
This chapter summarizes the basics of cannabinoid biology--as known today. It thus provides a scientific basis for interpreting claims founded on anecdotes and for evaluating the clinical studies of marijuana presented in chapter 4 (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch4.html).
This book is available to read ON-LINE at:http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/index.html
It is a basic pharmacy reference to a lot of other drugs AND some Cannabis medicines being developed like this info:
TABLE 5.2 Cannabinoids Under Development for Human Use
http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/tables/ch5_t2.jpg
a (http://books.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch5_t2.html#a_ref)Clinical trials are to proceed in the next few years under a license from the British Home Office.10 SOURCES: Glain, 199827; Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, 19977; Striem et al., 199755; Nainggolan, 199737; Zurier et al., 199861; D. Abrams and E. Russo, personal communications, 1998; R. Dudley, personal communication, 1998; Pharmaprojects Database, 1998.