Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The plant
Plant extracts
Those who extol the virtues of the plant and its
derivatives (in particular hashish, as well as
food containing cannabis, such as cakes,
sweets and milk-based beverages) emphasize
the following (Richard
et al
., 2004):
Cannabis is very well tolerated.
Besides using the plant itself, it is possible to
use a prescription drug called Sativex
®
in those
countries where its use is licensed. This prod-
uct contains cannabis plant extracts that have
been selected for their reliably high THC and
cannabidiol (CBD) concentration (Hosking and
Zajicek, 2008). CBD binds to CB1 receptors
and limits the psychotropic activity of the drug.
It is administered orally and is presented as a
spray formulation. Each 100
•
•
The ecological/natural side of this
treatment.
The effect of the plant can be 'dosed' by
•
l spray delivers
2.7 mg of THC and 2.5 mg of CBD. It is com-
mercialized jointly by a British and a German
pharmaceutical company. It is available in
Canada and is used for patients suffering from
severe neurological problems.
μ
adapting the rhythm of inhalation.
The restrictive nature of legislation
•
(Caballero and Bisiou, 2000).
Detractors of the use of cannabis in this man-
ner emphasize:
•
The lack of scientific studies to support
the innocuous nature of cannabis and its
derivatives relative to the number of stud-
ies that highlight its somatic toxicity (can-
cer) and psychic toxicity (apathetic
syndrome, psychotic symptoms, etc. …),
as reviewed by Richard (2009).
The availability of licensed industrially pro-
15.6.2 Synthetic cannabinoids
as therapeutic agents
The pharmaceutical industry synthesized and
developed several cannabinoids during the
1970s.
Levonantradol is an isomer of nantradol.
It is a synthetic cannabinoid that can be admin-
istered by intramuscular injection. It is stronger
than THC and, given the incidence of side
effects on the nervous system, it has not been
commercialized.
Nabilone (Cesamet©) is a synthetic deriva-
tive of THC that can be administered orally. It
is available as 1 mg capsules and can be used
to treat vomiting and nausea. It is also effective
against neurological pain (Davis, 2008).
Dronabinol (Marinol©) is none other than
THC itself, obtained synthetically rather than
being extracted from the plant. It is available in
North America in 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg
capsules that can be administered orally. It is
used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting
and can stimulate the appetite of cachectic
AIDS patients.
Studies have suggested that CBD, the main
non-psychoactive component of cannabis resin,
has the potential to be used as a sedative,
anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, anti-inflammatory
and neuroprotective drug without provoking the
side effects associated with THC (Scuderi
et al
.,
2008; Iuvone
et al
., 2009). It is not available
commercially, however.
•
duced medicines for the various indica-
tions specified for cannabis.
The existence of legal medicines based on
•
THC (dronabinol - see below) or synthetic
cannabinoids (dronabinol, nabilone, etc.).
The impossibility of obtaining reproduci-
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ble results from the use of a plant rich in
pharmacologically active products, with
variable levels and in varying proportions.
The dangers presented by the concurrent
•
use of tobacco and/or the inhalation of
various combustion products (e.g. tars)
from the plant when consumed in the
form of cigarettes or smoked in a pipe.
The potential for confusion, both within
•
society and legally, that is likely to arise if
a therapeutic form of cannabis is available
at the same time as its drug form.
Many patients wishing to self-medicate with
cannabis will choose to grow the plant them-
selves, either indoors, sometimes hydroponi-
cally, or outdoors. They can then smoke the
plant directly or make their own hashish, using
specially conceived systems commercially avail-
able in countries such as the Netherlands and
Switzerland (e.g. the Pollinator
®
system).
