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The menopause
Published in Michael J. O’Dowd, The History of Medications for Women, 2020
Cannabis indica or C. sativa were prescribed to relieve nervousness and to promote sleep. According to Hare, cannabis also caused sexual stimulation, and to quote from his text ‘The drug, as prepared by Parke Davis and Co., has proved efficacious in the author’s hands for years’.
Cannabis
Published in Ilana B. Crome, Richard Williams, Roger Bloor, Xenofon Sgouros, Substance Misuse and Young People, 2019
Of the three species of cannabis, cannabis sativa was the first to be introduced around the globe probably because of its strong fibres and edible seeds (Stafford and Bigwood, 1992). Cannabis indica is a shorter plant that contains the greatest amount of cannabis resin and has the strongest psychotropic effect. There is a third relatively rare species, cannabis ruderalis, which does not have significant psychotropic effect, or other non-pharmacological uses.
Recent Cannabinoid Delivery Systems
Published in Betty Wedman-St Louis, Cannabis as Medicine, 2019
Natascia Bruni, Carlo Della Pepa, Simonetta Oliaro-Bosso, Daniela Gastaldi, Franco Dosio, Enrica Pessione
Cannabis (cannabis sativa) is a dioic plant that belongs to the Cannabaceae family (Magnoliopsida, Urticales). Knowledge of the medical and psychoactive properties of cannabis dates back to 4000 B.C. All of the different varieties of cannabis, including the one known as cannabis indica, belong to the same species. All C. sativa plants produce active compounds, but each variety produces these compounds in different concentrations and proportions, which do not only depend on genomic background, but also on growing conditions and climate, meaning that they can be referred to as chemical varieties or chemovars, rather than strains [1]. Each chemovar contains varying concentrations of cannabinoids, a class of mono- to tetracyclic C21 (or C22) meroterpenoids. While more than 100 different cannabinoids can be isolated from C. sativa, the primary psychoactive compound is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which was first isolated in its pure form by Gaoni & Mechoulam in 1964 [2]. Other pharmacologically important analogues are: cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol, cannabinoid acids, cannabigerol, and cannabivarins. In addition to cannabinoids, other components, such as monoterpenoids myrcene, limonene, pinene, and sesquiterpenoid beta-caryophyllene, can also mediate the pharmacological effects of C. sativa [3].
Mother of Berries, ACDC, or Chocolope: Examination of the Strains Used by Medical Cannabis Patients in New England
Published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2018
Patients commonly refer to Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica as distinct varieties. According to the popular website Leafly (2017), there are numerous distinct strains which are either C. sativa, C. indica, or hybrids. There is some disagreement among botanists whether C. sativa and C. indica are distinct species (Hillig 2005; Sawler et al. 2015) or sub-species, but there are outward differences. C sativa is taller in height and often has long and narrow leaflets. C. indica, from India, is shorter in stature with broader but shorter leaflets. C. indica and C. sativa samples have been geographically differentiated based on their terpenoid profile (Hillig 2004) and enzymes (Hillig 2005). Among patients, sativas have a reputation for producing more cerebral and stimulating effects while indicas are more sedative and relaxing (Sawler et al. 2015). Some botanists argue that Cannabis ruderalis and Cannabis afghanica are additional species (Piomelli and Russo 2016; although see Small 2015), but this terminology is not used by MC patients. Dispensary staff, colloquially known as bud-tenders, often recommend sativas for appetite and depression and indicas for insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, and chronic pain (Haug et al. 2016). Interestingly, a non-blind, but longitudinal, naturalistic investigation of California MC patients determined that indicas produced significantly greater improvements in both energy and appetite than sativas (Corral 2001).
Cancer patient’s attitudes of using medicinal cannabis for sleep
Published in Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 2022
Eric S. Zhou, Manan M. Nayak, Peter R. Chai, Ilana M. Braun
Most participants discussed specific strains of MC that they believed to be most appropriate when targeting sleep. Participants reported that Cannabis indica (known for its ‘full-body’ relaxation effects), rather than Cannabis sativa (known for its ‘head high’ that can be invigorating), was preferred. This is consistent with Cannabis species preferences among sleep-disturbed MC users.14 Participants also described the importance of timing (use too early during the day may lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and insomnia) and dosing (a higher dose may lead to somnolence prior to desired bedtime) of MC. Participants reported self-experimentation in titrating both dose and time as the prevailing method to appropriately utilize MC for sleep.
Cannabis use among U.S. adolescents in the era of marijuana legalization: a review of changing use patterns, comorbidity, and health correlates
Published in International Review of Psychiatry, 2020
Christopher J. Hammond, Aldorian Chaney, Brian Hendrickson, Pravesh Sharma
Cannabis is a psychoactive drug derived from the plant species cannabis sativa and cannabis indica. It contains greater than 500 bioactive chemicals and more than 80 unique phytocannabinoids that have distinct and dose-dependent effects in humans, including Δ-9-tetra-hydrocannabidol (Δ-9-THC), the primary psychoactive constituent, and cannabidiol (CBD) another major constituent of the plant believed to have potential medical properties (NCCIH, 2018). Cannabinoids such as Δ-9-THC and CBD act centrally and peripherally at receptors that are part of an endogenous brain system involved in development and homeostasis called the endocannabinoid system. Cannabis is used by an estimated 183 million individuals worldwide (WHO, 2019). Use of cannabis is increasing among individuals living in North America, in part related to legalization, decriminalization, and expansion of availability in United States (U.S.) and Canadian markets (Findlaw, 2019; WHO, 2019). Within the U.S. specifically, dramatic shifts in public policy have occurred over the past two decades. In 1996 California became the first U.S. state to approve legislation allowing for the medical use of marijuana. Since that time 32 other states and the District of Columbia have passed laws allowing for legal use of marijuana for medical purposes and 11 states have passed laws allowing for recreational use of marijuana (Findlaw, 2019). Accompanying these policy shifts in the U.S. have been changes in public opinion, perception regarding the harms of cannabis, cannabis use patterns, and the prevalence of cannabis use disorders (CUD) among U.S. adults (Cerda, Wall, Keyes, Galea, & Hasin, 2012; Hasin et al., 2017).