PsychoactivePlants

Question 1

Categories of psychoactive compounds and what part of the body do they act on?

Answer 1

• Stimulants
• Depressants
• Hallucinogens
• Act on nervous system
• Psychedelics act on the brain

Question 2

Psychedelics

Answer 2

• Act on the brain

- Affect interaction of neural receptors and neurotransmitters at junction between neurons

Question 3

What kind of compounds are psychoactive’s?

Answer 3

• Usually alkaloids

Question 4

Opiate alkaloids, where from, how many species?

Answer 4

• opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, Papaveraceae, poppy family
• Temperate zone, native to middle east
• 100 plus species, all produce latex
• Opium in seed pod, not seeds

Question 5

Where were the physiological effects of opium alkaloids known?

Answer 5

• Ancient Egypt, Sumeria, Greece by Dioscorides

- Spread by Arab merchants

Question 6

Latex and psychoactive plants

Answer 6

• Made from opium poppies

- Latex from seed pod, seeds do not contain opium

Question 7

How is opium taken by humans?

Answer 7

• Dissolved by alcohol as laudanum or smoked

Question 8

Opium wars

Answer 8

• Between Britain and China

- 1839 and 1856

Question 9

How many opium alkaloids are there and what are some of the derivatives?

Answer 9

• Over 20 alkaloids

- Morphine, codeine, heroin

Question 10

What is the most active analgesic?

Answer 10

• Morphine, derivative of opium

Question 11

How does morphine and other opiates work in the brain?

Answer 11

• Binds to brain receptors of endorphins (endogenous opioids)

Question 12

Heroin

Answer 12

• Derivative of morphine, an opiate
• First made by Bayer Company (the one that makes aspirin)
• More potent and more addictive

Question 13

Bioassay

Answer 13

• See which plant at lowest concentration stops a virus

Question 14

Cocaine alkaloids, plant and where from

Answer 14

• Coca plant, Erythroxylum coca, Erythroxylaceae, coca family
• Native to Andes mountains

Question 15

How do cocaine alkaloids work, who discovered?

Answer 15

• Leaves chewed by Andean natives for stimulatory effect 3500 years ago
• Blocks repute of neurotransmitters
• Strong stimulant and increase sense of well-being
• Topical anaesthetic

Question 16

What is a derivative of cocaine that has been used medically?

Answer 16

• Novocaine as a topical anaesthetic

Question 17

When did cocaine become a popular illicit drug?

Answer 17

• 1970’s

- Trafficked from South America

Question 18

Mescaline plant, and where from

Answer 18

• Peyote, Lophophora williamsii, Cactaceae, cactus family

- Native to Texas and northern Mexico

Question 19

How does mescaline affect the body?

Answer 19

• Mimics neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine

Question 20

THC

Answer 20

• Tetrahydrocannabinol

Question 21

Marijuana plant and where from

Answer 21

• Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae, hemp family
• Wide distribution
• Eastern Asian origin

Question 22

Where are the compounds located on marijuana plants?

Answer 22

• Resin, richest on glandular trichome hairs on unfertilized female flower buds

Question 23

What are the compounds in marijuana?

Answer 23

• Phenolic compounds

- Terpenophenolics

Question 24

How many cannabinoids have been identified?

Answer 24

• Over 200

Question 25

How does marijuana affect the brain?

Answer 25

- Binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain

Question 26

What is the major psychoactive chemical in marijuana?

Answer 26

- THC - Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol - Converted from tetrahydrocannabinolic acid by heat

Question 27

How much THCA is in the plant that is converted to THC by heat?

Answer 27

- 0.5 - 15%

Question 28

What are other types of terpenophenols in marijuana, what do they do?

Answer 28

- BDC, Cannabidiols - contribute other medicinal effects like pain-relief - Analgesic for chronic pain, reduces blood pressure (glaucoma) - Appetite stimulant

Question 29

What is essential to activate THC?

Answer 29

- Heat | - Converts THCA to THC

Question 30

Where and when is the earliest known psychoactive use of marijuana?

Answer 30

- Use by Scythian | - 2500 plus years ago

Question 31

Where is marijuana a sacred herb?

Answer 31

- India | - Smoked in religious context

Question 32

When was marijuana a common herb in medicinal mixtures?

Answer 32

- 1600-1900

Question 33

When was recreational use of marijuana introduced to US?

Answer 33

- After 1910 by Mexican immigrants | - Became popular with counter-culture in 60's (after criminalization)

Question 34

When did criminalization of possession of marijuana begin?

Answer 34

- 1937 | - Efforts increased by US government through 1990's

Question 35

When did Canada legalize marijuana for medical use?

Answer 35

- 2001

Question 36

Cannabis indica

Answer 36

- Originate in Hindu Kush mountain range - More cold tolerant than tropical sativa, grows further north - brought to NA in 1970's - Shrubby and short form, easy to grow indoors

Question 37

What is the history of production of marijuana on the Pacific coast region?

Answer 37

- Recreational imported from mexico to california - US gov't sprayed Mexican crops w/ herbicide in 1970's - Instigated illicit growth in California

Question 38

Sinsemilla method

Answer 38

- Enriches resin in marijuana | - Developed after US crackdown on Mexican marijuana instigated growth in California

Question 39

What happens when sativa is crossed with indica?

Answer 39

- Differences in chemical content ratios | - Increased THC level from 2-3% to 5-8% to 15+% in plant

Question 40

What did the US gov't campaign against drugs instigate?

Answer 40

- Growth of drugs indoors for secrecy | - Encouraged shrubby plants as choice b/c grow well indoors (indica over sativa)

Question 41

What is the current status of Marijuana in Canada?

Answer 41

- Next big cash crop maybe - Canada is worlds biggest greenhouse producer - Over 100 strains on the market

Question 42

Strains of marijuana, how many and what is important in differentiating?

Answer 42

- Over 100 strains on market - Claims different flavours, physical and mental effects - Need genetic identification in future to sell product to prove THC content and no pesticides used

Question 43

Which country is the largest greenhouse marijuana producer, what is a major downside?

Answer 43

- Canada | - Stresses the electrical system due to huge requirements