Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is a psychoactive drug derived from the Cannabis plant. This plant is native to South and Central Asia and has been used as an entheogenic, medicinal, and recreational drug for centuries. This article explores the medical benefits of cannabis and its most common forms. Learn more about Cannabinoids. Then, learn about the most common forms of cannabis. This article will also discuss the history and myths surrounding cannabis.
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are naturally produced by the body and have a number of different functions. These include regulating mood, appetite, pain sensitivity, and movement. These compounds activate cannabinoid receptors in the body and are thought to have a variety of benefits. Though their precise functions are still unknown, it is increasingly becoming apparent that cannabis is not just a recreational drug, but also a powerful medicinal plant.
The method of mass spectrometry, coupled with HPLC, provides enough sensitivity and specificity to quantify cannabinoids in a wide variety of cannabis extracts. For example, HPLCDAD provides sufficient specificity and sensitivity to identify cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa, whereas the more expensive mass spectrometry requires expensive deuterated standards and a sample library.
Cannabis’s association with schizophrenia
A recent study investigated the association between cannabis use and schizophrenia. They found that marijuana users have higher risk of psychotic experiences than non-users. However, the risk of schizophrenia was not higher in cannabis users, who did not have a genetic predisposition. Further, cannabis use was more likely to trigger psychotic experiences in people who are genetically predisposed to schizophrenia. The association between cannabis use and schizophrenia remains unclear, but it may be associated with other psychotic symptoms as well.
There are several confounding factors that influence the development of schizophrenia and cannabis use. However, longitudinal data suggest that cannabis use may be associated with a small but significant risk for psychosis. Confounding factors include genetic predisposition, gender, family history, and environmental factors. Researchers note that cannabis may act as a modifier to pre-existing genetic and environmental factors, which may trigger early onset or selective psychosis.
Common forms of cannabis
Cannabis comes in many forms, including hashish, marijuana, and hash oil. Both are dried products of the cannabis plant. While marijuana has a high concentration of THC, hashish has a low concentration. Cannabis oil has a lower THC content but is still a highly potent drug. Hash oil contains trace amounts of THC. Cannabis products are also available in powdered form 1000mg thc syrup. These products contain trace amounts of THC, ranging from two to eight percent.
Cannabis has a long history, dating back to ancient Egyptian and Chinese sources. It was only after the British Army physician who first saw the benefits of cannabis for a variety of ailments that it was introduced into Western medicine. He noted that cannabis could be used as an antitussive, anticonvulsant, and anti-anxiety agent. This began the modern phase of therapeutic cannabis use. After that, other studies indicated that cannabis could reduce anxiety, improve appetite, and improve sleep.