PSYC 365 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS
1- What is the primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana? Are there other chemicals
in marijuana? - Answers - Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and there are 60-85
other psychoactive chemicals
2- What are the different routes of absorption for THC? What are some differences
between the different routes? - Answers - Different routes for absorption include
inhalation and oral. For inhalation there are two types: Smoking & Vaping where
smoking is directly into the lungs, heart, brain and this is if you smoke a joint, pipe, or
bong. Vaping includes vaporizes which have the THC molecules in the vapor. If taken
orally, this is done by edibles, lollipops, and brownies and it takes about 45 minutes to
an hour for the high to kick in since it has to go through your small intestine.
3- What type of receptors does THC bind to in the brain? - Answers - Cannabinoid,
Anandamide, and Opioid receptors are the specific receptors that THC binds to
4- How is THC metabolized? Is there anything unique about the metabolism of THC
compared to other drugs we have discussed? - Answers - THC is broken down by
hepatic cytochrome P450 which creates 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC (active metabolite, will
still get you high) then into 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-THC (THC-COOH) (Inactive
metabolite Will not get you high)
THC gets sequestered into fat cells all over body: The more body fat you have, the
more you will sequester THC
5- Is it easy to overdose and die on marijuana? How about LSD? - Answers - you
cannot overdose on Marijuana or LSD. A person is more likely to die because of actions
they take while on the drug.
6- Review the different forms of marijuana? Which have the highest and lowest
concentrations of THC? - Answers - Highest to lowest concentrations are as follows:
BHO --> Hashish Oil --> sinsemilla --> hashish --> marijuana and Bhang
7- What is the amotivational syndrome? - Answers - Loss of effectiveness and reduced
capacity to accomplish conventional goals as a result of chronic marijuana use.
8- What are some physical side effects associated with chronic marijuana use? -
Answers - Cardiovascular: no compelling evidence -- may be at higher risk for heart
disease and how heart functions
Pulmonary: lung cancer elevated in marijuana
Immune system: marijuana is an immunosuppressant; cannabinoid 2 receptors in
immune system - binding site for THC to bind to = suppress immune system; makes
people more susceptible to lung infections and immune dysfunction
, Reproductive system: males - reduces testosterone and sperm function (no effect on
fertility); females - affects follicle stimulating hormone linked to egg growth & luteinizing
hormone, which implants egg into uterus (could affect fertility if egg is not released,
shifts menstrual cycle
9- How does smoking marijuana compare to tobacco in terms of health risks? - Answers
- Just remember the take away is that marijuana may be more harmful puff for puff
compared to tobacco, however tobacco users smoke much more often than the average
marijuana user.
10- Why do some people consider marijuana to be a gateway drug? Why do others
argue that it is not? - Answers - To add to this, the argument against the gateway theory
is that there are people who smoke marijuana however they do not do any other drugs.
To give an example of this, in class Dr. Gilbert explained that most people who do hard
drugs have drank alcohol as well. If the gateway theory were true wouldn't alcohol be
considered a gateway drug?
People who smoke marijuana are 7 times more likely to use other stronger drugs than
people who don't use marijuana. There are two arguments that debate whether
marijuana is a gateway drug:
11- What is Salvia Divinorum? Does it affect the brain similar to marijuana or LSD? -
Answers - Salvia Divinorum is a plant from the mint family.
Salvia acts on a different receptor and therefore affects the brain differently from LSD
and Marijuana.
Salvia binds to the Kappa opioid receptors and acts as an agonist
12- Does the length of the hallucinogen "trip" differ for the different hallucinogenic drugs
we discussed in class? - Answers - Psilocybin is 2-5 hours
DMT which is 10-15 minutes when smoked
Ketamine- 1 hour
PCP- 6-8 hours short effect and days for long effect
13- What is (are) the psychoactive chemical(s) in the drug "spice"? What is a major
concern associated with use of this drug? - Answers - cannabicyclohexanol (synthetic
cannabinoid)
side effects: heart attack, agitation, vomiting, seizures, and high blood pressure
14- Which hallucinogen drugs affect serotonin receptors? - Answers - LSD, psychedelic
mushrooms, morning glory seeds, DMT, ecstasy
1- What is the primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana? Are there other chemicals
in marijuana? - Answers - Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and there are 60-85
other psychoactive chemicals
2- What are the different routes of absorption for THC? What are some differences
between the different routes? - Answers - Different routes for absorption include
inhalation and oral. For inhalation there are two types: Smoking & Vaping where
smoking is directly into the lungs, heart, brain and this is if you smoke a joint, pipe, or
bong. Vaping includes vaporizes which have the THC molecules in the vapor. If taken
orally, this is done by edibles, lollipops, and brownies and it takes about 45 minutes to
an hour for the high to kick in since it has to go through your small intestine.
3- What type of receptors does THC bind to in the brain? - Answers - Cannabinoid,
Anandamide, and Opioid receptors are the specific receptors that THC binds to
4- How is THC metabolized? Is there anything unique about the metabolism of THC
compared to other drugs we have discussed? - Answers - THC is broken down by
hepatic cytochrome P450 which creates 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC (active metabolite, will
still get you high) then into 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-THC (THC-COOH) (Inactive
metabolite Will not get you high)
THC gets sequestered into fat cells all over body: The more body fat you have, the
more you will sequester THC
5- Is it easy to overdose and die on marijuana? How about LSD? - Answers - you
cannot overdose on Marijuana or LSD. A person is more likely to die because of actions
they take while on the drug.
6- Review the different forms of marijuana? Which have the highest and lowest
concentrations of THC? - Answers - Highest to lowest concentrations are as follows:
BHO --> Hashish Oil --> sinsemilla --> hashish --> marijuana and Bhang
7- What is the amotivational syndrome? - Answers - Loss of effectiveness and reduced
capacity to accomplish conventional goals as a result of chronic marijuana use.
8- What are some physical side effects associated with chronic marijuana use? -
Answers - Cardiovascular: no compelling evidence -- may be at higher risk for heart
disease and how heart functions
Pulmonary: lung cancer elevated in marijuana
Immune system: marijuana is an immunosuppressant; cannabinoid 2 receptors in
immune system - binding site for THC to bind to = suppress immune system; makes
people more susceptible to lung infections and immune dysfunction
, Reproductive system: males - reduces testosterone and sperm function (no effect on
fertility); females - affects follicle stimulating hormone linked to egg growth & luteinizing
hormone, which implants egg into uterus (could affect fertility if egg is not released,
shifts menstrual cycle
9- How does smoking marijuana compare to tobacco in terms of health risks? - Answers
- Just remember the take away is that marijuana may be more harmful puff for puff
compared to tobacco, however tobacco users smoke much more often than the average
marijuana user.
10- Why do some people consider marijuana to be a gateway drug? Why do others
argue that it is not? - Answers - To add to this, the argument against the gateway theory
is that there are people who smoke marijuana however they do not do any other drugs.
To give an example of this, in class Dr. Gilbert explained that most people who do hard
drugs have drank alcohol as well. If the gateway theory were true wouldn't alcohol be
considered a gateway drug?
People who smoke marijuana are 7 times more likely to use other stronger drugs than
people who don't use marijuana. There are two arguments that debate whether
marijuana is a gateway drug:
11- What is Salvia Divinorum? Does it affect the brain similar to marijuana or LSD? -
Answers - Salvia Divinorum is a plant from the mint family.
Salvia acts on a different receptor and therefore affects the brain differently from LSD
and Marijuana.
Salvia binds to the Kappa opioid receptors and acts as an agonist
12- Does the length of the hallucinogen "trip" differ for the different hallucinogenic drugs
we discussed in class? - Answers - Psilocybin is 2-5 hours
DMT which is 10-15 minutes when smoked
Ketamine- 1 hour
PCP- 6-8 hours short effect and days for long effect
13- What is (are) the psychoactive chemical(s) in the drug "spice"? What is a major
concern associated with use of this drug? - Answers - cannabicyclohexanol (synthetic
cannabinoid)
side effects: heart attack, agitation, vomiting, seizures, and high blood pressure
14- Which hallucinogen drugs affect serotonin receptors? - Answers - LSD, psychedelic
mushrooms, morning glory seeds, DMT, ecstasy
