Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a naturally occurring component that is found in the cannabis plant. The two types of cannabis plants that have THC are marijuana and hemp. The key difference is that marijuana contains a large amount of THC while Hemp contains a negligible amount of 0.3%. THC is responsible for most of the psychological side effects associated with marijuana. THC can be used for medicinal purposes but could have behavioral, cellular, and chemical effects.
Cellular Effects
THC works by binding into the Cannabinoid or CB1 receptors in the central nervous system. The result is that it impacts the communication between the brain signals and other parts of the body. The result is that THC produces psychoactive effects on the body. THC can also interfere with how information is processed in the hippocampus which is responsible for the formation of new memories. THC can overactive certain brain cell receptors and lead to effects of changes in mood, impaired body movement, altered senses, and difficulty in problem-solving and thinking.
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Chemical Effects
THC can also stimulate the brain cells to release dopamine. The administration of acute THC has been found to increase the release of dopamine and to increase neural activity. The levels of dopamine can be higher than that which is observed in response to natural stimuli. A long-term use of THC was thus found to dampen the dopamine system 1 . The flood of dopamine leads to the “high” feeling which most people that use marijuana experience.
Behavioral Effects
The cellular and chemical impacts of THC are usually experienced through a variety of behavioral side effects. By attaching to Cannabinoid receptors in the brain, THC actives the receptors and the result is that it interferes with a person’s movement, concentration, thinking, coordination, memory, time perception, and sensory systems 2 . The result is that THC can induce hallucinations, cause delusions, and change one’s thinking. These short-term effects can last for approximately 2 hours and start after 10 to 30 minutes after THC ingestion. However, there can also be long-term negative effects of THC among teens that consume THC in high doses. Teens that use the compound are at more risk for having psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and cognitive impairments 3 .
Behavioral side effects of THC also include anxiety and paranoia. The experiences of paranoia and anxiety are usually associated with high doses of THC and could be dependent on the brain structure of the individual. The consumption of THC can also lead to the feeling of a dry mouth due to the lack of saliva production. Red itchy eyes, and the presence of headaches, and dizziness are other effects associated with THC. It can also lead to the felling of sleepiness and lethargy which can be problematic and uncomfortable.
Overview of Its Use
THC can have severe side effects but can also be used for medicinal purposes. Some of the medicinal uses of THC include an improvement in sleep regulation, increasing appetite for terminally ill patients, and improvement of symptoms for individuals that are suffering from eating disorders and anorexia. THC can thus be used to manage pain at chronic levels. The potential side effects of THC should not overshadow its possible medicinal uses. However, when using THC, one should take into caution to use it at small and manageable levels since high doses usually result in the undesirable side effects. The side effects of THC also vary from one individual to another. The use of THC for medicinal purposes can be based on whether one experiences severe side effects or not.
References
Bloomfield MA, Ashok AH, Volkow ND, & Howes OD. The effects of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the dopamine system. Nature. 2016. 539(7629), 369-377.
Marijuana. 2019. [accessed 2020 Feb 20]. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
Morgan CJ, Freeman TP, Hindocha C, Schafer, G, Gardner C, & Curran HV. Individual and combined effects of acute delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on psychotomimetic symptoms and memory function. Translational psychiatry . 2018 8 (1), 1-10.
1 Bloomfield MA, Ashok AH, Volkow ND, & Howes OD. The effects of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the dopamine system. Nature. 2016. 539(7629), 369-377.
2 Marijuana. 2019. [accessed 2020 Feb 20]. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
3 Morgan CJ, Freeman TP, Hindocha C, Schafer, G, Gardner C, & Curran HV, Individual and combined effects of acute delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on psychotomimetic symptoms and memory function, Translational psychiatry, 2018 8(1), 1-10.
