Handbook of Cannabis

Truly global in scope and with contributions from leading researchers around the world, The Handbook of Cannabis is the definitive resource on this fascinating drug. Combining scientific perspectives and clinical applications, it covers a vast array of topics, from why over the centuries cannabis has been used as a medicine, through the regulations facing those wishing to self-administer cannabis or provide cannabis-based medicines, to the chemical structure of its many constituents and the rapidly growing group of synthetic cannabinoids that are currently being used for 'legal highs'. With each chapter written by a group of one or more internationally recognised subject experts, it provides academics and researchers with authoritative scientific material on the main pharmacological actions and their effects, as well as their pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and forensic detection. In addition it also examines the complex morphology, cultivation, harvesting, and processing of cannabis and the ways in which the plant's chemical composition can be controlled. As well as offering a raft of scientific information there is extensive coverage of cannabinoid-based medicines. Helping readers to identify and evaluate their benefits, chapters explore pharmacological actions and the effects that seem to underlie approved therapeutic uses, how they are currently used to treat certain disorders, and the ever-growing number of wide-ranging potential clinical applications. There is also coverage of both the legal and illegal sources of cannabis, including 'coffee shops' and 'cannabis dispensaries'. The complex issue of 'recreational cannabis' is also tackled. The sought-after and adverse psychological and non-psychological effects are described and discussions are included on how some adverse effects can be lessened by at least one constituent of cannabis, and that it might be possible to reduce the harm that cannabis does to some by changing current regulatory policies. The Handbook of Cannabis is a one-stop reference; essential reading for all clinicians, pharmacologists, psychologists, and psychiatrists interested in this drug, as well as those working in the field of public health. FEATUREs Contains clinical information about cannabis, beneficial to pharmaceutical companies, clinicians and patients in identifying and evaluating the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Includes scientific information about cannabis valuable to academic and industrial researchers in gathering current scientific information about cannabis. Contains wide-ranging information about cannabis providing policymakers, government advisers, politicians, lawyers, journalists, students and parents with important relevant information about cannabis Each chapter is written by a group of one or more authors recognized internationally as an established expert in the topic of that chapter which ensures that the information provided on cannabis in this handbook is relevant, accurate and correctly interpreted. Roger Pertwee, Professor of Neuropharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK CONTENTS Constituents, history, international control, cultivation and phenotypes of cannabis 1: Roger G. Pertwee: Section Overview 2: Mahmoud A. ElSohly and Waseem Gul: Constituents of Cannabis Sativa 3: Ethan B. Russo: The Pharmacological History of Cannabis 4: Alice Mead: International Control of Cannabis 5: David Potter: Cannabis cultivation 6: Etienne de Meijer: Cannabis phenotypes Pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, metabolism and forensics 7: Roger G. Pertwee: Section Two Overview 8: Roger G Pertwee and Maria Grazia Cascio: Known pharmacological actions of phytocannabinoids that activate cannabinoid receptors 9: Maria Grazia Cascio and Roger G Pertwee: Known pharmacological actions of nine non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids 10: Bela Szabo: Effects of phytocannabinoids on neurotransmission in the central and peripheral nervous systems 11: Aron Lichtman: Bioassays that measure acute or chronic effects of phytocannabinoids in vivo 12: Eliot L. Gardner: Cannabinoids and Addiction 13: Sachin Patel, Matthew N. Hill, and Cecilia J. Hillard,: Effects of Phytocannabinoids on Anxiety, Mood and the Endocrine System 14: Saoirse Elizabeth O'Sullivan: Phytocannabinoids and the cardiovascular system 15: Marnie Duncan and Angelo A. Izzo: Phytocannabinoids and the gastrointestinal system 16: Jordyn M Stuart, Emma Leishman, and Heather B Bradshaw: Reproduction and cannabinoids: ups and downs - ins and outs 17: Guy A. Cabral, Erinn S. Raborn, and Gabriela A. Ferreira: Phytocannabinoids and the Immune System 18: John M. McPartland: Non-phytocannabinoid constituents of cannabis and herbal synergy 19: Marilyn Huestis: Pharmacokinetics, metabolism and forensic detection of certain phytocannabinoids Medicinal cannabis and cannabinoids: clinical data 20: Roger G. Pertwee: Section Three Overview 21: Arno Hazekamp and George Pappas: Self-medication with cannabis 22: Amanda Reiman: Cannabis pharmacies and coffee shops 23: Alison Thompson and Verity Langfield: Development of cannabis based medicines: regulatory hurdles/routes in Europe and USA 24: Stephen Wright and Geoffrey Guy: Licensed Cannabis-based Medicines: Benefits and Risks 25: Mark Ware: Synthetic psychoactive cannabinoids licenses as medicines 26: William Notcutt and Emily Laura Clarke: Cannabinoids in clinical practice: a UK perspective Approved therapeutic targets for phytocannabinoids: preclinical pharmacology 27: Roger G. Pertwee: Section Four Overview 28: Erin M. Rock, Martin A. Sticht, Linda A. Parker: Effect of Phytocannabinoids on Nausea and Vomiting 29: Luigia Cristino and Vincenzo Di Marzo: Established and Emerging Concepts of Cannabinoid Action on Food Intake and their Potential Application to the Treatment of Anorexia and Cachexia 30: Barbara Costa and Francesca Comelli: Pain 31: Gareth Pryce and David Baker: Cannabis and Multiple Sclerosis Some potential therapeutic targets for phytocannabinoids 32: Roger G. Pertwee: Section Five Overview 33: Javier Fernández-Ruiz, Eva de Lago, María Gómez-Ruiz, Concepción García, Onintza Sagredo and Moisés García-Arencibia: Neurodegenerative disorders other than multiple sclerosis 34: Daniela Parolaro, Erica Zamberletti and Tiziana Rubino: Cannabidiol/Phytocaanabinoids: A new opportunity for schizophrenia treatment 35: Eric Murillo-Rodríguez, Lisa Aguilar-Turton, Stephanie Mijangos-Moreno, Andrea Sarro-Ramírez, Óscar Arias-Carrión: Phytocannabinoids as novel therapeutic agents for sleep disorders 36: Claire M. Williams, Nicholas A. Jones & Benjamin J. Whalley: Cannabis and epilepsy 37: Pal Pacher and George Kunos: Cardiovascular, metabolic, liver, kidney and inflammatory disorders 38: Angelo Izzo: Gastrointestinal disorders 39: Sergio Oddi and Mauro Maccarrone: Phytocannabinoids and skin disorders 40: Heping Xu and Augusto Azuara-Blanco: Phytocannabinoids in degenerative and inflammatory retinal diseases: glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and uveoretinitis 41: Itai Bab: Bone as a target for cannabinoid therapy 42: Guillermo Velasco, Cristina Sánchez, and Manuel Guzmán: Cancer 43: H Valerie Curran and Celia JA Morgan: Recreational cannabis: sought-after effects, adverse effects, designer drugs and harm minimization Recreational cannabis: sought-after effects, adverse effects, designer drugs and harm minimization 44: Roger G. Pertwee: Section Five Overview 45: Paul D Morrison, Sagnik Bhattacharyya, and Robin M Murray: Recreational Cannabis: The Risk of Schizophrenia 46: Franjo Grotenhermen: Non-psychological adverse effects 47: Brian F. Thomas, Jenny L. Wiley, Gerald T. Pollard, and Megan Grabenauer: Cannabinoid designer drugs: effects and forensics 48: Wayne Hall and Louisa Degenhardt: Harm Reduction Policies for Cannabis 49: Brian F. Thomas, Jenny L. Wiley, Gerald T. Pollard, and Megan Grabenauer: Cannabinoid designer drugs: effects and forensics