High density electroencephalographic (EEG) measures were used to assess the effects of acute delta 9-tetrahyrdrocannabidol (THC) administration on extinction of conditioned fear responses. Fear conditioning was initiated using a differential classical conditioning paradigm that paired an aversive unconditioned stimulus (shock) with a signaling stimulus (CS+), whereas another stimulus served as a safety signal (CS-). Evoked potentials, induced event-related spectral perturbations (ERSP), and associated intertrial coherence (ITC) measures were used to quantify the acquisition and extinction of conditioned fear responses. Participants (N = 10 males) exhibited conditioning to the CS+ across fear acquisition training, as reflected by greater late positive (posterior sites) and late negative (anterior sites) potential amplitude to the CS+ relative to the CS-. Acute administration of THC facilitated extinction of the conditioned response to the CS+ relative to placebo, as reflected by greater LPP and LNP amplitude to the CS+ relative to the CS- in the placebo, but not THC condition. ERSP analyses suggest the lack of difference between CS+ and CS- ERP amplitude may be partially explained by a shifting of attention from external stimuli to internal processing in the THC condition. However, relative to placebo, THC administration also increased the amplitude of some measures of the conditioned response (LNP) to the CS-, suggesting a generalization of fear or lack of discrimination in this condition.

One experiment examined the relationship between smoked marijuana and anxiety generated by the anticipation of a stressor paired with a salient, benign distractor. It was hypothesized that smoking one marijuana cigarette with an estimated &delta9-THC content of 26.25 mg, relative to placebo, would reduce anxiety generated by an anticipatory stressor paired with a benign distractor. In the experiment 14 marijuana users with a mean frequency of marijuana use per week of 2.07 (Range = 1-3) were administered one marijuana cigarette (active vs. placebo) per experimental session. A significant Drug × Session interaction was observed such that during the first experimental session, participants administered active marijuana reported non-significant decreases in negative affect, relative to placebo, while those administered active marijuana during the second experimental session reported significant increases in negative affect. This finding indicates that large individual differences in response to drug type (active vs. placebo) occurred within the participant sample. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of individual differences and contextual factors on the observed differential affective responses to &delta9-THC in order to identify which participants experienced the greatest benefit in negative affect reduction from &delta9-THC.

Past research has explored the concurrent and longitudinal associations between externalizing behaviours, marijuana use, and academic outcomes and has found that externalizing behaviours and marijuana use negatively affect academic performance. However, precursors to these pathways are not well understood. Early evidence of academic aptitude is an important predictor of academic performance in high school. Performance at a young age does not guarantee results in high school and low early academic aptitude does not necessarily result in low later performance. It is important to understand the factors that may impact students’ academic performance as they proceed through middle school and high school, and how early academic aptitude can influence risk factors that impact later academic performance. This project examines the role that marijuana use and externalizing behaviours play in the association between early academic aptitude and later academic performance. The project uses six waves of data from the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey (V-HYS), a 10-year prospective longitudinal study. A community-based sample of youth (N = 662; 48% male; ages 12 to 18) were surveyed biannually from 2003 (W1) to 2014 (W6). Frequency of marijuana use over the past year and externalizing behaviours were assessed at each time point. To assess academic aptitude, participants’ British Columbia Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) percentile scores in numeracy, reading, and writing were measured in grades 7 and/or 10. Academic performance was assessed using participants’ provincially reported grade 12 English and Math course percentage grades as well as self-reported grade 12 grades. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the possible mediating and moderating effect of marijuana frequency and externalizing behaviours in the association between academic aptitude and academic performance. Academic aptitude was positively associated with academic performance (B = .59, SE = .04, p < .001) and negatively associated with marijuana use (B = -.21, SE = .04, p < .001). Marijuana use was negatively associated with academic performance (B = -.25, SE = .04, p < .001). The indirect effect of marijuana use was significant (b = .04, SE = .01, 95% CI = .018, .068). In terms of moderation, for the High Externalizing group (n = 75, 47% males), no paths were significant. For the Low Externalizing group (n = 445, 49% males), all paths were significant, and the indirect effect was significant (B = .05, SE = .02, CI = 0.01, 0.08). Marijuana use mediates the association between early academic aptitude and later academic performance, indicating the importance of early prevention and intervention. Externalizing behaviours moderated this association. While youth with externalizing behaviours are at high risk for marijuana use and should be targeted for intervention, youth who do not exhibit externalizing behaviours should also be included for prevention and intervention and may require different strategies. / Graduate

abstract: Although prior research has identified negative consequences from marijuana use, some states are legalizing marijuana for medical use due to its medical utility. In 2010, the State of Arizona passed medical marijuana legislation, yet, to date, little research has been published about the specific population characteristics of medical marijuana users or their criminal activity. The purpose of this study is to present the characteristics of medical marijuana users and examine the relationship between medical marijuana use and crime, including substance use, by comparing four groups which are medical marijuana users with authorized medical marijuana ID card (authorized medical marijuana users, AuMM users), medical marijuana users without authorized medical marijuana ID card (non-authorized medical marijuana users, NonAuMM users), illegal marijuana users without authorized medical marijuana ID card (non-authorized marijuana users, NonAuM users), and non-marijuana users (Non-users). Data were collected from a sample of recently booked arrestees in Maricopa County, Arizona through the Arizona Arrestee Reporting Information Network (AARIN) project. A total of 2,656 adult arrestees participated in the study. Findings show that authorized medical marijuana users were more likely to be male, younger, and high school graduates. Medical marijuana users, on average, were likely to acquire more marijuana and spend more money on obtaining marijuana compared to non-authorized marijuana users. Whereas the authorized medical marijuana users had a higher probability for DUI and drug selling/making than non-marijuana users, non-authorized medical marijuana users had a higher probability for involvement property crime, violent crime, DUI, and drug selling/making than non-marijuana users. Authorized medical marijuana users were less likely to use meth compared to non-authorized medical marijuana users and non-authorized marijuana users. This study suggests that it is important to recognize the non-authorized medical marijuana users under medical marijuana policy as well as the DUI regulations and medical insurance. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Criminology and Criminal Justice 2014

Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-01T21:36:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_10767_Dissertação Corrigida - Versão Final - Júlia de Almeida Leite.pdf: 16379069 bytes, checksum: f5cdfd44e4f8ccf3e78d9c10b90dc473 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-30 / A maconha é a droga ilícita mais consumida no mundo. Ela é derivada da planta Cannabis sativa L. Neste trabalho, um total de 156 amostras de maconha apreendidas no estado do Espírito Santo (ES) Brasil foram estudadas e analisadas por RMN de 1H a fim de se identificar seus principais canabinoides. Primeiramente, para se otimizar a identificação por RMN, testes de extração foram realizados com diferentes solventes e o método com a combinação metanol + maceração + clorofórmio deuterado para análises de RMN foi escolhido. Por essa técnica observou-se grande similaridade entre as amostras a partir dos espectros obtidos. Após as análises de RMN de 1H, um extrato bruto de todas as amostras foi submetido à CLAE com o objetivo de purificar esses compostos para servirem como substâncias de referência. Nove frações foram obtidas e então analisadas por RMN e CG-EM, sendo que cinco apresentaram canabinoides confirmados pela última técnica. &#916;9-THC (&#916;9-tetraidrocanabinol), &#916;9-THCA (ácido tetraidrocanabinólico), &#916;8-THC (&#916;8-tetraidrocanabinol), 11-hidroxicanabinol, CBV (canabivarina) e CBN (canabinol) foram encontrados e suas estruturas químicas confirmadas por CG-EM. O último composto foi obtido com alta pureza (&#8776;100%), podendo ser utilizado como material de referência, enquanto os outros foram obtidos como misturas menos complexas. Outros canabinoides como canabicromeno, canabiciclol e canabicumaronona foram também encontrados no extrato bruto de maconha. As 156 amostras foram também analisadas por EM e notou-se entre elas a mesma similaridade observada por RMN. A técnica quimiométrica Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP) foi aplicada aos dados obtidos por RMN e EM e o mesmo resultado foi verificado para ambas as técnicas: amostras naturalmente agrupadas indicando que as mesmas são similares. Esse fato pode sugerir a possibilidade de que toda a maconha apreendida no ES possa ser proveniente de uma mesma fonte, entrando no estado por um mesmo local e sendo então distribuída aos municípios. Para uma nova ACP aplicada aos dados de RMN, com seleção de variáveis para os espectros, foi observado um agrupamento entre as amostras ao longo dos meses, diferenciando-se em dois grupos (julho/2014 a janeiro/2015 e fevereiro/2015 a julho/2015), o que pode indicar a existência de amostras novas e antigas. Além disso, utilizando-se três frações obtidas após a purificação do extrato bruto de maconha por CLAE, para aplicação de uma ACP supervisionada, foi possível confirmar novamente o quão similares as amostras apreendias são, e também observar que o perfil químico delas apresentou uma maior similaridade com o espectro de RMN de 1H da fração isolada contendo a mistura de &#916;8-THC + &#916;9-THC + CBN.

O uso indiscriminado de substâncias psicoativas por motoristas e suas conseqüências no trânsito têm sido objeto de grande preocupação por parte de especialistas e da sociedade em geral. O Código de Trânsito Brasileiro de 1997 determina como infração gravíssima \"dirigir sob a influência de álcool, em nível superior a seis decigramas por litro de sangue, ou de qualquer substância entorpecente ou que determine dependência física ou psíquica\". Desta forma, o presente trabalho teve como intuito investigar a utilização da saliva como espécime biológico para verificar o uso de álcool e drogas (anfetamina, metanfetamina, cocaína e maconha) por motoristas no trânsito. Para alcançar esse objetivo, um método foi desenvolvido e validado para determinação seriada desses analitos em uma única alíquota de saliva, utilizando a técnica de headspace e a microextração em fase sólida (SPME). Amostras coletadas aleatoriamente de motoristas de caminhão (n=561) que trafegavam em rodovias de São Paulo foram submetidas ao método proposto. Do total de amostras de saliva analisadas, 17 (3,0%) apresentaram resultado positivo, sendo 8 para etanol, 4 para anfetamina, 2 para cocaína, 2 para tetraidrocanabinol (THC) e 1 para cocaína e THC. A pesquisa retrata de forma pioneira no Brasil a utilização da saliva como possível amostra biológica para monitorar motoristas que estariam dirigindo sob a influência de drogas. / The consequences of car accidents in the traffic when psychoactive drugs are abused by professional drivers are of great concern of specialists in the subject as well as of the general population. For the Brazilian Traffic Code of 1997 to drive under the influence of alcohol, with blood leveI superior to six decigrams per liter, or any other psychoactive drug which causes physical or psychic dependence is considered an infraction in which the transgressor is subject to heavy penalties. The objective of this work was to investigate the possibilities of using saliva as biological samples to screen the use of alcohol and drugs (amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana) by traffic drivers. In order to achieve this aim, a method was developed and validated for the serial determination of those analites in a single aliquot of a saliva sample. Gas-chromatographic/ headspace for the determination of alcohol and solid phase microextraction (SPME) for the determination of the other drugs were used in the analyses. Samples collected at random from truck drivers (n=561) in public roads in the city of São Paulo were analyzed by the proposed method. The obtained results were: 17 (3.0%) of all analyzed saliva samples were found to be positive, being 8 for ethanol, 4 for amphetamine, 2 for cocaine, 2 for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 1 for cocaine and THC simultaneously. This study pioneered in Brazil the use of saliva as a very convenient biological sample to screen individuaIs driving under the influence of drugs

Segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde a esquizofrenia é um transtorno incapacitante de curso crônico caracterizado pela presença de alucinações e delírios. Alguns trabalhos apontam que o uso de maconha em pessoas com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia pode agravar os sintomas positivos da doença enquanto age positivamente sobre os sintomas negativos. Estudos qualitativos têm surgido na área com o objetivo de compreender os significados que pessoas com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia atribuem ao uso da substância. Esses estudos trazem que essas pessoas possuem uma visão positiva a respeito do uso, que este proporcionaria a elas um estado de relaxamento e alívio de suas tensões, além de relatarem aumento de criatividade e o uso da maconha como forma de atingir um estado espiritual mais elevado, assumindo um caráter de automedicação. Nesse sentido o presente trabalho teve como objetivo conhecer os significados que pessoas com esquizofrenia atribuem ao uso de maconha. Para isso, foi realizado estudo qualitativo, com referencial metodológico clínico-qualitativo. Os participantes foram selecionados em um serviço público de saúde mental especializado em álcool e drogas do interior de São Paulo. Como instrumento de coleta de dados, utilizou-se um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada. Os critérios de inclusão no estudo foram: estar em atendimento, ou ser oriundo do serviço selecionado; ter diagnóstico de esquizofrenia segundo a CID-10; fazer uso de maconha ou ter feito uso no ano anterior a entrevista; ter mais que 18 anos e não fazer uso de outra droga ilícita, como cocaína ou crack. Foram realizadas um total de 10 entrevistas. Os participantes da pesquisa eram todos do sexo masculino e tinham em média 28 anos de idade. Foram levantadas quatro categorias a partir da análise das entrevistas: a) Percepções a respeito do adoecimento, onde os participantes relatam o preconceito e estigma que envolve o diagnóstico e como alguns sintomas da esquizofrenia os incapacitam para atividades cotidianas; b) Uso de maconha, este iniciado, em sua maioria, na adolescência e sempre na companhia de amigos; c) Esquizofrenia e maconha, onde discursos relacionados sobre aumento de criatividade, capacidade de organizar o pensamento, vivências de espiritualidade e melhora na qualidade do sono se fizeram presentes e d) Tratamento, onde a busca pelo tratamento partia sempre de algum familiar. É importante conhecermos a visão dessas pessoas a respeito do uso de maconha para compreendermos o que sustenta a manutenção deste, além de fornecer novos elementos na construção de um olhar crítico sobre este fenômeno. / According to the World Health Organization schizophrenia is a disabling disorder of chronic course characterized by the presence of hallucinations and delusions. Some studies suggest that the use of marijuana in people diagnosed with schizophrenia may exacerbate the positive symptoms of the disease while it acts positively on the negative symptoms. Qualitative studies have emerged in the area with the goal of understanding the meanings that people diagnosed with schizophrenia attribute to the use of the substance. These studies bring those people have a positive vision regarding the usage, that this would provide them a state of relaxation and relief of the tension, as well as reporting an increase of creativity and the use of marijuana as a way to achieve a spiritual state higher, assuming a character of \"medication\". In this sense, the objective of this study was to understand the meanings that people with schizophrenia attributed to marijuana use. For this reason, a qualitative study was carried out, with a methodological clinical-qualitative. The participants were selected in a public service of mental health who specializes in alcohol and drug use in the interior of São Paulo. As an instrument of data collection, we used a script of semi-structured interview. Inclusion criteria were: being in service, or be from the selected service; have a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to ICD-10; make use of marijuana or having used the year before the interview; have more than 18 years and not make use of other illicit drugs such as cocaine or crack. a total of 10 interviews were conducted. The participants were all male and had an average age of 28. Four categories were raised from the analysis of the interviews: a) Perceptions about the illness, where participants reported prejudice and stigma surrounding the diagnosis and some symptoms of schizophrenia to incapacitate the daily activities; b) Marijuana use, this started, mostly in their teens and always in the company of friends; c) Schizophrenia and cannabis, where speeches related to increased creativity, ability to organize thought, spirituality experiences and improves the quality of sleep were present and d) Treatment, where the search for treatment always started from a family member. It is important to know the vision of these people about marijuana use to understand what supports the maintenance of this, in addition to providing new elements in building a critical look at this phenomenon.

The type of cancer pain management used may have an effect on the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients. Researchers have determined that cancer patients are inadequately treated for pain and pain management is an essential determinant of patient survivability and QOL. Numerous clinical studies have been accomplished concerning opioid administration and noncancer and cancer pain management exist. Previous studies have examined the relationship between cannabinoid products, noncancer pain, cancer pain, and related QOL for patients but have not focused on the QOL of cancer patients while also moderating for gender. These relationships were investigated using the health belief model. The cancer pain management treatments (opioids and/or marijuana [cannabis]) and QOL, measured with World Health Organization Quality of Life Survey (WHOQOL-BREF), of 236 cancer patients were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), planned contrasts, post hoc tests, and moderated ANOVA (PROCESS tool) in the causal-comparative research. Research findings indicated significant benefit in cancer patient physical and psychological QOL in participants using marijuana when compared to participants using opioids and physical QOL for participants using marijuana over participants using both opioids and marijuana combined. Enhanced pain management options for cancer patients in order to reduce opioid side effects, increase pain treatment effectiveness, and improve patient QOL could yield positive social change. Growing rates of opiate addiction, abuse, and mortality are public health concerns and cannabis may be an effective pain treatment to reduce these social costs. This research may be of use to legislators considering rescheduling marijuana to less than Schedule I.

Opioid addiction has reached an all-time high in America, partially because there is no federally approved, affordable, available alternative for chronic pain. This paper examines the role of medical cannabis in the opioid crisis by exploring the effect of medical cannabis laws on opioid prescription rates in an OLS regression. I found that medical cannabis laws produce a statistically significant decrease in opioid prescription rates. I discuss the specific policy components that would allow medical cannabis policy to be most effective nationwide.

Background: Alcohol, marijuana and tobacco are the most common recreationally used substances in United States (US). However, unlike alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is an illicit substance. The increasing support for reclassification of marijuana as legal substance necessitates investigating its effect on health. These studies seek to examine the relationship of marijuana and tobacco with metabolic syndrome (a precursor of cardiovascular diseases - the primary cause of morbidities and mortalities). Method: Data from 2011 public-use linked mortality file of the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 2005-2006 & 2011-2012 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used to estimate the effect of marijuana and tobacco on metabolic syndrome. Odds ratios from logistic regression analyses were determined using four main diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. Odds ratios were compared using: National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III, World Health Organization, European Group for the study of Insulin Resistance and International Diabetes Federation definitions of metabolic syndrome. Hazard ratios (HRs) for cardiovascular mortality were estimated using cox proportional hazard regression. Results: Each year of marijuana use was associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome [OR=1.05 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.09)] and hypertension [OR=1.04 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.07)]. Each additional year of cigarette smoking was associated with increased odds of hypertension [OR=1.03 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.06)] and hyperglycemia [OR=1.03 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.05)]. Adjusted HR for hypertension mortality for marijuana users compared to non-marijuana users was 3.42 (95% CI: 1.20, 9.79) and 1.04 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.07) for each year of marijuana use. Conclusion: Prolonged years of marijuana use was associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome and hypertension irrespective of the criteria used to define metabolic syndrome. Our results also indicate that marijuana use is associated with increased risk for hypertension mortality. The association between prolonged use of marijuana and risk of cardiovascular morbidities and mortalities requires further investigation whilst developing global public health policies regarding legalization of marijuana use.