TetrahydrocannabinolPsychoactive component of cannabisPharmaceutical compoundTetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a cannabinoid found in cannabis. It is the principal psychoactive constituent of Cannabis and one of at least 113 total cannabinoids identified on the plant. Although the chemical formula for THC (C21H30O2) describes multiple isomers, the term THC usually refers to the delta-9-THC isomer with chemical name (−)-trans-Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol.
CannabinoidCompounds found in cannabisCannabinoids () are several structural classes of compounds found primarily in the Cannabis plant or as synthetic compounds. Cannabinoids can be classified into two categories: major cannabinoids, which are present in high amounts in the Cannabis plant, and minor cannabinoids, which are present in smaller amounts in the Cannabis plant.
Cannabis (drug)Cannabis (), commonly known as marijuana (), weed, pot, Mary Jane, and ganja, among other names, is a non-chemically uniform psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, cannabis has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various traditional medicines for centuries.
CannabisCannabis ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species being recognized: Cannabis sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis. Alternatively, C. ruderalis may be included within C. sativa, or all three may be treated as subspecies of C. sativa, or C. sativa may be accepted as a single undivided species.
Psychoactive drugChemical substance that alters brain functionAn assortment of commonly used psychoactive drugs, including both street drugs and medications (alcohol and caffeine omitted): CocaineCrack cocaineMethylphenidate (Ritalin)EphedrineMDMA (ecstasy)Peyote (mescaline)LSD blotterPsilocybin mushroom (Psilocybe cubensis)Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) (Unscheduled drug)Amanita muscaria mushroom (muscimol) (Unscheduled drug)Salvia divinorum (salvinorin A)Tylenol 3 (acetaminophen/codeine)Codeine with muscle relaxantPipe tobacco (nicotine) (Unscheduled drug)Bupropion (Wellbutrin)Cannabis (THC)Hashish (THC)Coffee (containing caffeine) being consumed in a social environment; caffeine is widely legal virtually everywhere worldwide making it the most commonly used psychoactive drug.Depiction of alcohol and tobacco (containing nicotine) being used, both of which are commonly legal psychoactive drugs.Chart of relative harmfulness of some psychoactive substancesA psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, mind-altering drug, consciousness-altering drug, psychoactive substance, or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that alters psychological functioning by modulating central nervous system (CNS) activity.
CannabidiolPhytocannabinoid discovered in 1940Pharmaceutical compoundCannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid, one of 113 identified cannabinoids in Cannabis, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and accounts for up to 40% of the plant's extract. Medically, it is an anticonvulsant used to treat two rare forms of childhood epilepsy. It was discovered in 1940.
Designer drugA designer drug is a structural or functional analog of a controlled substance that has been designed to mimic the pharmacological effects of the original drug, while avoiding classification as illegal and/or detection in standard drug tests. Designer drugs include psychoactive substances that have been designated by the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, as new psychoactive substances (NPS) as well as analogs of performance-enhancing drugs such as designer steroids.
CannabinolCannabinol (CBN) is a mildly psychoactive phytocannabinoid that acts as a low affinity partial agonist at the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Although CBN shares the same mechanism of action as other phytocannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it has a lower affinity for CB1 receptors, meaning that much higher doses of CBN are required in order to experience intoxicating effects.
AgonistAn agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are cellularproteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an antagonist blocks the action of the agonist, while an inverse agonist causes an action opposite to that of the agonist.
Ligand (biochemistry)In biochemistry and pharmacology, a ligand is a substance that forms a complex with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose. The etymology stems from Latin ligare, which means 'to bind'. In protein-ligand binding, the ligand is usually a molecule which produces a signal by binding to a site on a target protein. The binding typically results in a change of conformational isomerism (conformation) of the target protein.
Chemical synthesisChemical synthesis (chemical combination) is the artificial execution of chemical reactions to obtain one or more products. This occurs by physical and chemical manipulations, usually involving one or more reactions. In modern laboratory uses, the process is reproducible and reliable. A chemical synthesis involves one or more compounds (known as reagents or reactants) that will experience a transformation under certain conditions.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.