Deck 14: Marijuana and the Cannabinoids

Question 1

Which of the following is not a form of marijuana or cannabis derivative?

A) Hashish
B) Sinsemilla
C) Hash oil
D) Anandamide

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Harry Anslinger

A) was a former drug "czar" appointed by President Bush.
B) is the current director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
C) was the first U.S. commissioner of narcotics.
D) opposed the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which statement about the uses of marijuana is false?

A) Hemp was originally grown in colonial America for its psychoactive properties.
B) Hemp has important non-drug purposes, and is used in rope, cloth, and paper.
C) The cannabis plant contain over 120 unique compounds collectively known as phytocannabinoids.
D) Medical and religious use of marijuana dates back to ancient China, India and the Middle East.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The amount of active ingredient absorbed during marijuana smoking depends on all of the following except for the

A) amount of plant material used.
B) potency of the plant material used.
C) psychological state of the user.
D) volume of each "puff" or inhalation.

Question 5

Oral administration of marijuana

A) results in a shorter duration of action of the drug than smoking.
B) yields low but consistent levels of drug in the body.
C) leads to reduced blood levels due to first-pass metabolism and breakdown of the drug in the stomach.
D) is an easy way to regulate the amount of drug entering the body.

Question 6

Which statement regarding the most prevalent CNS cannabinoid receptor is false?

A) It is highly expressed in astrocytes.
B) It is an ionotropic receptor, designated CB₁.
C) It plays a role in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory through the MAP kinase system.
D) Its expression is higher in glutamatergic than in GABAergic neurons

Question 7

Inhibition of _______ is not a possible effect of cannabinoids on the CB₁ receptor.

A) cAMP formation
B) voltage-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels
C) the release of GABA
D) K⁺ channel opening

Question 8

Which drug is a CB₁ antagonist?

A) CP-55,940
B) Rimonabant
C) Nabilone
D) WIN 55,212-2

Question 9

_______ increases blood flow in the striatum, amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, and anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex, while _______ has the opposite effect.

A) THC; CBD
B) CBD; THC
C) Methylphenidate; hemp
D) Hemp; methylphenidate

Question 10

Which statement about the mechanism of CBD action is true?

A) It may decrease the activity of the endogenous cannabinoid system by enhancing breakdown of endogenous cannabinoids.
B) It may enhance the activity of the endocannabinoid system by inhibiting the breakdown of endogenous cannabinoids.
C) It synergizes with endogenous cannabinoids, thereby amplifying their effect.
D) It decreases adenosine signaling.

Question 11

Which statement about the endocannabinoids is true?

A) They are synthesized by FAAH.
B) They include arachidonic derivatives such as 2-AG and anandamide.
C) They are stored in vesicles.
D) They are synthesized and released in response to K⁺.

Question 12

Endocannabinoids contribute to retrograde signaling in the hippocampus,
Striatum, and cerebellum by

A) blocking the reuptake transporters.
B) blocking CB₁ autoreceptors on the presynaptic terminals.
C) inhibiting Ca²⁺-mediated vesicular neurotransmitter release.
D) activating CB₁ receptors and increasing GABA release.

Question 13

To study the role of the endogenous cannabinoids, scientists have used mice genetically engineered to lack _______ receptors, and these knockout mice show _______.

A) CB₁; decreased anxiety
B) CB₁ ; increased anxiety
C) TRPV1; decreased anxiety
D) TRPV1; increased anxiety

Question 14

Which statement regarding the drug SR 141716A is false?

A) It decreases appetite and may serve as an anti-obesity agent.
B) It causes hyperalgesia.
C) It reduces depressive-like behaviors.
D) It acts as a cannabinoid antagonist.

Question 15

Brain areas with high expression of cannabinoid receptors are _______ with the behavioral effects of cannabinoids on _______.

A) consistent; locomotor activity, coordination, and memory
B) consistent; aggression and the fear response
C) not consistent; locomotor activity, coordination, and memory
D) not consistent; aggression and the fear response

Question 16

You would expect that experimentally decreasing 2-AG breakdown in hippocampal glutamatergic neurons in mice would lead to which behavior?

A) Decrease in time spent sleeping
B) Increase in aggression
C) Decrease in in anxiety
D) Increase in fear

Question 17

The cannabinoids are known for their effectiveness in treating _______; one drug approved in the United States treatment of infants with this issue is the drug _______.

A) jaundice; methylphenidate
B) jaundice; NSAIDs
C) seizures; Epidiolex
D) seizures; Rimonabant

Question 18

Which statement about the four stages that describe the subjective marijuana experience is false?

A) The "buzz" is characterized by lightheadedness and tingling.
B) The "high" is a period of euphoria, laughter, and disinhibition.
C) During the "high," people are most likely to report changes in perceptions and time sense.
D) When "stoned," people typically report being calm, relaxed, and in a dream-like state.

Question 19

One of the most reliable physiological effects of cannabis use in humans is

A) slowing of heart rate.
B) decreased blood flow to the skin.
C) faint pulse.
D) increased hunger.

Question 20

Which of the following is not a known adverse reaction to marijuana?

A) Anxiety, with high doses
B) Feelings of paranoia, with high doses
C) Nausea and gastrointestinal upset
D) Depersonalization

Question 21

Concerning the time course of THC levels and route of administration,

A) plasma levels of THC peak more rapidly following injection or smoking than via oral administration of the drug.
B) people smoking marijuana typically reach their peak THC levels before they finish the cigarette or joint.
C) oral administration of THC produces low plasma levels that drop off quickly.
D) at maximum THC intoxication after smoking, brain and plasma THC levels are equilibrated.

Question 22

Human studies have shown that marijuana use produces deficits/decreases in all of the following except

A) verbal memory tasks.
B) appetite.
C) psychomotor tasks, such as driving an automobile.
D) reaction time tasks.

Question 23

Marijuana-induced deficits in memory can be reduced by pretreatment with

A) cannabidiol (CBD).
B) alcohol.
C) 2-AG.
D) anandamide.

Question 24

Which of the following is not among the discoveries showing that cannabinoids are reinforcing?

A) Regular marijuana users choose THC-containing cigarettes over placebo cigarettes with no THC.
B) THC taken orally is preferred over a placebo capsule with no THC.
C) Users reliably choose higher THC content cigarettes over those with a lower THC content.
D) Animals tested reliably self-administer high doses of THC.

Question 25

Animal studies on the rewarding effects of cannabinoids have demonstrated

A) that THC is aversive to all species tested.
B) that animals will self-administer the synthetic drugs WIN 55,212-2 and SR 141716A.
C) the importance of using low THC doses and pre-exposure to the drug.
D) reinforcing effects of THC in the place conditioning task but not the self-administration paradigm.

Question 26

The reinforcing effects of cannabinoids are dependent on _______ and involve _______.

A) CB₂ receptors; decreased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens
B) μ-opioid receptors; decreased endocannabinoid release in the nucleus accumbens
C) CB₁ receptors; increased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens
D) κ-opioid receptors; increased glutamate release in the prefrontal cortex

Question 27

Which statement concerning marijuana use in the United States is the most accurate?

A) There has been a steep increase in new users of marijuana since 1995.
B) The government's policies and media campaigns have been very effective in reducing marijuana use.
C) The typical age for initiating marijuana use is around 13, based on a representative longitudinal study.
D) The prevalence of drug use, including marijuana use, declines with age.

Question 28

If a person has parents that have cannabis abuse or dependence (CUD), their risk of also having the disorder is

A) 20% to 40%.
B) 50% to 60%.
C) 70% to 80%.
D) 90% to 100%.

Question 29

Tolerance to THC

A) is not well established in animals.
B) is mainly due to metabolic tolerance in both humans and animals.
C) occurs very slowly over a six-week period.
D) has been measured in terms of decreases in CB₁ receptor densities.

Question 30

People with CUD are more likely than average to have

A) a high-pressure job.
B) low self-esteem.
C) achieved higher levels of education.
D) another substance use disorder.

Question 31

CUD and cannabis tolerance has been shown to result in _______ levels of glutamate in certain brain areas and may be responsible for the ______ in people with CUD.

A) lower; increased anxiety
B) lower; cognitive deficits
C) higher; disorientation
D) variable; unpredictability

Question 32

A major risk of using an herbal preparation containing synthetic cannabinoids is

A) the cannabinoids may interact with the herbs, resulting in toxicity.
B) synthetic cannabinoids are slower-acting, so often too much is taken before the user realizes it.
C) higher potency and possibility of super-concentrations or hot spots; areas where drug is more concentrated in the formula.
D) synthetic cannabinoids have a higher addiction potential.

Question 33

All of the following are withdrawal symptoms observed following long-term heavy marijuana use except

A) increased sleep.
B) a depressed mood.
C) aggression.
D) decreased appetite.

Question 34

In _______ withdrawal, mice that have been habituated to chronic THC are administered the CB₁ _______.

A) precipitated; agonist WIN 55,212-2
B) precipitated; antagonist SR 141716A
C) abrupt; agonist WIN 55,212-2
D) abrupt; antagonist SR 141716A

Question 35

Which of the following is not an effect of precipitated withdrawal from cannabinoids?

A) Hyperactivity
B) Decreased grooming behavior
C) Wet-dog shakes
D) Scratching

Question 36

Neurochemical changes associated with a marijuana abstinence syndrome include

A) increased DA firing in the VTA.
B) increased CRF release in the amygdala.
C) decreased DA firing in the substantia nigra.
D) decreased CRF release in the central nucleus.

Question 37

Which statement regarding treatment of CUD is true?

A) Outpatient programs and cognitive behavior therapy are not part of treatment for CUD.
B) It is much more successful than treatment of other drug dependence problems, with very little relapse.
C) The FDA has approved several medications for treatment of CUD.
D) It could someday include the use cannabinoid agonists to moderate marijuana cravings.

Question 38

The relationship between chronic marijuana use and educational achievement

A) is most likely explained by the fact that marijuana causes cognitive deficits.
B) is a correlational relationship that does not merit further study.
C) may be explained by the social environment of marijuana users and their values concerning education.
D) has only been measured in terms of absenteeism, which probably reflects motivational variables more than academic factors.

Question 39

Recent imaging studies in people with CUD have demonstrated some evidence of abnormalities or alterations in several brain structures, including the

A) nucleus accumbens; VTA, and limbic system, and hypothalamus.
B) orbitofrontal cortex, temporal lobe, hippocampus and amygdala.
C) hypothalamus; prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum.
D) VTA; limbic system, and nucleus accumbens.

Question 40

All of the following are effects that have been correlated with chronic use of marijuana except

A) development of anxiety disorders.
B) adverse cardiac effects.
C) immune system suppression.
D) damage to lung tissue.

Question 41

A meta-analysis of research published between 2009 and early 2019 suggests that roughly _______ of cannabis users meet the criteria for CUD.

A) 10% to 15%
B) 20% to 25%
C) 30% to 35%
D) 40% to 45%

Question 42

Recreational synthetic cannabinoids differ from THC in that they are _______ agonists at the CB₁ and CB₂ receptors and have _______ effects.

A) partial; shorter-acting
B) full; less potent
C) partial; longer-lasting
D) full; more potent

Question 43

Distinguish between the various cannabis derivatives including marijuana, hashish, hash oil, and sinsemilla in terms of potency and route of administration.

Question 44

Describe the historical use of marijuana as agricultural commodity, medicine, and recreational drug. What role did Harry Anslinger and various regulatory policies have on this use in the United States?

Question 45

Describe the factors that influence the amount of THC that is absorbed during smoking and oral administration. Explain why it takes more than two weeks to completely eliminate THC metabolites from the body.

Question 46

Describe the discovery of the cannabinoid receptor (CB₁) by two independent research groups. Characterize the receptor in terms of its location in the CNS, probable location within the synapse, and the cellular effects it is responsible for. Identify a CB₁ receptor antagonist that has been used to clarify the role of this receptor.

Question 47

Identify the two substances that have been shown to act as endocannabinoids in the CNS. List several characteristics of these substances that make them different from more traditional endogenous transmitter substances like dopamine.

Question 48

Describe the role of endocannabinoids in retrograde signaling in the hippocampus. Be sure to include the role of intracellular Ca²⁺ in your answer.

Question 49

What are the four different types of cannabinoids formulations used for medical purposes?

Question 50

Describe the subjective, behavioral, and physiological changes associated with the stages of marijuana use referred to as the "buzz," the "high," and being "stoned." Under what conditions are adverse reactions most likely to occur?

Question 51

Under what circumstances do humans show deficits in cognition and psychomotor performance following acute cannabinoid use?

Question 52

What scientific evidence shows that humans find cannabinoids reinforcing? Why has it been somewhat more difficult to demonstrate that animals find cannabinoids rewarding? Describe the two typical behavioral paradigms that are used in this research.

Question 53

Describe the neural mechanisms that underlie both the reinforcing and aversive aspects of cannabinoid administration.

Question 54

What is the evidence that marijuana use is a serious national problem that shows little sign of improving or being influenced by current drug control policies? What age group seems to be at the greatest risk for cannabis use?

Question 55

Identify several factors that may increase an adolescent's likelihood of using marijuana in the first place or progressing from occasional use to having CUD.

Question 56

Describe the differences between the marijuana abstinence syndrome in humans and the precipitated withdrawal syndrome reported in animals. What neural systems seem to be responsible for these behavioral changes?

Question 57

Identify two pharmacological treatment approaches and two non-drug treatment approaches for addressing the problems of cannabis dependence. Why are most of these therapies not very successful?

Question 58

Identify the known effects of chronic cannabis use on health. What areas need to be researched further?

Question 59

In animal studies, what types of brain changes have been observed following adolescent exposure to marijuana?