{"id":5565,"date":"2017-04-30T17:09:41","date_gmt":"2017-04-30T21:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lcpllutzlivetotell.org\/?p=5565"},"modified":"2019-08-08T12:58:24","modified_gmt":"2019-08-08T16:58:24","slug":"patient-version","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/?p=5565","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis and Cannabinoids \u2013Patient Version"},"content":{"rendered":"

Questions and Answers About Cannabis<\/h2>\n
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  1. What is\u00a0Cannabis<\/em>?<\/strong>\n

    Cannabis<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>, also known as\u00a0marijuana<\/a>, is a plant from Central Asia that is grown in many parts of the world today. The\u00a0Cannabis<\/em>\u00a0plant produces a\u00a0resin<\/a>\u00a0containing\u00a0compounds<\/a>\u00a0called\u00a0cannabinoids<\/a>. Some cannabinoids are psychoactive (acting on the brain and changing mood or consciousness). In the United States,\u00a0Cannabis<\/em>\u00a0is a\u00a0controlled substance<\/a>\u00a0and has been classified as a Schedule I agent (a\u00a0drug<\/a>\u00a0with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use).<\/p>\n

    Clinical trials<\/a>\u00a0that study medicinal\u00a0Cannabis<\/em>\u00a0in\u00a0cancer<\/a>\u00a0are limited. To do research with\u00a0Cannabis<\/em>\u00a0in the United States, researchers must file an\u00a0Investigational New Drug<\/a>\u00a0(IND) application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), receive a Schedule I license from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and gain approval from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).<\/p>\n

    By federal law, the possession of\u00a0Cannabis<\/em>\u00a0(marijuana) is illegal in the United States outside of approved research settings. However, a growing number of states, territories, and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to legalize medical marijuana. (See\u00a0Question 4<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. What are cannabinoids?<\/strong>\n

    Cannabinoids<\/a>\u00a0are active\u00a0chemicals<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Cannabis<\/em>\u00a0that cause drug-like effects throughout the body, including the\u00a0central nervous system<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0immune system<\/a>. They are also known as phytocannabinoids. The main active cannabinoid in\u00a0Cannabis<\/em>\u00a0is delta-9-THC. Another active cannabinoid is cannabidiol (CBD), which may relieve pain and lower\u00a0inflammation<\/a>\u00a0without causing the “high” of delta-9-THC.<\/p>\n

    Cannabinoids may be useful in treating the\u00a0side effects<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0cancer<\/a>\u00a0and cancer treatment.<\/p>\n

    Other possible effects of cannabinoids include:<\/p>\n

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