d9-TetraHydroCannabinol
Abbreviated to d9 THC, this chemical is the most active ingredient in cannabis. A synthetic but molecularly identical version of d9 THC is called dronabinol, and the cannabis plant it self can referred to as hemp or Indian hemp, marijuana, pot, ganja, hashish, and reefer on the streets.
THC is in the news currently as debate proceeds about its reclassification as a class C drug in Britain. Reclassification was deemed necessary as focus on class A drugs becomes more intense. Cannabis will be reclassified as a class C drug by July of 2003, putting it in ranks with steroids and antidepressants.
d9-TetraHydroCannabinol
Tetra hydro cannabinol is an appetite stimulant and antiemetic. A brown, amorphous, viscous oil at standard temperature and pressure, THC has a molecular mass of 314.45 AMU.
As the laws prohibiting recreational cannabis use are loosened, funding has been in turn increased for research of the THC compound and its potential benefit to medicine. Already, in some countries, d9 THC is being used in medicine for multiple causes:
1. As an antiemetic to control nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.
2. As an antiemetic to control nausea and vomiting associated with the use of drugs for controlling the spread of the AIDS virus; without which patients could regurgitate the nausea inducing drugs before being properly absorbed by the body.
3. To retard or reverse the weight reduction syndrome of AIDS.
4. To control seizures in patients suffering from epilepsy.
5. To reduce pressure within the eyes associated with glaucoma.
6. To alleviate muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis.
7. To alleviate pain and muscle spasms for paraplegics and quadriplegics.
If a MD decides that dronabinol (a synthetic version of d9 THC) is an appropriate drug for a patient suffering from one of the above mentioned ailments, then the patient has a number of options as to its administration.
Known in Canada as Cesamet, nabilone is a synthetic derivative of d9 THC with a slightly modified structure(hexa hydro cannabinol). It is administered in 1mg blue and white polvules, and the usual dosage is 1-2mg twice a day, with or without food. It is used mostly as an antiemetic in the treatment of cancer and AIDS sufferers.
Marinol, like Nabilone, is a synthetic derivative of d9 THC (dronabinol), although the molecular structure is not at all modified from the natural drug. Dronabinol is a resin like oil, and is insoluble in water. For this reason, it is dissolved in sesame oil, and carried in soft gelatin capsules containing either 2.5mg, 5mg, or 10mg of dronabinol.
C21H30O2
(6aR-trans)-6a,7,8,10a- tetrahy- dro6,6,9- trimethyl-3-pentyl-6H- dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol
RN: 1972-08-3
Mr : 314.4668
To find out more about d9 tetrahydrocannabinol or related topics, some interesting links are provided:
Once the ChemFinder search engine has appeared, enter 1972-08-3 into the query box
L.L. Iversen, The Science of Marijuana, Oxford, 2000
A very helpful book on the topic.
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