Sandbox 420: Difference between revisions
Tala Curry (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Tala Curry (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
==Abstract== | ==Abstract== | ||
K2 and other newly popularized drugs laced with synthetic cannabinoids, which mimic those found in marijuana, bind similarly to G-coupled receptors found throughout the body and nervous system. CB1, in particular, is comprised of 472, mostly nonpolar amino acids that fold into a secondary structure consisting of ten alpha helices and one beta pleated sheet forming a transmembrane domain. Binding to endogenous and exogenous ligands alike, CB1 acts as an activator in a signal transduction pathway to aid in regulating many major bodily systems. | K2 and other newly popularized drugs laced with synthetic cannabinoids, which mimic those found in marijuana, bind similarly to G-coupled receptors found throughout the body and nervous system. CB1, in particular, is comprised of 472, mostly nonpolar amino acids that fold into a secondary structure consisting of ten alpha helices and one beta pleated sheet forming a transmembrane domain. Binding to endogenous and exogenous ligands alike, CB1 acts as an activator in a signal transduction pathway to aid in regulating many major bodily systems. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
First emergent in Europe in 2004, an herbal incense product known as Spice or K2 was quickly utilized all over the world as a synthetic form of marijuana. Although sold legally in many areas as a “natural incense” that is “not for human consumption”, K2 is a plant-based material with traces of astoundingly potent synthetic cannabinoids, a fact that many users and retailers alike do not fail to recognize. | First emergent in Europe in 2004, an herbal incense product known as Spice or K2 was quickly utilized all over the world as a synthetic form of marijuana. Although sold legally in many areas as a “natural incense” that is “not for human consumption”, K2 is a plant-based material with traces of astoundingly potent synthetic cannabinoids, a fact that many users and retailers alike do not fail to recognize. | ||
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) are chemically derived forms of the naturally-occurring psychotropic cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), found in marijuana <ref name="k2">DOI 10.3109/03602532.2013.839700</ref> <ref name = " | Synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) are chemically derived forms of the naturally-occurring psychotropic cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), found in marijuana <ref name="k2">DOI 10.3109/03602532.2013.839700</ref> <ref name = "history">"The History of Synthetic Drugs (Spice, K2 and Bath Salts)." ''Narconon International''. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. </ref>. Cannabinoids bind and activate cannabinoid receptors, CB1R and CB2R, which are found throughout the body <ref name="k2" />. CB1 is primarily found in the cerebellum as well as the hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, striatum and brainstem; all vital areas of the central nervous system <ref name="k2" />. | ||
Although SCBs are chemically similar to THCs, which exhibit relatively mild side effects when used recreationally, the use of K2 has been linked to many serious health conditions. Due to the delocalization of CB1 receptors throughout the body and in crucial parts of the CNS that regulates bodily functions, K2 can affect many systems of the body simultaneously. Cardiovascularly, K2 can cause tachycardia, tachyarrhythmia, hypertension and, in rare cases, myocardial infarction <ref name=" | Although SCBs are chemically similar to THCs, which exhibit relatively mild side effects when used recreationally, the use of K2 has been linked to many serious health conditions. Due to the delocalization of CB1 receptors throughout the body and in crucial parts of the CNS that regulates bodily functions, K2 can affect many systems of the body simultaneously. Cardiovascularly, K2 can cause tachycardia, tachyarrhythmia, hypertension and, in rare cases, myocardial infarction <ref name="history" /> <ref name="toxic">PMID: 21970775 </ref>. Neurologically, K2 can cause extreme paranoia, psychosis, hallucinations, memory and learning disruptions, dependence and even seizures <ref name="k2" />. | ||
==Structure== | ==Structure== | ||