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Cannabis spp. has been used for a variety of purposes for thousands of years, and has been the subject of chemical investigations since the 1800s; however, it wasn't until 1964 that the correct structure for THC was characterized.[1] THC is the major psychoactive component of ca. 85 cannabinoids estimated to be synthesized by Cannabis sativa.[2-4] Receptors for cannabinoids were difficult to identify because of their highly lipophilic nature. During the 1980s, Pfizer embarked on a major effort to synthesize analogues based on the THC structure, one of which, CP55,940, a high affinity CB1 ligand, led to identification of two receptors for THC in the early 1990s. CB1 is primarily localized in the central nervous system,[5, 6] and CB2 in cells associated with the immune system.[7]
Finding a balance between therapeutic, spiritual, and recreational uses, and the resulting legal policies, is difficult and contentious.[8] Marijuana is classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as a Schedule I drug, which by definition has no accepted medical use; however, numerous studies demonstrate that marijuana can mitigate chronic pain, alleviate nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, treat wasting syndrome associated with AIDS, and has also demonstrated efficacy for treatment of numerous other maladies. Many studies state that the palliative benefits of marijuana outweigh the adverse effects of the drug, and recommend that marijuana be administered to patients who have failed to respond to other therapies. Despite well-documented supporting evidence, the DEA refuses to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug, which would allow physicians to prescribe marijuana to suffering patients.
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