Cannabinoids

Some interesting facts most people are probably not aware of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoids

Cannabinoids (pronounced /kəˈnæbɨˌnɔɪdz/[1]) are a group of terpenophenolic compounds present in Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L). The broader definition of cannabinoids refer to a group of substances that are structurally related to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or that bind to cannabinoid receptors. The chemical definition encompasses a variety of distinct chemical classes: the classical cannabinoids structurally related to THC, the nonclassical cannabinoids, the aminoalkylindoles, the eicosanoids related to the endocannabinoids, 1,5-diarylpyrazoles, quinolines and arylsulphonamides and additional compounds that do not fall into these standard classes but bind to cannabinoid receptors.[2] The term cannabinoids also refers to a unique group of secondary metabolites found in the cannabis plant, which are responsible for the plant's peculiar pharmacological effects.

Currently, there are three general types of cannabinoids: phytocannabinoids occur uniquely in the cannabis plant; endogenous cannabinoids are produced in the bodies of humans and other animals; and synthetic cannabinoids are similar compounds produced in a laboratory.

That's right. The human body produces cannabinoids and our bodies have cannabinoid receptors to process them.

As well, The endocannabinoid 2-AG has been found in bovine and human maternal milk - it is believed that it is the endocannabinoids that encourage the suckling response in babies.

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14486974

So, if cannabis produces chemicals remarkably similar to naturally occurring chemicals within the human body that play a vital role in the well being of our offspring...

C.

maybe this will stop the incessant "pot while pregnant" posts

So breastfeed?

I guess I don't get what is supposed to be discussed.

Quoting God:“ Some interesting facts most people are probably not aware of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocannabinoids ... [snip!] ... to naturally occurring chemicals within the human body that play a vital role in the well being of our offspring... C. ”

these naturally occuring neurotransmitters are known as anandamide...

see? i did pay attention in college.

Quoting OG Brycen's mama:“ So breastfeed? I guess I don't get what is supposed to be discussed.”

That using marijuana [by vaporizing or orally injesting] is ok during pregnancy//breastfeeding.

Quoting Poofter.:“ That using marijuana [by vaporizing or orally injesting] is ok during pregnancy//breastfeeding.”

idk. i wouldn't make that conclusion per se.

from the research i've done on the topic, it won't cause any known birth defects if used medicinally (e.g. for hyperemesis gravidum) during pregnancy.

BUT logically speaking, chronic exposure to any sort of brain-altering substance will have an effect on brain development... what effect is the question obviously.

i'm familiar w/ dreher's research on the topic and would like to see one other control group (that of non-smoking normal middle class women-- b/c the non-smokers were actually poorer than the smokers, and so nutrition during pregnancy and post-natally was likely worse in their control group) brought in before i'd be concluding that it's okay/harmless to use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

I vaporized about every other day to help my bouts of serious all day sickness.
Aiden was born on time, at a healthy 6 pounds 11 oz, hes now a litte over 2 months old, and he's developing faster than whats to be expected lol
Not sayin that my vaprizing caused this, I'm just saying obviously, in my case, it hasn't effected him from what I can tell at the moment... He has a healthy body over all, no damamging effect that I have yet to notice..

You know, sometimes I wonder if "drug" is a suitable umbrella for all the things it refers to in our modern language... marijuana is not the same as asprin is not the same as xanax is not the same as cocaine and so on. Its especially vague when used federally in terms of the "war on drugs"-- so many people are abusing potentially debilitating legally obtained pharmaceuticals, yet we are battling to put marijuana distributors in jail.

Quoting HippieMommieArmyWife:“ You know, sometimes I wonder if "drug" is a suitable umbrella for all the things it refers to in our ... [snip!] ... abusing potentially debilitating legally obtained pharmaceuticals, yet we are battling to put marijuana distributors in jail.”

i couldn't agree more.

i tend to fall into the: "life is a drug" thinking when you consider the fact that generally, we're referring to anything that acts on the nervous system to create change in the brain (and body as a result).

caffeine is a stimulant and we get cocaine from the same source plant. glucose-- the brain's energy, can be derived from any food we eat-- anytime we start to deprive our body of food, our brain's state is altered and we become more aggressive and snippy and less able to made complex and/or abstract decisions. so-- in a way, the anorexic life-style can be compared to drug addiction.

dopamine and seratonin levels are effected by how much we exercise on a regular basis-- and even more so if we do it outside in fresh air w/ sunlight, and could effectly combat a huge percentage of the chronic depression states which are currently being medicated by highly addictive prescription pharmaceuticals.

heck, sunshine effects our brain w/ all that vitamin a...

so, yeah, life is a drug-- how you live, is your special drug cocktail.

Quoting Mara:“ i couldn't agree more. i tend to fall into the: "life is a drug" thinking when you consider the fact ... [snip!] ... sunshine effects our brain w/ all that vitamin a... so, yeah, life is a drug-- how you live, is your special drug cocktail.”

I like that! Life is definitely a drug. I'm of the conviction that everyone has their drug of choice, like you said, even if its binging then exercising for 6 hours straight.
It kinda makes me think that perhaps there ought to be more freedom for people to make these kinds of lifestyle choices within legal terms. Although I can already see that the counter to that statement will be that there are "drugs" that are never good in any context, like black tar heroin or crystal meth and that there has to be a line somewhere-- I'm just suggesting that currently, that line is in the wrong place.