Cannabis: Articles and Cuttings

Reprinted and photocopied articles and newspaper cuttings. The file includes two papers by Paton: "Cannabis and its problems" (1973) and "Concluding summary" (Marihuana: Biological Effects, ed. Nahas and Paton, 1979). The contents of the file are numbered and the file contains an partial index sheet (holograph) with brief comments. Also included in the file, although not they do not appear in the index, are two photocopies of Devane et al (1992), "Isolation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor" and an introductory article published simultaneously in Science, 258 (18 December, 1992),1882-4, entitled "Pot, heroin unlock new areas for neuroscience." The paper - co-authored by Mechoulam (see F/3) - announced the discovery, identity and structure of a natural brain molecule that binds the marijuana receptor. "Before that, many researchers thought THC, a fat-soluble molecule, might not work through a receptor at all, but might insert itself directly into cell membranes. The discovery of the receptor nixed that idea and made it clear that there must be natural brain molecules that trigger the receptor" (Science, 258, 1882). For fat solubility, see from this file, for example, Paton, "Cannabis and its problems." For an early suggestion that THC might act on a receptor of its own, see Binder and Franke (1982), "Is there a THC receptor? Current perspectives and approaches to the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of action of the psychotropic constituents of cannabis sativa L," a photocopy of which can also be found in this file (numbered item 24).

1970-1993

1 file