A Clinical and Metabolic Study of Acute Intoxication with Cannabis Sativa and its Role in the Model Psychoses
Journal of Mental Science – October 01, 1958
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Cannabis sativa, known as hashish or marihuana, has a long history of use for its narcotic effects. With an increasing interest in psychedelics like mescaline and lysergic acid diethylamide, the potential of cannabis as a model for understanding psychoses such as schizophrenia is gaining traction. Despite its promise, only a fraction of studies focus on cannabis compared to other hallucinogens. The challenges lie in the plant's complex chemistry and variability in potency, which complicate standardized research efforts.
Abstract
This paper describes an inquiry into the effects of giving oral doses of the narcotic drug variously known as hashish, marihuana and, in South Africa, dagga. The drug is a preparation from the plant Cannabis sativa whose narcotic effect has been known for centuries. The writer's interest in it was inspired by the work in recent years on the mental disturbances produced by the active principles of other plants, e.g. mescaline and lysergic acid. Because of the similarity of these changes to those occurring in conditions such as schizophrenia, some workers have suggested that these “model psychoses” could be used as a research tool in attempts to elucidate the mechanisms and causes of the naturally occurring psychoses. Although there has been a great deal of work on mescaline and lysergic acid, cannabis has not received much attention. This may be because its chemistry is still not fully worked out and preparations of the plant are difficult to standardize and vary in their potency.