1 Introduction
Marijuana is the second most widely and illegally abused drug substance
smoked across the globe after tobacco, mainly due to the psychoactive
effects ingredient induced by Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆-9-THC)
indicated as 1 in Fig. 1, obtained from dried leave stems,
seeds and flowers of the cannabis sativa hemp
plant.1 The complexity of cannabis plant is defined by
the presence of various compounds that induce psychoactive effects on
individuals who consume it. Currently, over 500 chemical compounds have
been identified in marijuana with over 60 cannabinoids which generate
more than 2000 compounds in marijuana smoke through a series of
pyrolysis reactions.1, 2 With an exception of the main
psychoactive alkaloid in cannabis, other cannabinoids such as
cannabidiol (CBD) delta-8-tetracannabinol (d-8-THC) and cannabinol,
designated as 2, 3 and 4 in Fig. 1,
contribute to its pharmacological effects3. THC
introduction to users biosystem induces a number of effects
characterized by the alterations in memory, movement, mood, perception
and cognition, and in some cases increased dopamine release that
ultimately produce euphoric sensations and anxiolytic
effects.4 CBD forms almost 40% of the cannabis
extracts from the Cannabis sativa plant and is mainly found in
seeds, stalks and flowers of marijuana offering antipsychotic and
alerting properties when consumed, and this forms the basis for
pharmaco-therapies5.