9/04 Amanita muscaria & Terpenes: Coffea + Cannabis
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The following text is a work of satirical fictitious creative writing and should not be misconstrued as advice of any sort.
Terpenes are flavor and scent chemicals present in our diets, from herbs and spices to fruits and plants.
Cannabis and Coffee plants can produce dozens of terpenes, whose subjective effects are amplified by THC and caffeine.
This week we investigate the glandular trichomes that produce neuroactive drugs such as terpenes including THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids.
THC is produced to protect against UV radiation. Increased UV-light encourages THC biosynthesis.
The compounds are ordered as [Terpene, Common Plant Source]. Every terpene listed below is also naturally produced in Cannabis sativa!
| Linalool, Lavender | Myrcene, Mango | Limonene, Lemon | Limene, Lime | Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus | Pinene, Pine | Geraniol, Rose | Ocimene, Basil
|Thymol, Thyme | Caryophyllene, Pepper | Rosmarinol, Rosemary | Menthol, Mint |
After experiencing these flavorful flavinoids through smelling and crushing up dried plant samples of the culinary herbs and plants listed above,
We investigate Amanita muscaria, the "Fly Agaric" mushroom. A mushroom so magical it has its own emoji! 🍄
Amanita muscaria "Fly Agaric"
Produces toxic Ibotenic Acid which is denatured into Muscimol when properly cooked (or filtered through reindeer kidneys).
Globally distributed across Northern Hemisphere.
Ectomycorrhizal fungus symbioses with tree roots, indoor cultivation near impossible. (until one of you figures it out...)
Used by Shamans in the region of Siberia. These medicine people are whom the term shaman has been adopted from and genericized.
Nomadic siberians may have followed migrating reindeer and consumed the snowy urine of reindeer who had consumed Amanita muscaria.
This is because the reindeer kidneys convert ibotenic acid into muscimol without toxic effects to the reindeer.
Thus perhaps the story of the Red and White Santa Claus and his Reindeer in the North Pole is born...
Cannabis ruderalis, "Autoflower"
Russian cultivar of Cannabis that has a shorter photoperiod before flowering.
Plant is typically smaller and shrubbier.
Genetically crossed with Cannabis sativa to share faster flowering times with larger and high-cannabinoid content genetics.
"Autoflowers" can sustain up to 24 daily hours of nonstop light which means lots of growth in a short period of time.
When grown indoors, flowering is induced by strees such as the roots reaching the bottom of the container.
Excellent way to grow smaller plants in a shorter period of time indoors.
Cannabis sativa, "Weed"
The most common cannabis species in global native distirbution and commercial horticulture.
Typically distributed between the tropics of cancer and capricorn.
Many countries have "Landrace" "strains"; cultivars that evolved distinct terpene profiles or growth habits.
Breeders cross cultivars to make unique "strains" for high cannabinoid content, flavor, or resistance to disease/pests/fungus.
Most commercially available cannabis strains contain beta-caryophyllene. This is the chemical drug-sniffing dogs are trained on.
Caryophyllene is also present in spices like black pepper and cinnamon. It may inflame your internal mucus membranes when smoked or inhaled.
Taller, stretchier plants with narrow leaves greater distance between nodes.
Generally associated with energetic and cerebral "mind-high" social effects, though this is not always the case.
Cannabis indica, "Kush"
Native to Africa and South-Asia.Used by many ancient groups.
Ayurvedic medicine has 4 primary EDIBLE Cannabis preperations. Smoking cannabis is said to be dangerous or disrespectful.
Shorter squat plants with wide leaves and smaller distances between nodes.
Associated with "dank" "skunky" or "gassy" fragrances.
Generally associated with pain-reducing medicinal effects, a "stoned body-high" and couch lock, where users experience difficulty standing up.
Popular but Ubsubstantiated Cannabis Claims
Some claim that Cannabis "cures cancer". Cannabis research has been illegal for several decades, so we do not have an answer for this.
Cannabinoids are being investigated as cancer treatments, but more research must be done. FDA has not approved Cannabis as a cancer treatment.
Cannabis has been found to reduce nausea pain anxiety loss of apetite and other adverse reactions to therapeutic cancer treatments.
Another misconception is that Cannabis is not addictive. Cannabis use disorder affects about 5.8% of total adults in the United States, about a third of the country's 52 million regular Cannabis users.
Some people report cannabis helps them fall asleep. While some cannabinoids have action as anandamide agonists which can induce drowsiness, Cannabis use (just like alcohol) before bed has been found to reduce time spent in REM sleep.
REM sleep is a mechanism where toxic products are broken down by the brain, and it is an important period for the encoding of memory. The reduction of REM sleep could potentially be related to memory deficits observed in chronic Cannabis users.
Venus Fly Trap Procedure
Stimulate non-glandular hairy trichomes of venus fly traps 3 times in 20 seconds.
Observe plant closing itself to trap what could possibly be an insect.
Observe plant sensing for continued movement while closed, and reopening if further stimulation is not applied.
Sundew Fly Trap Procedure
Stimulate glandular digestive-fluid trichomes.
Measure how far you can stretch the sticky material.
Observe the sundew curl up.
Terpene Procedure
Smell isolated terpene compounds used for perfumes/cosmetics.
Smell different terpenes present in common herbs and foods.
Demonstrate terpene volatility by crushing plant material.
Use worksheet to match unknown plant samples with terpene chemical names.
Build connections between chemical names and terpene scents to identify several classwide mystery samples.
Citrus Terpene Procedure
Scratch and smell the surfaces of several citrus fruits.
Smell lemon verbena and Lemon Balm.
Smell isolated limonene, limene, and citronelol.
Identify if the samples are higher in limonene, limene, or citronelol.
In Dr. Shulgin's Nature of Drugs lectures here at San Francisco State University, he reports that THC can be easily synthesized using an orange peel and a common tree lichen.
Tree Procedure
Collect samples of eucalyptus and pine needles from trees outside classroom.
Volatalize terpenes.
Forest fire demonstration.
Coffee Procedures
Full procedures in Lab Manual.
Amanita Muscaria Procedures
Full procedures in Lab Manual.
Cannabis Butter Procedures
Full procedures in Lab Manual.
Cannabis Coconut Oil (monochain-triglyceride) Procedures
Full procedures in Lab Manual.