Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist by Peter Martel

Part 203:

In my early days at Chalk River, Roger was my inspiration and mentor, even though at a tender age of 20 he was some 10 years my junior. He was also indirectly responsible for my learning downhill skiing. This happened since he was considered an indispensable staff member, because he produced up to fifteen papers a year in a field where two papers was considered quite adequate. The hierarchy was so scared of losing him that he was granted the privilege of taking every Wednesday off in winter to go to a ski hill some 90 kilometres away. He also had the privilege of inviting staff to accompany him.

Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 564

At first everyone assumed that anandamide must have a similar structure to THC. However, on further investigation this was found not to be so. The lack of CB specificity has been explained away, as due to the fact that cannabinoids are a bit like mast keys, involved in a large number of physiological processes.

Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 563

In 1990 shortly after we had published our first paper, “receptor” membrane-bound molecules that serve as “locks” for THC were discovered. These molecules, labeled CB1 and CB2, also were found to have an affinity for another molecule, discovered by Mechoulam and Devane, that is naturally present in the brain. This natural brain molecule was called anandamide, a word derived from the Sanskrit word for “eternal bliss”.

Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 562

In our first paper we had concluded among other things that the apparently lower potency of delta-8 might be due to a protein-like molecule that interacted selectively with delta-9. This molecule would be a “lock” that was a better for delta-9 THC.

Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 561

However, as I got into the details of our experiments my audience seemed to “lighten up”. They had all been seated near tables that they proceeded to pound on with their fists when I had finished. At first, I was dumbfounded and feared these were expressions if disapprobation, until my host told me that such table banging was the customary way, in German Labs, of applauding.

Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 560

This new avenue in my research really brought out the “hayseed” in me. An example of this came out when I was giving an invited talk to German Scientists at Julich, near Cologne in West Germany. To open my talk, I tried to dramatize the effects of marijuana by showing sketches of Mechoulam’s monkeys in various states of contentment and repose. I then said something that conflicted with the Teutonic work ethic. If I recall correctly, I believe I said : “Why devote all one’s life struggling to earn a Nobel Prize when such contentment can be obtained by simply smoking the proper cigarette?” The silence that follows was deafening.

Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 559

Some of the early experiments in the seventies indicated that the active constituent in marijuana was delta-9 THC and not delta-8. This issue has not yet been nailed down, but most of the experiments to date indicate that the delta-9 variety is somewhat more potent. Some experts claim these inconsistencies arise in part from differences related to smoking and/or oral ingestion. In a later personal communication to me, Professor Mechoulam indicated that in general, delta-8THC is only 30% less active than delta-9 THC.

Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 558

Another effect of marijuana use was that the whites of the eyes suffered from redness. I can vouch for the latter effect that I had noted in the eyes of certain people on occasion. However, these people soon found a solution to this “pink eye” condition through the use of an “off-the-shelf” pharmaceutical called “visine”. Incidentally, Mechoulam had to stop using monkeys for his experiments because of ethical complaints about subjecting animals to deleterious conditions in laboratories.

Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 557

One of Mechoulam’s early papers had to do with the effects of marijuana constituents on rhesus monkeys.These early observations indicated lessened motor coordination, loss of muscle strength, and increases in heart rate. The monkeys appeared to become sedated and less aggressive.

Dharma

Excellent Mountain Energy Yoga, keep up the battle it is a noble fight.
Leslie

Mountain Energy

I have taken a position from the very beginning of this virus outbreak that hasn’t been very popular. From my early analysis of the situation I saw many red flags. I tried to stay out of it, but it was very hard to restrain myself. My position throughout this virus outbreak has been to look at our lifestyle. The theory is that bad habits might weaken us and make us more susceptible, and this position was forbidden from the beginning. Even though every other virus can be fought off more easily by healthy people, all of the sudden this was not science. This was a new virus, and apparently there was no way to support your health, to prevent a bad outcome.

We saw a bad outcome from the virus, many people died, and many people continue to die. If people like me who were trying to help from the…

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Memoirs of a Hayseed Physicist: Part 556

A year or so later, one of our papers on marijuana finally appeared Chemistry and Physics of Lipids and shortly thereafter a letter came from Professor Mechoulam, offering to send us some samples, in the hope of collaborating with us. Obviously, I’d missed a golden opportunity to get to know a great man.