Possible hepatotoxicity of chronic marijuana usage Hospital

Hepatotoxicity is a potential complication from the usage of various illicit drugs, possibly consequent to their liver metabolism, but information on this is scarce in the medical literature. Studies on liver damage due to chronic usage of marijuana are rare. Marijuana usage in the form of cigarettes made from dried leaves, flowers and stalks of female Cannabis sativa plants has grown strongly among young Brazilians over the last decade. In the United States, after some decline in the prevalence of cannabis usage, a recent upsurge has been detected. It has been conceded that this has taken place consequent to the relaxation of social disapproval of marijuana usage, a reduction in the perception of the risks related to usage and an increase in the dissemination of pro-drug media messages. In general, marijuana is the first drug to be used. Subsequently, other drugs with stronger effects may substitute for it, or other legal or illicit drugs may start to be taken in association with it. Associations with cocaine or crack have the aim of reducing or avoiding the dysphoric effects of these two drugs, while with alcohol the aim is to increase the hallucinogenic effects of marijuana. Cannabis sativa contains more than 400 chemical compounds, of which about 60 are cannabinoids. The first to be isolated, and the one mainly responsible for the psychoactive properties of the plant, was delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol content of the drug depend on the way it is prepared, and it is possible that other components of marijuana, whether cannabi• Paulo Borini