Molecular Neurobiological Methods in Marijuana-Cannabinoid Research -- Experimental Methods to Study the Role of the Peripheral Cannabinoid Receptor in Immune Function -- Localization of Cannabinoid Receptors Using Immunoperoxidase Methods -- Localization of Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor mRNA Using Ribonucleotide Probes -- Morphometric Study on Cytoskeletal Components of Neuronal and Astroglial Cells After a Chronic CB1 Agonist Treatment -- Visualizing Cannabinoid Effects Using Brain Slice Imaging and Electrophysiological Approaches -- Methods for the Synthesis of Cannabinergic Ligands -- Cannabinoid Receptor Binding to Membrane Homogenates and Cannabinoid-Stimulated [35S]GTP-S Binding to Membrane Homogenates or Intact Cultured Cells -- Methods to Assay Anandamide Hydrolysis and Transport in Synaptosomes -- Methods Evaluating Cannabinoid and Endocannabinoid Effects on Gastrointestinal Functions -- The Bioassay of Cannabinoids Using the Mouse Isolated Vas Deferens -- Assessment of Cannabis Craving Using the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire -- Methods for Studying Acute and Chronic Effects of Marijuana on Human Associative Processes and Memory -- Methods for Clinical Research Involving Cannabis Administration -- Neurological Assessments of Marijuana Users -- Behavioral Methods in Cannabinoid Research -- Methods to Study the Behavioral Effects and Expression of CB2 Cannabinoid Receptors and Its Gene Transcripts in Chronic Mild Stress Model of Depression.

The revolutionary discovery that the human body and brain make their own marijuana-like substances called endocannabinoids has transformed marijuana-cannabinoid research into a mainstream science impacting our understanding of reproduction, development, and cell death. In Marijuana and Cannabinoid Research: Methods and Protocols, prominent researchers and clinicians from around the world detail the cutting-edge in vitro and in vivo methods they are using to elucidate the mechanisms associated with cannabinoid function in health and disease. The techniques can be used in studies across the board from genes to behavior. The molecular neurobiological methods are invaluable in analyzing the structure, the polymorphisms, and the molecular expression of the cannabinoid receptors (CBrs), as well as their association with polysubstance abuse. Other chapters describe methods to study the role of CBrs in immune function, the morphometric cytoskeletal components of neuronal and astroglial cells after cannabinoid treatment, and the in vitro and in vivo effects of cannabinoids in animals, including humans. There are also methods for localizing cannabinoid receptors in different systems, visualizing cannabinoid effects using brain slice imaging and electrophysiological approaches, and designing and synthesizing cannabinoids and endocannabinoids. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Medicine™ series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principles behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and highly practical, Marijuana and Cannabinoid Research: Methods and Protocols will help both basic and clinical investigators unravel the specific mechanisms of the marijuana-cannabinoid actions that are of central importance in biological and therapeutic research today.