One Of Many Outlooks On Cannabis

2009.05.03

Cannabis has many different names. Call it marijuana, weed, smoke, puff or ganja to name a few, and is a byproduct of the plant CANNABIS SATIVA and is psychoactive. After the plant has dried to a degree, it can be ingested into the body by either smoking or eating it.

Most commonly, the leaves and flowers of the female plant are used for ingestion and are by far the most potent compared to the male, which does not flower at all.  Cannabis can also be brought down to a resinous form called oil using the crystalline trichomes which are present on the leaves and flowers and have a higher concentration of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol )  which is the psychoactive chemical substance that gives you a high.

This chemical compound when eaten or smoked can cause psychoactive and physiological effects such as increased bouts of laughter, a state of euphoria, may make you think more philosophically, heighten your senses, give you more enjoyment when listening to music and definitely increase you appetite. It’s also been used to reduce nausea and as a pain reliever to name but of a couple of the medical benefits of this drug.

On the other hand, smoking weed can cause excess coughing, lung problems, anxiety problems that could lead to panic attacks and possibly even psychological dependence or mental illness. There are currently many studies of the pros and cons of this ever-popular plant. Many in the medical society think the benefits of Cannabis use outweigh the negative aspects overall. 
 
Ultimately, like anything else, it depends on whether you abuse it or not and whether you’re a habitual user of this substance or just have the occasional toke. Its true smoking anything will cause damage to your lungs and there has been a lot of controversy as to whether smoking a joint is worse than having a cigarette and though several studies have been performed, the findings can be somewhat conflicting. 

One recent study claims the smoke from Cannabis contains 5 times the hydrogen and nitrous oxides and a whopping 20 times the amount of ammonia compared to cigarettes and other tobacco products. Even with these findings mind you, this study was unable to link an increased risk of getting lung cancer from marijuana use. The medical community  doesn’t always agree as a another study theorizes the consumption of Cannabis causes bilious lung disease up to 24 years sooner than people who smoke just cigarettes.
 
Since before written history Cannabis has been used by different cultures in many countries around the world. Whether used for medicinal purposes, religious practices or just recreationally, consumption of this drug has increased worldwide in the 20th century. Statistically it’s estimated over 4% of the world’s population smoke regularly and 0.6% use Cannabis daily. Though still illegal in most countries, many governments differ on their views and restrictions of this drug, as some have lessened the penalties for personal use while others have made it a much more serious offense. Most believe people who grow and sell marijuana should be penalized greater than the average smoker does.