Drugs:Fact and Fiction/Marijuana
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[edit] Description
Cannabis is a leafy plant which grows wild in many of the tropic and temperate areas of the world. It is cultivated both indoors and out for the production of its flowering tops. The most commonly used form of cannabis are the leaves and flowering tops (buds) which may be either smoked or eaten; It also comes in a more concentrated resinous form called hashish, and as a sticky black liquid called hash oil. There are three distinct species of cannabis: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis, though there is some argument as to whether these should be considered varieties rather than species. Most recreationally used cannabis is the result of interbreeding between these three types. The term 'hemp' is generally used to describe low-thc varieties of cannabis which are grown for industrial uses.
[edit] Health and safety
-Long term damage to the lungs can occur from smoking cannabis, as with smoking any substance. However, because cannabis rarely becomes a heavy and life long habit, the damage almost never becomes serious. There are no known cases of lung cancer attributed to cannabis alone.
-THC has an LD50 that is far beyond an ingestible amount. THC cannot be absorbed into the blood past a certain limit, and this limit is much less than the LD50. No overdoses or deaths have ever resulted from THC.
[edit] Side-Effects
The typical stereotypical pot side effects include dry mouth ("pasties" or "cotton mouth"), increased appetite ("munchies"), and "red-eye". The first is a common effect from smoking anything. THC activates parts of the brain (Cannabinoid receptors) which are linked to appetite. (It is believed that cannabinoid receptors are activated after birth to make an infant hungry until they can learn the daily routine of eating). THC also causes dilation of blood vessels which can lead to the "red-eye", as well as a slight increase of the users heart rate. THC can also lower intraocular (eye) pressure making it useful as a treatment for glaucoma.
Cannabis has an anti-nauseant property. However, like most antiemetics, this effect is seemingly reversed with higher doses.
A full list of side effects can be found at the wikipedia Cannabis article, although the effects previously listed are the primary physical effects of the drug.
[edit] Use and Appeal
Cannabis is a very widely used drug. When smoked, the effects kick in almost immediatly, and include a relaxing euphoria that is not strong enough to interfere with normal activities (although, as with all drugs, users should not drive or operate machinery under the influence). Other effects include fatigue (which varies greatly from strain to strain), increased emotional reaction (i.e ., laughter), and muscle relaxation, producing a feeling of lightness.
The effects typically subside between 1 and 4 hours after smoking, depending on the users body build (THC is fat soluble), tolerance to cannabis, and other drugs the user is under the effects of.
[edit] Non-Recreational Usage
Hemp is often considered to be the most useful natural product on the planet. Hemp can be (and was until the 1930's) used to make paper, textiles (Clothing, furniture upholstery, sails etc), fuel, and food. It can be grown rather easily and harvested several times annually.
[edit] Arguments for and Against Legalization
A common stereotype applied to drug users is their opposition to the government. In the media for all age groups one can find the occasional reference to the spaced out hippie who rambles on and on about how the government is to blame and they ruin everything and bring down the little guy. Once one has experienced a mind-altering substance, this makes much more sense and it can be understood that this stereotype exaggerates things quite a bit.
First lets assume the government realizes that alcohol is far more damaging to your body and legalizes cannabis completely.
- The substance can now be controlled like alcohol (As in many countries) because the government can produce and supply the drug for far cheaper than street price.[citation needed]
- Immediately this opens up opportunity for a person to grow hemp or marijuana for a living. A farmer of sorts. Because it is legal they now can simply grow it in the country. Like the production of alcohol, this can be regulated as well.[citation needed]
- The legality also means things become cheaper since one doesn't need to constantly hide things from authorities.[citation needed]
- Subsequently, less money is spent on the authorities tracking trafficers, grow ops, and imprisonment. Ninety percent of criminals in prison for drug crimes are there because of cannabis.[citation needed]
- Because the substance is no longer underground and can be produced easily by the government, it is unlikely to be laced.[citation needed]
- Cannabis alone is responsible for most of the drug markets' profit. If the government removed that source of profit (through legalization), there would be much less drug trafficking, and less concomitant violent crime.[citation needed]
- Hemp is renewable and can be used to make paper and textiles.[citation needed]
- The profit the government could make from hemp and marijuana would be in the hundreds of millions to several billion dollars annual. This could be used for tax reduction or funding schools and other public works.[citation needed]
[edit] External Links
- Growing Marijuana - Discussion board focusing on cultivation of marijuana.
