RichiRich
Active Member
Hey everyone,
Thought I'd share this article I just finished typing up for my school paper.
To start off, what is cannabis? I’m sure most of you already know, but for the sake of being organised, I will give a short, scientific introduction anyway. Cannabis is a wild plant that grows almost everywhere, from Poland and Hungary, to Afghanistan, India and China. It grows in different sizes, Sativas and Indicas (also Ruderalis) and comes in many forms such as dried leaves/flowers (buds), concentrated resin (hash) and distilled oil (canna/hash oil). Nowadays, cannabis, (also known as weed, pot, grass and marijuana), is the most commonly used drug on Earth, having been smoked for thousands of years amongst many cultures such as the Hindus of India, the Thracians of Europe and the ancient Scythians. Marijuana can not only be smoked, but also ingested and even used in oil or milk, with the active ingredient being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that gets people “high”. But with its unique smell and leaf structure, recognisable everywhere, only the female cannabis plant will produce THC on its flowers. This is why it is grown in a pollen-free environment to avoid females producing seeds, which would not result in production of the desired drug.
Contrary to common belief, cannabis is not only for "getting high". The plant itself can be used for several purposes, such as the production of moulded plastics, fuel, textiles, paper, medicine and even construction material. One famous example of its various purposes, is the American declaration of independence, which was written on hemp (cannabis) paper.
It is worthy to note that many religions and cultures have been created around this magical plant, the most famous being the Rastafarian movement of Jamaica. Marijuana has also recently become a commercial symbol, with t-shirts, pin buttons, wallets, flags, and chains featuring the famous cannabis leaf as their logo. One can truly say that no other drug has ever been as glorified as marijuana has, on any basis.
Nevertheless, the real questions that should be asked are, why do people take marijuana and how safe is it? The first question is fairly easy to answer. Like alcohol, cannabis causes feelings of mild euphoria and gentle elation that users enjoy. However, its effects are not only psychoactive, but also physical. One’s pulse rate is increased, blood pressure rises, the eyes become bloodshot and a large appetite soon follows, known as “the munchies”. After a short while, users speak, move and interact less with their surroundings, becoming “couch-locked”, or “stoned”.
As for the second question, whether cannabis is safe or not, this can be a touchy subject...
Much debate circulates this topic, with some claiming that marijuana is not even a drug to begin with, which is not entirely true. Cannabis affects the central nervous system and alters the body’s normal functions, so it is most definitely a drug. However, many others claim that marijuana cannot be a health risk and isn’t dangerous at all, hence the reason for so many legalization activists.
A recent study, however, published by the United Nations Anti-Drugs office, begs to differ.
To begin with, chronic smoking of cannabis has been shown to contribute to lung cancer in some cases. Regular smoking of cannabis with tobacco, as most users do in Europe, can lead to respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and wheezing. Moreover, studies have shown that driving while stoned can be just as dangerous, if not more dangerous than driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Nevertheless, the real matter behind marijuana’s supposed health risk, is the mental damage some say it causes. Contrary to the Hippie age of the 1960s and 70s, the strains of cannabis available today are generally much more potent. A family of strains, better known as “Skunk”, includes famous types such as White Widow, Silver Haze and Chronic, that many teenagers smoke nowadays.
A considerable amount of scientists say that these more potent forms of marijuana can, in some cases, be linked to mental illnesses, including psychosis, anxiety, paranoia and schizophrenia, as well as short-term memory loss. However, at this moment in time, not enough studies have been conducted to prove this beyond doubt. As a species, humans know very little about marijuana and how it affects the brain, compared to other narcotics like alcohol and cocaine. On a side note, marijuana has been proven to be less dangerous compared to alcohol, in terms of addiction, behaviour (while under the influence) and side effects on the human body. It has also been decriminalized in many states across America for medical use in cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses.
It is also common knowledge, that marijuana, by itself, is not as physically addictive as class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Nonetheless, many people have been known to develop an addiction to joints due to the presence of tobacco in the rolled mixture. This can lead to a nasty and horrible nicotine addiction, obviously dangerous, considering the fact that nicotine is the most addictive substance known to man, not to mention the number of deaths that occur per year due to cigarettes. On the other hand, if one were to smoke marijuana daily, it could easily become a psychological addiction, just like any other habit, without the user even knowing.
Go to any party today and it’s hard not to find a joint or bong (the water pipe in which marijuana is smoked) being passed around. Mixing weed with alcohol and tobacco is nothing new to parties, but little does medical science know about how dangerous this combination can be with “modern” partying.
To conclude, let me finish by saying that in 2010, no one can say for sure how dangerous cannabis really is. It maybe tomorrow, next year, or in 50 years when science discovers the real health risks that the plant poses, if any. Many people will always claim that “marijuana has never killed anyone” (which is technically not true), and that it is "not dangerous". Well, back in the 1920s and 30s, doctors – (yes doctors,)were recommending that everyone start smoking, so obviously, it’s always better for one to be on the safe side...
Peace,
-Rich
Thought I'd share this article I just finished typing up for my school paper.
Cannabis: How safe is it?
To start off, what is cannabis? I’m sure most of you already know, but for the sake of being organised, I will give a short, scientific introduction anyway. Cannabis is a wild plant that grows almost everywhere, from Poland and Hungary, to Afghanistan, India and China. It grows in different sizes, Sativas and Indicas (also Ruderalis) and comes in many forms such as dried leaves/flowers (buds), concentrated resin (hash) and distilled oil (canna/hash oil). Nowadays, cannabis, (also known as weed, pot, grass and marijuana), is the most commonly used drug on Earth, having been smoked for thousands of years amongst many cultures such as the Hindus of India, the Thracians of Europe and the ancient Scythians. Marijuana can not only be smoked, but also ingested and even used in oil or milk, with the active ingredient being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that gets people “high”. But with its unique smell and leaf structure, recognisable everywhere, only the female cannabis plant will produce THC on its flowers. This is why it is grown in a pollen-free environment to avoid females producing seeds, which would not result in production of the desired drug.
Contrary to common belief, cannabis is not only for "getting high". The plant itself can be used for several purposes, such as the production of moulded plastics, fuel, textiles, paper, medicine and even construction material. One famous example of its various purposes, is the American declaration of independence, which was written on hemp (cannabis) paper.
It is worthy to note that many religions and cultures have been created around this magical plant, the most famous being the Rastafarian movement of Jamaica. Marijuana has also recently become a commercial symbol, with t-shirts, pin buttons, wallets, flags, and chains featuring the famous cannabis leaf as their logo. One can truly say that no other drug has ever been as glorified as marijuana has, on any basis.
Nevertheless, the real questions that should be asked are, why do people take marijuana and how safe is it? The first question is fairly easy to answer. Like alcohol, cannabis causes feelings of mild euphoria and gentle elation that users enjoy. However, its effects are not only psychoactive, but also physical. One’s pulse rate is increased, blood pressure rises, the eyes become bloodshot and a large appetite soon follows, known as “the munchies”. After a short while, users speak, move and interact less with their surroundings, becoming “couch-locked”, or “stoned”.
As for the second question, whether cannabis is safe or not, this can be a touchy subject...
Much debate circulates this topic, with some claiming that marijuana is not even a drug to begin with, which is not entirely true. Cannabis affects the central nervous system and alters the body’s normal functions, so it is most definitely a drug. However, many others claim that marijuana cannot be a health risk and isn’t dangerous at all, hence the reason for so many legalization activists.
A recent study, however, published by the United Nations Anti-Drugs office, begs to differ.
To begin with, chronic smoking of cannabis has been shown to contribute to lung cancer in some cases. Regular smoking of cannabis with tobacco, as most users do in Europe, can lead to respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and wheezing. Moreover, studies have shown that driving while stoned can be just as dangerous, if not more dangerous than driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Nevertheless, the real matter behind marijuana’s supposed health risk, is the mental damage some say it causes. Contrary to the Hippie age of the 1960s and 70s, the strains of cannabis available today are generally much more potent. A family of strains, better known as “Skunk”, includes famous types such as White Widow, Silver Haze and Chronic, that many teenagers smoke nowadays.
A considerable amount of scientists say that these more potent forms of marijuana can, in some cases, be linked to mental illnesses, including psychosis, anxiety, paranoia and schizophrenia, as well as short-term memory loss. However, at this moment in time, not enough studies have been conducted to prove this beyond doubt. As a species, humans know very little about marijuana and how it affects the brain, compared to other narcotics like alcohol and cocaine. On a side note, marijuana has been proven to be less dangerous compared to alcohol, in terms of addiction, behaviour (while under the influence) and side effects on the human body. It has also been decriminalized in many states across America for medical use in cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses.
It is also common knowledge, that marijuana, by itself, is not as physically addictive as class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Nonetheless, many people have been known to develop an addiction to joints due to the presence of tobacco in the rolled mixture. This can lead to a nasty and horrible nicotine addiction, obviously dangerous, considering the fact that nicotine is the most addictive substance known to man, not to mention the number of deaths that occur per year due to cigarettes. On the other hand, if one were to smoke marijuana daily, it could easily become a psychological addiction, just like any other habit, without the user even knowing.
Go to any party today and it’s hard not to find a joint or bong (the water pipe in which marijuana is smoked) being passed around. Mixing weed with alcohol and tobacco is nothing new to parties, but little does medical science know about how dangerous this combination can be with “modern” partying.
To conclude, let me finish by saying that in 2010, no one can say for sure how dangerous cannabis really is. It maybe tomorrow, next year, or in 50 years when science discovers the real health risks that the plant poses, if any. Many people will always claim that “marijuana has never killed anyone” (which is technically not true), and that it is "not dangerous". Well, back in the 1920s and 30s, doctors – (yes doctors,)were recommending that everyone start smoking, so obviously, it’s always better for one to be on the safe side...
Peace,
-Rich
This is not correct
