Is Marijuana Medicine?

What is medical marijuana?

 

 

The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat a disease or symptom. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine.
However, scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to two FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form. Continued research may lead to more medications.
Because the marijuana plant contains chemicals that may help treat a range of illnesses or symptoms, many people argue that it should be legal for medical purposes. In fact, a growing number of states have legalized marijuana for medical use.

Why isn’t the marijuana plant an FDA-approved medicine?

The FDA requires carefully conducted studies (clinical trials) in hundreds to thousands of human subjects to determine the benefits and risks of a possible medication. So far, researchers have not conducted enough large-scale clinical trials that show that the benefits of the marijuana plant (as opposed to its cannabinoid ingredients) outweigh its risks in patients it is meant to treat.
Read more about the various physical, mental, and behavioral effects of marijuana in DrugFacts: 

What are cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are chemicals related to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient. Other than THC, the marijuana plant contains more than 100 other cannabinoids. Scientists as well as illegal manufacturers have produced many cannabinoids in the lab. Some of these cannabinoids are extremely powerful and have led to serious health effects when abused.
The body also produces its own cannabinoid chemicals. They play a role in regulating pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, body movement, awareness of time, appetite, pain, and the senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight).

What is CBD?

There is growing interest in the marijuana chemical cannabidiol (CBD) to treat certain conditions such as childhood epilepsy, a disorder that causes a child to have violent seizures. Therefore, scientists have been specially breeding marijuana plants and making CBD in oil form for treatment purposes. These drugs may be less desirable to recreational users because they are not intoxicating.

How might cannabinoids be useful as medicine?

Currently, the two main cannabinoids from the marijuana plant that are of medical interest are THC and CBD.
THC increases appetite and reduces nausea. The FDA-approved THC-based medications are used for these purposes. THC may also decrease pain, inflammation (swelling and redness), and muscle control problems.
CBD is a cannabinoid that does not affect the mind or behavior. It may be useful in reducing pain and inflammation, controlling epileptic seizures, and possibly even treating mental illness and addictions.
NIH-funded and other researchers are continuing to explore the possible uses of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids for medical treatment.

For instance, recent animal studies have shown that marijuana extracts may help kill certain cancer cells and reduce the size of others. Evidence from one cell culture study suggests that purified extracts from whole-plant marijuana can slow the growth of cancer cells from one of the most serious types of brain tumors. Research in mice showed that treatment with purified extracts of THC and CBD, when used with radiation, increased the cancer-killing effects of the radiation (Scott, 2014).
Scientists are also conducting preclinical and clinical trials with marijuana and its extracts to treat numerous diseases and conditions, such as the following:

• autoimmune diseases (diseases that weaken the immune system):
  • HIV/AIDS
  • multiple sclerosis (MS), which causes gradual loss of muscle control
  • Alzheimer’s disease, which causes loss of brain function, affecting memory, thinking, and behavior
• inflammation
• pain
• seizures
• substance use disorders
• mental disorders

Are People with Health- and Age-Related Problems More Vulnerable to Marijuana’s Risks?

Regular medicinal use of marijuana is a fairly new practice. For that reason, its effects on people who are weakened because of age or illness are still relatively unknown. Older people and those suffering from diseases such as cancer or AIDS could be more vulnerable to the drug’s harmful effects. Scientists need to conduct more research to determine if this is the case.

What medications contain cannabinoids?

Two FDA-approved drugs, dronabinol and nabilone, contain THC. They treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and increase appetite in patients with extreme weight loss caused by AIDS.
The United Kingdom, Canada, and several European countries have approved nabiximols (Sativex^®), a mouth spray containing THC and CBD. It treats muscle control problems caused by MS. The United States is conducting clinical trials for its safe use in treating cancer pain.
Although it has not yet undergone clinical trials, scientists have recently created Epidiolex, a CBD-based liquid drug to treat certain forms of childhood epilepsy.

Points to Remember

• The term medical marijuana refers to treating a disease or symptom with the whole unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts.
• The FDA has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine.
• However, scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana called cannabinoids has led to two FDA-approved medications in pill form.
• Cannabinoids are chemicals related to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient.
• The body also produces its own cannabinoid chemicals.
• Currently, the two main cannabinoids from the marijuana plant that are of interest for medical treatment are THC and cannabidiol (CBD).
• Scientists are conducting preclinical and clinical trials with marijuana and its extracts to treat numerous diseases and conditions.
• Two FDA-approved marijuana drugs are dronabinol and nabilone, both used to treat nausea and boost appetite.

50 unexpected benefits of cannabis - marijuana, ganja, bangi (you might not know)

Has this plant enhanced your life? If so, we want to hear from you in the comment section below!

It comes as no shock to anyone who knows cannabis that it’s something of a miracle herb.
But as we bring this plant out of the dark and into the light, it continues to blow our minds – just how great the benefits of marijuana actually are!
We are talking about benefits to public health, to the economy, and to each and every person who develops a positive relationship with this therapeutic plant.

The Health Benefits of Cannabis

1. It Can Help You Lose Weight

If you’re an avid Green Flower reader, then you’re already aware that cannabis users have been shown to be slimmer, on average, than non-users. That’s because cannabis helps the body regulate insulin production, and manage caloric intake more efficiently.

2. It Can Regulate and Prevent Diabetes

Because cannabis helps regulate body weight, it only makes sense that it would help prevent and regulate Diabetes. Again, you can thank the herb’s ability to regulate insulin production for this medical breakthrough.

3. It Fights Cancer

This is the big one that everybody’s been talking about. Both scientists and the federal government have released a good amount of evidence showing that cannabinoids fight certain types of cancer. It doesn’t get much more substantial than that.

4. It Can Help Depression

Depression is one of the more widespread, yet least talked about medical conditions in America. And research is showing that cannabis can help treat it.

Research is important, but so are the voices and smiles
 of those whom cannabis actually helps!

“Using compounds derived from cannabis — marijuana — to restore normal endocannabinoid function could potentially help stabilize moods and ease depression,” said Samir Haj-Dahmane, who is spearheading the research at Buffalo University – research that is only just now beginning to ramp up.

5. It’s Showing Promise in Treating Autism

Like many other high-profile disorders, autism may be a prime target for cannabis-based treatments. Science is digging into it, but in the meantime, some parents are using it to help manage violent mood swings in autistic children.

6. It Provides a Safer Alternative to Drugs and Alcohol

Cannabis can be harmful if you use it irresponsibly, but it’s nowhere near as destructive as alcohol for example. With wider availability, cannabis can and will become a substance of choice – and likely save a lot of lives (and livers) in the process.

7. It Helps Regulate Seizures

Using medical cannabis to regulate seizures is another one of the more high-profile findings coming out of medical science. For folks with disorders like Epilepsy, cannabis is showing immense promise.

8. It Can Help Broken Bones Heal Faster

Can you believe that cannabis can actually mend broken bones? It’s true, as CBD evidently reacts chemically with collagen, spurring along the healing process. Another very exciting find.

9. It’s a Treatment for ADHD

For those with serious trouble concentrating, or who have children suffering from ADD or ADHD, cannabis might be the treatment you’ve been waiting for. It’s safer and more effective than medications like Ritalin or Adderall.

10. It Can Help Treat Serious Addictions

We already mentioned that cannabis can be a viable, safer alternative to substances like alcohol and tobacco, but did you know that it can also be used as a treatment for addictions to these substances, and more? Individuals addicted to serious drugs like heroin, opiates, and cocaine, are showing promise in ridding themselves of their addictions through cannabis therapy.
Of course, it’s entirely possible to develop a dependency to marijuana, also – so responsible and mindful use is key.

11. It Treats Glaucoma

One of the first big medical issue that cannabis was shown to effectively treat is Glaucoma. Ingesting cannabis helps lower the pressure in the eyeball, giving patients at least temporary relief.

12. It Can Improve Lung Health

You probably never saw this one coming – especially since pot is commonly associated with smoking, and smoking with chronic lung problems. But some conditions, including lung cancer and Emphysema, have been shown to regress when cannabis is thrown into the mix.

13. It Helps Anxiety

Fact: cannabis can actually cause anxiety but there are ways to potentially avoid that. And it’s also true that for many people, cannabis can help alleviate anxiety disorders.

14. It Can Slow the Development of Alzheimer’s Disease

Cognitive degeneration is pretty much unavoidable as we age, and Alzheimer’s disease falls under that umbrella. The good news is that studies are showing cannabis can stop the progression of Alzheimer’s, which may lead to longer, richer lives for millions.

15. It Helps M.S. Patients

Cannabis helps alleviate many of the symptoms associated with Multiple Sclerosis, most notably the tremors, spasms, and pain.

16. It Can Control Muscle Spasms

We’ve mentioned M.S. and seizures, but general muscle spasms are an ailment that affect millions. Cannabis can help calm those muscles, stop them from twitching, and deal with the pain associated with spasms.

17. It Helps Individuals with Eating Disorders

A common use for medical cannabis is to help regulate eating patterns. Whether you eat too much, or too little, cannabis can help. This is especially helpful for people suffering from disorders like Bulimia and Anorexia.

18. It Treats Arthritis

Another common ailment that cannabis is used to treat is arthritis. The THC and CBD – as well as other cannabinoids – help sufferers deal with the pain, especially when using quality cannabis creams and balms.

19. It’s Helpful for Those with PTSD

With so many veterans in need of effective treatments for PTSD after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the discovery that cannabis is a viable option is fantastic news. Now, the trick is to get the VA and doctors to actually prescribe it.

PTSD can affect just about anybody. We have to support
 these people and give them whatever they need to heal.

And of course not all PTSD is combat-related. All sorts of traumatic experiences can put that fight-or-flight response into overdrive, and cannabis is the only medication to address that.

20. It Can Help Regulate Your Metabolism

We touched on how cannabis helps your body process and deal with food, and obesity. This plays into how it also helps maintain and regulate your metabolism. That not only means sticking to an ideal weight level but generally being healthier and happier!

21. It Can Help People with AIDS/HIV

Cannabis can’t directly cure the AIDS virus, but it can and does help those living with it cope. Specifically, cannabis helps those living with AIDS/HIV maintain their diets and handle associated pains and aches.

22. It’s Effective for Treating Nausea

Next up on our list of marijuana facts: nausea. This is a relatively common feeling, and one that is brought on by any number of things. Some people live with constant bouts on a daily basis, and as you can imagine, it can be debilitating. How does cannabis come into the picture? Chemical compounds in cannabis react with brain receptors to regulate feelings of nausea. This is a particular boon for chemotherapy patients .

23. It’s an Alternative Treatment for Headaches

Lots of people experience headaches every day, and taking the typical medicines – be it acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) – can take its toll on your body, leading to ulcers, liver damage, and other complications. Cannabis offers a natural alternative, and one that won’t chew threw your stomach lining.

You know you could potentially treat that headache with a
 non-psychoactive cannabis product?

24. It Can Treat Certain STDs

It’s true – cannabis has been found to be at least somewhat effective in the treatment of a handful of sexually transmitted diseases, including herpes and chlamydia.

25. It Will Help with Speech Problems

If you, or someone you know, has an issue with stuttering, cannabis can help. Research is by and large still lacking, but in the same way that cannabis helps calm spasms and twitches, those with speech problems can potentially benefit from its effects.

26. It Can Improve Skin Conditions

Who would’ve thought that cannabis could be a viable treatment option for skin conditions like eczema? The only issue? Smoking won’t do much good, as smoking actually harms your skin. A quality cannabis topical, on the other hand, can do wonders.

27. It Can Help You Get Through Chemotherapy

This is another extremely popular use for medical cannabis. Those suffering from cancers and its treatments – like chemotherapy – have found comfort in cannabis’s soothing effects.

28. It Regulates Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Those living with OCD can also use cannabis as a treatment option. CBD, which effectively regulates anxiety to some extent, is the main active ingredient which helps those with OCD get a handle on the disorder – and live more functional lives.

29. It Will Calm Asthma Attacks

You probably never saw this one coming. Cannabis and asthma? They’re apparently compatible, or so says science. Again, it has to do with cannabinoid receptors which help control coughing fits as well as the herb’s ability to act as a bronchodilator. Smoking is obviously not the best method of delivery here, as that will likely only make things worse.

30. It Can Replace Viagra for Some Men

How about a natural cure for erectile dysfunction? This is another one of the many benefits of marijuana. No more hiding that Viagra in the back of the medicine cabinet, merely stick to cannabis. The research is ongoing, but there is evidence that cannabis can help men overcome this frustrating issue.

31. It Can Lower Your Blood Pressure

Smoking and low blood pressure are rarely synonymous. Thankfully there are several other ways to ingest cannabis, which can help with hypertension and other blood pressure issues.

32. It’ll Calm Your Panic Attacks

As mentioned, calming anxiety is one of cannabis’s more sought-after effects. As a result, it can help people control panic attacks. Of course, it’ll depend on several physical factors, and what specific strains you use.

The Economic Benefits of Cannabis

33. It Can Be Used as a Food Source

Despite the fact that cannabis is hard to find at your local grocery store, throughout history, it’s been a dietary staple for many civilizations. Hemp has often been cultivated as a source of protein, and even today is used to create protein powders, or seeds can be purchased for consumption. On a large production scale, hemp can feed a lot of hungry people if prohibitive laws are overturned.

34. It Makes for an Attractive Investment

Want to make green, from green? Lots of venture capitalists are starting to see the explosive potential in the cannabis industry, and as a result, are dumping money into cannabis-based startups and businesses. Cannabis capital summits are even popping up, attracting investors and entrepreneurs.

Cannabis investor conferences are providing all sorts of opportunities
 for people to get involved in legitimizing this plant!

35. It Can Help Fight Climate Change

If we are able to get large-scale cannabis farms into production, it could help curb emissions, and fight climate change. This would happen through a number of ways, from providing more carbon-absorbing plants across vast farmlands, to trading off emission-producing animal farms for greener, cleaner cannabis grows.

36. It Creates Jobs

The creation of literally tens of thousands of jobs in the wake of legalization in places like Colorado and Washington is hard to ignore. And in an economy that has been in slow-recovery mode since 2009, looking at any opportunity to add more jobs can’t be overlooked.

37. It Generates Revenue for Schools and Public Health Programs

Instead of having money funnel into the hands of low-level street dealers, or even cartels on the other side of the border, legal marijuana markets are putting money to work in local communities through tax revenue. Marijuana is now supplying millions to schools and public health programs, among other things.

38. Legalizing Cannabis is Getting People Out of Jail

A big point of contention in the U.S. recently has been the large rate of incarceration, and the amount of money flowing to the prison industrial complex. Legalization is clearing out prisons, and freeing up time and resources for law enforcement.

39. It’s Creating New Industries

We mentioned that cannabis is creating a lot of jobs, and that’s because it’s creating new industries which house them. Cultivation, processing, sales outlets – there are numerous facets to the cannabis industry, and as legalization spreads, it’ll continue to grow.

40. It Lowers Crime Rates

Yes, making a previously illegal product legal lowers the crime rate – but it goes deeper than that. Numbers show that states in post-legalization status are seeing drops in crime, and perhaps most importantly, violent crime.

In places where cannabis is now legal, we’re seeing a lot less of this.

41. It Leads to Safer Roads

Traffic deaths have gone down in Colorado after legalization, which is fantastic news. This could be due to the substitution effect, people choosing pot over alcohol.

42. It Makes Law Enforcement Cheaper and Easier

In legalized states, police no longer need to spend time chasing marijuana offenders, which also clears up the courtrooms for more serious cases. This makes things easier for everybody, and cheaper for the tax payers.

How Cannabis Can Improve Your Daily Life

43. It Can Keep Your Pets Healthy

Cannabis, in some forms, can make for a healthy supplement for your pets. And for animals that are sick, or living with chronic pain, cannabis-based treats can offer some relief.

When pets start to get old, CBD products can help those
 aches and pains. They can also help with anxiety in pets.

44. It Can Help You Have More Pleasant Dreams

Plagued by bad dreams? Try cannabis before you hit the sack, and see if it makes a difference. For some people, it’s doing the trick. For others, particularly those with PTSD, it can also eliminate dreams completely. The reason, it turns out, is that cannabis impacts REM sleep – the part of the cycle during which you dream.

45. It Can Bring Your Energy Levels up

A lot of people are tired. But a small subset of individuals suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – a disorder that is effectively treated with certain cannabis compounds and strains. Just make sure you’re picking the right ones if you want to avoid fatigue.

46. It’ll Help You Sleep

On the flip side, you can use cannabis to help you get to sleep. Again, though, it’ll depend on what specific strains you’re using, and your physical and psychological makeup. You may have to experiment a bit to get the desired effect.

47. It Can Help You Get Through the Work Day

No matter what kind of job you have, cannabis can probably give you a boost in some way – be it mentally or physically. If you do decide to experiment with cannabis at work, be careful not to let things get out of hand. Be mindful of what works and what doesn’t.
And if you’re operating machinery, or driving? Abstain. Better to get high AFTER work.

48. It Can Make You More Productive

If you can get your cannabis regimen just right, productivity could increase significantly. For a lot of people that may be due to the medical benefits gained from cannabis, or the inspiration, or simply because they’re happier. On the other hand, productivity can also take a complete nosedive if you’re not careful.

If you are going to combine cannabis and work, make sure
you know what you’re doing. Too much of a good thing could kill
 your productivity completely!

49. It Could Make You More Creative

Surprise, surprise – cannabis can help you be more creative. There’s still some debate as to how or why this happens, but cannabis does inspire lateral and divergent thinking, an important mindset for innovation and progress.

50. It Can Protect Your Brain

Cannabis as a brain protector? It’s true. Scientists are finding that chemical compounds found in cannabis actually help protect our brains.

Let’s spread the word!

Wow, that’s a lot of benefits! If this list hasn’t provided you with enough marijuana facts to convert even the most strident prohibitionist, what will?
And of course we have to be realistic. Marijuana does have its own advantages AND disadvantages. Just like anything else it can be abused or mis-used. But if we’re going to educate, we’ve got to de-stigmatize and spark more conversations. The truth is that everybody, everywhere deserves access to all the benefits of marijuana.
Cannabis education is critical! If you agree don’t hesitate to share this list and spread the word!

7 really surprising health benefits from smoking cannabis

Anti-drug activists think that a few puffs on a joint will turn you into a red-eyed, unemployed psychopath – probably for life.
But is marijuana actually that bad for you?
With several American states having decriminalised the herb for personal use, scientists have suddenly had the chance to see what cannabis actually does on a mass scale.
And guess what? Cannabis actually has some VERY surprising health benefits. Here’s a few.

1) Smoking weed makes you thinner – or at least less likely to be obese

You might not think it after you’ve watched a munchie-struck stoner devour an entire KFC family bucket in one go, but dope smokers are less likely to be obese.
A study in the journal Obesity found that regular weed smokers are less likely to be obese than non-smokers.
The researchers from Conference of Quebec University Health Centers looked at 700 adults aged 18-74 – and found that cannabis users tend to have low body mass index scores (often taken as a sign of good health).
People with low BMIs tend to have less body fats and tend to be at lower risk for diabetes.

2) Marijuana can actually improve lung function

Human lungs, illustration

Smoking weed isn’t actually that bad for your lungs, and smokers actually have improved lung function when compared to both cigarette smokers – and people who have never smoked either.
The researchers, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, say that the big drags taken by weed smokers may actually ‘train’ lungs to be more efficient.

3) It can increase creativity

5 surprising health benefits of smoking weed

A 2012 study in Consciousness and Cognition found that marijuana made people more creative – at least in terms of how well they used language.
The researchers said, ‘We investigated the effects of cannabis smoked naturalistically on schizotypy and divergent thinking, a measure of creativity.
‘One hundred and sixty cannabis users were tested on 1 day when sober and another day when intoxicated with cannabis.
‘Cannabis increased verbal fluency in low creatives to the same level as that of high creatives.’

4) Weed can help athletes perform better


And however unscientific you deem his little self-experiment to be, he found that he performed better on the treadmill and was less sore after a heavy squat session.
‘I do a heavy squat session while high, which would normally leave me sore for two days, but I’m surprisingly fresh 24 hours later,’ he wrote.

‘Studies have shown that the drug has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is one reason why medical marijuana is so prevalent.’
Because of marijuana’s illegality in most places, hard research is still hard to come by.

5) Cannabis can kill cancer cells

In what could be a key moment for advocates of legal cannabis, the U.S. government has admitted that the drug can shrink cancer cells.
In a page of official government advice, the U.S. government now says,, ‘Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory.’
The site says that the effect has so far been seen in rodent studies, and cautions,  ‘At this time, there is not enough evidence to recommend that patients inhale or ingest Cannabis as a treatment for cancer-related symptoms or side effects of cancer therapy.’
Cancer Research UK warns patients that so far, there is no evidence that cannabis extracts can be used as a treatment. 

6) It’s a far safer alternative to alcohol – in fact, it’s 114 times safer

Cannabis could actually be the safest drug available, after a study found it is actually 114 times less deadly than alcohol, according to the journal, Scientific Reports.
The reports‘ authors studied the effects of alcohol, heroin, cocaine, tobacco, ecstasy, crystal meth and cannabis.

7) Smoking weed can help you give up heroin

Smoking weed helps patients give up opiates such as heroin, a new study has found.
Researchers at Columbia University monitored patients undergoing treatment for opiate addiction – and found that patients who smoked weed were more able to sleep, less anxious, and more likely to complete their course.
The researchers also found that dosing patients with dronabinol – a drug consisting of the ‘active’ ingredient in cannabis, THC – helped with withdrawal symptoms

Why is Weed Illegal in Some States of the US?

Why is Weed Illegal in Some States of the US?

Weed is illegal in most countries due to various reasons. In the United States, laws differ from state to state. So one might ask where is marijuana legal in the US? Let's dig into the facts about weed, and have a look at its status in all the states of the US.

Why is weed (marijuana) illegal
Weed, also known as marijuana, had always been legal since the hemp plant had been discovered. The hemp plant Cannabis sativa is not only used to produce marijuana, but also used for a number of other products, like incense, cloth, rope, woven fabric, etc.

The first marijuana Law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Virginia, in 1619. Under this law, farmers had been ordered to grow Indian hemp seed compulsorily, and failing to do so, one could be jailed. It was not because hemp was used to produce marijuana, but for essential war requirements like rope. The plant was not known for its recreational drug until the early 1900s.

History of Weed in the US

When weed was legal all around, the plant was used for a number of purposes. Even medical practitioners used it to provide pain relief to patients. There were many researches conducted during the 19th century that prompted the British and the US to undertake a stand on its legalization.

During the International Opium Convention in 1928, America too sent its delegates to attend the meeting. Here, they were introduced to several testimonies that proved that marijuana made people go insane, commit murder, and even die due to overdose. This made the United States stop all export of Indian hemp to any country. This agreement led to a fall of the production of weed in the US.

During the same period, during the revolution in Mexico in 1910, there was an increase in the influx of Mexicans. It was seen that many Mexicans smoked marijuana and brought along the plant to America. Thus, California passed the first state law that banned 'preparation of hemp, or loco weed'. Soon, other states followed suit, and passed the marijuana prohibition law. These states included Wyoming (1915), Texas (1919), Iowa (1923), Nevada (1923), Oregon (1923), Washington (1923), Arkansas (1923), and Nebraska (1927).

With many other factors playing a role, the Roosevelt administration signed the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937. Under this law, any person who sold the drug had to pay a tax. If the tax was not paid, he had to pay a hefty fine, and even serve prison time. But, the US government did not want the tax money, and simply made weed illegal in America.
Reasons Behind Weed Being Illegal

The first reason that lead to making weed illegal in the US was its classification as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. This was because, it was perceived that once a person uses marijuana regularly, he turns into a 'pothead' that is addicted to the drug. The second reason was that, there were no accepted medical uses of marijuana. The benefits of medical use, as claimed by people for weed legalization, had not been accepted on a national level.

Weed has been linked with narcotics like heroin and morphine, and therefore, thought as a 'gateway drug'. Many hippies and other social outcast have been known to use marijuana. This led to making marijuana illegal, as these people were thought to have a criminal streak. Marijuana has been associated with increasing insane behavior. Also, people who advocated weed legalization did not present a stronger case to change the laws.

Nevertheless, in recent times, weed has been legalized on various levels in different states in the US. Some states allow its use for medicinal purposes only, while others also allow certain amounts for recreational use, while the rest consider it illegal

Legalizing Weed Pros and Cons

Legalizing Weed Pros and Cons

The debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana has both sides quoting legalizing weed pros and cons. In this article, we take a look at what the points put forward by both sides are and how it affects weed legalization the country.

Tagged Under: Marijuana
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Pro and con of legalizing weed
Before moving on to understand what are the different pros and cons of legalizing weed, it is important to know what weed is and why weed is illegal. Weed or marijuana is the blossom of the Cannabis plant which is dried and consumed for recreational and medical purposes. In some places, consumption of marijuana is also considered spiritually enhancing. The blossom of the cannabis plant which is also used to make animal food, medicine, and for rope making, has psychoactive and physiologically active chemical compounds that can elate the mind. Before the 20th century, weed or marijuana was not regulated but with linkage to violence and crime due to research studies, arguments against marijuana grew and it was declared illegal.

There are many pros and cons of legalizing marijuana but slowly the cons stated against legalizing weed are being questioned. Almost thirteen states in the US allow use of marijuana for medical purposes. Weed legalization in California, one of those states that can benefit largely revenue wise if the crop is legalized, has been debated for a while now. While the preposition was rejected by voters when the referendum was put up for vote in 2010, backers are suggesting another campaign in 2012. If this preposition is passed then it would allow citizens above the age of 21 to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. It may also include a clause that would allow citizens to grow plants in a plot of size five feet by five feet. Now let us take a look at the many pros and cons of legalizing weed that are generally debated during such a debate.

Pros of Legalizing Weed

Of the many pros and cons that are put forward by both sides, one of the most stated pros of legalizing cannabis is the revenue that this crop creates and the money that would be saved on enforcement. But this is just one of the advantages of legalizing marijuana. Let us take a look at the benefits of making this blossom legal.

Many people often state the fact that using weed is only as harmful as using tobacco or consumption of alcohol, which are both legal. If you look at both these cases then marijuana should also be made legal.
According to studies and proven results, there are many medical uses of marijuana including benefits in patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, and AIDS.
Like mentioned earlier, a large amount of money spent on preventing illegal trade in marijuana could be saved if it is legalized and regulated. Estimates show that this figure could be somewhere around USD 8 billion. Also legalizing weed would result in a decrease in illegal activities surrounding trade in this drug.
More than 700,000 arrests in weed related cases are for possession and legalization would mean easing the pressure on the criminal justice system. This would mean that more serious cases could be tried and lead to convictions.
One of the pros that is oft stated is that legalizing it would ensure that the freedom of choice is not intruded upon.
In California, a movement to legalize could create a revenue that according to estimates, could surpass USD 14 billion. This is just the revenue from sales. Legalizing weed would result in a new source of revenue that could also ease the economic problems the country is facing.

Cons of Legalizing Weed

The case against legalization of weed has been building for several years now and despite many people questioning the harmful effects of weed and launching campaigns for legalization, there are many social and law enforcement reasons that has led to such strong protests against legalizing weed.

One of the harmful effects of weed is that if used for a long period of time, it can have a severe effect on a person's health and their general well-being.
Several studies have shown that users who started off using marijuana moved on to using harder and more harmful drugs like heroin and cocaine. Children between the ages of 12 to 17 who use weed are eighty five times more likely to use cocaine.
Several opponents of the process of legalization of marijuana also state that many of the people involved in the buying and selling of weed are likely to be involved in other criminal activities. Also it is not a good idea for it to come across to the world in general that law enforcement agencies in the country are supportive of drug use.
To a large extent smoking of marijuana is considered an immoral, socially debilitating activity that needs to be kept under control. This is one of the main reasons that is taken into consideration by lawmakers.
Marijuana's effect on the brain is also often quoted with prolonged use causing hallucinations, psychotic behavior, paranoia, impairment of motor ability, increase in mood swings, etc.

There are many pros and cons but due to the sheer strength of arguments that both sides put forward it is difficult to reach a conclusion and the debate remains a continuous one. Despite the revenue that legalizing weed can generate, the process of weed legalization in California and other states remains largely

Harmful Effects of Weed

Harmful Effects of Weed

Marijuana, which is also referred to as pot, grass, or weed, is one of the most commonly abused drug. The following Buzzle write-up provides information on the harmful effects of weed.

Tagged Under: Marijuana
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Marijuana is made from the dried leaves, flowers, stem, or seeds of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. Weed is mostly smoked in joints (hand-rolled cigarettes), bongs (pipes), or blunts (cigars that are filled with marijuana after they are emptied of tobacco). It is the presence of a psychoactive substance or cannabinoid called THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) that is responsible for the mood-altering effects which are felt after smoking pot. THC gets absorbed into the bloodstream within minutes of smoking pot, thereby causing acute effects that may include feeling of euphoria, calmness, heightened senses, increased appetite, etc. The intensity of the effects might vary, depending on the potency of weed, which in turn is determined by the THC content. The level of THC in marijuana depends on the following:

➞ Strain or variety of the plant
➞ Part of the plant that is used
➞ Growing conditions
➞ Preparation and storage

It is believed that the strains that are currently being used are far more potent. This could be due to the use of flowers or buds, as they contain a larger amount of THC than the leaves or stem. The average THC potency has seen a rise from less than 1% in the 1970s to as high as 13%.

Statistics on Marijuana Use
Marijuana is categorized as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Schedule I drugs are defined as substances that have a high potential for abuse, with a lack of accepted safety for its use, and no currently proven medical purpose. In the United States, the sale, possession, and use of marijuana is a federal crime. However, some of the states have decriminalized marijuana, legalizing its use for medicinal purposes to some extent. Colorado and Washington are the only states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use, whereas many states have legalized it for medical purposes.

However, one of the major cause of concern is the high incidence of the use or abuse of marijuana in teenagers for getting high or stoned. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this trend is due to the changing perceptions about the risks associated with the use of marijuana.

Here are some statistics by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

➞ There has been a 50% increase in the number of daily marijuana smokers among those aged 12 and above.
➞ There has been a 20% increase in marijuana smoking among girls aged 12 - 17 since 2007.
➞ There has been a 12% increase in the use of weed among people in the age group of 18 to 25 years.
➞ The study revealed a 25% increase in past month marijuana use in those aged 12 and above.
➞ The perception of harm about smoking marijuana once a month has fallen almost 30% since 2007.
➞ According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2012, about 6.5% of 8th graders, 17% of 10th graders, and 22.9% of 12th graders had used marijuana in the month before the survey.
➞ Not many consider marijuana to be addictive. However, studies by NIDA reveal that about 9 percent of people who use weed become dependent on it. The number increases to about one in six among those who start using it at a young age, and to 25 to 50 percent among daily users.

Effects of Weed
The THC content in street pot is way higher than what it used to be. Though a small amount of THC can help the user reap medicinal benefits, using street pot that has a high THC content for recreational purposes could give rise to certain issues. The immediate effects of weed are due to the absorption of TCH, which has mood-altering properties. Marijuana users are likely to experience:

➞ Altered perception
➞ Difficulty concentrating
➞ Heightened senses
➞ Relaxation or calmness
➞ Mild paranoia
➞ Increased heart rate
➞ Slow reaction time
➞ Increased appetite
➞ Confusion
➞ Problems with balance or coordination
➞ Random thinking
➞ Short-term memory loss

The intensity with which the effects are experienced would vary, depending on the potency, as well as dose of weed. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, heavy or chronic users could develop an amotivational syndrome, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

➞ Decreased drive and ambition
➞ Shortened attention span
➞ Poor judgment
➞ High distractibility
➞ Impaired communication skills
➞ Diminished effectiveness in interpersonal situations

According to NIDA, if taken in large amounts, marijuana might cause confusion, restlessness, hallucinations, anxiety, altered perception, euphoria, etc. The user may have impaired coordination, and face difficulty in remembering things and thinking clearly. For this reason, users must never drive or operate machines under the influence of weed.

The long-term effects may include decreased concentration, memory-related problems, decreased motivation, increased risk of respiratory ailments, etc. The psychological effects might be more pronounced in case of people who are predisposed to depression or other psychological problems.

A 2012 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who started smoking before the age of 18 showed a greater decline in IQ and cognitive functioning than people who started taking it as adults. Those who smoked pot more than four times a week as teenagers, and continued its use as adults experienced an 8-point IQ drop. It is believed that the harmful effects are likely to be more pronounced in young users.

Organizations such as NIDA point towards the adverse effects of marijuana for all, especially for those who start taking pot at a younger age, and continue to do so. Though marijuana does seem to offer certain health benefits, and its supporters stress on the need to legalize marijuana for treatment of certain conditions, studies need to be conducted to understand the risks associated with the long-term use of weed. Though it becomes extremely hard to discourage people from smoking pot due to the lack of consensus on its effects, there's no denying the fact that it is increasingly being used for recreational purposes by the teenagers. Keeping the possibility of marijuana abuse in mind, organizations must provide substantial scientific evidence to warn people against the potential health risks associated with its use

How to Get Weed Out of Your System

How to Get Weed Out of Your System

Smoked up and need to know how to get weed out of your system? Read the following article for more details on the same.

Tagged Under: Marijuana
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You tried it and you were proud you did it ...You didn't really resist. The high was legendary. Got you excited and shrilly. You were taken up by everyone cheering your shrill laughter and you smoked one joint after the other. A small thought did not make way into your head back then―the blood test on Monday. And even though all the after effects have long gone, the weed (marijuana), it still sits comfortably in your system. Now what? Now you'll want to know how to get that weed out. Ways and tips for doing just that will follow.

Getting the Weed Out

Weed is bad for you. Really is. You see, weed contains the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) chemical which causes you to experience the 'high'. This chemical needs to be removed from the body 'cause it can get stored in the fatty tissues. Thankfully, there are ways of cleansing your system of the same. Here are some of the best ones.

Water
Water into the system, weed out of it. Simple. Water is known to flush out toxins from the body and it has a similar effect on the THC chemical. Drinking about 8 gallons of water will help to replenish your system and get you to urinate frequently. Urinating is a good thing at this point because it ensures that the weed is eliminated slowly but surely. Be consistent at it and do this for over a week for best results.

Exercise
It seems like the solution to everything is exercising, doesn't it? It is. For a reason, it works! The THC chemical is stored in the fatty tissues so if you attack those tissues and burn them off, it means that you'll be automatically getting rid of weed from your system. Get in some cardio exercises to work up a sweat and wear layers of clothing so that you sweat more. This will mean that you're flushing out the weed faster.

Diet Changes
This is important, cut out all the high sugar, high fat, high salt foods. All these foods will only add more and more layers of fat, thus cutting into the task of eliminating the weed from your system. Switching over to raw fruits and vegetables instead, will require the system to cut into the fat reserves for energy, thereby eliminating the fat layers that are acting as reserves for the weed. Include as many salads and natural foods as you possibly can. Eat smaller meals so that the metabolism never dips and that ensures burning off more fat.

Along with that, try including certain juices as well. Juices that are seen to be most effective are cranberry juice, grape juice, and apple juice. These act as a diuretic and help you urinate often.

Steaming
Going into the steam room for a hot and heavy sweating session is a guaranteed way of getting you to sweat, and that is exactly what we need to do right now. Sweating, as has been said earlier, will help release all the toxin build up in the body and thus eliminate the weed.

There are certain specialized weed detox kits that have been formulated as well. You could even try taking these natural forms of clearing your body off the weed.

P.S.- It has to be made perfectly clear that the writer does not endorse the intake of weed.

Now that you know how to go about getting the weed off your body, clear your system soon and have a clean break from the weed drive