Marijuana

Indoor Marijuana Grow (DEA photo)

Marijuana is a drug that comes from the Cannabis plant. The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, an organic chemical compound.

The effects of marijuana can include short-term memory loss, mild hallucinations, and an impairment of physical and mental functioning. Proponents of marijuana have claimed that it has medicinal benefits (see Medical marijuana) although other treatments can also deliver these benefits to various ailments without hallucinations and the impairments to judgment.

A religious or sacramental use of marijuana is reported in various cultures such as those of the Rastafari movement or the Sadhus of India.

Medicinal Harms

Marijuana contains many of the same carcinogens as tobacco, thus when smoked it has the same harmful effects including: potential damage to DNA, cancer, respiratory diseases associated with smoke inhilation, and impaired immune system.. However, these effects have not been linked directly to alternate methods of marijuana use. Marijuana use can impair short term memory while intoxicated. THC has slight negative affects on long term memory and thus, in chronic users (approximately 1g/24Hrs), complications with long term memory are a risk. If smoked, marijuana leads to a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure while intoxicated. For this reason, there is a slight increase in the risk for heart related problems including heart attack during the time of intoxication. Chronic smokers can sometimes suffer from mild withdrawal symptoms, however marijuana is not physically addictive.. Marijuana can impair judgment, motor skills, and balance . Mmarijuana has also been linked to impaired learning

Medicinal Benefits

The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, has been shown (in studies) to produce certain psychological and medicinal benefits. Marijuana has been used to treat anorexia and has been used as an antiemetic. Harvard University conducted a study on the effect of Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on certain lung cancers. The result of the test was that THC can reduce tumor size by as much as half. In addition to a significant reduction in tumor size, there was a reduction in lesions on the lungs by 60%, and a reduction in protein markers associated with the progression of cancer. This study shows that not only can THC treat the side effects of cancer treatment, but can stop the spread of cancer, repair damage caused by tumors, and even reduce the size of tumors.

In addition to the positive effect on cancer treatment symptoms and cancer itself, marijuana is used to help patients afflicted with ALS.

Marijuana is an antispasmodic and is used in the treatment of seizures . Marijuana is also used in the treatment of migraines, arthritis, depression, and glaucoma. However the effect of marijuana on intraocular pressure (IOC) is not as effective as those offered by other drugs on the market .

There have not been many in-depth and widely distributed studies into the possible medicinal effects of marijuana. However, with pressure from advocates of marijuana, more accredited institutions are conducting research on the drug.

Interesting Facts

Carl Sagan used recreational marijuana to help "open his mind". Cannabis was first cultivated in China around 4000 B.C. U.S. Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. George Washington grew marijuana. Marijuana is over 100 times less lethal than Alcohol (ratio of lethal dose to effective dose).

Law

Marijuana is a Schedule I Controlled Substance in the United States of America, meaning that it is an illegal substance under the law of the United States. In a few countries, particularly in the most liberal countries of Western Europe, it is legal, though several other countries impose more harsh penalties than the Untied States.

Many liberals have advocated for decriminalization.

Many American conservatives, especially social conservatives, oppose legalization of marijuana in any form due to its harmful medical and emotional effects and its likelihood of harm to third parties due to drug-related crime and reckless driving. A few libertarian-leaning conservatives, most notably William F. Buckley and Larry Elder, have advocated the decriminalization of this drug. Some liberals support legalization, but most instead advocate for drug treatment and rehabilitation. Libertarians are usually the biggest supporters of marijuana legalization.