Cannabis Fact Contributed by: Hopefull
Also spelled marihuana, the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis
sativa (cannabis), or the crude drug composed of its
leaves and flowers. It is usually dried and crushed and
put into pipes or formed into cigarettes (joints) for
smoking. The drug—known by a variety of other names,
including pot, tea, grass, and marihuana—can also be added
to foods and beverages.
Marijuana varies in potency,
depending on where and how it is grown, prepared for
use, or stored.
The active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is
present in all parts of both the male and female plants
but is most concentrated in the resin (cannabin) in the
flowering tops of the female. Hashish, a more powerful
form of the drug, is made by collecting and drying this
resin and is about eight times as strong as the
marijuana typically smoked in the United States.
Mentioned in a Chinese herbal dating from 2700 BC,
marijuana long has been considered valuable as an
analgesic, an anaesthetic, an antidepressant, an
antibiotic, and a sedative. Although it was usually
used externally (e.g., as a balm or smoked), in the
19th century its tips were sometimes administered
internally to treat gonorrhoea and angina
pectoris.
The effect that cannabis has depends on the strength,
how often it's smoked, how recently it was smoked and
how the body naturally reacts to the drug.
POSITIVE:
- Mood lift
- Relaxation, stress reduction
- Creative, philosophical or deep thinking...ideas
flow more easily
- Increased appreciation of music.
- Increased awareness of senses(eating, drinking,
smell)
- Change in experience of muscle fatigue. Pleasent
body feel.Increase in body/mind connection.
- Pain relief (headaches, cramps)
- reduced nausea (used medically for this)
NEUTRAL:
- Increased appetite, snacky-ness
- General change in consciousness (as with many
psychoactives)
- Tiredness
- Blood shot eyes (more common with certain
varieties of cannabis and inexperienced users)
- Mouth dryness
- Interrupts linear memory.
- Difficulty following a train of thought.
- Cheek, jaw, facial tension (less commonly
reported)
NEGATIVE:
- Nausea
- Coughing, asthma, upper respiratory
problems
- Difficulty with short-term memory during effects
and during periods of frequent use.
- Slowness and delayed reactions, especially
dangerous when driving or operating machinery.
- Racing heart, agitation, and tenseness.
- Mild to severe anxiety
- Panic attacks at very high doses (usually oral)
or in sensitive users
- Headaches
- Dizziness, confusion
- Paranoid and anxious thoughts more
frequent
- Possible psychological dependence on
cannabis
- "Mild" withdrawal symptoms occur after daily use
in some users. These may last for 1-6 weeks after
cessation of use and can include anxiety, anhedonia
(reduced experience of pleasure), headaches, general
unease/discomfort,difficulty sleeping, and a desire
to smoke pot.
In many countries the use and possession of
marijuana is illegal. Don't EVER cross a border
while in possession of ANY illegal drug.
