Marijuana A Bad Wrap

Marijuana…A Bad Wrap

Throughout history since the beginning of its discovery and first use, marijuana has been both greatly desired and misunderstood. Whether it has been used for medicinal, recreational, or for industrial purposes it has been shrouded with controversy. This controversial drug shunned by Americans and embraced by other cultures has a long road to its role in society and culture of today. Marijuana is seen as just another bodily harmful recreational drug only to be used by addicts. Throughout this essay it will become apparent that very little of what is thought of this drug is true and that marijuana received a bad wrap.

The history of marijuana dates back to 8000 B.C. in its use of decorative fibers on pots (Earleywine 4). Not only was marijuana used for its decorative purposes but also as a fabric (Hemp), because the production of linen would not begin till 3500 B.C. (Earleywine 4). The woven production is unknown as to who first ingeniously decided to fray, twist and bind the fibers together of this amazing plant, in order to create the versatile fiber we know as hemp.

The earliest application of this hemp fiber has been traced back to Chinese soldiers using the fiber to make bow strings, which proved to be superior quality to that of bamboo which was previously used (Earleywine 4). The most important use for this fiber however for several hundred years was as rope, used by ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and the Vikings. Because the use of this produced proved to be most valuable in any state the demand increased as time went on.

The medicinal life of marijuana begins around 2737 B.C. and was conceived by Chinese emperor Shen-Nung in his recommendation for marijuana use to help cure beri-beri, constipation, 'female weakness,' gout, malaria, rheumatism and absentmindedness (Earleywine 9). After cannabis use in china became popular, it slowly spread to India and was seen as a holy plant. There, an ancient Indian healer named sushruta would prescribe it for congestion, fevers or inflammation of the mucous membranes (Earleywine 10). The spread of medicinal marijuana grew throughout the world and it uses developed vastly. In the 1500s, long after the ancient Chinese, Indian, and African use of the plant, Europeans began to prescribe the plant for anything from an earache to nausea. Although most old remedies did not work for their ailment, recent studies have exposed an application of marijuana to relieve ocular pressure, to help in glaucoma patients.

Other than medicinal and industrial uses the recreational uses of marijuana were soon followed by its first prescription for sickness. Around 100 A.D. the Chinese Taoists began to use cannabis to stimulate hallucinations for a religious sort of practice (Earleywine 18). Later, marijuana’s psychoactive properties spread into other parts of the world such as India and Arab countries, then being picked up by Europeans in travels. Once the recreational use began to grow it moved into literature, as described in 1,001 Nights, and then on to French artists and writers in the early to mid 1800s. These literary tales of marijuana helped move the recreational use of this drug by the turn of the century into America (Earleywine 26). After it became illegal during the 70s, marijuana’s use has continued today as being tried by one third of Americans during some time in there life (Earleywine 26).

One area of controversy in using Marijuana is intoxication and effects on cognition. Some studies show negative effects on cognition and learning, and clearly impair quite a number of cognitive functions such as certain aspects of memory, perception, reading, forms of arithmetic, and reaction times (Earleywine 68, 69). However, these impairments are from an acute marijuana abuse, and have not shown permanence. Marijuana could be said to reduce intelligence for the time of intoxication, but when sobriety has set in, there is no study that has shown a person that has permanent reduced intelligence. Although chronic marijuana smokers have shown in studies to have differing information processing, and lowered ability to quickly perform complex tasks, this however could be due to prolonged use (Earleywine 95). Most of the evidence to support these findings were established through series of cognitive studies with number, color association, and several other tests designed to establish thought process (Earleywine 76). These experiments were conducted using the scientific method, by means of using a control group and testing for flaws in the participants in the experiments. Some of the ways to ensure proper test finding were to screen the participants with urine test and series of questions.

The health affects of Marijuana could be said to be somewhat ambiguous because they are not totally harmless to ones body; however they are not completely toxic (Earleywine 143). If you were to compare constant use of marijuana to legal drugs such as alcohol, aspirin or tobacco, you are far more likely to overdoes or hurt your body through their constant use. As far overall health problems, the main area of attention that marijuana smoking affects is the pulmonary system much as with any inhalants. These complications that occur with the pulmonary system stem from the smoked form of cannabis, not just the use of THC. Because marijuana smoke and tobacco are very similar, the harmful side effects that stem from chronic use are parallel to tobacco smokers (Earleywine 154). Such symptoms include: cough, phlegm, wheezing, and bronchitis. Through several studies of marijuana and tobacco smokers it was found that use of marijuana caused similar respiratory problems to that of tobacco use.

The effects on lung function for marijuana smoke differs slightly from that of cigarettes. One difference