What Is The Truth About Marijuana?

With such widespread use and discussion within the media and everyday conversation, there's no doubt that marijuana is a hot topic. Researches have studied the effects of marijuana for decades, in hopes of educating others about the truths that lie behind this controversial plant. There have been numerous studies, debates, and of course, laws that have to do with legalization, or lack thereof, of marijuana in the United States and other countries. So what is the truth about Marijuana, and why is everyone so concerned with it?

What is marijuana? It is the flowers, leaves, and stems of the Cannabis sativa plant. There are over 200 nicknames for marijuana, including pot, herb, mary jane and chronic. Marijuana is usually smoked, using a pipe, a bong or by rolling a joint. Blunts are cigars that are emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana, sometimes in combination with other drugs. Marijuana has many uses, but the main reasons people use marijuana is for recreational and medical use. It's relaxing effects on the body make it desirable for recreation, but even more desirable for solving medical symptoms such as muscle pain.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States, and by far, the most commonly used illicit drug in the world. Ironically, although it is illegal, its usage statistics are parallel to the statistics of browsing the Internet. Research quoted in the Computer Industry Almanac showed that in 1998, more than 76.5 million Americans logged onto the Internet. In that year, more than 71 million Americans over the age of 12 admitted that they have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime. It has been around for much longer than many people realize, used around 2000 years ago when the hemp plant (cannabis sativa) was being cultivated for psychoactive properties. However, evidence of the inhalation of cannabis smoke has dated back all the way to the Neolithic Age, which was around 8000 BC. It also has an ancient history of being used in pharmacological cults around the world. Some historians have claimed the cannabis was used as a religious sacrament by ancient Jews and early Christians.

Although cannabis contains at least 400 chemicals, its main mind-altering chemical ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol (more commonly known as THC). The amount of THC in marijuana determines the drug's strength, and THC levels are affected by a great many factors, including plant type, weather, soil, and time of harvest.

THC, its pure state, is a glassy solid when cold and becomes viscous and sticky if warmed. Although marijuana is often believed to be dangerous, THC in itself is not toxic or dangerous. There has never been a reported fatality from THC or marijuana overdose.

A number of studies indicate that THC provides medical benefits for cancer and AIDS patients by increasing appetite and decreasing nausea. It is virtually the only medicine capable of treating the entire array of side effects without causing hardly any harm to the consumer. It has been shown to assist some glaucoma, a serious eye disease, patients by reducing pressure within the eye. There has even been newer scientific evidence to suggest that marijuana can help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Another medical use for the THC found in marijuana is movement disorders. Marijuana is frequently reported to reduce the muscle spasticity associated with Multiple Sclerosis.

Despite these many medical cures for numerous diseases and medical problems, according to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, medical marijuana prescriptions were made illegal in the United States. This is due to the widespread recreational abuse of the drug, which leaves legal and licensed use in medicine a controversial issue. The United States federal government does not currently recognize any legitimate medical use. However, in 1988, Francis L. Young, an administrative law judge with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency,, declared that "in its natural form, [cannabi] is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known." However, smoked cannabis is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA.

Marijuana can be prepared in a variety of ways; therefore it has many different ways of entering the body. When marijuana Is smoked, the THC enters the lungs, and goes directly into the bloodstream and eventually to every cell in your body. The effects depend upon the level of potency and how much is consumed. The main effects of smoking are an increased heart rate; the bronchial tubes enlarge and become relaxed allowing extra oxygen to enter the body, giving the "High" feeling. There are no immediate physiological effects, although long term effects of smoking marijuana have been studies for many years, which is where the controversies often arise. This "high" feeling which comes from smoking usually lasts from one to three hours. Marijuana can also be ingested as a drink, cakes, brownies or many other foods. When consumed in foods the effects start after one half-hour and last from three to four hours. The potency of Marijuana has increased at least ten times or 275% since the 1960's. Marijuana can be measured by its "therapeutic ratio," (the difference between the size of the dose needed for the desired effect and the size that produces poisoning). The therapeutic ratio in marijuana has yet to be found.

Recreational use of marijuana has been outlawed in many countries since the beginning of the 20th century, restricting the cultivation, possession, and transfer of marijuana for recreational use. Criminalization of marijuana users is a fairly minor offense, since the law officials would prefer to focus more on those distributing and transferring the drug throughout countries. Those charged with possession of small amounts and usage generally just face confiscation and a small fine, and rarely imprisonment. Those who are imprisoned are often released after a relatively short time in prison.

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