CANNABIS Wendy McGurk

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis is derived from the cannabis plant (cannabis sativa). It grows wild in many of the tropical and temperate areas of the world. It can be grown in almost any climate, and is increasingly cultivated by means of indoor hydroponic technology.

The main active ingredient in cannabis is called delta-9 tetrahydro-cannabinol, commonly known as THC.

Trends with Cannabis in U.S.

Hemp was planted in Jamestown in 1611 for making rope.

The pilgrims at Plymouth also used the hemp fibers for clothing and rope.

In George Washington writings he once mentioned that he forgot to separate the male and female plants he cultivated at Mount Veron.

In early 1800, U.S. physicians used marijuana extracts to produce a tonic intended for both medicinal and recreational purposes. In 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act was put into place and that practice stopped. Marijuana was now considered a narcotic and subject to the same legal controls as cocaine and the opiates

Trends with Cannabis in U.S. (cont.)

Marijuana has not been classified as a narcotic since 1971.

In the early 1900s, recreational marijuana use spread; mainly in the southwestern region of the U.S. Heavy users included jazz musicians and “bohemian types.”

Before the 1960s marijuana use was used by small segments of African American urban youth, jazz musicians, and particularly artists and writers who belonged to the 1950s Beat Generation.

Trends with Cannabis in U.S. (cont.)

Marijuana use fell between 1978 and1991.

After 1991, there was a rise in youth using marijuana.

The Indian Hemp Drug Commission Report in the 1890s and the 1930 Panama Canal Zone Report on marijuana stressed that available evidence did not prove marijuana to be as dangerous as it was popularly though but these reports were not publicized very much.

In the 2007 NSDUH, among persons age 12 or older, the rate of past-month marijuana use was about the same in 2005 (6%) which was down slightly from 2002-2004. Marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit drug with 4.6 million past-month users (Hanson, Venturelli, & Fleckenstein, 2009).

Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis The medical and therapeutic uses for cannabis have been

serious debated. Medical marijuana requires using cannabis (and specifically, THC) to relieve symptoms of a particular illness. Marijuana has a 5,000 year medical history that ended when the Marijuana Tax Act was passed in 1937, which made marijuana a narcotic. Marijuana does have several documented medical uses, such as:

Relieving inner eye pressure: Glaucoma, which is caused by uncontrolled eye pressure, can lead to blindness. The use of Marijuana can help with the relieving of this pressure.

Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis (cont.)

Improved breathing: Although only temporary, some research indicates that smoking marijuana for a short time span helps to improve breathing in asthma patients.

Analgesic effect: Multiple testimonials have shown that marijuana can help relieve the intense pain associated with migraines, chronic headaches, or inflammation.

Appetite stimulant: This effect is particularly useful for people with HIV, people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy/radiation, and for some people with eating disorders (Hanson, 2009).

Street Names for Cannabis

Grass, pot, hash, weed, reefer, Mary Jane, dope, herb, mull, rope, buddha, ganja, joint, stick, buckets, cones, skunk, hydro, yarndi, smoke, hooch, spliff, skunk

Cannabis and the Brain

After you inhale marijuana smoke, its chemicals are distributed throughout the body.

High concentrations of cannabinoid receptors exist in the hippocampus, cerebellum and basal ganglia. The hippocampus is located within the temporal lobe and is important for short-term memory. When the THC binds with the cannabinoid receptors inside the hippocampus, it interferes with the recollection of recent events. THC also affects coordination, which is controlled by the cerebellum. The basal ganglia controls unconscious muscle movements, which is another reason why motor coordination is impaired when under the influence of marijuana.

Psychological Effects of Cannabis

Marijuana can impair thinking, memory, and learning weeks after use.

It can relieve pain, control nausea and increase appetite.

Marijuana can cause short-term memory and learning problems, dry mouth, impaired motor skills and red eyes.

Heart rates can double in some cases, and some people can feel relaxed, and others may develop anxiety and paranoia.

Health Risks of Cannabis Abuse

Cannabis, like tobacco, has lots of chemical 'nasties', which, with long-term or heavy use, can cause lung disease and possibly cancer.

It increases the heart rate and can affect blood pressure.

It can cause paranoia in the short term, but in those with a pre-existing psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia.

frequent use of cannabis can cut a man's sperm count and reduce sperm motility.

Regular, heavy use of cannabis makes it difficult to learn and concentrate.

Regular, heavy use of cannabis makes it difficult to learn and concentrate.

Signs and Symptoms of Abuse

Behavioral changes

distorted perceptions

impaired coordination

difficulty in thinking and problem solving

ongoing problems with learning and memory

Loss of Control

Addiction

red, blurry, bloodshot eyes

constant, mucus-filled cough

rapid heartbeat

hunger, referred to as munchies

dry mouth

anxiety, paranoia, or fear

poor memory

poor coordination

slow reaction time

Quiz on Cannabis

Do you think you or someone you love have a substance abuse problem with cannabis? Here are seven signs that you can reflect on to see if you do.

1. Loss of train of thought during conversation. Trying to hold a normal conversation with an individual who is high on marijuana can be a challenge. While intoxicated the individual will lack the ability to stay focused on the topic of conversation, and may drift into other, unrelated subject matters.

Quiz on Cannabis

2. Increased appetite. One of the effects of marijuana use is binge eating. After smoking pot, the individual will want to gorge himself on large amounts of junk food and sweets.

3. Lack of energy, loss of motivation. Marijuana causes a distinct lack of motivation in the user. Look for a loss of interest in activities that were once a prominent part of the individual’s life. Also, the marijuana user may sleep excessively until late in the day. Bad sleep habits are another common sign of marijuana use.

4. Possession of drug paraphernalia related to smoking marijuana. Look for materials such as bongs, rolling papers, roach clips, pipes or other items used to smoke or store marijuana.

Quiz on Cannabis

5. Inappropriate laughter. When an individual is intoxicated from smoking marijuana, they will sometimes laugh uncontrollably, even at highly inappropriate moments.

6. Legal or financial problems. Two concerns with drug users in general is a constant need for money and brushes with the law. Both are warning signs of marijuana use as well, as the individual spends all his money to finance the drug habit. Engagement with law enforcement is also a potential warning sign, as the individual will likely be transporting the illegal substance from place to place.

7. Paranoia. One of the most serious consequences of marijuana use is paranoia. Watch for behavior that includes suspicious thoughts and feelings that “everyone is out to get” the individual in question.

Quiz on Cannabis

If you answered yes to any of these questions you may have a problem with marijuana. Marijuana, while not proven to clinically addictive, still maintains the power to drain the life out the individual. You can get help and you are not alone. Reach out and share your problems or concerns to someone you can trust, or you can see a doctor. Help is out their if you are willing.

References

What is Cannabis, (2012) http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/whatiscannabis.htm

Common Street Names for Cannabis, (2013) http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/cannabis_streetnames.htm

Marijuana, (2013) http://www.ceida.net.au/depressants/marijuana.asp

How Marijuana Works, (2013). http://www.howstuffworks.com/marijuana3.htm

Effects of Marijuana, (2012). http://www.livescience.com/24558-marijuana-effects.html

The Dangers of Cannabis, (2013). http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/drugs/Pages/Cannabisdangers.aspx

Drugs and Society, (2012). Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein.