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The drug Cannabis , commonly known as '''marijuana''', is produced from parts of the Cannabis Plant primarily the cured Flower s and gathered Trichome s of the female plant. The major active Chemical Compound Tetrahydrocannabinol , commonly referred to as THC, has Psychoactive and Medicinal effects when consumed, usually by smoking or ingestion. Cannabis has been consumed by humans for thousands of years; in the 20th century there was an upswing in the use of cannabis for Recreational and Religious purposes. The possession, use, or sale of psychoactive cannabis products became Illegal In Many Parts Of The World in the early 20th century. Since then, while some countries have intensified the enforcement of cannabis Prohibition , others reduced the priority of enforcement to the point of '' De Facto '' legality. Cannabis remains technically illegal in the vast majority of the world's countries. WILD CANNABIS Cannabis still grows wild in many places around the world, the most prominent species being ''Cannabis sativa''. This species has been found growing wild in Kyrgyzstan , Afghanistan , parts of China , Hungary , Poland , Bulgaria , India , and Nepal . Wild ''Cannabis indica'' is mainly confined to hash producing areas such as Afghanistan , parts of the US Virgin Islands , and in Morocco . The genetic makeup of wild ''C. sativa'' shows great variation from place to place. For example, in warm places, the wild ''C. sativa'' can reach heights up to 20 ft (6 meters) tall, but in colder climates it can be as short as 1 ft (30 centimeters) in height. Almost every single flower bract bears a seed. The wild ''C. sativa'' has long, thin and airy buds and a Christmas tree shape structure. Wild ''C. indica'' remains compact and bushy with thick buds for the most part, and is sometimes used by the locals for hashish production. Generally, there are far fewer seeds in wild ''C. indica''. 1 In many areas the wild population of cannabis is threatened due to government eradication and urbanization. Ancient history The most famous users of cannabis were the ancient Hindu s. It was called 'ganjika' in Sanskrit ('ganja' in modern Indian languages). According to legend, Shiva , the destructive aspect of the Hindu trinity, told his disciples to revere the plant. The ancient drug Soma , mentioned in the Veda s as a sacred intoxicating hallucinogen, was sometimes associated with cannabis. It has also been identified with a number of other plants and a mushroom, Amanita Muscaria , so the involvement of cannabis cannot be definitively quantified. Cannabis was also known to the Scythia ns, as well as to the Thracians / Dacia ns (ancestors of present day Eastern-Europeans), whose Shamans (the ''kapnobatai'' - "those who walk on smoke/clouds") burned cannabis flowers in order to induce trances. The cult of Dionysus , which is believed to have originated in Thrace , is also believed to have inhaled cannabis smoke. SPIRITUAL USE See Also: Cannabis (spiritual use) Cannabis has a long history of Spiritual use, especially in India , where it has been used by wandering spiritual Sadhu s for centuries. The most famous Religious group to use cannabis in a spiritual context is the Rastafari Movement , though it is by no means the only group (e.g. Church Of The Universe ). Some historians and etymologists have claimed that cannabis was used by ancient Jews, early Christians, and of early Muslims of the Sufi order. Hashish was used by the Hashshashin , a warrior Shi'a sect. Many individuals also consider their use of cannabis to be spiritual regardless of organized religion, though it is banned in many parts of the world (and in some cases 'because' it is banned, cf. Bob Marley, ''the more man smoke, the more Babylon fall''). MEDICINAL USE See Also: Medical marijuana Medically, cannabis is most often used as an appetite stimulant and pain reliever for certain terminal illnesses such as Cancer and AIDS . It is used to relieve Glaucoma and certain neurological illnesses such as Epilepsy , Migraine and Bipolar Disorder . It has also been found to relieve nausea for Chemotherapy patients. The medical use of cannabis is politically controversial, but it is sometimes recommended informally by physicians. A synthetic version of the major active chemical in cannabis, THC, is readily available in many countries in the form of a pill as the prescription drug Dronabinol (Marinol). THC has also been found to reduce arterial blockages2. A sublingual spray derived from an extract of cannabis has also been approved for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis in Canada as the prescription drug Sativex 3 - this drug may now be legally imported into the United Kingdom and Spain on prescription.4 United States Eleven states5 in the United States passed laws allowing cannabis possession and consumption for medical purposes; however, the Supreme Court Of The United States in '' Gonzales V. Raich '' ruled that the listing of cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance was constitutional, and that possession for any reason was therefore illegal. This remained consistent with their ruling in '' United States V. Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative '', an 8-0 decision stating that there is no exception as a Schedule I drug for people to use cannabis for medical purposes. 6 See the History section for information on historic and other medicinal use. NEW BREEDING AND CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES See Also: Cannabis (drug) cultivation Advances in breeding and cultivation techniques have increased the diversity and potency of Cannabis Strains since 1970, and these strains are now widely smoked all over the world. These advances are known as the ''sinsemilla'' Techniques of production; sinsemilla, Spanish for ''without seed'', are the dried, seedless female flowers of the cannabis plant which has been grown in the absence of males to ensure no pollination takes place. Because THC potency and production drops off once pollination takes place, various techniques such as Seed Banks , Hydroponics , Cloning , Lighting Techniques , and The Sea Of Green Method have been utilized, in part as a response to prohibition enforcement efforts which have made outdoor cultivation more risky; thus, efficient indoor cultivation has become more common. These same advances have led to fewer seeds being present in cannabis currently than were present 20 years ago. The increases in potency—and ramifications thereof—have been exaggerated by many opponents of cannabis use both in and out of government. In the United States, government advertisements encourage parents to disregard their own experience with cannabis when speaking to their children, on the premise that pot today is significantly stronger and thus more dangerous than that which they themselves might have smoked in the past. In a general pattern of proposing reverses in Cannabis Rescheduling , the UK government is considering scheduling stronger cannabis (''skunk'', in local parlance) as a separate, more restricted substance. Many cannabis proponents disagree vehemently, reasoning that as one must smoke less cannabis to achieve the same effect, it actually is safer and less potentially carcinogenic in the long run than that which was smoked in earlier times. PREPARATIONS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Cannabis is prepared for human consumption in several forms:
There are also three species of Cannabis. These include ''Cannabis sativa'', ''Cannabis indica'', and ''Cannabis ruderalis'', the last containing much less THC and generally not used as a psychoactive substance. They differ in their appearance and the highs they produce. There have also been claims to a fourth species of cannabis, which has been nicknamed "Cannabis rasta". It is not yet a formally accepted species and similar to "Cannabis sativa" with regards to psychoactivity. Smoking See Also: Methods of smoking cannabis There are several methods of smoking Cannabis. The most popular include the Spliff Or Joint , the Bong , the Pipe , the Shotgun , and the One-hitter . To create a joint, or spliff, cannabis is rolled up into a cigarette, using Rolling Paper . Cannabis Cigar s, or Blunts , can also be created by using the wrapper of a standard cigar. A bong is a water-pipe through which cannabis smoke is filtered. Variants include the Gravity Bong , which consists of a cone atop a perforated or cut water bottle. This method of cannabis smoking is one of the most efficient, as the presence of chamber and carburetor reduce smoke waste. Pipes are usually made of Blown Glass , wood, or non-reactive metals. Metal pipes are often made of interchangeable pieces. Glass pipes have a Carburetor , colloquially referred to as a "carb" or "rush", which is covered for suction then released for inhalation. Some users also prefer vertically held pipes, or improvised pipes made from aluminum foil, small plumbing fittings, soda cans, or crisp fruits or vegetables. A shotgun involves two people. One person takes a hit then puts the joint ember first into his mouth. Another person then places his mouth over the front end, and first person exhales through the joint, blowing both his smoke and the joint’s smoke into the other person’s mouth. More efficient variations of shotgunning involve both members curling their hands to form a 'shotgun' chamber. Simultaneous exhaling by one member and inhaling by the other member will effectively transfer smoke between the two people. Many consider this to be a very intimate practice. A one-hitter is a device that looks similar to a cigarette. Seedless, stemless cannabis buds are loaded into a compartment in a container known as a dugout. A hitter, contained in another compartment, is loaded and lit. This is repeated for each hit. This method is also efficient in titrating the exact dose desired. Another way is to put the cannabis into a pen cap with foil lining the cap. Oral consumption Cannabis may be orally consumed by blending it with Ethanol or Lipid s. With this method, some claim that more cannabis must be used, though considering that the effects of oral consumption are different than inhalation, others may claim that less is required. The effects of the drug take longer to begin, but last longer and may be perceived as more physical rather than mental, though there are claims to the contrary. A dose of oral cannabis is often considered to give a stronger experience than the equivalent dose of smoked cannabis. A common belief holds that while smoked cannabis has a large volume exhaled, or simply burned, without consumption, ingested cannabis has 100% consumption, an assertion which cannot be confirmed without objective analysis. It is thought that the active component of cannabis, Δ9-THC, is converted to the more psychoactive 11-hydroxy-THC in the liver. 7 Titration is much more complex than through inhalation. Common preparations involve blending with Butter , to create Cannabutter that is used in preparing Brownies , Fudge , Cookie s or Ganja Goo Ball s or "space cakes." Infusion in drinks containing Milk and flavoring Herb s is also possible, and more common in India. As with other drugs that are taken orally, it is sometimes customary to Fast before taking the drug to increase the effect, possibly because an empty stomach will absorb the drug faster so it 'hits' more strongly. However, some people do eat before consuming the drug because eating it on an empty stomach makes them feel sick. Still, time to effect onset is an hour or sometimes more, as opposed to smoking, where effects can be almost immediate. Cannabis can also be consumed as a Tea . THC is lipophilic and only a little Water Soluble with a solubility of only a few grams per litre, but enough to make a tea effective. Water-based infusion is generally considered to be inefficient. The seeds of the plant, high in Protein and Fatty Acid s, are appreciated by many species of birds. Many countries, including the United States, make the possession of viable cannabis seeds illegal.8. Vaporization Usually with a '' Vaporizer '', cannabis can be heated to a temperature of about 365 °F (185 °C), at which the active ingredients are released into Gas eous form with little or no burning of the plant material. With this method, the user does not inhale as many (or any) toxic chemicals depending on the quality of the vaporizer. Scientific studies by MAPS/NORML have yielded varied results on the effectiveness of vaporizing as a method of cannabis consumption. One particular study by MAPS/NORML found 95% THC and no toxins delivered in the vapor.9 However, an older study by MAPS/NORML showed minimal reduction of toxins.10 Some users claim to experience subtly different effects when using cannabis in this way, and others claim to experience a far more intense effect from a smaller amount of cannabis. In addition, users note an improved ability to distinguish subtle characteristics of flavor and aroma, in absence of lighter gas fumes or burnt matter. Knifing See Also: Knifers Hot-knifing, ''blasting'' or ''doing blades'' is a process in which the tips of two knives are heated to a very high temperature, often by inserting them into the heating elements of a stove. The cannabis is then pressed between the heated knife-tips, rapidly combusting it. The vaporized cannabis is often funneled into the mouth of the smoker through the use of a plastic bottle-top, empty pen, or other hollow tube or funnel. In New Zealand , this is also known as 'spots', and most famously undertaken at 'The Flat'. A modified method of " Spotting ", uses knife blades heated to a much lower temperature, hot enough to Vaporise the active ingredients, leaving the organic material scorched, rather than burned, thus removing potential harmful consequenses of the smoke itself. IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF HUMAN CONSUMPTION The nature and intensity of the immediate effects of cannabis consumption vary according to the dose, the species or hybridization of the source plant, the method of consumption, the user's mental and physical characteristics (such as possible tolerance), and the environment of consumption. This is sometimes referred to as '' Set And Setting ''. Smoking the same cannabis either in a different frame of mind (set) or in a different location (setting) can alter the effects or perception of the effects by the individual. Effects of cannabis consumption may be loosely classified as cognitive and physical. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the '' Cannabis Sativa '' species tends to produce more of the cognitive or perceptual effects, while '' Cannabis Indica '' tends to produce more of the physical effects. Active ingredients, metabolism, and method of activity Of the approximately 400 different chemicals found in ''Cannabis'', the main active ingredient is Tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC). THC can degrade to other Cannabinoids , such as Cannabidiol or Cannabinol , which can make one feel sleepy and disoriented. Different cannabis products have different ratios of these and other cannabinoids. Depending on the ratio, the quality of the "high" will vary. THC has an effect on the modulation of the Immune System which may have an effect on malignant cells, but there is insufficient scientific study to determine whether this might promote or limit Cancer . Cannabinoid receptors are also present in the human Reproductive System , but there is insufficient scientific study to conclusively determine the effects of cannabis on reproduction. Mild Allergies to cannabis may be possible in some members of the population. A study has shown that holding cannabis smoke in one's lungs for longer periods of time does not conclusively increase THC's effects11. Cognitive, behavioral, or perceptual Cannabis has a broad spectrum of possible cognitive, behavioral, or perceptual effects, the occurrence of which vary from user to user. Some of these are the intended effect desired by users, some may be considered desirable depending on the situation, and others are generally considered undesirable. Users of cannabis report that these kinds of effects are more often produced by the '' Sativa '' species of ''Cannabis''. Cannabis also has effects that are predominantly physical or sensory, widely believed to be more common with the '' Indica '' species. List of effects
List of therapeutic effects
Lethal dose |