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Revision as of 00:40, 18 February 2002 by Ted Longstaffe (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Cannabis, also known (in one drug form) as marijuana, is any of several different species of mildly hallucinogenic plants whose main active ingredient is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Cannabis is a member of the family Cannabaceae, in the order Rosales. It grows in most climates. The tough fiber of the cannabis plant is known as hemp and has various uses, including the manufacture of cloth, rope, and paper.
Pharmacology
Although the main psychoactive substance in Cannabis is THC the plant contains about 60 cannabinoids in total. The complexity of this mixture has lead to speculation as to why the effects of the plant can differ from the synthetically manufacured dronabinol.
"Normal" herbal cannabis usually contains between 0.5-5% THC although through selective breading and cultivation techniques (such as hydroponics) varieties now exist that have up to 25% THC content. The THC content is also affected by the sex of the plant, with females generating more THC laden resin than their male counterparts. Sinsemilla (from the Spanish for "without seed") is derived from unpollinated female plants and has an even higher THC content.
Effects
Cannabis is psychoactive, meaning it affects the mind and/or behaviour. Its main effects include a "mellow" good feeling as well as giggling, and the frequent short-term side-effect of increased appetite (the "munchies"). Larger doses can cause an increased perception of sight and sound, eventually leading to mild hallucination, usually auditory.
Other effects include paranoia, short term memory loss and nausea, especially if used in combination with alcohol.
It is generally not thought possible to overdose on Cannabis as the levels required for toxicity are so high.
Although a mild tolerance of the drug can be built up, it is not thought to be addictive. However some people can build up a psychological dependence. There is some evidence linking long-term use to depression and it can aggravate pre-existing mental conditions.
The long term effects of cannabis still need more study but there are concerns that the high tar content (and the fact it is usually smoked with tobacco) could lead to an increased risk of lung cancer.
Medical uses of marijuana for a variety of conditions is currently being investigated. Anecdotal evidence reports that it has beneficial effects relieving the nausea of chemotherapy and AIDS treatment, its appetite stimulating effect helping combat wasting. It may also help reduce fluid pressure in the eyes associated with glaucoma. There are numerous studies that have shown it can help reduce the pain and tremors of multiple sclerosis.
History
The use of Cannabis is thought to go back around 4000 years. It was used as medicine throughout Asia and the middle east to treat a variety of conditions.
Cannabis was well known by Scythians. Germans have grown Hanf orHemp for its fibres used to make nautical ropes and material for clothes since ancient times. In the Elbing Prussian vocabulary from around 1350 hemp is recorded as knapis (derived from cannabis). Large fields along the Rhine river banks with hemp plants are featured in 19th century copper etchings. The hemp plant has to be soaked to harvest the fibre. This liquid was used as drink. In todays Germany there are bars that serve hemp beer and hemp wine.
It was used in the western world (usually as a tincture) around the middle of the 19th century. It was famously used to treat Queen Victoria's period pains. It was even available from shops in the US. By the end of the 19th centuary its medicinal use began to fall as other drugs such as aspirin took over.
It was outlawed in the USA somewhere around the time of the end of WW II.
It has a prominent religious role in the Rastafarian religion.
Although it has probably been used as a recreational drug thoughout its history, it came to prominence in the Jazz scene during the fifties, its use taking off in the 1960s.
It is now one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world.
Recreational Use
N.B. Recreational use is illegal in most countries, see the next section.
Recreational use of cannabis has an associated subculture which starts with the number of names for the drug. Examples include: "pot", "dope", "weed", "reefer", "bhang", "green", "herb", "ganja", "sinsemilla", "grass", "mary jane", "chronic", "bud" and many more.
Cannabis comes in several forms.
- Dried leaves (usually the flowering tops of female plants).
- Cannabis resin (hashish) which is the secretion of the plant, usually dried and processed onto blocks.
- Cannabis oil ("honey oil","Hash Oil") which is a concentrate usually involving a solvent based extraction.
It is most commonly smoked, usually in a "joint" or "Spliff": The dried leaves (possibly mixed with tobacco) are rolled in paper and smoked much like a cigarette.
Other methods include using pipes or "bongs" (water pipes) to smoke the Cannabis whilst cooling the smoke down and in the case of bongs removing some of the unwanted impurities/tar.
Cannabis is also used in cooking to make things such as "space cake" and "hash brownies". However it is harder to self-regulate the effects as they usually occur 30-45 minutes after ingestion.
It can also be taken by dissolving it in cups of coffee, creating a "bhang".
The Law
N.B. Misplaced Pages does not give legal advice!
Marijuana was criminalised across most of the world in the early parts of the 20th centuary. There is some confusion as to the reasons as there seems to be different driving forces on either side of the Atlantic.
In the UK, cannabis was outlawed in 1928 after it became a signatory to the "International Opium Convention" which was held in Geneva in 1925.
In the US the key law seems to be the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act which was the federal culmination of many separate state laws that had been enacted in the previous years.
Laws usually exist for trafficking, cultivation and possesion for personal use. Enforcement of the law varies from country to country. Some notable examples include the Netherlands where it is effectively decriminalised and can be purchased in licensed "coffee shops".
In many countries, police exercise their discretionary powers to caution or confiscate for possession in small quantities that could be deemed for personal use.
A recent example was the declaration by police in Brixton, England that they would not arrest people for possession of cannabis and instead only issue on-the-spot warnings and confiscate the cannabis. Following this trial the reclassification of cannabis from Class B to Class C was recommended by the Home Secretary in October 2001.
In parts of Australia, notably South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, possession of small quantities of cannabis, and growing limited numbers of plants for personal use, has been decriminalised, now being punishable by an on-the-spot fine of $50 (about 25 USD). Police interest in personal usage and non-commercial growers in the rest of Australia appears to be limited.
Some other countries (e.g. Canada) are starting to recognise medicinal use of cannabis separately from "normal" possession.
Links
Drug Information
- UK National drugs helpline factsheet
- American Council for Drug Education factsheet
- UN Drug control and Prevention factsheet
History
Misc
- Smoking device used for tasting Cannabis
- WHO report on Cannabis health effects
- UK Panoroma programme on medical trials
Advocacy sites
This is pro-cannabis biased, any anti-cannabis links?
| File:Marahuana warning.png |
| Federal Bureau of Narcotics poster used the late 1930s and 1940s |
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