The research paper

[Soler 10+ year member]

I got many requests for the research paper i did on marijuana my senior year so i decided to post it instead of trying to get the email addresses of everyone email it

Marijuana has become an issue that affects many people worldwide. I have firsthand experience regarding this subject as I smoked every day for about 4 years. I am currently dealing with sobriety, and want to make an informed decision for myself. I have extensively researched this subject through the Internet, books, interviews and even a movie. I am going to explain the various aspect of cannabis such as the history, effects, legality, usage, and physiology. I plan on not approaching this topic biased, but merely state the facts that I discover. There are many conflicting reports on this subject, which I have gone through for this paper. The end result is a non-biased research essay, that doesn't seek to persuade someone to stop or start smoking but to inform.

The most ancient psychoactive plant known and used by man is cannabis, commonly known as marijuana. It is generally agreed that the plant first took root in the Himalayas. The first recorded medicinal use goes as far back as 2727 B.C, and the earliest civilizations that used it were the Chinese, Scythians and Hindus. They used it for medicine, food and textiles. Ancient medicine men and shamans burned cannabis to induce trancelike hypnotic states. There are records of The Dionysus inhaling the herb's smoke to gain the high. Between 500 and 100 B.C. hemp was spread across Europe after being introduced by the Scythians. Because of this the recreational and medicinal use for the euphoric properties gained popularity in the western world. In the 11th century hashish originated in Asia. This derivative of Cannabis Indica became very popular in the Middle East as it is best produced in desert conditions. In the 17th century it was being used in trade between Central Asia and South Asia. By this time cannabis was being used throughout civilization and gaining popularity.

In America during colonial times the male hemp plant was a major crop, grown as a source of fiber. George Washington once told his gardener, "Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, and sow it everywhere!"(6). When Asian sources of hemp were cut off due to World War II, America cultivated it significantly. The plant’s female counterpart was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1850 until 1942 as a pain reliever and anti-nausea medicine. It became well known by the public as a recreational drug in the early 20th century. Various government officials outlawed marijuana due to racism, fear, corruption and, or, ignorance. A lot of marijuana was being imported from Mexico and prejudice led to the first prohibition law in Utah around 1915. In 1930 Harry J Anslinger was named director of a new organization, The Federal Bureau of Narcotics. He wanted marijuana to be illegal on a federal level in order to gain prestige and a respected place in law and government. He drew national attention through propaganda and yellow journalism. His list of many outrageous quotes includes:

(1)"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek ****** relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others."

"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death."

"You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother."

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."(1)

Through countless lies he eventually achieved his goal. On August 2nd, 1937 Harry J Anslinger got marijuana criminalized at the federal level. Once prohibited by the government, marijuana spread and became popular among the underground and rebels.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug today, spreading through youth due to peer pressure, curiosity and negative culture. According to a survey done in 2004, nearly 96,800,000 Americans -40.2% of the population- who were 12 and older, reported trying marijuana at least once in their life (2). It is estimated that Americans spend 11 billion dollars per year on marijuana (5). According to the newspaper, The Guardian, Cannabis is currently Americas top cash crop (4). Not very many smokers are knowledgeable about the plant that they burn. The negative effects of this popular plant are often overlooked or inaccurately told. As facts get clouded by myths, ignorance is spread. The heated debate over the legalization of marijuana gets a lot of media attention. Because of this there are many biased sources to obtain information from. Cannabis is a paramount issue for teenagers, adults and politicians alike, which is why I am weeding through information in order to uncover the truth.

Today's youth is growing up in a much different world than their parents. From TV to the Internet, our generation has gained more freedom of expression and knowledge, some of which is unreliable. Unfortunately, too many teenagers express themselves through drugs and don't use all the sources available to learn about them. In the last decade marijuana use has increased greatly. From 1992-1998 the number of people who sought treatment for marijuana use doubled. Since 1999 220,000 people have received treatment, 79,000 being teenagers (5). In a study conducted in 2005, 16.5% of eighth graders, 34.1% of tenth graders, and 44.8% of twelfth graders claimed that they had used marijuana (2). I know all too well the pressures of classmates and friends at a public high school and the need to fit in. I chose the drug route to acceptance instead of staying sober and working on building real relationships based on something other than drugs.

The pressure to use, and the availability of marijuana is high, which sets teens up for failure. The whole drug scene in itself is as complex and deep rooted as the double standard or social queues. There is a rotating cycle of non-smokers who become beginners who become occasional smokers who become potheads or burnouts. Some people decide they want to deal or traffic in marijuana. This opens up an ever-growing and dangerous hierarchy of dealers. The dealing franchise is a dog eat dog world. People have to work their way up the ladder of sellers. Besides the nagging presence of the drug scene, people are subliminally being fed the urge to use drugs through media. In music, especially hip-hop, lyrics glorify and support smoking. The same can be seen in movies and on TV. When kids see their favorite actors or artists smoking a blunt it makes them want to go out and do the same. People emulate their role models, many of which are negative today.

Along with the drug culture comes the amount of memorabilia, terms, and devices for smoking. The amount of terminology on marijuana is mind boggling and ever increasing. The most common names for marijuana include bud, ganja, herb, green, reefer, Mary, doobie, buddha, dank, gage, endo, smoke, dope, nugs, trees, grass, herb, yerba, weed, and kind. The terms for being high include baked, blank, blazed, blitzed, blottoed, blozzed, cheeched, clamed, faded, fried, geeked, gone, ripped, smitten, and stoned. Most of these terms came about in order to deceive authority however; many of the older ones are widespread and well known. Weed posters and 4:20 signs are abundant in the cornucopia of marijuana memorabilia, which can be found in any mall. They encourage and promote marijuana use. Smoking devices stimulate use through color, shape, design, and functionality. Many devices are seen as blown glass art, and go for a lot of money. The most popular devices that people use are pipes, water pipes, steamrollers, hookahs, vaporizers, roach clips, and cigar and joint paper. The terms for these tools include bowls, chillums, chodes, spoons, bubblers, bongs, dub-bubs, sherlocks, pieces, alligators, blunts, glass and joints. What it all boils down to is a vicious cycle of culture, which will never fully be broken.

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[Soler 10+ year member]

Marijuana refers to the buds and leaves of the female plant. There are more than 400 chemicals in the plant that get smoked, including the main psychoactive component, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. It is a very potent chemical, which reaches the brain within seconds. An intravenous dose of only one milligram can create serious mental and psychological effects. THC is one of 60 chemicals that are categorized as cannabinoids. They bind with the cannabinoid receptors, which are located in several different places of the brain. For example, the increased hunger, or munchies, experienced by users is caused by endocannabinoid molecules attaching with the receptors in the part of the brain that activates hunger. When the THC binds with these receptors the result is various and different cognitive, behavioral, and physiological effects. Cognitive, or perceptive effects include impaired short-term memory, loss of coordination, paranoia, anxiety, a distorted sense of time, relaxation, increased mental activity and creativity, heightened senses, and hallucinations with high doses. Behavioral effects can include euphoria-induced well-being and laughter, wakefulness followed by drowsiness, repetitiveness, and changes in personal inhibitions. The physiological effects include anti-nausea, lowered blood pressure, elevated effects of other drugs, increased hunger, dry mouth, coughing, drowsiness, and the dilation of blood vessels. The dilation of blood vessels causes an increased blood flow and heart rate and dries the eyes, making them redder. The effects of cannabis vary greatly depending on which strain of cannabis you smoke.

A strain is a term used for plants to classify a subtype, or group of similar plants. There are hundreds of cannabis strains, which branch off from landrace strains found in nature. It is estimated that there are twelve landrace strains growing wild in countries that have not cultivated the plant. Breeding of these landrace strains has created a plethora of other strains. These are classified into two groups; Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Users of the Sativa strain report that it has more perceptive, behavioral, and physiological effects compared to Indica’s physical and sensory "body stone high". Notable Sativa varieties include Silver Haze, PG-13, Kali Mist, and Apple pie. Notable Indica Varieties include Northern Lights, Mango, Kush, and Afghani. Hybrids have been created to gain the desirable effects, flavors, aromas, or growing characteristics from various strains. These hybrids are classified into 3 groups; Indica dominant hybrids like Blueberry, Sativa Dominant hybrids like AK-47, and 50/50 balanced hybrids like White Widow. In order to preserve the most remarkable and desired strains growers use a cloning method. They take cuttings from branches and root them into new plants to make sure the characteristics are the same. These renowned strains include BC Hash Plant, California Big Bud, G-13, Maui Waui, Purple Haze, and Trinity. This cannabis strain culture often leads to beginner smokers being ripped off and sold fraudulent strains at exuberant prices.

Along with prices varying from $45 per ounce to $450 per ounce, there is a story behind every strain. A prime example of this is the infamous G-13 strain. Supposedly the government cultivated in the 1960s in order to obtain a strain stronger than all others. It is claimed that a cutting was stolen, grown, and sold to the public by an employee. It has been said that either the name is derived from the number of generations it took to obtain the least perfections or from the term Government Marijuana (the 13th letter is M in the alphabet). It is not available in seed form and must be bought from a reputable grower. You are most likely to run across G-13 in Canada at the extreme price of $450+ per ounce. There are many factors behind the high prices of the G-13 plant. It's legend, rarity and THC content being the main ones. Containing 28% THC G-13's have double the THC content as most high-grade cannabis today, making it just another highly sought after plant for connoisseurs.

The most common and quickest form of intake is through smoking. Typical users fill their lungs with smoke to the maximum capacity and then hold it in for as long as possible. The chemicals immediately enter the blood stream through millions of alveoli that line their lungs. Holding it in is pointless and detrimental to respiratory health. Heavy continual smoking of marijuana can create respiratory problems like bronchitis, coughing, phlegm buildup, and wheezing. In a study of over 64,000 patients, there was no data showing that the rate of lung cancer and emphysema in marijuana users was the same or higher as in tobacco users. There are devices and techniques to lower the amount of carcinogens, tars, and toxins that get inhaled by the lungs however, none completely reduce them. These devices include Water pipes, bongs, vaporizers, and filters. Techniques include not holding smoke in the lungs, separating the THC, kief, crystals, and smoking less marijuana that has a higher THC content. In order to completely avoid adverse effects to the lungs some people eat marijuana. Once ingested, the stomach absorbs the THC into the bloodstream. This carries it from the stomach to the liver and then the rest of the body. Various methods of cooking are used from brownies to peanut butter. This ingestion takes longer to affect the user and lasts longer however, the levels of THC in the body are lower. The rarest form of intake is through a THC pill. Through these techniques of ingestion, users can control some of the adverse effects of marijuana.

 

[Soler 10+ year member]

There are so many myths and misunderstandings surrounding marijuana that the average smoker doesn't normally know the facts. The claims are carried on from myths that were told to either get people to stop, or, start smoking weed. One of the largest myths is that pot is a gateway drug, leading to the use of harder substances like PCP or heroine. It originated from a study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the National Institute on Drug Abuse that target Marijuana use. They backed the gateway drug theory with a claim that marijuana users are 85 times more likely to try cocaine than non-marijuana users (9). That number was calculated by dividing the 17% of marijuana users who have ever used cocaine by the .2% of cocaine users who have never used marijuana. Their hypothesis is based on the fact that so many cocaine users have used marijuana, not that so many marijuana users use cocaine (8). What they have failed to publicize is the fact that 83% of marijuana users have never tried cocaine. The truth behind this widespread myth is that for almost 10 million Americans who have tried marijuana, it is a terminus rather than a gateway drug. Another myth that catches many people off guard is that being caught with marijuana is not severely punished and few people get arrested for it. In 1995 more than 500,000 people were arrested for marijuana offenses and 86% of those were for possession (8). Besides going to prison, you can be charged with fines, probation, seizure of property, revocation of driver's license, and termination of employment. Another very widespread myth is that smoking marijuana kills brain cells and long-term use causes permanent memory loss, and cognitive impairment. This myth is based on a study conducted nearly 25 years ago, which reported brain damage in monkeys after 6 months exposure to high amounts of marijuana smoke (8). Recently researchers have done testing and found that there was no brain abnormality in monkeys that were forced to inhale 4-5 marijuana joints every day for a year (7). In other laboratory studies they found that marijuana creates immediate but temporary changes in thoughts and perceptions. The cognitive process most affected is short-term memory, which only lasts during the high.

Using cannabis negatively affects the body in various ways, however the effects are almost all temporary. People with mental illness may find that cannabis use provokes their symptoms. There has been absolutely no evidence, however, that shows that it creates these psychological problems in the first place. It was found in a new study using MRI, that the development of the brain was altered in adolescent users (7). Adults who started smoking before the age of 17 ended up with lower gray matter and higher white matter; essentially smaller brains. These tests imply that the cannabis may impair the growth of an adolescent's brain. The data also correlates with the body size of the users, as the subjects were smaller if they smoked in that crucial period of growing. Other data from the test showed that adulthood use does not affect the brain structure in any way. There are mixed results on marijuana's impact on women's fertility. With men there are no studies that show it causes infertility however, use does lower sperm count. In a study of men who smoked an average 8 joints per day for one month there was significant data in lowered sperm count. They did not fall to abnormal levels and returned to normal after the study (7). It is considered to be impossible to achieve a lethal overdose by smoking marijuana (4). Based on the Merck Index, 12th edition, the lethal dose by inhalation for 50% of rats tested is 42 mg/kg of body weight. This is the same as a 165 pound man smoking all of the THC in 21 one gram joints of strong cannabis at once without losing through burning or exhalation, which cannot be done. This calculates to him having to smoke 900 one-gram joints of strong marijuana over a period of 15 hours. For oral consumption the lethal dose in 50% of male rats is 1,270 mg/kg of THC. That is the equivalent THC in about a pound of 15% THC cannabis. Consuming that much is theoretically impossible except through intravenous administration. Compared to the legal drugs currently available to people, marijuana's affect on health is on the lower end of the spectrum. Today with the help of modern science and medicine, scientists have discovered that the popular herb marijuana is neither harmless nor very dangerous to human health.

A big topic up for debate right now in America is the legalization of medical marijuana. Pro-marijuana and anti-marijuana groups have been battling out this issue for years. The majority of patients that want to use marijuana are terminally ill. AIDS patients find that the munchies side effect is great to battle emaciation. Glaucoma sufferers get relief from eye pressure and say it prevents them from going blind. Cancer patients undergoing chemo don’t have sever nausea due to marijuana, which makes the treatment possible. People with multiple sclerosis or other illnesses that cause seizures or muscle spasms find relief. Many doctors realize how the THC in cannabis can benefit their patients and lobby against the federal law. Currently physicians cannot legally prescribe marijuana, as it goes against federal law. They can however recommend the use of marijuana as treatment. A synthetic pill version of THC named dronabinol (Marinol) is available in various countries. Currently, eleven states have passed medical marijuana laws; Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. These laws remove state-level criminal penalties on use, possession and or cultivation of marijuana. The federal law is still above the state law, causing tension between the two. The Drug Enforcement Agency doesn’t want cannabis to be legalized because there hasn’t been enough conclusive, hard evidence of it being an effective medicinal drug. It is not surprising considering the amount of recreational users, medicinal users, researchers, sellers, and textile companies use it.

Along with the supporters of medicinal legalization there are the proponents of recreational use. Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oregon have passed marijuana decriminalization laws. Generally these laws mean that first-time possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal consumption yields no prison time or criminal record. It is essentially treated like a traffic violation. The main reason behind decriminalization is that it frees up police resources for more serious crimes. Instead of taxpayers spending millions to keep potheads in jail, they can collect fines and save the room in jails for true criminals. According to the Denver based group Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) “Alcohol is far more harmful than marijuana, both to the user and to the society, and Denver citizens are fed up with a system that punishes them for choosing to use a safer substance. It is time our government stops driving people to drink and allow them to make the safer choice”(3). The group formed an initiative to change the laws in Denver. “The legislative purpose of this initiative is to make the use and possession of less then one ounce of marijuana non-punishable under Denver city ordinances for adults 21 and older”(3). On November 2nd of 2005, Denver voters passed this law, legalizing small amounts of marijuana. The final ballot won 54 to 46 percent. This new measure changed the city’s ordinance, making it legal for people 21 years or older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. The state law is still in effect, so you can still be charged with possession in Denver. A lot of attention was drawn to legalization through the vote in Denver, which is good for other groups involved in this fight. The next hurdle for SAFER and similar organizations is to overcome the federal low. The Drug Enforcement Agency fears that the recreational use would increase dramatically if marijuana were legalized, adding to the crime rate. There is debate on whether it would increase or decrease. Some say that because it is illegal teenagers seek it out to rebel and “stick it to the man”. Some draw a comparison with the alcohol laws in foreign countries, where allow children to drink at a much younger age. The view being that kids are taught moderation and drink a glass of wine with dinner for the taste, not the buzz. Due to this the abuse rate is much lower; they don’t drink to get hammered or wasted like teenagers in a prohibition. As citizens have gotten more educated on this topic, changes in legislature have occurred. It is safe to say that we will see many new laws being passed in cities across America in the next few years, which may eventually lead to the decriminalization of marijuana on a federal level.

 

[Soler 10+ year member]

For many stoners, smoking marijuana temporarily numbs out pain and destroys their worries. Emotional issues and or depression plague our youth today. Instead of going to a psychiatrist or talking about things in the past that have scarred them, they smoke a spiff. Marijuana isn’t necessarily physically addictive, but it sure can be mentally. Psychological dependence is a side effect of continuous use, which can be very hard to break. Stoner Tom Murphy gave me his opinion on the addictive properties of pot. “Marijuana is an emotionally addictive drug, believe me. I was addicted. I couldn’t go one second of the day without getting high. I used it to avoid my problems and it was an outlet for me.”(Murphy) In order to help substance abusers some psychiatrists will prescribe medications to handle the users depression appropriately. The theory behind this is that they will discontinue the use of illicit drugs and become dependent on prescribed, legal medications to make them feel better. This is in an ideal situation only and does not always work. Because of this many doctors will not prescribe medication to known substance abusers. In an interview I found out psychiatric nurse practitioner Kay Patch’s stance on it. “I tend to be a person who does not like to prescribe my medication to somebody who is abusing substances….when I’m treating somebody for mood disorder, anxiety, depression, or bi-polar disorder and somebody is using pot or alcohol the two substances are counter-indicative. In other words they check each other out and my substances won’t work at all”(patch). While I was being given medication I used marijuana. By doing that I made the results very vague. I had to basically start the process all over once I was sober. How does someone expect to get over depression with prescribed medication when they don’t feel happy unless they are stoned?

What this whole issue all comes down is the marijuana consumer. The consumer makes the choice to use, and feeds the market. As someone who used to be addicted to marijuana, and is currently over a year sober, I myself am having a tough time deciding whether being drug free is worth it. In my mind I have two options for the future; to smoke or not to smoke. I can foresee a great battle that I am going to have to wage everyday. On one hand there are the cons of being a smoker. The main, and obvious, reason is that it is illegal. It is high risk and can easily screw up your life by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Another disadvantage to smoking is the health aspect. It is bad for the lungs and leads to respiratory problems. My athleticism and endurance cannot be as high as if I were smoke free. My brain won’t be able to function as proficient as if I was sober. I can’t grasp new concepts as easily while baked. I can push others away and be a bad role model for my brother. Drug Counselor John Davis has worked with a plethora of marijuana users during his 12-year career. When asked about the changes in people who stop using he said, “They look healthier, respond to questions quicker, have more confidence, and are able to focus on personal issues better more invested in the process rather than just spacing out. (Davis)” Now that all the main reasons to not smoke are laid out the choice is in the users hands.

In an ideal world if marijuana was legalized I would have reasons why I would want to use it. The main reason would be for an art tool. I would get high in order to unleash my creativity and be put in a different state of mind for inspiration. Another reason is to relax, be stress-free, and have something to look forward to, while I am working and staying on top of things. I have ADHD and find that it is the most effective way to treat the disorder. John Davis has ADHD and suggests his self medication, tons exercise and no caffeine or stimulants of any kind.

Some people are able to lead successful happy lives while using recreationally however, that risk of being caught and the adverse effects are always going to be there. In conclusion I want to point out the fact that pot will always be around and tempting people. In all reality, marijuana distribution and use is very widespread today. It affects the culture, economy, media, legislature, and millions of uninformed people. Unless the actual facts are shared, and received by the masses this problem will continue to thrive

 

[regal8r 5,000+ posts]

yeah, no way im reading that

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

gay //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/ban.gif.ce8465566702ef9f72e97e794ed1c86a.gif

 

[JL Audio 5,000+ posts]

I somewhat read it.. pretty cool.

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

hmm congrats your the 1000 person to write their research paper on marijuana

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

hmm congrats your the 1000 person to write their research paper on marijuana

naw the 1.000th was probably like 30 years ago. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[Soler 10+ year member]

hmm congrats your the 1000 person to write their research paper on marijuana

congrats, i did it to inform myself and ended up getting an A

 

[Safe-N-Sound215 10+ year member]

 

[Randy Savage 5,000+ posts]

It looks like it was written by a 10th grader.

 

[CaliforniabOY5 10+ year member]

itss tooo long.

 

[Steven206Seattl 10+ year member]

4.474 words. Actually goes by pretty fast when you read it and its good

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

congrats, i did it to inform myself and ended up getting an A

great read soler! a true unbiased opinion. very nice.