Marijuana And Its Role In Modern World

Marijuana is a drug that has gained a lot of popularity over the years. Studies show that marijuana has many health benefits. Since its discovery, many people use it as a recreational drug. Many users believe that marijuana doesn’t have serious side effects, like heroin, crack and cocaine. For medical reasons, marijuana is currently legal on a state level, but still illegal federally. There are about 20 out of the 50 states that have legalized marijuana. Most states have lowered the punishment for marijuana possession, or have “decriminalized” the usage of marijuana.

Marijuana is a dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant. Usually green, brown or grey in color. Marijuana is a schedule 1 controlled substance. Meaning, under the controlled substances act, substances in this schedule have not currently accepted medical use under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse. Although marijuana is still federally illegally.

3 Different Strains

There are 3 main strains of marijuana. Sativa, Indica, Rudrealis & Hybrid, hybrid is a mixture of two main strains combined. Sativa, is considered to be the most commonly grown of the marijuana strains. It is commonly found in India, Thailand, Nigeria, Mexico and Columbia. Although sativa takes a while to grow, it does take a while to grow. Indica on the other hand, grows quickly. It is commonly found in, Nepal, Lebanon, Morocco and Afghanistan. Rudrealis, is not commonly found, it is not grown as much as sativa and indica, because it has a lower THC level, then both; that “stoned” feeling, is not felt.

Each strain has a different “high”. Sativa is more related to feeling more active, and energetic, whereas indica is more of a “relaxed” high. Some strains of the major strain sativa are, sour diesel, strawberry cough and lemon haze, in the streets, strains are known more as their main name, then the category they are in. Kush, Grape, Granddaddy Purp and Northern Lights are some strains from the indica category, these are more of the common ones you’ll on the streets. (Cervantes, 2015)

Indica is more used in the night time, to sedate the purpose, they have more a body high, deeply relaxed, used for pain and nausea, stress and anxiety. Sativa, is used more of a day time, sativa, gives users more of a cerebral high, meaning in the mind, they are more creative and focused and it helps to fight depression.

Some slang terms for the marijuana are, Dope, Loud, Greens, Bally, Reefer, Ganja, Bud, Dope, Pot and Herb, they’re many more names, thousands, people call it what they want to, depending on where you’re from.

The war on drugs and marijuana

In 2000, a total of 734,497 Americans were arrested for marijuana offenses, of which 646,042 (40.9%) were for possession alone. In the 1970s during the Reagan’s term & also Clintons a crime bill was signed. Which unleashed the “War on Drugs”. The intent of a 'War on Drugs' may have been to target drug smugglers and 'King Pins,' according to the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Reports, of the 1,552,432 arrests for drug law violations. in 2012, 82.2% (1,276,099) were for mere possession of a controlled substance. Nearly half (48.3%) of drug arrests in 2012 were for marijuana a total of 749,825. Of those, an estimated 658,231 arrests (42.4% of all drug arrests) were for marijuana possession alone. (“Drug War Statistics”).

Since then Marijuana became medically legal in New York , Main , Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware, Vermont, California, Nevada, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Michigan, New Mexico, Arizona (New England colonies & The North East) and recreationally legal in Colorado, Washington, Oregon. (“State Marijuana Laws in 2016 Map”). Most medical uses for marijuana are chronic pain, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, appetite, headaches, nausea, PTSD, muscle spasms, seizures for patients with epilepsy.

The Benefits of THC & CBD

THC or Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabiol, has medical benefits like, easing pain, helping to relax, suppressing pain from nerve damage, suppresses muscles spasms and convulsions. Most people think that THC is the only component to marijuana, but CBD or Cannabidiol is another drug is marijuana that has medical benefits as well. Cannabidiol is unlike THC, because it does not cause a high feeling, it is non- psychoactive. Cannabidiol reduces seizures, kills breast cancer cells, stimulates bone growth, stops inflammation, it has anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant properties and anti-psychotic properties. (Tech, 2016)

In 2016, there are a few different ways to use marijuana, you can smoke it, make deserts out of it, and you can even cook with it. You can make brownies, ice cream, milk, cake, bread, butter. Usually people prefer to smoke it, using devices like, bongs and bowls, backwoods and pipes or keeping it old school like the Rasta’s with papers and Fronto. Fronto is a natural grown tobacco leaf. You can grow it, in your back yard.

Since the 1990s, TV shows and movies have become more publicized, movies like Half Baked from 1998, How High from 2001 or Pineapple express from 2008, have glorified smoking and selling marijuana. In 2016 we have TV shows such as Mary & Jane on MTV, that’s about two female drug dealers in California who sell nothing but marijuana, legally. Celebrities whom smoke marijuana like Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa glamorize marijuana, having hybrids strains named after them. Even weed selling and harvesting games, such as bud farm and weed firm are becoming more popular.

Legalizing marijuana would make it easier, and keep a lot more people out of jail, I think we should more than just decriminalize it, but the country should start making a profit off of it, since it is in high demand, give the people what they want.