Marijuana: The History and Benefits Explored

Many of us are familiar with Marijuana, also known as cannabis, ganja, weed, dank, KB, or for those out there that can't afford much, schwag. No matter what you call it, it is all the same -- in a sense. But, although, many people smoke marijuana, few actually understand what it is, and the benefits. This is why I have compiled a complete information article based solely on the herb, Marijuana.

First off, many people don't know what this "weed' actually is. Marijuana is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa. The herbal form of the drug is made of dried mature inflorescences and subtending leaves of female (pistillate) plants. The most active chemical compound found in ganja is tetrahydrocannabinol, or as many people know it as THC. This compound has psychoactive and physiological effects when consumed -- either by smoking or ingesting (brownies). Believe it or not there is a minimum amount of THC that is required to have a perceptible psychoactive effect, and that amount is around 5 mg. There is also a related compound that is very similar to THC that is found in certain drug strains, and that is tetrahydrocannabidivarin, or THCV. This second type of compound is recorded as having faster and "flashier" effects than THC, however, there have been recent studies that are suggesting THCV actually inhibits the effects of THC. THCV is found in African dagga, or marijuana, as well as in hashish from the northwest Himalayas.

But, how long have humans been consuming Marijuana? Is it a fairly new drug? Actually, humans have been consuming "weed" since prehistoric times, however, in the 20th century, marijuana reached its peak in its use for recreational, religious or spiritual, and medicinal purposes. There are estimates that around 4% of the world's adult population consume marijuana. In the United States, there are estimates that 20% or more of adults have tried the drug, and 10-30% or more in Europoean countries. However long humans have been consuming marijuana, it has now become very illegal in many parts of the world. Although, there are some countries that have eased the enforcement of marijuana, as in The Netherlands. However, it is still very illegal in most of the world to produce marijuana for drug use due to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

What is the history of Marijuana? Well, botanists have determined that marijuana is native to central Asia and possible going down into the Himalayas. There is evidence of inhalation of marijuana smoke that goes back as far as the Neolithic age. This is proved by the charred seeds found in a ritual brazier at an ancient burial site in present day Romania. However, the most famous users of marijuana were the ancient Hindus of India, and the Hashshashins (hashish eaters) of present day Syria. There were also signs of use from the citizens of the Persian Empire, in which they would partake in the ceremonial burning of massive marijuana bonfires. By doing this they would expose all that lived around the bonfire to billowing fumes for often over 24 hours. Marijuana was also used by the Assyrians, who discovered it through the Aryans. They used it in religious ceremonies, and called it qunubu, which translates to the drug for sadness.

There is one thing that is communal about many of these ancient cultures, and that is many of them used marijuana in their religious ceremonies. When you trace the history of this plant, you will find that many pharmacological cults around the world used marijuana in their ceremonies. There are even some historians who are saying that marijuana was used as a religious sacrament by the ancient Jews, early Christians and Muslims of the Sufi order. However, the use of religious marijuana stems to today, as the Rastafari movement has embraced the use of this drug. Like the Rastafari, some modern Gnostic Christian sects have asserted that Marijuana is the Tree of Life. There are actual organized religions founded within the past century that treat marijuana as a sacrament. Some of these organizations are the THC Ministry, the Way of Infinite Harmony, Cantheism, the Cannibis Assembly and the Church of Cognizance. However, many individuals consider their use of this plant to be spiritual, regardless of their religion.

Surely we have all heard of Medical Marijuana. However, why is this so? The Marijuana Policy Project has stated that marijuana is an ideal therapeutic drug for cancer and AIDS patients, who often suffer from clinical depression and from nausea and weight loss from chemotherapy and other treatments. It has been said that marijuana makes these and other treatments more bearable for the sick. Even for people that do not have a terminal sickness, the effects of marijuana provide a degree of relief for persons suffering from motion sickness, and can also be used by hyperhidrosis sufferers for temporary relief of excessive sweating.

However, there have been many different discussion for the use of medical marijuana, both for it and against it. On April 20, 2006 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an intra-agency advisory that warned against medical marijuana, stating that the plant has a high potential for abuse, no current medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. Also, the FDA made a statement saying that, "there is no currently sound evidence that smoked marijuana is harmful." Also, the National Institute of Health (NIH) made a statement saying, "the association of these [lung and upper aerodigestive tract] cancers with marijuana, even long-term or heavy use, is not strong and may be below practically detectable limits."

So what's the big fuss about medical marijuana? Well, there have been claims that marijuana reduces the intraocular pressure (fluid pressure within the eye) and is therefore useful for glaucoma suffers. It also been said that it is useful when treating epilepsy, migraines and bipolar disorder. There have even been studies that show the use of marijuana can relieve tics in patients that suffer from OCD and/or Tourette syndrome. Patients who have undergone this study were shown to have a 50% or more decrease in motor and vocal tics. THC has also been shows to reduce arterial blockages. In the United States, there are in upwards of 60 million people who have legalized medical marijuana to some degree. There are additionally six states that have enacted a decriminalization policy towards the drug. However, because the federal government does not acknowledge any medical uses for marijuana, there are still federal enforcements dealing with this drug.

Even though the use of marijuana is illegal, some medical practitioners still recommend it informally. There is a synthetic version of THC, which is available in capsule form as the prescription drug donation (Marinol) which is available in many countries. In Canada, the drug Sativex, which is an extract from marijuana is administered as a sublingual spray and is used for multiple sclerosis sufferers. However, the United States still views marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, which is in the same as heroin and LSD, but, they have listed Marinol as a Schedule III drug, even though they have the exact same active ingredient, THC.

Marijuana is prepared for human consumption in many different forms. There are several different terms that are used in order to identify the various types of consumption methods. Marijuana can be known as Hashish or Charas. Basically, this describes the concentrated resin that is composed of debris that has been physically extracted from the plant. There are various methods in which this is performed, either by rubbing, sifting or with ice. The Kief, or Kif, is the chopped flowering tops of female plants, which is ofted mixed with tobacco. Bhang is a beverage which is prepared by one grinding marijuana leaves in milk and then boiling the mixture with spices and various other tasteful ingredients. And Budder, which is the hash oil which is whipped in order add air into the mixture, making the finished compound similar to butter.

However, the most popular way to consume marijuana, is to smoke it. There many different types of ways in which have become widely used in the smoking process. The most popular ways is by a joint, blunt, using a hookah, a bong, or the pipe, which is usually recognized by the names "bowl" or "piece", there is also a shotgun, chillum, and the one-hitter, which is also called a "bat." However, there are several methods of actually eating the plant. Eating marijuana is an alternative to the previous methods. This has become very popular because of the longer lasting effects of the drug. However, many people who have consumed marijuana via ingestion often complain about the experience, because the "high" is far more intense than the traditional smoking. This is due to the fact that when one smokes marijuana, it looses a significant amount of THC, however, when one ingests the compound, all of the active components, are converted into the more psychoactive 11-hydroxy-THC by the liver.

No matter how you look at marijuana, there are some health issues that have been raised by the consumption of this plant. However, throughout peoples studies there have been many different and conflicting results concerning the physical and mental effects of marijuana. However, many of these studies have been done by government agencies, of whom it can be hard to take their findings as non-biased. Many people have condemned these studies as the various agencies "pick-and-choose" their findings that they put in their reports. However, all of the studies have shown that smoking marijuana has not been the cause of emphysema, lung cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There have also been other studies that have suggested that marijuana does not appear to cause birth defects or developmental delays in pregnant women. Citing a United Kingdom government report, using marijuana is less dangerous than both tobacco and alcohol in social harms, physical harms and addiction.

Although the latter is not negative news, it has been shown that marijuana acts on the hippocampus, which is the area of the brain that is associated with memory and learning. It is said that this drug impairs short term memory and attention spans during the duration of the "high," as well as throughout the next several days, in some cases. However, some studies have suggested that in the long term certain particular types of memory have been enhanced. One major study concluded that marijuana was found to be "neuroprotective" against "excitotoxicty" which is a major beneficial factor is preventing progressive degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. In a study that was conducted by the Health Secretary of the State of France, Bernard Kouchner, and was directed by Dr. Pierre-Bernard Roques, it was concluded that marijuana does not have any neurotixicity that affects the brain. Which means that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and cocaine.

No matter what your stance is on marijuana, one must begin to ask themselves is this drug really worth illegalizing. Marijuana has been involved in mankind's history for millennia's. Yes, when one takes any type of recreational drug, be it alcohol or marijuana, in an irresponsible manner, there are going to be negative effects. However, I believe that it is a must that the pubic is educated on this "drug" before they begin to pass judgment. I am not saying that the government NEEDS to legalize the substance. However, I do believe that we should decriminalize, or make the punishments less severe, to marijuana users if they are responsible with the plant - just as in alcohol. But, will this ever happen?