2. Marijuana Marijuana is a green, brown or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. All forms of marijuana are mind-altering Marijuana’s effects on the user depend on it’s strength or potency, which is related to the amount of THC it contains Cannabis sativa
3. History Marijuana has been used as an agent for achieving euphoria since ancient times The first direct reference to a cannabis product as a psychoactive agent dates from 2737 BC In 1545 the Spanish brought marijuana to the New World Medicinally used in labour pains, nausea and rheumatism
4. Medicinal Uses Alzheimer's disease Neuron growth Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Breast cancer HIV/AIDS Brain cancer
5. Marijuana in India Used during observance of certain rituals Government-owned shops in holy cities like Varanasi sell marijuana in the form of bhang Despite the high prevalent usage, the law makes it illegal to possess any form of the drug
6. Criticism Smoking as a method of consumption Weed being more potent than it used to be Effects on short term memory A joint contains 4 times more tar than a cigarette Withdrawal symptoms irritability, stomach pain, aggression, and anxiety
7. Cannabis joints are potentially the most harmful method of consumption. Burning temperature can reach up to 700⁰C. distorted perceptions impaired coordination difficulty in thinking and problem solving problems with learning and memory Addictive Potential Marijuana and Mental Health
8. Effects on the Heart Marijuana increases heart rate by 50% shortly after smoking Effects on the Lungs marijuana smoke contains carcinogens which are irritant to the lungs
9.
10. Conclusion Marijuana has great potential in medicine, with the extraction of THC from the rest of the compounds. Major obstacle is its availability in required quantity for research and the abuse potential makes matters worse.
