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We know that cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. But what does the science say about its efficacy? Here’s a look at the latest research.
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The History of Cannabis
Cannabis has been around for centuries, with its first recorded use dating back to 2727 BC. In ancient China, cannabis was used to treat a variety of ailments, including gout, rheumatism, and malaria. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that cannabis began to be used for recreational purposes.
The early years
Cannabis has been used for centuries for a variety of purposes. The earliest documented use of cannabis dates back to around 2700 BC in ancient China, where it was used as a medicinal herb.
In the early years, cannabis was mostly used for its medicinal properties. It was often prescribed for pain relief, and it was also thought to be effective in treating a range of other conditions such as seizures, gout, and malaria.
Cannabis began to be used recreationally around 1000 BC, and it quickly became popular in many cultures. It was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and it spread to other parts of Europe and Asia.
Cannabis reached the Americas in the 1600s, where it was introduced by Spanish and Portuguese explorers. It quickly became popular in North America, and by the early 1800s, it was being grown commercially in many parts of the United States.
In the early 1900s, cannabis was made illegal in many parts of the world. This coincided with a growing negative attitude towards the drug, which was seen as a threat to society. In the United States, cannabis was made illegal at federal level in 1937.
Despite its illegal status, cannabis continued to be used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in its potential medical applications, and several countries have legalized cannabis for medicinal use.
The modern era
Since the early 1900s, cannabis has been subject to increasing restrictions. In the United States, the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act in 1937 effectively outlawed Cannabis for most purposes, including hemp production. In the 1940s, a series of drug laws were passed that prohibited the use of cannabis for any purpose. Today, cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law.
The modern era of cannabis began in 1964 with the discovery of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of the plant. In the 1970s, scientists began to study THC and other cannabinoids in more detail, and a growing body of research has since shown that these compounds have numerous potential therapeutic applications.
Despite its well-documented medical benefits, cannabis remains illegal in many parts of the world. In those places where it is legal, its use is often heavily regulated and controlled. This creates significant barriers to research and limits patients’ access to this potentially life-saving medication.
The Benefits of Cannabis
You’ve probably heard a lot of people say that cannabis has helped them with their anxiety or pain, but is there any scientific evidence to support these claims? We did some digging to find out.
For medical purposes
Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. The plant contains a number of different compounds that may have health benefits.
The most well-known of these is THC, which is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. However, THC is just one of many different compounds found in the plant, and recent studies have shown that some of these other compounds may also have medical benefits.
CBD is one such compound. Unlike THC, CBD does not have any psychoactive effects. This means that it will not make you feel “high” if you use it.
Instead, CBD has been shown to have a number of potential health benefits, including reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and improving sleep.
There is still a lot of research to be done on CBD, but the evidence so far suggests that it could be a helpful treatment for a variety of different conditions.
For recreational purposes
In recent years, more and more countries have been decriminalizing or outright legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes. There are a number of reasons why this is happening, but one of the main ones is that the general public is becoming more aware of the many potential benefits of cannabis.
When used recreationally, cannabis can help to relax the mind and body, increase creativity, boost your mood, and improve your sleep. It can also be used to manage pain, inflammation, nausea, and other medical conditions.
Cannabis can be consumed in a variety of ways, including smoking, vaporizing, eating (edibles), and applying it topically (for example, as a lotion or oil). The method of consumption will affect how long it takes for the effects to kick in and how long they last.
If you’re thinking about using cannabis for recreational purposes, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks involved. These include addiction (cannabis dependence), impaired memory and learning ability (especially when used regularly during adolescence), psychotic symptoms (such as paranoia and delusions), and breathing problems (if smoked).
It’s also worth noting that THC — the main psychoactive compound in cannabis — can interact with other medications you may be taking. Therefore, if you’re considering using cannabis for recreational purposes, it’s important to talk to your doctor first to make sure it’s safe for you.
The Risks of Cannabis
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used for medical or recreational purposes. The main psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids. Cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporizing, within food, or as an extract.
Short-term risks
In the short term, cannabis can affect:
-your ability to learn and remember new information
-co-ordination
-reaction time
all of which could impact your ability to drive
If you’re pregnant, regular cannabis use could harm your baby
Long-term risks
Cannabis is generally considered to be a safe drug, but there are some risks associated with its use. These risks are mostly associated with long-term use, and they tend to be worse if you start using cannabis at a young age.
The most significant long-term risk associated with cannabis is addiction. Cannabis addiction is a real phenomenon, and it’s one of the most difficult addictions to overcome. If you start using cannabis in your teens, you’re significantly more likely to develop an addiction than if you start using it in your twenties or later.
Other long-term risks associated with cannabis include:
-Decreased IQ: A large study found that people who started smoking cannabis in their teens had an average IQ that was eight points lower than people who didn’t smoke cannabis.
-Schizophrenia: Cannabis use is linked to an increased risk of schizophrenia, especially in people who have a family history of the condition.
-Anxiety and depression: Long-term cannabis use is linked to an increased risk of anxiety and depression.
The Future of Cannabis
Legalization
There are a growing number of countries and regions that are decriminalizing or legalizing cannabis. In some places, such as Canada, this process is already underway. In others, such as the United States, it is still in its early stages.
There are a number of reasons why this shift is taking place. For one, there is an increasing body of scientific evidence that suggests that cannabis has a number of potential medical benefits. This is leading to calls for its use to be legalized for medical purposes.
There is also a growing recognition of the fact that the current system of prohibition is not effective in reducing cannabis use or related harms. In fact, it is often argued that prohibition actually increases these harms by pushing users into the illicit market where they have no quality control over the products they are buying.
Legalization would allow for regulation of the cannabis market, which would in turn lead to safer products and reduced health risks for users. It would also open up new opportunities for tax revenue and economic growth.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to legalize cannabis lies with each individual country or region. However, it seems likely that we will see continued progress in this area in the years to come.
Regulation
Cannabis is currently regulated by the United States federal government as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This means that the federal government considers cannabis to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. In practice, this classification has had very little impact on the regulation of cannabis at the federal level. However, it does make it very difficult for scientists to conduct research on cannabis and creates significant barriers to developing new medical treatments using cannabinoids.
In 2016, the DEA announced its intention to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule II, but this change has not yet been made. If cannabis were rescheduled, it would still be tightly regulated, but it would be classified as a less dangerous substance with some accepted medical uses. This would make it easier for scientists to study cannabis and develop new medical treatments.
It is also worth noting that although cannabis is not currently regulated at the federal level, many states have their own laws regulating its production, sale, and consumption. These state-level regulations vary widely, so it is important to check your local laws before using cannabis in any form.
