Contents
What Science Says About Cannabis: The Pros and Cons of Marijuana
We know that cannabis has a variety of medical benefits, but what does science say about its risks? In this blog post, we’ll explore the latest research on marijuana to help you make an informed decision about its use.
Checkout this video:
The History of Cannabis
Though cannabis was federally prohibited in the United States in 1937, its history in America dates back much further. In fact, hemp (the non-psychoactive variety of the cannabis plant) was once a major agricultural crop in the early 1600s. Here’s a look at the history of cannabis in America.
The early years
Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The first recorded use of cannabis as a medicine was in 2737 BC by the Chinese emperor Shen Neng. Shen Neng prescribed cannabis tea to treat various maladies, including gout, rheumatism, malaria, and poor memory.
Cannabis eventually made its way to India, where it was used to relieve pain and inflammation. In the early 1800s, British doctors began prescribing cannabis for a variety of conditions, including muscle spasms, seizures, and pain.
In the United States, cannabis was widely used as a medicine in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was sold in pharmacies and even included in some medical textbooks as a treatment for various conditions. However, its use began to decline in the 1920s after the passage of laws that prohibited its sale or use.
The modern era
In the early 20th century, cannabis began to be regulated in many countries. In the United States, the first federal law against cannabis was passed in 1937. In the 1950s and 1960s, other countries also began to pass laws against it.
Since then, there has been much research on the medical uses of cannabis. In recent years, a growing number of countries have started to legalise or decriminalise it for medical use.
Cannabis is now used to treat a wide range of conditions, including pain, inflammation, anxiety, seizures and more. It is also being studied for its potential to help with other conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
The Benefits of Cannabis
The cannabis plant has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Cannabis contains over 60 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids, which are absorbed by the body’s endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for a variety of physiological processes, including pain, immunity, and mood.
Medical benefits
Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, can refer to the use of cannabis and its cannabinoids to treat disease or improve symptoms; however, there is no single agreed-upon definition.[1][2][3] The rigorous scientific study of cannabis as a medicine has been hampered by production restrictions and other federal regulations.[4] There is limited evidence suggesting cannabis can be used to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, to improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms.[5][6] Its use for other medical applications is insufficient for conclusions about safety or efficacy.
Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.[7] Modern research suggests that cannabinoids, the active ingredients in cannabis, may have therapeutic value in treating a number of medical conditions,[8][9][10][11] including chronic pain,[12][13] nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy,[14][15][16] multiple sclerosis,[17][18] epilepsy,[19][20] anxiety disorders,[21] asthma,[22] and glaucoma.[23][24]
A review found that controlled clinical trials suggested that cannabinoids were effective in treating certain types of chronic pain, but the evidence was limited due to methodological flaws. The authors noted that studies investigating the efficacy of cannabis in treating chronic pain have used different formulations, routes of administration (e.g., smoked vs. inhaled), different patient populations, and different degrees of severity of pain;[25] thus, it is difficult to compare results across trials. Another systematic review concluded that smoked cannabis was effective for reducing neuropathic pain but with important side effects such as dizziness and somnolence.[26]
Recreational benefits
Cannabis is known to have many benefits, both for medicinal and recreational purposes. The plant has been used for centuries to help with various ailments, such as pain relief, anxiety, and appetite loss. More recently, however, cannabis has been legalized in many states for recreational use.
There are many different ways to consume cannabis, such as smoking it, eating it, or using it in a topical form. Each method has different effects on the body and mind. For example, smoking cannabis may give you a feeling of relaxation or euphoria, while eating it may give you a more mellow experience.
There are also many different strains of cannabis, each with its own unique set of effects. Some strains are more potent than others and can cause different reactions in different people. It is important to experiment with different strains to find the one that works best for you.
In general, however, cannabis is known to have several benefits when used recreationally. These benefits include:
– Relief from stress and anxiety
– Increased sense of well-being and happiness
– Improved sleep quality
– Increased creativity and productivity
– Increased sense of relaxation
The Risks of Cannabis
Cannabis is a complex substance with a variety of effects. It is generally smoked as a joint or in a pipe, or bong. Short-term effects of smoking cannabis include impaired ability to: remember, concentrate, pay attention, react quickly,
Short-term risks
Cannabis use comes with a number of short-term risks, including:
-impaired ability to drive or operate machinery
-increased risk of accidents
-impaired judgment and decision-making
-impaired memory and learning
-anxiety
-panic
-psychotic symptoms (in some people)
-increased heart rate
Long-term risks
The long-term risks associated with chronic cannabis use have been the subject of much debate.
Some people argue that the increased risk of developing certain psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia, is enough to warrant prohibiting its use. Others argue that the risks are overstated and that the benefits of marijuana, such as pain relief, outweigh the risks.
The truth is that the jury is still out on the long-term risks of cannabis use. The scientific consensus is that there is a small increased risk of developing certain psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia, in people who use cannabis regularly. However, it is important to keep in mind that this risk is relatively small and that not everyone who uses cannabis will develop a mental health disorder.
The Future of Cannabis
In recent years, there has been a lot of stigma surrounding cannabis. However, as more and more research is conducted, it is becoming clear that cannabis has a lot of potential. In this article, we will be discussing the future of cannabis and what science has to say about it.
Legalization
The future of cannabis is shrouded in uncertainty, but there are a few things we can be sure of. The first is that legalization is inevitable. In the past decade, public opinion has shifted dramatically in favor of cannabis reform, and an increasing number of states are moving to legalize both medical and recreational use. This trend is only likely to continue, as more and more people come to see cannabis as a harmless recreational drug.
The second certainty is that the legal cannabis industry is going to be huge. Some estimates suggest that it could eventually be worth tens of billions of dollars per year. This rapid growth will bring both opportunities and challenges, as businesses scramble to get a piece of the pie.
Lastly, we can be sure that the scientific study of cannabis will continue to evolve. In the past few years, there have been major breakthroughs in our understanding of the plant’s medicinal properties. As research continues, we are likely to discover even more ways in which cannabis can improve our health and wellbeing.
Regulation
In order for cannabis to be sold legally, it must meet certain regulatory requirements. The Cannabis Act creates a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada.
The Act sets out strict rules for producing cannabis: licensed producers must meet good production practices and security requirements set out by Health Canada. Producers will only be able to sell cannabis to authorized distributors and retailers.
The Act also establishes serious criminal penalties for those who produce or sell cannabis outside of the legal framework. For instance, it will be illegal to sell cannabis to minors.
The Cannabis Act is based on the recommendations of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, which was appointed by the Government of Canada in 2016. The Task Force’s report contains over 80 recommendations on how to best legalize and regulate cannabis in Canada.
