April 7th, 2008 by Peter Bonginelli
filed under: Marijuana Effects
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Below is the official National Institute On Drug Abuse’s definition of marijuana. There are many flaws and many true facts in their definition, and I’d be interested in seeing what you guys have to say about it. One thing I noticed right off the bat was that some of their points such as “those who smoke marijuana are less likely to graduate from high school” could be attributed to the War On Drugs instead of the drug itself. For example… if marijuana were legal, kids would not be getting kicked out of school for experimenting with it.
Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. A dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, it usually is smoked as a cigarette (joint, nail), or in a pipe (bong). It also is smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana, often in combination with another drug. It might also be mixed in food or brewed as a tea. As a more concentrated, resinous form it is called hashish and, as a sticky black liquid, hash oil. Marijuana smoke has a pungent and distinctive, usually sweet-and-sour odor. There are countless street terms for marijuana including pot, herb, weed, grass, widow, ganja, and hash, as well as terms derived from trademarked varieties of cannabis, such as Bubble Gum, Northern Lights, Fruity Juice, Afghani #1, and a number of Skunk varieties.
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February 20th, 2008 by Peter Bonginelli
filed under: Marijuana Effects, Medical Marijuana, News
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The American College Of Physicians is the second biggest doctor’s organization in America, consisting of 124,000 physicians. Yesterday the college issued a statement pointing to strong evidence that marijuana is useful in treating AIDS wasting syndrome, glaucoma, and easing side effects from cancer.
Here is a summary of their main argument:
"Position 1: ACP supports programs and funding for rigorous scientific evaluation of the potential therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana and the publication of such findings.
Position 1a: ACP supports increased research for conditions where the efficacy of marijuana has been established to determine optimal dosage and route of delivery.
Position 1b: Medical marijuana research should not only focus on determining drug efficacy and safety but also on determining efficacy in comparison with other available treatments.
Position 2: ACP encourages the use of non-smoked forms of THC that have proven therapeutic value.
Position 3: ACP supports the current process for obtaining federal research-grade cannabis.
Position 4: ACP urges review of marijuana’s status as a schedule I controlled substance and its reclassification into a more appropriate schedule, given the scientific evidence regarding marijuana’s safety and efficacy in some clinical conditions.
Position 5: ACP strongly supports exemption from federal criminal prosecution; civil liability; or professional sanctioning, such as loss of licensure or credentialing, for physicians who prescribe or dispense medical marijuana in accordance with state law."
The American College Physicians is the first medical organization to outright oppose the governments laws against medical marijuana. This is a historic step towards the medical community’s acceptance of marijuana as medicine. The largest medical organization in the United States, the American Medical Association, has lagged behind on the issue, and this will put pressure on them to follow suit.
Source: http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/524/american_college_physicians_medical_marijuana_policy_statement
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February 5th, 2008 by Peter Bonginelli
filed under: Marijuana Effects, Medical Marijuana, News
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It was published today by the American Association for Cancer Research in their journal “Cancer Research” that a University Of Wisconsin study showed Cannabinoids inhibited cancer cell proliferation. This helped slow down everything from brain cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer among others.
Politicians have yet again turned a blind eye to medical marijuana, even with the upcoming elections. And according to Paul Armentano at NORML.org this is not the first time, “For over 30 years, US politicians and bureaucrats have systematically turned a blind eye to scientific research indicating that marijuana may play a role in cancer prevention — a finding that was first documented in 1974. That year, a research team at the Medical College of Virginia (acting at the behest of the federal government) discovered that cannabis inhibited malignant tumor cell growth in culture and in mice.”
Later studies in Europe even showed that brain cancer cells would induce apoptosis (cell death) without harming surrounding cells, effectively destroying the tumor.
The propaganda continues to hold that cannabis causes cancer and is bad for you health, while mountains of evidence are piling up against the status quo. Until the people demand change, the government will not provide it. Recently the Marijuana Policy Project offered all the GOP frontrunners $20,000 to back up their statements against medical marijuana with scientific evidence. So far no takers.
February 3rd, 2008 by Peter Bonginelli
filed under: Marijuana Effects
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I have had many requests to write an article about the effects of marijuana on the body, and have always been hesitant on this subject as THC and its related compounds affect each person in a different way. This has as much to do with a person’s psychological state, as it has to do with the physical make-up. Those who tend to think of them selves as small or insignificant have an enhanced sense of being when smoking pot. Per say, it brings out a sense of self confidence often ignored by the conscious mind. Conversely, those who are full of themselves and think they are superior to everyone else tend to get paranoia and feel uncomfortable while high. In addition, a veteran smoker will have a confident and assured mindset going into the high, while a first time smoker may feel paranoia due to the belief that the drug may harm them.
The creative types get the psychological benefits the strongest. THC increases sensory input without changing the overall perspective of what is happening (like hallucinogens would). For example, THC increases one’s appetite, and also enhances the taste of food at the same time, creating the "munchies" phenomenon. While high, one is in a relaxed state, almost of meditation, and very in touch with the subconscious part of the mind. Outside distractions are ignored and one is free to focus or "get in the zone" for whatever one may set their mind to do. However, short-term memory is not as strong while high, so a free flow of ideas is ideal, not complicated tasks that require a set thought process.
On the physiological side, there are several things going on. First, cannabis will cause a swelling of the minor conjunctival blood vessels around the eye, resulting in bloodshot eyes. Another unpleasant side effect is the reduction of saliva production (dry mouth). On a lighter note, it has been reported in a de-classified military study that Cannabis can have hypnotic, anesthetic, anti-convulsant, anti-hypertensive and temperature-reducing effects with some medical value.
The high is still going to different for every person and new studies will come out every year saying one thing or another. You need to find out how THC affects your body in a safe and controlled environment. Don’t let someone pressure you into smoking - you WILL have a bad experience. I can’t stress this enough, I have seen many cases of first time smokers who have been pressured into smoking have a horrible time because they believe the drug is horrible and they feel they have let themselves down. As I said before, weed will bring out your inner feelings about your life for a few hours; make sure you’re happy with yourself first.
Erowid.org list of effects (part humor):
POSITIVE
mood lift, euphoria
laughter
relaxation, stress reduction
creative, philosophical or deep thinking : ideas flow more easily
increased appreciation of music. More aware of, deeper connection to music.
increased awareness of senses. (eating, drinking, smell)
change in experience of muscle fatigue. Pleasant body feel. Increase in body/mind connection.
pain relief (headaches, cramps)
reduced nausea, increased appetite (used medically for this)
boring tasks or entertainment can become more interesting or funny
NEUTRAL
general change in consciousness (as with many psychoactives)
increased appetite, snacky-ness
slowness (slow driving, talking)
change in vision such as sharpened colors or lights
closed-eye visuals (somewhat uncommon)
tiredness, sleepiness, lethargy
stimulation, inability to sleep (less common)
blood shot eyes (more common with certain varieties of cannabis and inexperienced users)
mouth dryness, sticky-mouth (varies with strain)
interrupts linear memory. Difficulty following a train of thought.
cheek, jaw, facial tension / numbness (less commonly reported)
racing thoughts (especially at high doses)
increased emotional impact of music
Time sense altered: cars seem like they are moving too fast, time dilation and compression are common at higher doses
NEGATIVE
nausea, especially in combination with alcohol, some pharmaceuticals, or other psychoactives
coughing, asthma, upper respiratory problems
difficulty with short term memory during effects and during periods of frequent use (Ranganathan M, D’Souza DC, Psychopharmacology, 2006)
racing heart, agitation, feeling tense
mild to severe anxiety
panic attacks in sensitive users or with very high doses (oral use increases risk of getting too much)
headaches
dizziness, confusion
lightheadedness or fainting (in cases of lowered blood pressure)
paranoid & anxious thoughts more frequent
possible psychological dependence on cannabis
clumsiness, loss of coordination at high doses
can precipitate or exacerbate latent or existing mental disorders
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
mild to moderate, non life-threatening withdrawal symptoms occur after daily use in some users. These may last for 1-6 weeks after cessation of use and can include anxiety, anhedonia (reduced experience of pleasure), headaches, general unease/discomfort, difficulty sleeping, and a desire to smoke pot. Severity of symptoms is related to frequency of use and individual sensitivity. slight loss of appetite finding non-stoned life a bit dull, increased boredom
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