Cannabis

Effects:

The short-term effects of marijuana include:

 Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)

 Problems with memory and learning
 Loss of coordination
 Trouble with thinking and problem-solving
 Increased heart rate, reduced blood pressure
 Hallucinations
 Delusions
 Impaired long term memory
 Disorientation

Myths:
 Potency – There is no medical evidence that shows that high potency marijuana is more harmful than
low potency marijuana. Marijuana is literally one of the least toxic substances known. High potency
marijuana is actually preferable because less is needed to obtain the desired effect (excluding “binge
smoking”), thereby reducing the amount of smoke that enters the lungs which could be seen as a
respiratory health hazard. Claiming that high potency marijuana is more harmful than low potency
marijuana is like claiming wine is more harmful than beer.
 Cancer properties – The chances of contracting cancer from marijuana is miniscule. Tobacco smokers
typically smoke 20+ cigarettes daily for decades, but virtually no-one smoke marijuana in that quantity
and frequency required to cause cancer. A 1997 UCLA study concluded that even prolonged and heavy
marijuana smoking causes no serious lung damage. Cancer risk from common foods (meat, salt, dairy
products..) far exceed any cancer risk posed by smoking cannabis.
 Overdose/Deaths/Hospital Records – Marijuana has never caused overdose deaths. However, the
number of people admitted in hospital emergency rooms who say they have used marijuana has
increased. On this basis, the visit may be recorded as marijuana-related even if marijuana had nothing
to do with the visit. Many more teenagers use marijuana than other drugs such as heroin or cocaine, so
when asked if any drugs were used due to this incident more people will report marijuana instead of the
harder drugs who could have caused their symptoms. Also if marijuana is detected in their system, even
if it has nothing to do with the incident, its reported. E.g if a drunk driver is found with marijuana in his
system from a few days before it is reported in the concluding report. In reality less than 0.2% of all
emergency room admissiond are ‘marijuana related’.
 Gateway Drug – The governments own statistics show that over 75% of all persons who use marijuana
never use harder drugs. The gateway drug theory is derived from blatently flawed logic. Using such
logic, alcohol should be considered a gateway drug because most cocaine and heroin addicts began
their drug use with beer or wine – not marijuana.
 Pro’s and Con’s:

Pro’s – Medical Uses:

Marijuana is used in many cases to help certain patients of chronic

illnesses such as:

 AIDS (HIV) & AIDS Wasting

 Alzheimer's Disease
 Arthritis
 Asthma / Breathing Disorders
 Crohn's / Gastrointestinal Disorders
 Epilepsy / Seizures
 Glaucoma
 Hepatitis C
 Migraines
 Muscle Spasms
 Chemotherapy
 Analgesia
 Psychological Conditions
 Tourette's Syndrome

Other illnesses that the plant provides major pain-relief from are:

 Anorexia
 Cachexia
 Cancer
 Epilepsy
 Glaucoma
 Multiple Sclerosis
 Nausea
 Muscle Pain
 Spasticity
 Wasting Syndrome

With uses such as these, many states in America have legalised the use of marijuana if
prescribed by a qualified doctor. There are many shops open purely for the distribution of
legal cannabis in the USA, this controlled distribution has proven to change the mentality of
the state upon the drug itself.
Cons – Side Effects:

Marijuana, like all drugs, has various side effects. These can vary from short term to long term
effects that can have repercussions on certain activities in the future.

Many of these have stated to be:

 Enhanced cancer risk

 Decrease in testosterone levels and lower sperm counts for men
 Increase in testosterone levels for women and increased risk of infertility
 Diminished or extinguished sexual pleasure
 Psychological dependence requiring more of the drug to get the same effect
 Sleepiness
 Difficulty keeping track of time, impaired or reduced short-term memory
 Reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination,
such as driving a car
 Increased heart rate
 Potential cardiac dangers for those with preexisting heart disease
 Bloodshot eyes
 Dry mouth and throat
 Decreased social inhibitions
 Paranoia, hallucinations
 Impaired or reduced short-term memory
 Impaired or reduced comprehension
 Altered motivation and cognition, making the acquisition of new information difficult
 Paranoia
 Psychological dependence
 Impairments in learning and memory, perception, and judgment - difficulty
speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving,
and forming concepts
 Intense anxiety or panic attacks

Many of these symptoms have been recorded by ex - marijuana users who indicated these as
the main side effects. Although not as dangerous as heroin or crack, these can still have
detrimental effects on the user.
Laws and differences between Italy and England:

England –

Cannabis is a Class B drug - illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession can get you up to
five years in jail. Supplying someone else, including your friends, can get you fourteen years
and an unlimited fine and If you are caught with cannabis the police will always take action.

The penalties are as follows:

Possession

 Normally the police will charge you and confiscate any of the said drug that you have
on you.
 The maximum penalty for possession is five years in prison plus an unlimited fine.

Supply

 The maximum penalty for supply is 14 years in prison plus an unlimited fine.

 In the eyes of the law dealing is regarded even if you aren’t collecting money or if
your only giving some to friends, it is a very serious offence.

Italy –

Cannabis is illegal in Italy. Current legislation establishes quantitative limits of active

ingredient: within those limits it is considered an administrative offense, over them it is
regarded as pushing. Medical use of substances prepared with marijuana are legal, if
provided by medical prescription. In July 2008, however, the Italian Supreme Court ruled that
Rastafari may be allowed to possess greater amounts of cannabis legally, owing to its use by
them as a sacrament.

Legal Penalties

Possession –

 Punished with 1–6 years of imprisonment for small amounts and

Cultivation and intent to supply –

 6–20 years for big amounts or cultivation. However, jurisprudence is

contradictory concerning growing for personal use.