A long road lies ahead for advocates of legal marijuana. Even as more studies agree that it has potential in medicine and more countries have decriminalized its possession and use, most of the world has yet to take steps. For example, in India, save for bhang (food and drink prepared from cannabis seeds and flowers), recreational marijuana remains illegal.
Regardless of legal status, it’s best to have a meaningful dialogue about the substance. For one thing, it’s slowly changing many people’s views about marijuana; for another, the results of the global war on drugs have been a mixed bag at best.
As such, no matter where you live, there are several things worth knowing about recreational marijuana.
1. It’s Nothing New
It’s easy to think that legal marijuana, let alone recreational, is relatively new. After all, it was only in 1996, with California passing legislation that allowed medical cannabis, that the world took notice. Then, the world started talking about it when Colorado and Washington legalized recreational marijuana in 2012.
However, contrary to popular belief, humanity had been down this road thousands of years ago. In 2019, Chinese archaeologists unearthed evidence of marijuana use over 2,500 years ago in a cemetery in western China. It was used as incense for mourning the dead, a practice they believe dates back as far as 5,000 years ago.
Strangely, there are also records of marijuana use among Muslims a century after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The most common at the time was hashish, a form of cannabis smoked via a pipe. While Islamic law outlaws the use of intoxicating substances like alcohol, it doesn’t include cannabis (though Muslim scholars are divided on the legal debate).
2. It May Or May Not Get You High
The effects of marijuana are well-documented, the most popular being inducing euphoria or an intense feeling of happiness, otherwise known as getting ‘high.’ In some cases, namely among first-time users, the ‘high’ can be in the form of anxiety or panic. Depending on how a person consumes marijuana, the effects can last between 30 minutes and several hours.
But of equal consideration is the kind of cannabis consumed and its concentration. The stuff in cannabis responsible for getting one high is known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which works by prompting the brain to release feel-good chemicals. As indicated by Dr Dabber’s explanation and other sources, concentrated mediums like waxes deliver more potent THC.
However, the cannabis plant is home to more than a hundred compounds or cannabinoids, some of which aren’t as high-inducing as THC. The most widespread of these is cannabidiol (CBD), which works differently in the body as its more psychoactive sibling. That’s why CBD sees use mostly in cannabis-laced edibles.
3. It Demands The Utmost Self-Control
For all its purported health benefits, marijuana can get anyone unprepared hooked. Experts stress that an adult’s chance of getting addicted to the substance is 10%. However, a minor’s chance of getting addicted is 16% to 17%, which can be a problem if your children mistake your cannabis-laced brownies for regular ones.
Don’t let these seemingly-low figures deceive you. As with most legal drugs, the more a person uses marijuana, the more they’ll desire it when they don’t get their fix. Doctors say symptoms such as sleep disorders, irritability, and pain that follow a week of not using marijuana may point to cannabis use disorder.
There’s no doubt that restraining yourself from excessive marijuana use is hard, but dealing with the fallout of failing will be much harder. Below are some steps in the right direction.
- Start with small doses, especially if you’re a beginner
- Be patient; it takes a while for the marijuana to kick in
- Avoid consuming marijuana within sight of children
- Refrain from doing anything while under the influence
- Teach kids the dangers of marijuana use before the age of 20
Education precedes safety. So, take the time to educate yourself and those around you on recreational marijuana to avoid problems.
4. It’s Better To Use At Home
There’s no better place to use recreational marijuana than the confines of your home. Bad things can happen if you get high at a public park or while driving, considering that it can temporarily impair your ability to think.
Partial legality is another reason. In the U.S., while states have enacted their laws legalizing marijuana, it’s still classified as a Schedule I drug on the federal level. Bringing your marijuana across state lines can get you arrested, even if it’s legal in the neighboring state. It doesn’t help that some state officials remain adamant about keeping marijuana illegal.
Conclusion
Recreational marijuana should be used with utmost care. Amid the increasing number of studies and growing favorable public opinion, there are still many things even experts don’t understand about the substance. Give it enough time, though; its use may become too common.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24207013/STK084_Sonos_02.jpg)