The Risks and Benefits of Using Cannabis
While most people are familiar with the hallucinogenic properties of the Hemp plant, it has several practical functions as well…
While most people are familiar with the hallucinogenic properties of the Hemp plant, it has several practical functions as well. Hemp seeds are used in baking, the stalks are used to make thread and woven into fabrics, and dried hemp is used in making paper. Hemp is also used in making plastic, oil paints, and skin moisturizers. The most famous use for the hemp plant, however, is in making cannabis. Surprisingly, cannabis itself has a number of benefits. While these may or may not outweigh its negative effects, it is important to know what these benefits are before we debate the pros and cons of completely outlawing cannabis or legalizing it.
Cannabis is also known as marijuana and is notorious for its side effects on the human body. Its addiction is responsible for triggering many mental and physical illnesses such as depression, paranoid-schizophrenia, lethargy, and even infertility. Cannabis is a compound with about 400 chemical ingredients. Of these, the two most important ingredients are Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). The former is the most active of all ingredients and affects the brain, while the latter is the only component of Cannabis that is non-psychoactive.
What makes THC dangerous? Our bodies makes molecules called endocannabinoids. These are attached to certain cells and act as receptors to Cannabis and triggers off the hallucinogenic properties of the Cannabis plant. It is largely responsible for the addiction that many develop to Cannabis and for a number of neurological ailments.
While Cannabis harmful aspects cannot be overlooked, its medical use cannot be ignored either. It is widely used as a pain reliever by millions all over the world. People suffering from multiple sclerosis have taken Cannabis-based drugs with good results. Apart from being an effective pain reliever, the components of Cannabis have other medicinal uses as well. Recent studies have proved that THC component of Cannabis can actually be effective in the treatment of brain tumors.
Even brain tumors which have been surgically removed often grow back to threaten the hosts lives. To stop this, all the tumor cells have to be destroyed by depriving them off nutrients. THC steps in by killing the cancerous cells and stopping them from regenerating. Most importantly, THC only destroys the cancerous cells. How does THC manage this? The cancerous cells, like ordinary cells, receive their nutrients from blood. It happens when the body gets a signal from a protein called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) to allow the growth of cell. THC stops the VEGF from being produced and thus destroys the tumor cells. THC enables apoptosis or systematic death of cancerous cells. Further studies suggest that cannaboid drugs could help in lowering blood pressures and in the treatment of heart diseases, obesity, nicotine addiction, and allergies.
Despite the promise it holds, research on the benefits of Cannabis is rather slow. Cannabis is still viewed with suspicion and researchers do not want to get embroiled in legal issues. It surely is worth the time, money, and effort to invest in cautious clinical trials, which could prove a boon to many suffering from brain cancer. There is no telling what other discoveries researchers may make if they have the inclination to investigate the matter. While the illegal abuse of marijuana should be avoided at all times, we look upon the legal discovery of legitimate medicinal uses of cannabis with great interest.
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User Comments
antimatt3r
On May 7, 2008 at 10:01 pm
It has never been proven EVER that cannabis has caused infertility or schizophrenia
dlannon
On September 9, 2008 at 8:14 am
your a druggy then ;~)
ebinezer
On September 16, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I don’t there any benefit in using cannabis, but I have heard its being used for medication. Does any intoxicated agent helps in medication?
ebinezer
http://www.marijuanaaddictiontreatment.com
silverster
On September 16, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Yeah there a lot of benefit in using cannabis. I allows a patient forget everything about this physical pain.
silverster
http://www.marijuanaaddictiontreatment.com
zapper
On September 16, 2008 at 6:54 pm
http://www.marijuanaaddictiontreatment.com
Fay x
On October 20, 2008 at 9:03 am
you lot are all mugs basically, cannabis is worng, and you lot are rotters.
Fay x
On October 20, 2008 at 9:04 am
wrong *
cop
On October 21, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Or possibly you are ‘wrong’ for calling people with fair views rotters! Each to their own!
know it all
On December 22, 2008 at 3:34 pm
helps immune system
not addictive
lowers blood pressure
balances nerve system
amino acids- nutrients not found elsewhere (seeds)
million others
F@^K YOU KAY KAY narrow minded social monger
http://www.benefitsofmarijuana.com/benefits.php
JJ
On January 25, 2009 at 6:46 pm
This article uses marijuana propaganda as fact
Bong Man
On February 9, 2009 at 3:34 am
Big up da bud!!!
legalize weed !!!
Bong Man
On February 9, 2009 at 3:38 am
mashup
ben
On March 26, 2009 at 4:49 am
cannabis has a negative steriotype due to a few tight government officals having this mind set. weed has been around for hundreds of years the romans smoked dope and they were at the peak of civilisation
David
On April 23, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Perhaps you should see some of the young and older men and women who present at our alcohol and drug rehab, and you might change your mind, that cannabis use doesn’t cause any harm
ben
On April 30, 2009 at 6:15 am
look now days what does not cause you harm. Its been proven that small amounts of cannabis (non-hydroponic) with in moderation will not do you any damage. also this goes for the normal person anyone with a history of metal illness can trigger a negative effect. i personaly know many cannabis uses that have been using the drug for years with out phycological problems.
Robert Ellison Smith
On July 2, 2009 at 1:30 pm
1) Cannabis is not an hallucinogenic. Ask anyone who is knowledgeable of cannabis.
2) Cannabis is not intoxicating, it is not alcohol and cannot be compared to rotgut.
3) Before anyone calls a person who ingests cannabis a “druggie”, please consider that booze is addictive, cigarettes are addictive, alot of the prescription meds are addictive, yet they are accepted in alot of societies and governments. Cannabis use goes back almost 20,000 years and was widely used and accepted as medicine, real medicine
Prejudice and ignorance are the only evil drugs, the opiates of the masses.
4) Cannabis is not addictive. There is no true, solid, unbiased medical proof that cannabis is addictive. So why is everyone concerned about cannabis being “suppposedly” addictive. Society accepts tobacco and booze, yet they are highly addictive and very destructive to the human body. No one seems to remember those bits of fact.
Lastly, the individual who fabricated the “facts” of cannabis in this article must believe that the rest of us are mindless idiots who will accept loads of manure without question. Well we as a people are beginning to question the authority of these doctors and thier little helpers, the comic researchers and the propaganda that is vomited out by our government. It’s Reefer Madness all over again. Such misinformation, so many lies to protect the large corporations who have the money to bribe our government.
The sad thing is that the entire farce, the drug war, is soley based on one thing and one thing alone, money. It all has to do with the enormous money that is generated by pharmaceutical, paper,alcohol, tobacco and all of the companies that support them. Of which a very large portion goes to government in taxes and surcharges.
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