The "Abuse" Rates Of Marijuana

        Conscious citizens have overdose in mind at the mention of drugs. When people think cannabis is a drug, it is to their automatic belief that pot is capable of a deadly reaction. The following explanations are probably unable to convince everyone of the truth, but there is evidence that their misunderstanding is due to flawed public education. I will be looking at "flawed public education".

1.      In (3), it is written: "...individuals who use marijuana for long periods of time can develop a [psychological] dependence on it. Signs of [this] dependence in a user include the need to use marijuana to cope with everyday tasks and the experience of cravings and anxiety when marijuana is not available."

This image represents the concept of dependence.

       To begin, I refer myself to (4) when I clarify that those who use weed LOTS, and I mean EVERY SINGLE DAY LOTS, develop a physical tolerance. To say that a mental dependence could show up is true, but there's a difference between dependence and addiction. You can control dependence, but need extra help for addiction. It's like coffee: no one goes to rehab to learn how to quit coffee, because they aren't addicted, but dependent. I believe that the mental obsession with pot is allowed to develop by the user.  In the statement, there is mental side effects are only mentioned, not physical. This is more subconscious persuasion that marijuana users can contribute to their well-being if weed doesn't work out for them! I'm right, everyone's wrong. JK! However,  there is a bunch of misconceptions concerning weed because we don't have enough information and the lack leaves us to assume.

2. As of 2012, weed is the most popular illegal matter in Canada as 10.6% had admitted to past-year use. (5)        
       
 Well, is this not good news? What if the term "weed" was replaced with "heroin"? There is absolutely no debate on heroin's harmful effects which always come before death. If pot is the most common illicit substance, doesn't that mean people are unaffected by death and able to continue using pot? Does this express that in spite of someone landing themselves in the hospital from greening out, they walk out of there quickly enough? This marijuana statistic combines recreational and medicinal use, one perhaps more than the other. A large amount of people want their right to consume cannabis for their individual purpose, which we can see in the percentage.

3.        "A growing body of research suggests that... can negatively affect mental and physical health, brain function ..." (5)

        The reason I replaced the most of this sentence by dot dot dot is because I want to show something specific: "growing body of research". Where is it?! There is an obvious ambiguity in this statement. I hate limited clarifications and this is what's going on here. This must be due to the "research" needing to be negative. After quickly skimming through the remainder of the section, I was directed to a policy brief. I opened the link, and this point is open to argument in the comments, but a policy brief released from an organization supported by the government having BUT TEN PAGES OF INFORMATION, two of which are DEDICATED TO SOURCING, is pretty unusual. I can directly relate this to my theory, you know, the one you're tired of hearing about, the "research" theory. The fact that an organization similar to CCSA can talk in circles for eight pages with no problem is a extreme problem. This report, also, is being released from the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse. ABUSE! Why couldn't Health Canada release this report? It must be since the government want to lead the population away from the truth. This is happening even though Health Canada is helping families through marijuana really discreetly. In their brief, there is a whole section dedicated to other countries, which means they are avoiding the subject.

        I'm so smart! (JK, JK. Lots of this is me going in circles in my head but if the government can do it, then so can I!) 

        In my opinion, my biased yet nonetheless my opinion, I believe that what is below this sentence, to the right of the picture, is the TRUTH.

According to (1) and the entire planet, no one has ever died of a pot overdose. Quoting from (1) (but also stated in (2)): “...in order to induce death, a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as is contained in one marijuana cigarette." This can convert to 1,500 pounds of weed in a quarter of an hour, which is physically impossible. The person would green out before dying. (1, 4) I'd like to see whoever is in charge of this legalization thing try to overdose on weed. MAYBE IT'LL SHOW THEM THAT THEY'RE CRAZY.

Maybe it'll show them that I'm crazy... moving on.

        My personal inference, for the millionth time, is that the people who don't educate the public subconsciously admit more by doing exactly that. The government tried to somewhat reverse this through the legalization of medical cannabis, but I think they don't want the population to discover that there's no such thing as a marijuana overdose. The way they implement this strategy is by giving people on medical marijuana small quantities at a time and strictly enforcing this. Did anyone ever notice that? I DID. I am rather frustrated that everyone is unable to share my perspective. I have found multiple references and I can advocate from experience, which is the best teacher. The above should provide hope for those who find relief in marijuana. Currently, in Canada, cannabis possession can imprison someone for up to 5 years, production totals to 7 years, and trafficking, for life. (5) Consumers who have weed as their primary treatment are only scared. In a free country, this should not be an issue. Us citizens can work to resolve this for everyone in need.

(Apologies for the irregular switching of font size. I have tried to fix it but to no avail.)
(1) http://www.theweedblog.com/how-much-marijuana-does-it-take-for-someone-to-overdose/
(2) http://dangerousminds.net/comments/how_much_pot_would_it_take_to_kill_you
(3) http://drugabuse.com/library/marijuana-abuse/#effects-of-marijuana-abuse
(4) I know people/general online research.
(5) http://www.ccsa.ca/Eng/topics/Marijuana/Pages/default.aspx
(6) http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-Medical-Purposes-Marijuana-Policy-Brief-2015-en.pdf

How Marijuana Affects Mental Health

Whether people like it because it makes them happy or because they use it as medicine, this plant has changed the lives of many through natural, self-medication. Quoting Natasha Tracy: "Mental illness is the only disease that can make you deny its own existence." From experience, I know that something people don't understand from mental illness is that it takes away your motivation to get better, i.e., you want to stay "sick". Weed can help some of the 1 in 5 Canadians who potentially experience mental health issues in their lives.

Mental illnesses marijuana can treat include depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADHD (4), Alzheimer's, other forms of dementia, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorders. (3) Apparently, (I put that in italics for a reason - go see my last post), weed disrupts brain cell activity. (4) This is actually linked to relaxing, mood-elevating effects. Pot slows down thought processes, which breaks the cycle of negative thoughts. Those with depression and anxiety may benefit from this as they consult other methods, e.g. therapy, to address the base of their illness. (5) People always complain that they can't stop thinking, they think too much, they stay up at night and blah, blah, blah. So, if THC slows down your brain thinking, a lot of people could benefit from taking a break and not having to think about silly things. 
       
        Some people like that marijuana can ease them to sleep while others don't. Weed helps people sleep by prolonging the stage of sleep where the body rejuvenates. This means that if people use pot to sleep, they don't get bad dreams, which can then help those who stay up at night for that reason. I struggle with this constantly. Life in general stresses me out to the point where I stay up all night if I'm not having nightmare after nightmare. Then, I go to school to face a busy day where I am either not participating in class (sleeping) or giving MAJOR attitude to my teachers and classmates. The point I'm trying to make here is that I need sleep to function and if I can get it thanks to this plant, that's great. If the dumb government doesn't let me, well, I guess my lack of sleep will encourage me to go deck everyone in charge. I'm harmless, I swear.


        This video by BuzzFeed Motion Pictures is entitled Drunk Vs. Stoned. It was made to test an average man on whether his actions were more efficient under the influence of alcohol or marijuana. At many instances, weed seemed to enhance his reflexes, creativity, and productivity levels.




       




This video is an ABC News story on medical marijuana regarding children. Parents witness wonderful results from this controversial medication. Ryan Mendoza, a 12-year-old with a bunch of cognitive difficulties, uses it mainly for his OCD. Joey Perez, 11 years old, cooperates with his autism through pot. From these two cases I can conclude that weed does/may have a positive effect on its patients.

        Relating to the use of marijuana for mental health...

        Someone really should have told me in eighth grade that once I would be in high school, the information from 90% of those rare DCMA classes would not serve their purpose. They should let me anticipate that it'd be incredibly obvious whom should be avoided in terms of drug use. They should have told me that I would subconsciously question myself along the lines of what the people I avoided wanted to ask me. Someone should have told me that peer pressure is but the straw that broke the camel's back. They should have rushed through the part where I was taught to be an individual and that potential death could result from submission to peer pressure. I was simply taught that abstinence is the solution to everything.

        Returning to the straw that broke the camel's back, the only reason I would succumb to peer pressure would be because I would already be thinking about whatever beforehand. Us teenagers, surprisingly, have something in common: uneasiness towards a world beyond the safety of our homes, where our parents are always right. As we develop the qualities required to see further from those walls, there is a lot of pain involved. With this pain, we learn and grow but don't realize it until we see the end of it all, if we see the end of it all. I say it like that because there are people who, at one point, lose sight of their end. I did. I felt/feel as if I couldn't/can't live life without something that forced me to forget and enjoy myself. Through this pain, this dark yet beneficial pain, I had/have abandoned any if not all knowledge on how to be happy. When this hit/hits me, it was/is invisible. I hid/hide everything, not only due to the surrounding stigma but since the illness obligated/obligates me.

        Psychogenic pain is a kind that cannot be bandaged or iced. There is no known physical factor that brings recovery. It all starts from inside, which sucks. Weed will not solve everything for those suffering, but it is a relief. Pot isn't the fast way out; it makes the way through quicker. Those with mental illnesses may not feel comfortable talking to anyone. I know many people, including myself, that deal with it alone by choice. We should let those 1 in 5 Canadians self-medicate; that statistic can translate to 1 in 5 deaths. Remember: psychological illness is the only type that makes victims unwilling to get better. Lots can be deduced from that, concerning the measures needing to be taken. We should, as a community, as a nation, take them.

(1) https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/47/63/ac/4763acb04b5957f064883e477a8aaf1d.jpg
(2) https://alberta.cmha.ca/mental_health/statistics/
(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis
(4) I know people/general online research.
(5) http://www.theweedblog.com/top-5-mental-conditions-treated-with-marijuana/
(6) http://weedreader.com/cannabis-sleep-aid/

How Marijuana Affects Physical Health

IF THE FONT CHANGES, BLAME MY COMPUTER. I TRIED. I REALLY DID.      

        The title of this blog post may suggest that weed can only carry negatives, but 53% percent of the interviewed in that March of 2013 survey (1) say that they used it to approach a medical problem! I will be looking at more of the physical side effects of weed, the diseases it can treat, and people who have benefited.

        Even though in my last blog post, I had mentioned that marijuana could have potentially harming effects, cannabis has multiple uses when it comes to physical health. It can treat nausea during chemotherapy, increase appetite in HIV/AIDS patients, and help with chronic pain and muscle spasms (2). Marijuana can also aid patients suffering of ALS, hypertension, Hepatitis C, asthma, motion sickness, muscular dystrophy, and even some types of cancer, which makes me a luckier person if it was legal. (5) You'll get to read more about that when/if you get to the bottom of this post.

         A number of the above consists of only treatable diseases. The world has known about marijuana for millions of years. There has been concrete proof that this plant helps people heal, yet the government can't recognize that. Well, I mean, they CAN recognize it, and they know it deep down, but they have an excuse as to why they don't legalize marijuana.

There are other studies proving weed may actually induce some of the issues I've enumerated. (8) I think that that research has been done by people in the medical industry, but more importantly, people who have credentials to show for it (i.e., people who are really high up).  By showing the world that they're seriously qualified, we are being forced to believe that doctors practice and preach safer, cheaper, generally better methods. I think that they do this so they can keep in business. This meme on the left really speaks because in fact, they are winning. They are tricking us to keep their pay cheques coming in. I find it super ironic that doctors, people who go through years and years of studying because they want to HELP PEOPLE, end up going against that and trick us. But I can't really blame anyone: some people's jobs might be on the line if they don't listen to what their boss says. If most people used marijuana to self-medicate,  the amount of patients doctors have would seriously drop! The ongoing battle between pot and medical practitioners will be covered in the near future but now, I'll talk about what the "research" says.

        Apparently, pot has been associated with the lack of testosterone and a type of testicular cancer that affects young adult males. It may also stir up more complications if used by patients who have liver disease, low blood pressure, or diabetes. (3) As well as that, weed can weaken the immune system, pose a greater risk for heart attacks, create permanent lesions in the lungs and brain, and lastly, increase the production of abnormally structured cells. (probably 5 but surely somewhere on the Internet).The heart attack thing especially makes me laugh because weed is meant TO RELAX YOU, not send you to the emergency room, but again, I say "research" in between quotations marks for a reason. 

Cannabis-infused butter. Can be used to make desserts or eaten plainly. 

Endlessly, people have claimed that any type of smoking is bad. It leaves actual marks on the lungs. You can see that on any cigarette box. (4) What they try to tell people with those disgusting pictures is right: smoking does hurt your lungs. (4, 5) The problem, in my opinion, is that weed is isn't being legalized because one way of taking it is harmful. (4) Weed can be taken by food, drinks like sodas and teas, and subcutaneously by body lotion. There are also e-juices for vape mods and tablets of THC, all marijuana products. (everywhere on the Internet)

       I may be referring to really bad sources. However, if we legalized weed, it will have happened because of true information, so a lot of myths will be debunked. If we let cannabis in Canada, people would finally learn the truth about it and everyone will be on the same page! I will cover myths in a future blog post, but it is hard to do so when fact and fiction can't be clearly discerned.

Regarding individuals who use medical marijuana for their health, this page contains Whisper secrets that people have posted concerning medical marijuana. Whisper is a website that allows you to post things anonymously (you’re welcome, Monsieur). The government needs to listen to the people who need cannabis and not just everyone. I will cover Trudeau's, as well as his political party's views on weed in another blog post, and hopefully, he will change my mind.

This issue partially concerns me as I reside in a cancer cluster. The percentage of cancer in my neighbourhood is double that of the province and, quoting from this Windsor Star article: "The 24 new cases [in Remington] work out to 109.9 per 100,000 population, compared to 59.7 for Windsor and 52.5 for Ontario." Not only do I live in Rem but I have certain duties as a rat (long story), meaning there are full weeks where I do not leave RPK. Friends of mine have been diagnosed recently and to think that this plant can help them along everyone else concerned in Remington is hopeful. All we need to do is educate people. I could, at anytime, buy weed in Remington, but it's rather selfish that marijuana isn't accessible to everyone, especially in this case. I am aware that this legalization issue doesn't concern the municipal government. I strongly believe, nevertheless, that the municipal and federal government should work side-by-side as to actively attempt a resolution.

Good old Remington, looking at the pool from near the dog park. 

(1) http://www.pewresearch.org/daily-number/marijuana-use-increased-over-the-last-decade/
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)#Medical
(3) http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/marijuana-use-and-its-effects?page=2
(4) I know people.
(5) https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana/what-are-marijuanas-effects-general-physical-health
(6) http://www.unitedpatientsgroup.com/resources/illnesses-treatable
(7) http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/short-and-long-term-effects.html 
(8) http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/marijuana-history.html
(9) http://windsorstar.com/news/health-unit-investigating-possible-cancer-cluster-in-remington-park

The Recreational Use Of Marijuana

IF THE FONT CHANGES BLAME MONSIEUR BECAUSE IT WASN'T ME

        The recreational use of marijuana has been furiously debated. A survey from March of 2013 concluded that 47% of adults who had admitted to using pot had done it for solely recreational purposes. (1) However, are these people aware that their usage can potentially be unsafe?I take a look at both sides of the case.

      1. The leisure use of cannabis allows an underground community to grow bigger and closer. These regular consumers are starting to be recognized by the rest of the population by forums (see weed-forums.com/) and videos. marijuanamermaid (2) is a WeedTuber (a YouTuber whose channel revolves around cannabis) with over 11,000 subscribers. Her videos inspire multiple discussions that provide space for education and debate. Here is one of her videos, Top 10 Stoner Problems, a clip that finds to relate with other pot users.

        I think that making a whole section of the Internet dedicated to people with this interest isn't a bad thing. After all, the Internet is plagued with Justin Bieber fans (just kidding!). So, to have many people be able to come together and quite literally fangirl over their hobby is pretty cool.

     2. Side effects of having THC in the bloodstream include euphoria, enhanced sensations, and hallucinating.(3) A regular cannabis user gives further explanation
here. For some, this may be their ideal good time. I find it similar to people having beer as they watch a sporting event. They don't need it because they watch the game and eat snacks anyway. The beer simply has the power to enrich this energetic environment. So, if something fun (sports) is combined with something that makes things even more fun (alcohol/weed, in this case), it just makes for lots of fun. Lots of fun is always necessary, in my opinion. Go big or go home kids! Have fun while you still can and if I watch a sporting event and weed kills me, at least I died happy.

        I'd say case closed, but I have to keep going FOR A GRAAAAADDEEEEEE.

        Anyway, moving on.

        There are issues people find problematic enough to stop them from using marijuana for fun.

        1. The community of people that I acknowledged above may not necessarily be a good influence. Some people who use marijuana in the motive of enjoying themselves are from undesirable backgrounds and their unstable upbringing can make them negative, generally unlikable people. (4) I don't like being around unlikable people, so this is something I need to pay attention to. 

        2. A fraction of THC's side effects have been already enumerated. Depending on the source of information (as this is a wildly undiscovered thing I'm talking about), reactions include a quicker heartbeat, disorientation, anxiety, dry mouth, a hot or cold sensation in the skin and, if overused, can lead to fainting. (4,5,6)

Well, a little fainting never killed anybody! As I said before, go big or go home. My attitude might just be due to the type of person I am, but I am rather optimistic, I say that's a good thing, and I say WE SHOULD ALL BE OPTIMISTIC AND TRY NEW THINGS.

You probably shouldn't take take advice from someone who has 6 milk and 4 sugar in their coffee, or who is very sensitive to the effects of sugar and coffee, but who said I was that person?!

ANYWAY. 

        Dr. John Cline: "Cannabis is an exceedingly complex drug preparation, and its effects depend on the variety of the plant, the composition of chemicals in any given sample, the route of administration, the setting in which it is used and the psychological state of the user."
       
        Cline said it best. Weed is not a plain concept. There are strains and flavours and potencies (4) and maybe those who shy away from it haven't found the right type for them, as Frances had said in one of her videos. I cannot deny, nevertheless, that this may not be for everyone. Those who do not condone it should simply leave the rest of the world to get stoned in peace.

       3. In marijuanamermaid's Top 10 Stoner Problems, Frances speaks reluctantly about the smell of weed and how it clings to hands, clothes, etc. This may fend off people from approaching stoners. (4) I know from experience that weed doesn't exactly smell like flowers, even though it is one (2, 6). It's pretty disgusting and unattractive and if you're wondering what it smells like (nothing like the incense at Green Earth in the mall), walk down Riverside Drive and you'll get an idea.


        4. Even though Stein (3) says that weed had never made him want to try anything else, he is but one person. I believe he is referring to the physical aspect of it, that weed never left him shaking out of his skin. If weed was not considered a gateway drug, why is it classified along with heroin and ecstasy? (5) Miseducation? I believe that at one point, a portion of potheads will want something different from theirs highs and transition to those harmful drugs. Based on this, consumers are right when they say that the plant itself doesn't make them want other drugs, and the people against it are partially right when they sort it with other drugs and call it a gateway. Could it be the repetitive use of cannabis that develops cravings for other stronger drugs? Cline labels marijuana as a drug and says its effects depend on the mentality of the person. Could looking for another illegal substance be part of a bad mentality? Are some people's mental stability better than others (they're fine with weed), whereas others need stronger substances? Searching for something else may easily be due to experimentation and not to a certain mental state, but their poor moral judgment causing them to try these damaging drugs can come from disrupted thoughts! This topic is incredibly debatable. Then again, I constantly debate things in my head. Whatever. I will have much more on marijuana and mental health in an upcoming blog post.

          To conclude, concerning recreational use of weed, it does not affect me. I would even try it despite the disgusting smell. Me being a daring person, I would search for whatever joy the 47% did and proceed if I succeed. If not, a bit of weed should not kill me! I am destined for an early death anyway (I live in a cancer cluster), so why not live large? It would be cool to connect online with a group of people that share my interest. I would undeniably use weed alone in spite of weird, bothersome people. But, I find highly disrespectful the rumours that those who use weed are consequentially bad people. Miley Cyrus said it best: "Going out doesn't make you a bad person, just like going to church doesn't make you a good person." Using this substance should not make anyone a bad person. Our habits do not make us bad people, it is our bad actions and what we give out to the world. My usage would not be as public as Frances or Snoop Dogg, it would be more of a reward, like how college kids get smashed after exams (4). As for it being a gateway drug, I think I am morally equipped to see what is clearly wrong and somewhat right and act upon those presumptions. After all, there would not be talk of authorizing this plant if we did not see a positive. Who is considering the legalization of LSD? Exactly! If we are up to this point, if Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington are up to this point (7), then the recreational use of marijuana may not be as horrendous as our society perceives.

(1) http://www.pewresearch.org/daily-number/marijuana-use-increased-over-the-last-decade/
(2) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8L1BplQGxZ_FhGc6nzAZ8g
(3) https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-be-high-on-marijuana-or-other-sources-of-THC
(4) I know people.
(5) http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/the-harmful-effects.html
(6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)
(7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_U.S._jurisdiction