Month: August 2015

The history of marijuana is a rich one filled with exciting twists and turns and all kinds of things one wouldn’t expect. There are two distinct types of marijuana which are sativa and indica. Today, two sides of the marijuana debate continue argue with one another. The more traditional view is that as marijuana is considered a drug, it is not safe for consumption and smoking marijuana needs to be stopped completely. But increasingly more people are starting to come to terms with the fact that marijuana is a recreational substance that more and more people are starting to use worldwide. Medical marijuana programs exist for those with medical conditions, but the drug still remains illegal for those without a card. Only time will tell what the fate of cannabis will be. Marijuana in Ancient Times Since the ancient date of 2737 B.C., people have been using marijuana for both its medicinal and its euphoric properties. Shen Nung, the emperor of China at the time, was the first to call cannabis a psychoactive drug. But for much of its early use, marijuana was more valued as medicine than it was a recreational drug. The emperor stated that marijuana was useful for absent-mindedness, malaria, rheumatism, and gout. While treating absent-mindedness might be a bit of a stretch, cannabis was commonly used to treat these illnesses in ancient times. Marijuana was...

The Debate It is no secret that cannabis has gone through many many years of both widespread favor and disapproval all throughout the world. Today, the view on the drug is a very mixed one with no clear cut winner. Though it is quite harmless compared to other substances, many people still hold the idea that it will lead users to other drugs and that it has serious long term side effects. While it does result in the typical side effects one would expect from smoking, smoking marijuana causes much less harm to the body than drugs such as alcohol which is perfectly legal. In the United States, more and more states are beginning to partially legalize marijuana with the medical marijuana program. Though not supported by the federal government, these programs continue to flourish in new locations. Medical marijuana is reserved for patients who have a legitimate medical condition with which the drug can help. The card can easily be acquired with a small down payment and a doctor recommendation. After that, the patient will be allowed to purchase legal cannabis from any dispensary. With the advent of the medical marijuana program, the drug has become more accessible than ever as more people get their cards every day. Many people believe that this is start of the true legalization of marijuana which is still years away. Regardless of...

Possession of Cannabis As California was one of the first of the fifty states in the US to decriminalize marijuana through the medical marijuana program, there are an awful lot of laws that concern cannabis. These laws are enforced to protect the public from problems with the drug like abuse and illegal possession. While marijuana is legal for medical marijuana patients in California, it is still not legal on a federal level which causes many disputes between federal and state governments. The laws concerning cannabis are always changing as new ideas come into the mix so what might be true today, is not necessarily true tomorrow. Even though it is legal to have small amounts of marijuana for patients, we are still a long way away from achieving the full legality of marijuana. But as long as I can smoke and get high at the end of the day, it’s good enough for me. The medical marijuana program, while by no means perfect, still puts limitations on things like the amount one can have on the person. For example, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana for non patients is now considered an infraction rather than a misdemeanor. This law was changed in January of 2011 and shows no sign of changing in the near future. Though possession of larger amounts can lead to a fine and jail...

These days, growing weed has become an exact science that one can monitor and manipulate with ease. While many still do their growing outside, many more have moved on to a different way of growing weed. With just a few things to get started with like a hydroponic system, fluorescent lighting, and nutrients, you too can have dank weed with just a little practice and effort. Different Ways to Do It When growing indoors, one could also effectively use the tried and true method of growing in a pot. This method will still produce potent weed if enough care is given to the plant. For this, nutrient rich soil is really the key, along again with fluorescent lighting. As always, growing weed takes time with method as well and one must be patient in order to receive a good yield. When growing from a pot or even from soil at all, some think that their plant will come out better. Soil is definitely more natural than growing a plant produced only by hydroponics, but both of these methods produce quality cannabis. Hydroponic systems give the grower a greater control over their plants’ environments. Some say that the failure of the system will lead to the death of all the plants without soil to keep it alive. But in opposition to this, others are fully on board with the hydroponics...

Marijuana vs. Alcohol An interesting speculation that people often make is that marijuana is worse for the body than alcohol. As popular as this notion is, it really could not be any farther from the truth. While neither of these intoxicants are particularly good for the user, marijuana does hold a clear edge over the more popular and widely accepted alcohol. When one gets down to the facts, it is a mystery why alcohol has achieved such acceptance over the much less harmful marijuana. This aversion to weed is due in part to an anti marijuana campaign that swayed the minds of the public many years ago. The campaign was started by Harry Anslinger and still continues to have an effect on our laws about Marijuana today. The negative side effects of alcohol are easy to see because they are so much more extreme than those of other safer intoxicants. Many people are prone to violence after having a bit too much to drink. Users becoming violent is definitely the biggest problem with using alcohol. Those who drink alcohol in excess are often associated with over confidence which may lead to drunk driving. Apart from that, it is impossible to die from a marijuana overdose but this can indeed happen with alcohol. When drinking with friends, one should always remember moderation and the negative side effects of the liquid...