Even though many people try to show marijuana in a bad light, there are many benefits to be had from smoking the plant. It is indeed a very good alternative to lots of other substances that people use recreationally as it causes far less harm to the body. The high produced when smoking marijuana is also very mild in comparison to other drugs and gives users more of a relaxed feeling. This along with many other factors makes marijuana the second most widely used recreational drug on the planet coming in second only to alcohol. Many people like a buzz at the end of the day to calm their nerves and to get ready to go to sleep. Marijuana is a much safer alternative to other harder substances that are still in use today. What Can Smoking Weed Do for You? One of the best things about smoking marijuana is that it does not make users violent, or make them fiend for more of the stuff when they run out. Many other substances can produce a high with a manic feeling to it until the inevitable crash hours later. Marijuana’s subtle high gives just enough feeling but without all of the nasty side effects that other drugs can cause. When other drugs are being used, violence often ensues and this effects not only the user, but those around them...

Smoking cannabis can have many different effects on the body. These effects run the scale from good to bad, but there are many more on the good side for this plant. Many other substances may give more potent highs than marijuana does, but the negative side effects caused by them are downright awful. Now don’t get me wrong, over a long time of abuse, marijuana can lead to some negative side effects too like lung disease and heart problems. The thing is that these side effects occur at a much slower rate than one would experience if using a harder drug. No matter what the substance one is using, it should be used in moderation so as not to form bad habits. If you enjoy your marijuana only every now and then, you can still live a long and healthy life. The Problems with Marijuana Just like any other substance, the long term use of cannabis can have adverse effects on the body. The most obvious of these effects are problems with the respiratory system. As you may already know, smoking is not a healthy habit to get into as it damages the lungs. Though smoking tobacco can accelerate these effects further, smoking marijuana can have much the same effects on one’s body in the long run. Coughing and the production of phlegm are some of the first signs...

Addiction Is Everywhere Many of those who smoke marijuana are constantly wondering whether or not the plant is addictive. This is a tough question to answer and most testing results so far have been inconclusive. One recent study shows that of recreational pot users, around ten to thirty percent will develop some form of dependency with the substance. Furthermore, nine percent of these users will develop problems consistent with serious addiction. While most people can smoke a little weed on the weekends and not have to worry about long term consequences like addiction, the fact is that a small percentage of users are at risk for these consequences. Even though it is easily one of the least harmful substances out there today, the fact that users can become addicted should raise some serious red flags for those who smoke cannabis without fear. One of the main reasons that people believe marijuana to not be addictive is the lack of serious withdrawal symptoms when attempting to get off the drug. This lack of symptoms enables users to quit more easily than if they were to try kicking another substance like nicotine or cocaine. Some of the withdrawal symptoms reported when trying to quit marijuana are sleep disturbances, nausea, anxiety, and depression. In short, the reason that most believe that marijuana is not addictive is because getting off of other, harder...

Different Names for Different Places When one is purchasing cannabis, it is a good idea to know what kind of strain you are getting. The terminology can vary from region to region, so what is good in one location may not necessarily be as good in another. However, any seasoned bud smoker can tell the difference between good and bad weed simply by how it looks and smells. If you aren’t confident in your ability to determine the quality of your marijuana, then it might be a good idea to have a more experienced smoker come along for the ride. Picking up marijuana on the street is just asking for a bad price as one can get a medical marijuana card easily these days with very little money down. In the end, most of the marijuana one purchases will get them high. It is only a matter of how high they will get from strain to strain. As I said before, there are all kinds of different names for good and bad bud and they vary from place to place. In the greater Los Angeles area, there are lots of different terms used to refer to all kinds of marijuana. Kush is generally reserved for the best weed. Many strains one can pick up at dispensaries have Kush in their names and they are usually good strains. The next...

Those that smoke marijuana will be the first to tell you that ingesting the plant is much better for the body than smoking it. But how can you eat such a thing without that awful taste? Edibles are a good option because they are rather easy to make and the flavor of the cannabis gets lost in the goodness of whatever it is you’re eating. Another interesting option is making marijuana tea. While this practice is certainly less popular than baking the plant into edibles, it can still be just as potent and rewarding if one takes the time to do it right. It is a little more difficult than boiling some marijuana leaves in hot water, but not that much more difficult. And the end result is all worth it if the tea was made correctly. THC in Boiling Water The problem with trying to make marijuana tea in nothing but water is that THC is not very soluble in water. This means that no matter how long one boils the leaves for, the potency of their drink will not increase very much. This is why it is a good idea to add another liquid to the solution. There are many things that will get the job done such as butter, honey, whole milk, and even hard liquor. Adding this to your tea will greatly increase its potency....

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...