Byrum: Five things to know about marijuana | Forum

Marijuana has been the subject of public debate for many years and it doesn’t seem to be disappearing anytime soon. With so much talk from both enthusiasts and opponents, breaking the mess and discovering the truth about what we actually know about the mysterious green leaf can be difficult. Here are five things you should know about marijuana.

It wasn’t always called marijuana

The word “marijuana” wasn’t used to describe the drug until 1910. Until then, the green leaf plant was called “cannabis”. The word “marijuana” was used in the early 20th century to associate the drug with the influx of Mexican immigrants who brought their smoking habit with them as they fled the aftermath of the civil war in their country. Although cannabis was smoked and used in medicinal medicines in the United States prior to the arrival of immigrants, the statewide narrative by Harry Anslinger and others has focused the use of the drug on primarily Latino immigrants and African Americans.

Cannabis today refers to a whole range of plants known as cannabis species. Within this species there are two main plants that are harvested for consumption today: marijuana and hemp. According to the federal classification, marijuana is any cannabis plant with more than 0.3% THC. Hemp, on the other hand, is any cannabis plant with less than 0.3% THC. THC is the psychoactive chemical in the cannabis plant that makes a user feel high. The other important naturally occurring chemical in cannabis is CBD, which can be helpful in treating anxiety and psychosis. Marijuana is primarily harvested for THC, while hemp’s main purpose is to produce CBD.

Marijuana is still classified as a List 1 drug

List 1 drugs are defined as those that have no recognized medical benefit and have high potential for abuse, linking marijuana with heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and more. However, 11 states and Washington, DC, have legalized recreational marijuana use since 2012, and many more are expected to follow over the next decade.

While marijuana and THC are still illegal at the federal level, the government has taken some steps to differentiate between THC and CBD that will enable the latter to be produced. The most notable example is the 2018 Agriculture Act, which differentiated hemp from marijuana, removing it from the list of controlled substances. In 2019, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Law 1325, which was equivalent to the 0.3% THC allowance of the Agriculture Act of 2018.

Health benefits related to CBD

With the recent de-classification of hemp, much remains to be done to research the benefits and risks of CBD. Still, there is evidence that CBD can help with epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. So far, the most common negative side effects are nausea, fatigue and irritability.

with THC

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is addicting, especially for teenagers. Research has shown that 9% of users become addicted and that number rises to 17% in those who consume regularly at a young age. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, long-term marijuana users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug addiction. Not only that, but teenagers who regularly use marijuana have been shown to drop their IQ by 8 points as they grow up.

Trend towards vaporizing THC

Finally, the novelty of e-cigarettes and the legalization of marijuana have left a regulatory loophole that black market traffickers have exploited. Several counterfeit THC oil products have been bought and consumed with devastating health effects. The CDC reported in 2020 that more than 2,800 people were hospitalized with e-cigarettes or vaping products related to lung injury (EVALI), resulting in 68 deaths.

We still have a lot to learn about the risks and benefits of cannabis. However, enough research has been done to warrant caution and careful reflection as various states and communities consider how to deal with the substance that is at the center of much of our public discourse.

– Joseph Byrum is Coalition Coordinator for the Piney Woods Substance Abuse Coalition. If you are a community leader interested in preventing drug abuse among teenagers, send an email to joseph.byrum@nextstepcsi.com.