The most interesting facts about cannabis
History of Cannabis
Contrary to what most people think, Cannabis has been there for centuries. Medical marijuana history records have been maintained by many, but the last person known to keep them was a Chinese emperor named Shen Nung. He was the first person famous for prescribing medical marijuana to people to cure them of their illnesses. Poor memory, gout, malaria, and rheumatism were some of the diseases that medical marijuana was used for curing in patients.
Cannabis was also famous among the people of Rome and Ancient Greece. The Islamic Empire also used it, due to which its use spread in all of the Middle East to the North African Islamic Empire. Spaniards living in the western hemisphere imported marijuana for using it as fiber. Several North American plantations grew cannabis to use it as paper, clothing, and ropes.
Many of the world’s humid parts grew cannabis sativa. People used their seeds for several purposes like creating hemp rope, feeding the hemp to animals, and using its oil to mix in their paint.
The Widespread Fame of Medical Marijuana in Recent Years
In recent years, more and more people are becoming aware of how effective medical Cannabis can be. There are even several companies that are dedicated to only manufacturing products that contain medical cannabis. However, in many countries, especially the United States, using cannabis or marijuana is prohibited. People have been actively protesting against these prohibitions and in some cases, they have succeeded too.
Marijuana Legalization U.S.A
With so much pressure in recent years, several members of Congress in the United States began to consider loosening some federal laws regarding marijuana. Some even proposed legalizing it completely for some states. There are 11 states in America were using Marijuana recreationally is legal. This is a great signal for places in the U.S that still await legalization. The general consensus regarding marijuana is that it is safer than most recreational drugs and in fact, even calms people down. Plus, it has a long list of medical benefits. The time where possession of marijuana wouldn’t be considered a crime in the United States is not far away.
How Many States Have Legalized Medical Marijuana
Making marijuana legal has been a hot topic for many years. These discussions have paved the path for its decriminalization in several states. Let us have a look at all the places that have made medical marijuana legal.
- Colorado
- Washington
- California
- Alaska
- Vermont
- Oregon
- Nevada
- Michigan
- Maine
- Washington DC
Mentioned below is a list of all the states where the Government has decriminalized marijuana use.
- Rhode Island
- Ohio
- North California
- New York
- New Mexico
- New Hampshire
- Nebraska
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Minnesota
- Maryland
- Illinois
- Georgia
- Delaware
- Connecticut
Although the decriminalization has been disheartening for people living in the states mentioned above, talks have been ongoing, and the Government will inevitably take action to make it legal for recreational and medicinal purposes in the time to come.
Importance of Medical Cannabis
You will find people using cannabis for relieving their medical problems more often these days. It goes on to show that medical cannabis is not a myth, and it works. The food and Drug Authority has been conducting searches regarding the potential benefits of medical cannabis or marijuana for years, and the researches are still ongoing. There is a lot of data on the FDA website, which you can look up to see what those researches have to say.
While we are on the topic, let us discuss some pros and cons of medical marijuana.
Pros
- Relief from Vomiting and Nausea
Several studies have shown that using medical marijuana can relieve people from vomiting and nausea. This is particularly true for cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. Give them some CBD oil, and they won’t feel like vomiting as much.
- CBD Oil Can Cure A Variety of Problems
Cannabis Sativa is a marijuana plant that companies use for extracting cannabis oil. There are several CBD oil health benefits like pain relief, stress and anxiety relief, increase in appetite, better sleep etc.
- Medical Marijuana is Useful for Humans as well as Animals
One of the best things about medicinal marijuana is that it is an accepted medical treatment for humans and animals. You will find a plethora of products that contain cannabis. They are manufactured separately for animals and human beings making sure that they get pain relief while also ensuring that the products (food, snacks, and medicines) aren’t offensive to their taste buds.
Cons
- Psychoactive Reactions
Several researchers argue that taking medical marijuana in large doses can bring upon psychoactive reactions in people who consume it. While this may be true to some extent, the reactions are mild and tend to fade away quickly.
- Respiratory Infections and Cough
This is another con people often talk about that’s associated with marijuana use. Coughing and Respiratory infections often occur in people who smoke pot for relieving their stress. Regular smoking may cause coughing or respiratory infections, but the cases are extremely rare.
Interesting and Fun Facts about Cannabis Use
Let’s look at the lighter side of things and see some fun facts about cannabis use that you might find interesting.
Biggest Myth
A common myth that several people believe to be true regarding Cannabis is that the hippie generation was the first to discover it. The fact is that marijuana has been present for thousands of years and used for a variety of medicinal purposes across the globe. The hippies were only responsible for making it mainstream due to their recreational ”pot” smoking habits.
Different Reactions
You might be surprised to find out that men and women react differently to cannabis use. Scientists experimented on rats to determine whether they have the same experience after inhaling or ingesting cannabis or not. They discovered that females have highly sensitive reactions to it. However, these reactions are not harmful to them in any way.
William Shakespeare Was an Avid Pot Smoker
For people who think that marijuana or cannabis makes people slower or reduces their cognitive abilities, they should consider this. The world-famous play writer, William Shakespeare was a huge fan of marijuana. It didn’t stop him from writing plays that are still as famous today as they were before. This is a testament to the fact that cannabis use can, in fact, improve mental cognition in some people.
Italians Love Smoking Cannabis
The atmospheric pollution institute in Italy conducted some researches back in 2012 to examine the substances that their air contains. They found out that the air had copious traces of marijuana. Big Italian cities like Milan, Turin, Palermo, Naples, Verona, Bologna and Rome love smoking their cannabis.
Famous Celebrities Who Endorse Marijuana Use
Several A-list celebrities have been marijuana activists for years. They make their intentions loud and clear about the war on drugs by explaining why marijuana should be legalized and how helpful it has been for them in their careers and personal lives. Let’s look at what some celebrities have had to say about marijuana use over the years.
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Joe Rogan
Famous mixed martial arts commentator and comedian Joe Rogan is one of the biggest advocates of marijuana use out there. Many have tried to debate him about this topic, but he always comes out on top. Why? Because he has been a lifelong marijuana user who has felt the benefits that it can bring. He has been voiced his concerns several times regarding marijuana’s decriminalization on his famous podcast. He has even invited several experts and guests for in-depth discussions about making it legal.
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Woody Harrelson
This Oscar-nominated Hollywood actor has been pro-marijuana for most of his life. So much so that he has become a full-time member of the National Organization that reform’s marijuana law’s advisory board. This level of commitment goes on to show how adamant people are when it comes to legalizing marijuana despite their high social status.
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Lady Gaga
Modern pop music sensation Lady Gaga is renowned for voicing her opinions regarding marijuana. She claims it to be the best solution for ridding her stage anxiety. The emotional and physical stress that superstardom brings upon her takes its toll. She uses marijuana for it and recommends it to anyone who wants to feel calmer and more confident.
Several other pro-marijuana celebrities are
- Brad Pitt
- Sarah Silverman
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Megan Fox
- Paris Hilton
- Willie Nelson
- Miley Cyrus
- Seth Rogan
Final Verdict
The widespread popularity of cannabis has only begun. As more researches come to the forefront and testify to its benefits, more and more people will start voicing their concerns in favor of it. These actions will eventually legalize marijuana in most parts of the world, to an extent where no one will consider its usage to be a taboo or forbidden act.