What Is Marijuana? What Is Cannabis?

Date: Jun-11-2012When talking about the drug, marijuana and cannabis both have the same meaning. When talking botanically - talking about the plant genus - we use the word Cannabis. Cannabis is a flowering plant genus that includes three acknowledged varieties:

Cannabis sativa
Cannabis indica
Cannabis ruderalis

The three types originally come from South and Central Asia.

Cannabis has been used for hundreds of years by humans, for fiber (hemp), seed oils, seed, medical treatment and recreationally.

This article focuses on cannabis' medicinal and recreational aspects.
The word "Marijuana"
The word marijuana, with its current meaning, is said to come from Mexican Spanish, which then spread to other Spanish-speaking nations, and then made its way into English, and other languages as well. Marijuana, which means "Maria" (Mary) and "Juana" (Joan or Jane), is sometimes misspelled as marihuana or mariguana.

However, the Oxford English Dictionary says that the term comes from the Nahuatl word mallihuan, which means "a prisoner". Nahuatl is the language spoken by the Aztecs of Mexico. Some linguists dispute this connection between the Nahuatl word and the term marijuana.

The Oxford English Dictionary says that the term "marijuana" came into usage in the English language at the end of the 19th century.
What is Cannabis, the drug?
The drug, cannabis, is produced from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The plant is related to hops and nettles. Cannabis grows wild in many parts of the world.

Cannabis, the plant, contains over 400 chemicals, including a penicillin-like antibiotic, cannabidiolic acid. The Cannabis plants' chemical derivatives can be used for either recreational or therapeutic (medicinal) purposes.

As a recreational drug, cannabis can come in a variety of forms, including:

As a dried plant (herbal)
A resin
In powder form
As oil

There are several slang terms for cannabis, including hash, hashish, grass, pot, weed, dope, etc.
What are the main active ingredients of Cannabis?
The main active ingredients are called:

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) - tests have shown THC has mild to moderate painkilling (analgesic) effects, and can be used for the treatment of pain. THC alters transmitter release in the spinal cord, resulting in pain relief.

The compound is also known to stimulate appetite (informally known as "the munchies"), it induces a relaxed state, as well has having effects on the person's sense of smell, hearing and eyesight. It can also cause fatigue. In some people, THC may reduce symptoms of aggression.

Some limited studies have shown that THC shows promise for the treatment of nausea and/or vomiting - it may have anti-emetic qualities.

CBD (Cannabidiol) - animal laboratory tests have shown than it has a sedative effect; it has also been found to increase alertness in some studies. However, experts say that CBD may interfere with THC metabolism in the liver - THC clearance from the body may slow down.

Some studies have also demonstrated or indicated that CBD can relieve the symptoms of nausea, anxiety, inflammation and convulsions. Some oncologists suggest it may inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Scientists in more recent studies say CBD may be useful in treating atypical psychosis in schizophrenia patients, as well as relieving dystonia symptoms. Dystonia is a general term which describes involuntary movements and extended muscle contractions - the patient has tremor, unusual or awkward postures, and twisting body movements.

Skunk, a type of cannabis, is especially powerful because it contains up to three times as much THC as other types.

The three types of Cannabis plants. Cannabis indica has a higher CBD/THC ratio than Cannabis sativa. Higher-ratio Cannabis has a lower risk of producing anxiety.

What are the effects of recreational Cannabis?
Cannabis, or marijuana, is most commonly known as an illegal drug that is sold "in the street". It can be rolled into a "joint" (like a cigarette), a "blunt" (using cigar paper), placed into a pipe, brewed as a tea, or added to foods.

When cannabis is consumed, it has both physiological and psychoactive effects. For any perceptible psychoactive effect, approximately 10 micrograms of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) per kilogram of body weight is needed.

When cannabis is consumed for recreational purposes, the following effects are possible:

A subjective change in perception. It can have slight hallucinogenic effects, making users see reality in a distorted way.

Alteration in mood - some may experience euphoria, become more animated, while others enter a state of relaxation. Getting "high" or "stoned" (euphoria) is the main reason most recreational users consume marijuana

Increased heart rate

A reduction in blood pressure

Impairment of working memory

Impairment of short-term memory

Impairment of concentration

Reduced psychomotor coordination

Can cause nausea, despite the fact that cannabis can treat the symptoms of nausea

Can increase appetite ("the munchies")

More rapid breathing

What are the possible therapeutic (medical) benefits of Cannabis?
For decades, reports have been published about the potential medical benefits of Cannabis or substances that exist in Cannabis. Some have been backed by science, while others need further studies. Below are some examples:

It can improve the appetite and sense of taste in cancer patients. (Link to article)

It can improve symptoms of chronic (long-term) neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is long-term pain resulting from injury to the nervous system. (Link to article)

Cannador, a Cannabis plant extract, can effectively relieve pain after major surgery. (Link to article)

It can help alleviate MS symptoms of spasticity. 'Sativex', an oral spray made using cannabis extract, was approved in 2010 in the United Kingdom for use with patients with multiple sclerosis. (Link to article)

Active chemicals in Cannabis can halt prostate cancer growth. (Link to article)

It may protect people from osteoporosis later on in life. (Link to article)

Some memory-loss symptoms similar to those found in Alzheimer's disease were reduced in laboratory mice experiments when scientists treated them with some of the chemicals present in cannabis. (Link to article)

Substances found in Cannabis may help alleviate allergic contact dermatitis symptoms. (Link to article)

For patients with chronic pain, adding cannabinoids - the main ingredients in cannabis - to an opiates-only treatment, may provide better results, than opiates alone. Moreover, patients on the combination treatment would benefit from reduced opiate dosages. (Link to article)

A component of Cannabis could help alleviate pain associated with chemotherapy. (Link to article)

Therapy with cannabinoids may help reduce or prevent the symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome), Israeli researchers found in animal (mice) experiments. (Link to article)

Preliminary studies have also found indications that Cannabis may have therapeutic uses for the following (further studies are needed):

- migraines

- inflammatory bowel disease

- fibromyalgia

- alcohol abuse

- collagen-induced arthritis

- asthma

- epilepsy

- several digestive diseases

- gliomas (malignant tumor of the glial tissue of the nervous system)

- Huntington's disease

- leukemia

- MRSA

- sickle cell disease

- Tourette syndrome

What are the possible undesirable side effects linked to Cannabis?
Cannabis (marijuana) evokes three types of reactions when talked or written about: 1. Biased favorable ones. 2. Biased unfavorable ones. 3. Scientific ones. In order to understand fully the benefits and harms of Cannabis and its substances, only a scientific approach is valid. Below are some examples of studies or reports which express or demonstrate the negative consequences of Cannabis consumption.
You are twice as likely to crash your car if you drive within three hours of smoking marijuana. (Link to article)

Cannabis use might lead to male sexual dysfunction, according to animal studies. (Link to article)

Smoking marijuana can eventually suppress the body's immune system, making the user more susceptible to certain types of cancer and infections. (Link to article)

Long-term marijuana use can increase the risk of developing psychosis. An Australian study found that those especially at risk are people who started in their teens and carried on for at least six years into their adulthood. (Link to article). A Welsh study found that Cannabis use can raise the risk of psychosis later in life by 40%. (Link to article)

Gum disease risk - a New Zealand study found that smoking Cannabis raises the risk of developing gum disease, regardless of whether the user smokes tobacco. (Link to article)

Depression - a study found that some genetically predisposed people may have a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms if they use Cannabis. (Link to article)

Reduced brain function - regular Cannabis users who started before they were 15 years old scored worse on brain tests than their counterparts who started later in life, Brazilian researchers found. (Link to article)

Acute memory loss - smokers of potent cannabis strains that have low levels of cannabidiol have a greater risk of acute memory loss. Skunk is an example of such a Cannabis strain. (Link to article)

Alters human DNA - a British study found compelling evidence that Cannabis smoke damages human DNA in such a way, that the user could become more susceptible to developing cancer. (Link to article)

Severe vomiting sickness - chronic abusers of marijuana have a higher risk of developing severe vomiting sickness. (Link to article)

Testicular cancer - males who use marijuana frequently or long-term may have a considerably higher risk of developing testicular cancer, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found. (Link to article)

Cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients - MS patients who smoke marijuana have a higher risk of memory and emotional problems, Canadian researchers found. (Link to article)

Chronic hepatitis C infection patients - they should not use marijuana every day, because of a considerably higher risk of moderate to severe liver fibrosis, or tissue scarring. (Link to article)

What are the forms of Cannabis people use?
Unprocessed - marijuana (cannabis) most commonly refers to the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the female Cannabis plant. This is the most popular presentation of marijuana for recreational purposes, and most probably for its medicinal use too. It is smoked.

Natural herbal form of dried Cannabis flowers

Processed forms of Cannabis:

Hashish - this is a concentrated resin prepared from the flowering tops of the female Cannabis plant. It can be smoked or chewed.

Hash oil - a concentrated oil with a THC content of between 40% and 90% (high level). It is produced by a solvent extraction of cannabis. It can be consumed orally, by smoking or vaporization.

A drop of hash oil hanging from the end of a needle

Residue (resin) - this accumulates inside utensils people use to smoke marijuana. Typically, when users run out of marijuana, they water-steam the utensil at low temperature and then scrape out the contents.

What are the criticisms related to medical Cannabis?
Over the past few decades, the main criticism against using Cannabis has been that it has to be smoked, and smoking is bad for the health. However, other healthier methods have been developed. Vaporizers can be used, where the cannabis compounds are extracted and inhaled. Cannabis can also be prepared in edible forms.

Regarding smoking medical Cannabis, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA, wrote:

"Marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and has a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision."

The National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA, wrote:

"Marijuana itself is an unlikely medication candidate for several reasons:

- it is an unpurified plant containing numerous chemicals with unknown health effects

- it is typically consumed by smoking, further contributing to potential adverse effects

- its cognitive impairing effects may limit its utility".

In the United Kingdom cannabis consumption is illegal, except in the case of prescribed cannabinoids. Cannabis is a Class B drug. Class A drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, are the most dangerous, and carry the harshest punishments, while Class C, which includes such drugs as clonazepam or diazepam, represents those thought to be the least harmful. Many in the UK find the classification rather mystifying, because some Class C drugs are more harmful than some categorized as Class B.

While the UK House of Lords Science and Technology Committee recommends cannabis use for medicinal purposes, the BMA (British Medical Association) believes only cannabinoids - chemical derivatives from the Cannabis plant which have been carefully identified - should be used in medicine. The Government of the UK says it will only consider legalizing Cannabis for medical use after clinical trials have proved its efficacy and safety.

Should Cannabis be legalized?
Opinions vary widely regarding what the legal status of Cannabis. Some are fervently in favor, while a similar number are strongly against any form of legalization. A number of scientists, as well as patients, especially those suffering from chronic pain, are usually able to see the pros and cons of medical Cannabis more objectively.

At Medical News Today, we receive hundreds of opinions every month regarding the legal status of Cannabis. Below are the most popular ones:

Legalizing Cannabis - favorable arguments:

Quality control - In most countries, the production of marijuana is illegal. This means it is made away from the public eye. Unlike approved drugs or foods, there are no public inspections. For example, when a drug is approved in the USA or UK, it has to undergo vigorous scrutiny, several trials, hundreds of reports and documents have to be produced. The producer has to prove that it is capable of GMP (good manufacturing practice) - this means that its production plants need to be spotless and follow all the rules and regulations of the land.

Marijuana producers are never inspected by GMP inspectors. Their produce is never assessed by scientists. If there is something wrong with a batch, there is no recall.

Marijuana users have no idea of how pure and harmless their products are. Even if they grow the plant themselves, there are no national guidelines on their use. Nobody really knows whether one insecticide or soil fertilizer clashes with the proper growth of the plant.

If Cannabis were legalized it would come under the same stringent scrutiny as other approved drugs. Even producers of alcoholic drinks are under pressure from national food and health authorities to maintain good manufacturing practice.

Criminality - When alcohol was prohibited in the USA during the 1930s, the only ones who really benefitted were members of "the mob", the gangsters; i.e. criminals. Alcohol consumption continued, but did so in the hands of criminal gangs. In such cities as Chicago, crime rocketed as different gangs fought out their wars against each other for territories, and police authorities. When The Prohibition was lifted, a considerable number of criminal gangs melted away and disappeared.

Criminalizing Cannabis, a "herb" which is less harmful than, for example, alcohol, seems counterproductive. Legalizing marijuana would free up police time and resources to fight real crime.

Those most against the legalization of Cannabis are definitely those involved in its production and distribution - criminal gangs. By keeping it illegal, they make lots of money.

Individual freedom - Whether or not marijuana should be used is something the individual should decide, not the state. If one person's act does not harm other people, the government should not be telling them what they can and cannot do.

There is no good medical reason to ban marijuana. Alcohol is legal, and causes millions of car accidents, domestic violence incidences, episodes of child abuse, and devastating illnesses and conditions every year. Marijuana is nowhere near as bad for the health as alcohol. If alcohol is legal, then why not marijuana?

Governments should only limit people's choices if the person's actions endanger others. This is not the case with marijuana.

The cost - the governments of the USA, UK, Canada, Western Europe and much of the world spend hundreds of billions of dollars every year on the "war on drugs". Surely, chasing people who consume marijuana as well as harder drugs is a waste of money. The greatest harms come from other drugs, such as crystal meth, cocaine or heroin, not marijuana. Taking Cannabis out of the picture would save public authorities billions of dollars, and lead to better targeted police work.

Governments collect money in the form of taxes from the sale of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages; income they do not get from the sale of marijuana. If marijuana were legal, the government would spend less and earn more.

Medical benefits - Millions of people today suffer with chronic pain because marijuana is illegal. If Cannabis were treated like any other plant, or even tobacco or alcohol, medical breakthroughs would increase. It is known that medical Cannabis can help relieve many symptoms, especially those experienced by people with long-term pain.

Legalizing Cannabis - arguments against:

Long-term effects - because marijuana is illegal, it is hard to carry out large-population studies on the harms of Cannabis. Several studies over the last few years have shown that long-term use of marijuana can increase some people's risk of developing serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia (psychosis) and depression. Further studies on these harms should be carried out before ever considering legalizing this drug.

A slippery slope - marijuana is usually the first step towards other stronger drugs. A significant number of heroin or cocaine addicts today started off on marijuana. By making it legal, more people would jump onto the first stepping stone of this slippery slope - people who do not consume marijuana because they do not want to break the law (how many of them would use it if it became legal).

Traffic accidents - it has been proven that people who smoke marijuana and drive within three hours have a much higher risk of crashing their vehicles. We already have enough of a problem with alcohol. Legalizing marijuana will just make things worse. Saying "People already consume marijuana, so what's the difference?" is not valid. If it were illegal, many more "law-abiding" people would get stoned and crash their cars.

Children - if marijuana were legalized more children would consume it. It would be cheaper and within the budget of more kids.

Drug abuse - by having both alcohol and marijuana legalized, the risk of a higher drug abuse rate nationally would be greater. Those who only drink alcohol, and do not consume marijuana because it is illegal, might start mixing both.

Our culture - this argument applies mainly to Western cultures. Alcohol has been part of our culture for thousands of years, marijuana has not. Alcohol is already a serious enough problem. Adding another drug to our everyday lifestyles is not a good idea.

Written by Christian Nordqvist

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