If it is, consider talking to a doctor or pharmacist beforehand to make sure it won’t interact with any medications or supplements you take. A doctor can also help you weigh the potential benefits and risks to your health. If you’re curious about trying cannabis, make sure to read up on the laws in your area first. These effects are often minimal in products containing very high levels of CBD, compared with THC.
Kamala Harris’ stance on marijuana has certainly evolved. Here’s what to know.
The research supporting CBD use for inflammation and pain is promising. The use of CBD-based prescription medication Epidiolex to reduce some kinds of seizures is well established. However, the FDA has approved several drugs that contain individual cannabinoids. Cannabis—which can also be called marijuana —is the most commonly used https://sober-home.org/nortriptyline-oral-route-precautions/ federally illegal drug in the United States. States that have legalized marijuana for recreational or medical consumption have laws in place that make it illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana; review each states law carefully. Cannabis sativa, also known as hemp, is a species of the Cannabinaceae family of plants.
How many cannabinoids are there?
Experts are still trying to fully understand the long-term effects of using cannabis. There’s lots of conflicting research on this topic, and many of the existing studies have only looked at animals. When the flowers of these plants are harvested and dried, you’re left with one of the most common drugs in the world. Cannabis, weed, pot, and marijuana all refer to the same group of plants known for their relaxing and calming effects.
Harris introduced legislation to decriminalize marijuana
A mouth swab drug test screens for substances in your system, such as illicit drugs, prescription medications, alcohol, or marijuana. When Harris was San Francisco’s district attorney, she supported the legal use of medical marijuana but opposed a 2010 measure to legalize pot in California, according to the Los Angeles Times. During her tenure, she oversaw the conviction of more than 1,900 people for weed violations, The Mercury News reported. Prosecutors on her staff convicted people on these charges at a rate higher than under her predecessor, however, most of the defendants were not incarcerated for low-level pot possession, according to the outlet.
- According to Legal Aid NSW, decriminalising personal possession of drugs would result in measurable savings to the health and justice systems.
- The legal status of medical and recreational cannabis varies among states.
- Hemp comes from the Cannabis sativa variation of the plant and is widely used for industrial purposes, although the seeds have been cultivated as a food.
- Documented as far back as 2700 BCE in China, marijuana has long been considered valuable as an analgesic, an anesthetic, an antidepressant, an antibiotic, and a sedative.
- In other words, marijuana is cannabis, but not all forms of cannabis are marijuana (contain THC).
- Although it was usually used externally (e.g., as a balm or smoked), in the 19th century ce its tips were sometimes administered internally to treat gonorrhea and angina pectoris.
Do not drive, operate machinery, or perform other hazardous activities while using cannabis (marijuana). The effects of inhaled cannabis are felt within minutes, reach their peak in 10 to 30 minutes, and may linger for two or three hours. However, edible cannabis, which may contain higher amount of THC, can take a longer period of time to reach full effect as it must be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. THC resembles a naturally occurring chemical in your body called anandamide. THC can “work” as anandamide and fit into anandamide receptors in certain parts of your brain.
Of course, many adults use marijuana responsibly for pleasure and relaxation. Unlike with, say, opioids, there’s effectively zero risk of life-threatening overdose. https://sober-house.net/what-happens-when-you-mix-cannabis-and-alcohol/ Plus, “people get addicted with tobacco way faster,” says Columbia University epidemiologist Silvia Martins, who studies substance use and related laws.
Specific city and county laws have been enacted to regulate how citizens and tourists may possess and consume marijuana. Additional states continue to undertake or pursue citizen petitions in the future to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. According to the Brookings Institute, https://soberhome.net/amphetamine-short-term-and-long-term-effects/ Presidential election years bring out an electorate more favorable to cannabis legalization than the off-year electorate. In one survey, two out of every three Americans now support legalization. In June 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol or CBD) from GW Pharmaceuticals.
Medical cannabis is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, and both THC and CBD can be used for a variety of different ailments. Cannabis sativa is a species of cannabis plant that tends to be higher on the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) scale than other variations, although it does contain cannabidiol (CBD) as well. The recreational use of cannabis is thought to have begun as early as 900 B.C. When the Scythians, a group of Iranian nomads, were believed to have burned the seeds to inhale the smoke containing the psychoactive ingredient.
Cannabis, like alcohol, negatively affects several skills required for safe driving. You can choose not to drive—and remind your friends and family to do the same—after using cannabis. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. For more information on drug interactions with marijuana, please visit the Drugs.com Drug Interactions Checker. In robust Phase 3 studies with 516 patients with either seizure type, Epidiolex, taken along with other medications, was shown to be effective in reducing the seizure frequency when compared with placebo.
However, effects vary depending on your mode of consumption and it’s illegal in many places. A policy monitoring system sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) that provides detailed information on a wide variety of alcohol-related policies in the United States at both state and federal levels. The system was expanded in 2016 to include policies related to legalizing the cultivation, sale, or use of cannabis for prohibitions and restrictions on such practices. Ongoing and long-term system, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) that collects data on the behaviors, attitudes, and values regarding substance use of American teens, college students, and adults. Each year a total of approximately 50,000 students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades are surveyed about substance use, including cannabis, and a subset are sent follow-up questionnaires through age 45 years. Monitors six categories of priority health risk behaviors, including cannabis use, among high school youth at national, state, and local levels.
Common side effects with Epidiolex included sleepiness, diarrhea, sedation and lethargy, possible liver damage, and decreased appetite, among others. It was rescheduled from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule V controlled substance in September 2018 by the DEA. However, in April 2020, the DEA fully removed the controlled drug status of Epidiolex in the US.
Feeling of a relaxed state, euphoria (“high”), and an enhanced sensory perception may occur. Some people who are novice users may feel anxious, paranoid, or have a panic attack, especially if they use higher amounts or higher strengths of THC.
More than 300 submissions were made to the inquiry flagging the potential benefits of decriminalisation, including for the state’s legal and health systems. “Your opponent, Ron Gold, has said that he is for the legalization of marijuana recreationally. Your thoughts on that?” KCRA-TV asked Harris. Just a week after she announced her presidential bid in January 2019, Harris told the hosts on the radio program “The Breakfast Club” that she was in favor of legalizing marijuana and had smoked a joint while in college. While more research needs to be done in the realm of the use of cannabis, a few things are clear. The fact that hemp can be a catalyst for creating biodegradable plastics and other textiles that are better for the environment should be more than enough to have people give the plant another look.