Marijuana is an illegal plant that is obtained from the Indian hemp plant. The plant is often grown in most types of soil with maximum light that can be supplemented by lamps in places where it is not adequate. The leaves, seeds, and flowers of this plant are then dried and then rolled into cigarettes or smoked through pipes. The drug can be consumed in various forms. It may be burnt and the vaporized cannabinoids inhaled from paper-wrapped joints, bongs, small pipes, or cigarettes. It may also be taken through vaporizers and in the form of cannabis tea. The drug may also be packaged in edibles including buttered and baked goods. The drug is mostly used for medicinal or recreational purposes and sometimes, for religious purposes. The street name for this drug is bhang or pot. The use of cannabis is associated with a wide range of side effects. These include the increase in heart rate that may lead to a heart attack, low blood pressure and blood sugar, lung related problems that may lead to lung cancer and chest problems such as coughs and colds. Other physical effects include increased appetite, dizziness, slow reaction time and shallow breathing. People who have used the drug for a long time may experience sleeplessness and irritability (Saper, 2014).
The adverse effect of the drug often heightens the risk of engaging in drug-related offences so as to satisfy the individual’s hangover. Most users eventually run out of finances and this makes it hard for them to get their daily supply. Thus, they may resort to violent and criminal acts against family, friends, and suppliers of these drugs just to get a dose. The fact that the drug is illegal has led to the thriving of criminal gangs that strive to sell the commodity in the black market. Such people may even go to the extent of growing the drug in hidden places within their homes. Thus, they end up being charged with drug-related offenses like illegal possession of marijuana and get to serve their time in jail (Grigorenko, 2012).
References
Saper, C. (2014). Up in smoke: A neurologist's approach to “medical marijuana”. Annals of Neurology, 77(1), 13-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.24327
Grigorenko, E. (2012). Handbook of juvenile forensic psychology and psychiatry. New York: Springer.
