Bluntly Speakin’ is all things cannabis – recreational and medicinal / locally and globally. From legalization & news; to conversation, debate & information; to entertainment & cuisine. You’re up in smoke with Bluntly Speakin’.
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Cannabis 101
Cannabis is the actual name for marijuana. The term marijuana came to the US from Mexico. It is a psychoactive plant that has psychoactive and medicinal properties whose main active ingredient is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the part that gives a ‘high’ when burned in a cigarette or heated in cooking. It is considered an effective therapeutic agent used to reduce pain, stimulate appetite, and relieve nausea.
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A secondary ingredient is CBD (cannabidiol) does not have any noticeable psychoactive effects; however, when taken by itself, it is considered a pain reliever. Cannabis use include recreational and medicinal and there are different types of cannabis in which users have experienced different highs and medicinal effects because of the different concentrations of terpenoids and cannabidiols.
Some forms of cannabis are:
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Marijuana – made from dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant, and is considered the least potent
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Hashish - made from the resin, (secreted gum) of the cannabis plant
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Hash Oil – is a thick oil from hashish and considered the most potent
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There are several methods of consumption: it can be rolled into a cigarette, smoked in a pipe or bong, vaporized using a ‘vape’ pen, or mixed into food or drinks and ingested. Topical intake mainly involves CBD and used for medicinal purposes.
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Other names used for Cannabis include:
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Weed
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Reefer
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Joint
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Blunt
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Grass
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Herb
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Pot
Regarding youth and teenagers:
The 2017 national Monitoring the Future Study shows marijuana use in the past 12 months among U.S. teens holding steady in 8th grade, but increasing slightly for students in grades 10 and 12.
Some signs of use:
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Glassy or red eyes – appearing ‘stoned’
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Increased appetite – munchies
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Anxiety
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Inappropriate laugher
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Loss of motor coordination
Some risks:
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Chronic cough
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Bronchitis
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Depression
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Attitude and personality changes
Legality of Cannabis
The legal status of cannabis for medical and recreational use varies by country and is constantly changing. While the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law for any purpose in the United States, it is legal for either recreational and/or medicinal purposes on an individual state level.
States with legalized recreational cannabis:
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Alaska
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California
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Colorado
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District of Columbia
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Maine
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Massachusetts
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Nevada
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Oregon
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Vermont
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Washington
In addition to the 10 states plus D.C. above with legalized recreational cannabis, 23 states that have legalized medical cannabis are Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and West Virginia.
Globally, Uruguay was the first and only country to legalize cannabis until Canada went legal October 17, 2018. These two countries have fully legalized the consumption and sale of recreational cannabis nationwide.
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A list of countries where cannabis is legal, decriminalized, tolerated, or accepted for medical use include Australia, Austria, Colombia, Germany, India, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, and Spain.
Some pros for legalization:
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Safe supply of cannabis, thus a better quality for black market cannabis can be laced with harmful drugs
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Eliminate illicit pot sales thus putting drug dealers in the black market out of business, and a reduction in gang-related violence.
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Making it a legit business thus creating jobs and tax revenues.
Medicinal cannabis can treat a variety of conditions, such as chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.
Some cons for legalization:
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Cannabis can be addictive
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Second-hand smoke for non-smokers