Marijuana is a plant grown for its fibers, seeds, and buds, which can be smoked for recreational and medicinal purposes. It originated in Central Asia and has been used for thousands of years. It is illegal or strictly regulated in many countries, but legal or nominally illegal in others. When smoked, it produces a mild feeling of euphoria and pleasure, but can also cause paranoia, lethargy, and poor motor coordination. Its use is associated with music and rock concerts.
Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is an annual plant grown worldwide for its fibers, used to make hemp fabric; its seeds, which are used for birdseed; and its buds, which may be smoked for recreational and/or medicinal purposes. The plants are usually 1 to 5 feet (0.3 to 1.5 m) tall and can thrive in a variety of climates with adequate light, including indoor grow rooms.
The plant is thought to have originated in Central Asia, near present-day Tibet. Evidence of marijuana use and cultivation dates back to 10,000 BC, represented by charred seeds found in a ritual brazier in Romania. It is estimated that about 4% of adults worldwide use it every year and 0.6% use it daily. This translates to about 264 and 40 million people, respectively.
Much of marijuana’s fame – and controversy – comes from its use as a psychoactive drug. As a drug, marijuana has many names: gangue, weed, trees, etc. In many countries it is expensive because its use as a drug is illegal or strictly regulated. In many other countries, however, such as Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Russia, Iran, France and Italy, the plant is legal or nominally illegal, but penalties for its use are rarely enforced in practice. This makes it less expensive and more widely available.
When smoked, marijuana gives the user a “high,” a mild feeling of euphoria, pleasure, and wonder. Onset is rapid, lasting from 2 to 5 minutes and lasting from 30 minutes to three to four hours, depending on the dose. Being high on marijuana changes the way people interpret sounds and colors, making auditory and visual experiences more stimulating and intense. This is why its use was heavily promoted by music enthusiasts in the 1960s and 70s and continues to be used frequently in rock concerts. Using it gives the user a soothing sensation that decreases the pain of diseases such as cancer and AIDS.
Besides the upside, marijuana has some downsides. It can cause a slight feeling of paranoia in the user, which can exacerbate pre-existing paranoia from using an illegal drug in the first place. It causes lethargy and poor motor coordination, which means it is inadvisable to operate heavy machinery or drive under the influence. In some countries, using or possessing it is illegal, meaning that getting caught with it can lead to fines or jail time. In some countries and areas, such as Hong Kong for example, the plant is so illegal that growing or distributing it can lead to life imprisonment.
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