With Senator Vicente
“Tito” Sotto III’s recent comments against the idea of legalizing marijuana in
the Philippines, a slew of questions have been brought up regarding the topic.
So what exactly is marijuana and does it really have any other value besides recreational
use? Marijuana is the buds and leaves of the Cannabis sativa plant which
contains hundreds of chemicals including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),
the plant’s main psychoactive chemical. When marijuana is consumed, it is
absorbed into the blood, which is then carried through the body and into the
brain causing the “high” sensation. Our brain contains neurons which are the
cells which process information and communicate through neurotransmitters. THC
and other chemicals mimic or block actions of transmitters interfering with
normal brain and bodily functions. So why are there still many advocates of
legalizing marijuana? Because despite these effects, marijuana has also been
shown to have excellent medicinal value. THC in marijuana has been shown to
increase appetite which is useful for patients who lack an appetite or lack
nutrition. It has also been shown to reduce pain by altering neuron processing
to lessen pain reception. All of this while still being a natural plant which
contains no addictive substances. While some still argue that weed has no
medicinal value, and legalizing it would just cause more problems, others are
still continuing the advocacy of the drug suggesting its pros outweigh its
cons.
Blogpost by: Peter Bugayong
References:
1. Ager, Maila. “Proposal
to legalize marijuana a ‘hallucination’ says senator” 8 Jan 2014. Taken from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/560031/proposal-to-legalize-marijuana-use-a-hallucination-says-senator
2. Bonsor, Kevin.
"How Marijuana Works" 02 July 2001. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/marijuana.htm>
28 January 2014. 28 January 2014.
3. Silverman, Jacob.
"How Medical Marijuana Works" 11 August 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/medical-marijuana.htm>
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