Pros and Cons of Marijuana

Marie Scarlet Dana Espina

Cannabis also known as Marijuana is a green plant coming from the monophyletic group of
Angiosperms, Eudicots and Rosids under the order Rosales, family of Cannabacaea. It is used as a drug
for medical purposes but was trafficked and used as a gateway drug that can lead to the abuse of
dangerous substances.

The cultivation and use of this drug was illegalized under Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive
Drug Act of 2002. Marijuana is the second most used drug in the Philippines after methamphetamine or
known as Shabu. But how are these drugs especially Marijuana, affect our mental state?

Neurons are the cells that process information in the brain by releasing chemicals called
neurotransmitters from the axon of one neuron to the dendrite of another for the signal to pass on. This
effect is quickly compounded into complex of configurations within milliseconds flashing over the entire
brain.

Cannabis contains molecules that resemble those produced in our brains: cannabinoids. These
cannabinoids circulate at much lower quantities in our brain compared to the large influx in Marijuana.
These cannabinoids are specialized neurotransmitters released by neurons having just fired. Neurons
temporarily become unresponsive after firing. This allows your brain to function in a calm manner.

But too much cannabinoids interrupts this approach and can cause your thoughts to magnify
itself. Once you begin your train of thought you can't see the big picture nor recall your last memory for
you are still caught up in the momentum of a particular idea.

The disadvantage of this psychoactive drug has great impact to teenagers or to anyone who
wrongly use this substance for mere recreation. The bad effects of using it include the impaired thinking
and learning, memory loss and depression. Moreover, using this may also increase the risk of sexual
dysfunction, cancers and other ailments.

The main use of Cannabis is for medical and scientific purposes. It is used as painkillers for those
who have illnesses such as glaucoma or nerve pain. Doctors prescribe medical Marijuana to treat Nausea
from Chemotherapy where cancer patients often vomit. This numbs the senses of the ill person to
minimize his pain. This also enhances the poor appetite that could lead to weight loss caused by chronic
illnesses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. Only patients with a card from a physician
could use it and is not prescribed to anyone who is pregnant, has a history of heart disease or underage.

Indeed, Marijuana is a very useful medicine. But it has been continually abused by many creating
harmful effects to humanity. Because of the lack of discipline, we Filipinos are suffering. We are lucky
these days that we have drug rehabilitation centers for treatment.