Addiction is seen as a difficult medical disorder by the NHS, this is because of how the chemical imbalance is altered as illicit drugs tap into the way the nerve cells communicate. There are two prominent ways in which drugs of abuse and legal drugs affect the brain. The first way is by mimicking the brains natural chemicals. Another way in which the brain can be affected is through the overstimulation of the limbic reward system. The majority of illicit drugs have something in common – they alter the amount of dopamine drastically in the nucleus accumbens. Once again there are different ways in which the release of Dopamine is affected. Cocaine is an example of a direct drug as it blocks the dopamine reuptake via the DAT. On the other hand; cannabis is an example of an indirect drug as it overstimulates a receptor which then leads to an increase of dopamine released in the synapse.
This dissertation is based on the class B drug Cannabis. It is true to say that Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in Britain and worldwide. Cannabis comes from a cannabis plant more formally known as ‘cannabis sativa’. It will grow widely in most tropical climates. It is increasingly being cultured and grown for recreational uses using hydroponic technology I am going to explore; if cannabis is addictive or we just becoming dependent to it. There are various different forms of this illicit drug, these include: Hash (which is cannabis resin) a light brown solid, Marijuana/Weed which is the dried leaves or flowers of the plant, finally, in recent years there has been an increase in Skunk. Skunk contains two to three times more of the active ingredient than weed – it is on the increase as it creates stronger ‘highs’ than other strains of cannabis. The most commonly known effects for cannabis include: relaxation, hunger/ increase in appetite, anxiety, paranoia, alteration of time and perception, happiness and euphoria. It can also have an