Marijuana

Marijuana,
An associate for better future,
Or a foe?

Research Paper of: Jamillah D. Estolas
Submitted To: Mrs. Erlinda Abriam

Outline
I. INTRODUCTION A. Significance of Study B. What is Marijuana? C. Breeding & Cultivation D. Functions of Marijuana E. Consumption a. Methods of Consumption b. Mechanism of Action c. Detection of Consumption
II. UPLIFTING EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA A. Psychoactive Classification B. Life-Giving Effects of Marijuana C. Benefits of Medical Marijuana
III. LETHAL EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA A. Adolescent Brain Development B. Memory, Learning & Intelligence C. Pulmonary Function D. Marijuana’s Effect on the Brain E. Long-Term Effects of Marijuana F. Short-Term Effects of Marijuana
IV. PROHIBITION OF MARIJUANA
V. CONCLUSION Bibliography
I. INTRODUCTION The world’s highest form of creation faces the challenge of illegal “DRUGS”. Authorities from the different part of the world try to find a way in blocking and destroying this kind of act. Although activists and many marijuana antagonists believe smoking pot has positive and negative effects, scientific research indicates that marijuana use can cause many different health problems. In contrast of its effectiveness in curing different health problems, some people use this as an illicit form of drug. The congress of United States of America debates about this drug. Some congressman tries to legalize the usage of Marijuana, but some competes for destroying marijuana and supports finding alternative herbs in substitute for marijuana. The opinion of Marijuana during the 70’s was much more definitive than it is today. Approval of Marijuana by 27 states, new medical studies, and its consequences on those convicted from use of the most common illicit drug in the world, is forcing the United States of America to rethink its stance on the matter. In general, the underlying argument about Marijuana in this country is: should Marijuana continue to be prohibited to citizens based on its health effects, medicinal values, and costs to the country?
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Significance of the Study The reasons why this argument is so important are great. As previously stated, Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world, and with millions of people using it regularly and almost 73% of population that have ever used it in this country, the laws behind this drug hold great influence. It is because of this and the immergence of new evidence, that the justification behind prohibition of this drug is being rethought scientifically, socially, and economically. The use of Marijuana as both medicine and a recreational drug is being thoroughly questioned in the UNO. 27 states have Marijuana approved in some form, many of those for medical purposes however those users can still, and do get placed into prison by federal law. Currently, about 830,000 people a year are in trouble with the law in regards to Marijuana and numbers seem to be on an uphill trend. Furthermore, the UNO invests 30 billion a year into the drug war, half of which is dedicated to Marijuana. Many are questioning its success all together. Both imprisonment and the war cost our country, and therefore our people, money. A change in laws is going to have a dramatic affect on America.
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What is Marijuana?

Cannabis, also known as marijuana (from the Mexican Spanish marihuana), and by other names, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and as medicine. Pharmacologically, the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); it is one of 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 84 other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), andtetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). Its discovery could have been as early as 2700 BC in China. During those years, Chinese use the Cannabis Sativa plant as a source of hemp, which is a very useful cash crop that can produce several textile materials.
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Breeding and Cultivation It is often claimed by growers and breeders of herbal cannabis that advances in breeding and cultivation techniques have increased the potency of cannabis since the late 1960s and early '70s, when THC was first discovered and understood. However, potent seedless cannabis such as "Thai sticks" were already available at that time. Sinsemilla (Spanish for "without seed") is the dried, seedless inflorescences of female cannabis plants. Because THC production drops off once pollination occurs, the male plants (which produce little THC themselves) are eliminated before they shed pollen to prevent pollination. Advanced cultivation techniques such ashydroponics, cloning, high-intensity artificial lighting, and the sea of green method are frequently employed as a response (in part) to prohibition enforcement efforts that make outdoor cultivation more risky. It is often cited that the average levels of THC in cannabis sold in United States rose dramatically between the 1970s and 2000, but such statements are likely skewed because of undue weight given to much more expensive and potent, but less prevalent samples. "Skunk" refers to several named strains of potent cannabis, grown through selective breeding and sometimes hydroponics. It is a cross-breed of Cannabis sativa and C. indica (although other strains of this mix exist in abundance). Skunk cannabis potency ranges usually from 6% to 15% and rarely as high as 20%. The average THC level in coffee shops in the Netherlands is about 18–19%.
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Functions of Marijuana Contemporary uses of cannabis are as a recreational drug, as religious or spiritual rites, or as medicine; the earliest recorded uses date from the 3rd millennium BC. In 2004, the United Nations estimated that global consumption of cannabis indicated that approximately 4% of the adult world population (162 million people) used cannabis annually, and that approximately 0.6% (22.5 million) of people used cannabis daily. In the United States, cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug; 5.1% of Americans said they used marijuana in the past 30 days. In 1977, 38% of 12th graders reported using cannabis in the past month; in 2011, 23% of the same age group reported using cannabis in the same time span. Since the early 20th century cannabis has been subject to legal restrictions with thepossession, use, and sale of cannabis preparations containing psychoactive cannabinoids currently illegal in most countries of the world; the United Nations has said that cannabis is the most-used illicit drug in the world.
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Consumption
Methods of consumption
Cannabis is consumed in many different ways: * smoking, most of which involve inhaling vaporized cannabinoids ("smoke") from small pipes, bongs (portable version of hookah with water chamber), paper-wrapped joints or tobacco-leaf-wrapped blunts, roach clips, and other items. * vaporizer heats herbal cannabis to 365–410 °F (185–210 °C), causing the active ingredients to evaporate into a vapor without burning the plant material (the boiling point of THC is 390.4 °F (199.1 °C) at 760 mmHg pressure). * Cannabis may be consumed orally in any form. Marijuana brownies recipes have been used in consumption by sub-culture groups. * Cannabis tea has relatively small concentrations of THC because THC is an oil (lipophilic) and is only slightly water-soluble (with a solubility of 2.8 mg per liter). Cannabis tea is made by first adding a saturated fat to hot water (i.e. cream or any milk except skim) with a small amount of cannabis.
Mechanism of action The high lipid-solubility of cannabinoids results in their persisting in the body for long periods of time. Even after a single administration of THC, detectable levels of THC can be found in the body for weeks or longer (depending on the amount administered and the sensitivity of the assessment method). A number of investigators have suggested that this is an important factor in marijuana 's effects, perhaps because cannabinoids may accumulate in the body, particularly in the lipid membranes of neurons. Until recently, little was known about the specific mechanisms of action of THC at the neuronal level. However, researchers have now confirmed that THC exerts its most prominent effects via its actions on two types of cannabinoid receptors, the CB1 receptor and the CB2 receptor, both of which are G-Protein coupled receptors. The CB1 receptor is found primarily in the brain as well as in some peripheral tissues, and the CB2 receptor is found primarily in peripheral tissues, but is also expressed in neuroglial cells as well. THC appears to alter mood and cognition through its agonist actions on the CB1 receptors, which inhibit a secondary messenger system (adenylate cyclase) in a dose dependent manner. These actions can be blocked by the selective CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A (rimonabant), which has been shown in clinical trials to be an effective treatment for smoking cessation, weight loss, and as a means of controlling or reducing metabolic syndrome risk factors. However, due to the dysphoric effect of CB1 antagonists, this drug is often discontinued due to these side effects. Via CB1 activation, THC indirectly increases dopamine release and produces psychotropic effects. Cannabidiol also acts as an allosteric modulator of the mu and delta opioid receptors. THC also potentiates the effects of the glycine receptors. The role of these interactions in the "marijuana high" remains elusive.
Detection of consumption THC and its major (inactive) metabolite, THC-COOH, can be measured in blood, urine, hair, oral fluid or sweat using chromatographic techniques as part of a drug use testing program or a forensic investigation of a traffic or other criminal offense. The concentrations obtained from such analyses can often be helpful in distinguishing active use from passive exposure, elapsed time since use, and extent or duration of use. These tests cannot, however, distinguish authorized cannabis smoking for medical purposes from unauthorized recreational smoking. Commercial cannabinoid immunoassays, often employed as the initial screening method when testing physiological specimens for marijuana presence, have different degrees of cross-reactivity with THC and its metabolites. Urine contains predominantly THC-COOH, while hair, oral fluid and sweat contain primarily THC. Blood may contain both substances, with the relative amounts dependent on the recency and extent of usage. The Duquenois-Levine test is commonly used as a screening test in the field, but it cannot definitively confirm the presence of cannabis, as a large range of substances have been shown to give false positives. Despite this, it is common in the United States for prosecutors to seek plea bargains on the basis of positive D-L tests, claiming them definitive, or even to seek conviction without the use of gas chromatography confirmation, which can only be done in the lab. In 2011, researchers at John Jay College of Criminal Justice reported that dietary zinc supplements can mask the presence of THC and other drugs in urine. Similar claims have been made in web forums on that topic. ------------------------------------------------- II. Uplifting Effects of Marijuana Though the long-term effects of cannabis have been studied, there remains much to be concluded. Many studies have investigated whether long-term use of cannabis can cause or contribute to the development of illnesses such as heart disease, bipolar disorder,depression, mood swings or schizophrenia. Its effects on intelligence, memory, respiratory functions and the possible relationship of cannabis use to mental disorders such asschizophrenia, psychosis, depersonalization disorder and depression are still under discussion. Both advocates and opponents of cannabis are able to call upon numerous scientific studies supporting their respective positions. For instance, while cannabis has been implicated in the development of various mental disorders in some studies, these studies differ widely as to whether cannabis use is the cause of the mental problems displayed in heavy users, whether the mental problems are exacerbated by cannabis use, or whether both the cannabis use and the mental problems are the effects of some other cause. It has been pointed out that as cannabis use has risen, rates of schizophrenia have not risen in tandem. Lester Grinspoon argues that the cannabis-causes-psychosis argument is disproved by the lack of "even a blip in the incidence of schizophrenia in the US after millions of people started smoking marijuana in the 1960s". Worldwide prevalence of schizophrenia is about 1% in adults; the amount of cannabis use in any given country seems to have no effect on that rate. Positive effects of the drug have also been observed. For example, in a recent study researchers found that compared with those who did not smoke cannabis, long-term cannabis smokers were roughly 62% less likely to develop head and neck cancers.
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Psychoactive Classification While many psychoactive drugs clearly fall into the category of either stimulant,depressant, or hallucinogen, cannabis exhibits a mix of all properties, perhaps leaning the most towards hallucinogenic or psychedelic properties, though with other effects quite pronounced as well. THC is typically considered the primary active component of the cannabis plant; various scientific studies have suggested that certain other cannabinoids like CBD may also play a significant role in its psychoactive effects.
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Life-Giving Effects of Marijuana Cannabis used medically has several well-documented beneficial effects. Among these are: the amelioration of nausea and vomiting, stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AIDSpatients, lowered intraocular eye pressure (shown to be effective for treating glaucoma), as well as general analgesic effects (pain reliever). Less confirmed individual studies also have been conducted indicating cannabis to be beneficial to a gamut of conditions running from multiple sclerosis to depression. Synthesized cannabinoids are also sold as prescription drugs, including Marinol (dronabinolin the United States and Germany) and Cesamet (nabilone in Canada, Mexico, the United States and the United Kingdom). Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved smoked cannabis for any condition or disease in the United States, largely because the FDA claims good quality scientific evidence for its use from U.S. studies is lacking. Eighteen states and the District of Colombia have legalized cannabis for medical use.[51][52] The United States Supreme Court has ruled in United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers ' Coop and Gonzales v. Raich that it is the federal government that has the right to regulate and criminalize cannabis, even for medical purposes. Canada, Spain, The Netherlands and Austria have legalized some form of cannabis for medicinal use. Millions of people look for the positive effects of marijuana when it comes to treating mild-to-severe health complications. The fact that marijuana smokers experience mood lifts, increase in appetite, and sense of well being truly suggests that the benefits of marijuana are worth using and legalizing it.
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Benefits of Medical Marijuana The use of marijuana is associated with the stimulation of appetite and relief from nausea. Marijuana use reduces muscle spasms and relieves eye pressure for glaucoma patients. The drug is also used in the treatment of health complications such as epilepsy, AIDS and HIV, sexual dysfunction, anxiety and panic attacks, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. In addition to that, the benefits of medical marijuana extend to the treatment of health diseases such as alcohol abuse, spinal cord injuries, cancer, bipolar disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, migraines, and fibromyalgia. Medical marijuana is also useful to treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep apnea, Parkinson’s disease, sickle-cell disease, and psoriasis. These and many more positive effects of marijuana surely suggest that the drug is one of the best drugs known to the mankind and can be extremely useful when used medically under an expert doctor’s supervision. “Marijuana will not tolerate repression. Tranquillizers and depressants relax the body and release tension, but the state of mind associated with these drugs is “unconsciousness” whereby we escape rather than resolve our dilemmas. Alcoholism is an extreme need of both the body and personality sometimes to release the nervousness that has accumulated and continues to build up to an unbearable degree. It serves the same function for the collective personality for the society, as well A culture in which alcohol and tranquillizers are the prevalent form of release prefers not to witness internal confusion and actually choose to act without conscious participation, maintaining a semi-numb condition.” – Joan Bello “Marijuana can act as the loosening agent, so that whatever has been banned from consciousness may come cascading forth. To uncover our deceptions without our usual rationalizations can be unpleasant, an experience that has turned many psychologically fragile individuals away from marijuana despite its therapeutic catharsis.” – Joan Bello. Cannabidiol (CBD) may stop breast cancer from spreading throughout the body, according to a 2007 study at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute. Investigators at Columbia University revealed that HIV/AIDS patients who inhaled cannabis four times daily experienced substantial increases in food intake with no impairment of cognitive performance and little evidence of discomfort. One of the biggest benefits associated with use of medical marijuana is the relief of chronic or neuropathic pain. The effect of medical marijuana treatment in HIV patients who experience neuropathic pain was highlighted in a study published in February 2009 in the journalNeuropsychopharmacology. Dr. Ellis and colleagues found in the study that 46 percent of patients administered with medical marijuana experienced at least a 30 percent reduction in pain. In contrast, only 18 percent of patients administered with placebo achieved similar results.

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III. Lethal Effects of Marijuana
Adolescent brain development A 35-year cohort study published August 2012 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and funded partly by NIDA and other NIH institutes reported an association between long-term cannabis use and neuropsychological decline, even after controlling for education. It was found that the persistent, dependent use of marijuana before age 18 was associated with lasting harm to a person’s intelligence, attention and memory, and was suggestive of neurological harm from cannabis. Quitting cannabis did not appear to reverse the loss. However, individuals who started cannabis use after the age of 18 did not show similar declines. Results of the study came into question when in a new analysis, published January 2013 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Oslo 's Ragnar Frisch Center for Economic Research noted other differences among the study group including education, occupation and other socioeconomic factors that showed the same effect on IQ as cannabis use. From the abstract: "existing research suggests an alternative confounding model based on time-varying effects of socioeconomic status on IQ. A simulation of the confounding model reproduces the reported associations from the [August 2012 study], suggesting that the causal effects estimated in Meier et al. are likely to be overestimates, and that the true effect could be zero". The researchers pointed to three other studies which showed cannabis did not cause a decline in IQ. The studies showed that heavy smokers had clear reductions in IQ, but they were not permanent. A July 2012 article in Brain reported neural-connectivity impairment in some brain regions following prolonged cannabis use initiated in adolescence or young adulthood. A 2012 study conducted by researchers at UC San Diego show deleterious effects on the adolescent brain from cannabis use. Researchers looked at brain scans taken before-and-after of subjects aged 16–20 years who consumed alcohol and compared them to subjects of the same age who used cannabis instead. The 92 person study was conducted over an eighteen-month period. While teen alcohol use resulted in observable reduced white matter brain tissue health, cannabis use was linked to a great structural damage. The study did not measure the subjects ' cognitive performance.
Memory, learning, and intelligence Researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine show substantial, systemic neurological effects from long-term recreational use of cannabis. Their findings were published in the July 2003 issue of the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. The research team, headed by Dr Igor Grant, found that cannabis use did affect perception, and cause permanent brain damage. Researchers looked at data from 15 previously published controlled studies involving 704 long-term cannabis users and 484 nonusers. The results showed long-term cannabis use was harmful on the memory and learning. Other functions such as reaction time, attention, language, reasoning ability, perceptual and motor skills were affected. The observed effects on memory and learning, they said, showed long-term cannabis use caused "memory defects", but that the impact was "of a large magnitude".
Pulmonary function A 2012 study published in JAMA and funded by National Institutes of Health looked at a population of over 5,115 American men and women to see whether smoked cannabis has effects on the pulmonary system similar to those from smoking tobacco. The researchers found "Frequent and high cumulative marijuana use was associated with adverse effects on pulmonary function." Smoking an average of one joint a day for seven years, they found, worsen pulmonary health. Dr. Donald Tashkin commented on the study, saying it confirmed findings from several other studies showing “that essentially there is asignificant relationship between marijuana exposure and impairment in lung function.” He noted despite containing similar noxious ingredients, one reason cannabis smoke may be as harmful as tobacco smoke may be due to the inflammatory effects of THC. In his own research, Tashkin unexpectedly found that smoking up to three joints a day appeared to have increase in lung malfunction. Tashkin said, "I think that the bottom line is that there does appear to be any positive impact on lung function of marijuana smoking.”
Marijuana’s Effect On The Brain THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) may change the way in which sensory information gets into and is processed by the component (hippocampus) of the brain’s limbic system that is crucial for learning, memory, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivations. Recent investigations have suggested that THC may suppress activity of the nerve fibers in the hippocampus; however, the studies are inconclusive.
Long Term Effects Of Marijuana Since marijuana may affect temporary decision-making and judgment, its long term use can lead to risky behavior. Marijuana users are prone to getting lung infections like pneumonia and having more chest colds than non-users. The list of long term effects of marijuana could include headache, tremor, altered body temperature, hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, altered libido, derealization, and depersonalization.
Short Term Effects of Marijuana The short term effects of marijuana include distorted perception, loss of coordination, anxiety, increased heart rate, and problems with memory and learning; all of the side effects are temporary in nature. Marijuana users may also experience dry mouth and throat when used in the short-term. The THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) compound in marijuana is carried to the brain via the bloodstream when abused. THC then binds with the cannabinoid receptors of the nerve cells and alters activities of the neurons, which means that functions of brain like sensation of pleasure, perception, and concentration power are negatively affected. Short term effects of marijuana also include increased sensory perceptions besides distorted image of self and time perception. Short-term use of marijuana also leads to a negative effect on the readiness to respond, motivation, ability to identify, and identify things. In addition to that, marijuana use can make driving risky as THC affects function of the cerebellum (part of the brain) that controls coordination and balance. Marijuana use also affects the judgment ability and reaction time of users and this could mean inability to take timely decisions or taking decisions in haste.
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IV. Prohibition of Marijuana It is a common assumption that marijuana was made illegal after conducting medical, scientific, and government hearings. However, this is far from the truth and we will be accessing nothing but the real truth in this piece of information. The history of marijuana’s criminalization is associated with incidents of fear, racism, yellow journalism, ignorance, corruption, and greed. These are the actual reasons why marijuana was made illegal by most countries of the world. The fact that those voting on the legal fate of marijuana never had the facts to supports their claims and depended only on information provided to them by people and agencies that had a certain agenda to deceive lawmakers. It is worthwhile to note here that marijuana was completely legal for most centuries. The use of marijuana dates back to 7000 B.C. and it was used for making woven fabric, food, clothing, and much more. According to the first marijuana law of the United States of America, all farmers were “ordered” to grow Indian hempseed and there were many incidents when farmers who didn’t obey the order were sent to jail. During these times, hemp was treated as a legal tender that means that people could actually pay their taxes or buy things with hemp. The revolution in Mexico in 1910 when General Pershing’s army clashed with bandit Pancho Villa and use of cheap Mexican labor by some farmers soured US-Mexico relations. Since many Mexicans smoked marijuana, California passed the first marijuana law and outlawed “preparations of hemp, or loco weed.” Many other states in the United States followed California and passed marijuana prohibition laws, which were specifically targeted against the Mexican-American population In 1930, the beginning of the all-out war against marijuana came to light with the establishment of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics under the directorship of Harry J. Anslinger. Files prepared by Anslinger used to be full of negative comments against marijuana, such as “There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others. “Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death” “Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind. In his quest to make marijuana illegal, Anslinger got help from William Randolf Hearst, owner of a huge chain of newspapers. Hearst hated Mexicans and wanted to stop the development of hemp paper as he had invested heavily in timber industry for supporting his newspaper chain. He also had lost 800,000 acres of timberland to Pancho Villa. Moreover, news of marijuana causing violence appearing on his newspapers was making him rich Marijuana was soon associated with violent behavior by the so-called experts. Dr. A. E. Fossier wrote in the 1931 New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal: “Under the influence of hashish those fanatics would madly rush at their enemies, and ruthlessly massacre everyone within their grasp. People were almost “forced” to believe that marijuana is bad for them and should be rightly illegal Dupont chemical company that had patented nylon and wanted to eliminate hemp as competition supported the claims made by Hearst and Anslinger. The association set the stage for The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 that made the Yellow journalism won over medical science. This was only after the legislation was wrongly told that a doctor from the American Medical Association supports the anti-marijuana law In short, it is not marijuana but people with deceiving intentions (full of hatred and racism) who made the plant illegal.
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V. CONCLUSION
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Based on extensive researching and intense analysis of both sides of the argument, I believe without a doubt that there is no reason to keep the legalization of usage of marijuana, world-wide.
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The fact is that protagonists have an outdated ideology toward the matter, and what they believe is either based on false evidence from inferior scientific studies, or simply the result of nation-wide naivety that has rubbed off on them. As we progress and progress into the 21st century it is becoming clearer and clearer that Marijuana is harmful than alcohol and tobacco.
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Science is proving Marijuana to be harmful. We need to be living as a people that would rather choose to sit down after work and rest without any form of vices. If legalized, our economy would be unstable; many innocents would experience unsure security. Our crime rate would be increased and Marijuana would be able to be obtained by innocent adolescents, also by adults. We should fight back and protect ourselves from the destructive power of Marijuana in killing, losing, and destroying our future. References: * Osborne, Geraint B.; Fogel, Curtis (2008). “Understanding the Motivations for Recreational Marijuana Use Among Adult Canadians1″. Substance Use & Misuse 43: 539–72. doi:10.1080/10826080701884911. * Ranganathan, Mohini; D’souza, Deepak Cyril (2006). “The acute effects of cannabinoids on memory in humans: a review”. Psychopharmacology 188 (4): 425–44. doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0508-y. PMID 17019571. * Grotenhermen, Franjo (2007). “The Toxicology of Cannabis and Cannabis Prohibition”. Chemistry & Biodiversity 4: 1744–69. doi:10.1002/cbdv.200790151. PMID 17712818. * Riedel, G.; Davies, S. N. (2005). “Cannabinoid Function in Learning, Memory and Plasticity”. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 168: 445–477. doi:10.1007/3-540-26573-2_15. PMID 16596784. * Leweke, F. Markus; Koethe, Dagmar (2008). “Cannabis and psychiatric disorders: it is not only addiction”. Addiction Biology 13 (2): 264–75. doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2008.00106.x. PMID 18482435. * Rubino, T; Parolaro, D (2008). “Long lasting consequences of cannabis exposure in adolescence”. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 286 (1-2 Suppl 1): S108–13. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2008.02.003. PMID 18358595. * Delisi, Lynn E (2008). “The effect of cannabis on the brain: can it cause brain anomalies that lead to increased risk for schizophrenia?”. Current Opinion in Psychiatry 21 (2): 140–50. doi:10.1097/YCO.0b013e3282f51266. PMID 18332661. * Denson, TF; Earleywine, M (2006). “Decreased depression in marijuana users”. Addictive behaviors 31 (4): 738–42. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.05.052. PMID 15964704. * H.K. Kalant & W.H.E. Roschlau (1998). Principles of Medical Pharmacology (6th ed.). pp. 373–375. * Turner, Carlton E.; Bouwsma, Otis J.; Billets, Steve; Elsohly, Mahmoud A. (1980). “Constituents ofCannabis sativa L. XVIII—Electron voltage selected ion monitoring study of cannabinoids”. Biological Mass Spectrometry 7: 247–56. doi:10.1002/bms.1200070605. * J.E. Joy, S. J. Watson, Jr., and J.A. Benson, Jr, (1999). Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing The Science Base. Washington D.C: National Academy of Sciences Press. ISBN 0585058008. * Hampson, A. J.; Grimaldi, M.; Axelrod, J.; Wink, D. (1998). “Cannabidiol and (−)Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol are neuroprotective antioxidants”. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 95 (14): 8268–73. Bibcode 1998PNAS…95.8268H. doi:10.1073/pnas.95.14.8268. PMC 20965. PMID 9653176. * H. Abadinsky (2004). Drugs: An Introduction (5th ed.). pp. 62–77; 160–166. ISBN 0534527507. * ”Judge Young – Part 4″. Druglibrary.org. 1988-09-06. Retrieved 2011-04-20. * 1996. The Merck Index, 12th ed., Merck & Co., Rahway, New Jersey

References: * Osborne, Geraint B.; Fogel, Curtis (2008). “Understanding the Motivations for Recreational Marijuana Use Among Adult Canadians1″. Substance Use & Misuse 43: 539–72. doi:10.1080/10826080701884911. * Ranganathan, Mohini; D’souza, Deepak Cyril (2006). “The acute effects of cannabinoids on memory in humans: a review”. Psychopharmacology 188 (4): 425–44. doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0508-y. PMID 17019571. * Grotenhermen, Franjo (2007). “The Toxicology of Cannabis and Cannabis Prohibition”. Chemistry & Biodiversity 4: 1744–69. doi:10.1002/cbdv.200790151. PMID 17712818. * Riedel, G.; Davies, S. N. (2005). “Cannabinoid Function in Learning, Memory and Plasticity”. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 168: 445–477. doi:10.1007/3-540-26573-2_15. PMID 16596784. *  Leweke, F. Markus; Koethe, Dagmar (2008). “Cannabis and psychiatric disorders: it is not only addiction”. Addiction Biology 13 (2): 264–75. doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2008.00106.x. PMID 18482435. * Rubino, T; Parolaro, D (2008). “Long lasting consequences of cannabis exposure in adolescence”. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 286 (1-2 Suppl 1): S108–13. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2008.02.003. PMID 18358595. * Delisi, Lynn E (2008). “The effect of cannabis on the brain: can it cause brain anomalies that lead to increased risk for schizophrenia?”. Current Opinion in Psychiatry 21 (2): 140–50. doi:10.1097/YCO.0b013e3282f51266. PMID 18332661. * Denson, TF; Earleywine, M (2006). “Decreased depression in marijuana users”. Addictive behaviors 31 (4): 738–42. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.05.052. PMID 15964704. * H.K. Kalant & W.H.E. Roschlau (1998). Principles of Medical Pharmacology (6th ed.). pp. 373–375. * J.E. Joy, S. J. Watson, Jr., and J.A. Benson, Jr, (1999). Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing The Science Base. Washington D.C: National Academy of Sciences Press. ISBN 0585058008. * H. Abadinsky (2004). Drugs: An Introduction (5th ed.). pp. 62–77; 160–166. ISBN 0534527507. *  ”Judge Young – Part 4″. Druglibrary.org. 1988-09-06. Retrieved 2011-04-20.