The Negative Effects of Cannabis
CANNABIS
To what extent does research show cannabis is SAFE or DANGEROUS, assess its harmful effects and discuss effects of its chronic use on MENTAL FUNCTIONING, COGNITION, PERSONALITY and MEMORY IMPAIRMENTS, does it deserve its status in LAW?
INTRODUCTING CANNABIS
Kingery, Alford & Coggeshall (1999) highlight that cannabis is frequently used by adolescents as the first illicit drug. It is a popular illegal recreational drug, which has been upgraded back to Class B since 2009 in the UK. The most important psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant is delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol (THC), which is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant that binds to specific receptors in the brain called cannabinoid receptors. In low doses, THC can cause some pain reduction, may reduce aggression, can stimulate appetite, and may help reduce nausea. Higher doses may cause a 'high' leading to altered perception of time and space, and feelings of happiness or fatigue (Hall & Pacula, 2003). In the 1960s the THC content of the cannabis plant was 2-5%, it has now risen to around 5-10%, which indicates higher susceptibility to a 'high'. Hall (2006) suggests that the rising use of cannabis has heightened community concern about its impact on the health and psychological development of young people because of the observations that regular cannabis users are more likely to use other illicit drugs, perform poorly in schools, and report psychotic symptoms, depression and poorer mental health than their peers.
IS CANNABIS DANGEROUS?
There are a number of negative factors associated with the use of cannabis, however the following essay aims to report a counterbalanced argument including any empirical evidence available in support of cannabis use and against it. Chait and Pierri (1992) suggest that cannabis intoxication produces dose-related impairments such as slowing reaction time and information processing, impairing perceptual-motor coordination and motor performance,
To what extent does research show cannabis is SAFE or DANGEROUS, assess its harmful effects and discuss effects of its chronic use on MENTAL FUNCTIONING, COGNITION, PERSONALITY and MEMORY IMPAIRMENTS, does it deserve its status in LAW?
INTRODUCTING CANNABIS
Kingery, Alford & Coggeshall (1999) highlight that cannabis is frequently used by adolescents as the first illicit drug. It is a popular illegal recreational drug, which has been upgraded back to Class B since 2009 in the UK. The most important psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant is delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol (THC), which is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant that binds to specific receptors in the brain called cannabinoid receptors. In low doses, THC can cause some pain reduction, may reduce aggression, can stimulate appetite, and may help reduce nausea. Higher doses may cause a 'high' leading to altered perception of time and space, and feelings of happiness or fatigue (Hall & Pacula, 2003). In the 1960s the THC content of the cannabis plant was 2-5%, it has now risen to around 5-10%, which indicates higher susceptibility to a 'high'. Hall (2006) suggests that the rising use of cannabis has heightened community concern about its impact on the health and psychological development of young people because of the observations that regular cannabis users are more likely to use other illicit drugs, perform poorly in schools, and report psychotic symptoms, depression and poorer mental health than their peers.
IS CANNABIS DANGEROUS?
There are a number of negative factors associated with the use of cannabis, however the following essay aims to report a counterbalanced argument including any empirical evidence available in support of cannabis use and against it. Chait and Pierri (1992) suggest that cannabis intoxication produces dose-related impairments such as slowing reaction time and information processing, impairing perceptual-motor coordination and motor performance,