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is a green, brown or gray mixture of dried leaves. The seeds andflowers of a marijuana plant are obtained from hemp plant (Cannabissativa). The plant contains a chemical calleddelta-9-tetrahydocannabinol (THC) and more other related compoundsthat are bound to alter the mind. originated from Asiathousands years ago before spreading to other countries around theglobe. Since then the drug has been in use for many decades thusfinding its way to other nations. Later, the plant spread to Americasand the United States. By then marijuana was used as medicine and forspiritual purposes during the pre-modern times as suggested byprofessor of Geography from the University of Kansas in Lawrence,Warf[ CITATION Bla14 l 2057 ].

InCanada, marijuana is one of the most frequently used illicit drugs.According to the survey conducted in 2012 by the Canadian CommunityHealth, they established that almost 12.2% of Canadians aged between15 years and above were found to be using marijuana. The figure wasapproximated to range around 3.4 million people using the drug. Thefindings from the survey indicated that the drug was commonly used bythe adolescents in the country. They believed that using the drugcould boost their educational attainments forgetting that it hadeffects on the reduction of the mental activities and the long-termpersonal drawbacks that can harm the brains of the adolescents.

like cigarettes is hand–rolled and people smoke it. Also, it issmoked in blunts-emptied cigars that are filled with marijuana. Thedrug is vaporized for those who don’t want to smoke it. Thevaporizers pull the active ingredients such asdelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) out and this vapor is collected instorage unit. The vapor is inhaled and not smoked while othervaporizers use the liquid extract from marijuana to mix with foodsuch as cookie, brownies or candy. Surprisingly marijuana can also bebrewed in tea.

Theuse of marijuana has been associated with adverse health risks. Thedrug contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) whichcontributes to increased health risks. Extensive research conductedstates that the marijuana of today is stronger than the one which wasused some time back. Studies have shown that both the normal level ofTHC and other components that alter the mind in marijuana hastremendously increased from 300% to 400% over the past few years. Thesubstance is greatly abused among the youths of today which hasdrastically increased physical and mental health risks among them. Inaddition, it has led to increased addiction chances. Youths havebecome endangered and vulnerable due to health complications that areassociated with the use of marijuana. Most youths use them at earlystages when undergoing critical moment of brain development.Accumulation of this substance in the brain during this criticalmoment interferes with the brains and harming its normal functioning.At this point, the psychotic risks or mental sickness such asschizophrenia may arise and increase[ CITATION Eva15 l 2057 ].

usage has both mental and physical effects. Among the physicaleffects, there are those that are short-term effects such as havingred eyes, low blood pressure, collapsing, heart attack and stroke.Physical effects that are long-term due to usage of marijuana mainlyinvolve the lungs and the heart complications. Smoke from marijuanahas been associated with smoke from cigarette since it contains amixture of poisonous substances that irritates the lungs and thethroat, the result is coughing which has been connected with thesigns of bronchitis which is caused by smoking cigarettes. Alsomaterial likely to cause cancer has been found in the marijuana smokeas established in the tobacco smoke. Mental effects of marijuanainclude loss of short-term memory, not able to pay attention,concentrate or study, loss of motor coordination, dizziness,sleepless and lack of ability to judge or think correctly.

Onthe other hand, causes problems with the learning memoryand behavior. Smoking of the drug causes coughing and breathingproblems which are also associated with smoking cigarettes. Longusage of the drug leads to addiction, for example, if they startedusing it when they were teenagers they will get addicted to and theproblem may persist putting their health at risk. Despite the adverseeffects of marijuana, some countries have legalized marijuana as amedicine to ease symptoms associated with health complications. Forexample, the plant has been perceived to treat nausea that is causedby chemotherapy and also increases appetite among patients havingsevere weight loss[ CITATION Pik17 l 2057 ].In Canada, it was important to address the use of marijuana amongyouths. The statistics showed that the adolescents were chiefly atrisk of marijuana-related problems because their brains were enduringrapid and extensive developments. Further research showed thatchronic marijuana usage was allied with memory, thinking andresponsiveness difficulties. Also, it increased the risk ofpsychosis, despair, and anxiety and possibly lung cancer for adultsand youth as well.

InCanada, marijuana is profitable and is used as medicine. It hascreated high demand and manufacturers have been issued with licensesin order to share their knowledge with others for a certain fee andshares that accrues to their businesses and the royalties. Thesouthern border of Canada has legalized marijuana and most companiesin the region have gained access to numerous opportunities to exportthe knowledge and the product to the U.S as suggested by BrendanKennedy, who is the chief executive officer of Privateer Holdings,which have several companies that deals with marijuana[ CITATION Fre16 l 2057 ].

Belowis a graph showing the rate of police-reported drug offense in 2013

Graph1.0 Graph of police-reported rate of drugoffence:

Fromthe graph, about 18% of individuals accused of offenses of drugs in2013 are female the figure is slightly lower than the general crimesreported to the police. Females are held accountable for onlyone-quarter (24%) of crimes reported by the police. They have beenhighly linked to imports and exports of drugs with a proportion of(29%), and lowly ranked with possession offenses of (17%). TheInternational research has categorized women as not actively involvedin the drug trade but participate in the smuggling and transportationof these drugs. The proportion of female accused with drug offensesvaries depending on the type of the drug. For example, femalesaccounts about one-quarter of individuals accused of methamphetamineoffense (24%) and (23%) for heroin offense. In contrast, theproportion of females accused of offenses involving marijuana (16%)is less than that of men.

Cannabishas been associated with low mortality rates in patients withschizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. In this case themortality rate has been defined as the rate at which people dies in agiven population at a particular time. Much frequently, theproponents of marijuana legalization have come up with vaguestatistics indicating no deaths has ever resulted from the use ofmarijuana ever since[ CITATION Cox15 l 2057 ].

Addictiondue to use of marijuana can be treated through Behavioral support.The treatment has been efficient over time and it involves therapyand motivational incentives such as awarding those that aredrug-free. No treatment mechanism is currently available for treatingmarijuana effects. Mostly specialists treat issues associated withthe addiction of marijuana such as anxiety and depression. Furtherresearch is likely to make new discovery of medications that willheal the symptoms and prevent the marijuana-related effects.

InAugust 24, 2016 the ACMPR came into force in Canada. Theseregulations replaced the for Medical Purposes Regulations(MMPR), the ACMPR regulations are in the process of implementation.This is after the court ruled the case of Allard V. Canada. The ACMPRhas allowed access to use of cannabis for medical purposes forCanadians who have been prescribed and authorized by medicalpractitioner to use it for medical purposes. The Government of Canadatabled regulatory amendments in June 2014 that required the licensingof producers for providing semi-annual reports to healthcareauthorities. These reports could provide information to thehealthcare practitioners who will provide medical documentauthorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. They will alsoprescribe the amount of marijuana that is official and elementary topatient information. The information was planned for the improvementof ability to monitor specific practice patterns of access tomarijuana.

Inconclusion, the use of marijuana is increasing and the drug is in theprocess of being legalized in many countries including Canada. Thelegalization comes after researchers have established that there areminimal deaths that are caused by smoking marijuana, unlike tobacco.Also, marijuana can be used for medical purposes such as treatment ofnausea that is triggered by chemotherapy and also increase appetitein patients having severe loss of weight. Despite all the negativeeffects of marijuana, many nations believes that the advantagesoutweighs the disadvantages thus prompting them to legalize the drug


Blaszczak-Boxe, A. (2014, October 17). `s History: How One Plant Spread Through the World. LIVESCI=NCE.,+A.+%282014,+October+17%29.+%27s+History:+How+One+Plant+Spread+Through+the+World.+LIVESCIENCE.&amp*

Cox, J. (2015, March 19). Number of Deaths Caused by Much More than 0. FAMILY

Evans, p. (2015, November 10). 20% of Canadians Smoked Pot Last Year, But More Than 30% Would if Legal, Poll Suggests. CBCnews.

Freeman, S. (2016, November 14). Canadian Producers Eye U.S. Market To Have Their Weed And Smoke It Too. AGRICULTURE.

Pike, R. (2017, March 20). . Natinal Library of Medicine.,+R.+%282017,+March+20%29.+.+National+Library+of+Medicine.&amp*