Francisco Javier Ruano / ID 234 / EN-103 / Jun 24, 2009 / English Language
Cannabis Sativa and Human Health
Cannabis Sativa is what? Not many people know what it is, even when they have always heard of it. For instance, if any person is asked if Cannabis should be banned, they automatically say yes without knowing what it is about. For sure, high use of Cannabis—or anything else—might be harmful for a person. People eating too many chocolates might suffer Diabetes; people drinking too much alcoholic beverages will destroy their libber; People consuming too much fast-food might experience heart disease. Yes, Cannabis Sativa—Marijuana—is a kind of drug people use, and its consumption is illegal in many countries around the world. Nevertheless, Cannabis Sativa has many benefits that can be grouped into physical, psychological, and spiritual.
Joan M. Bello has a Master of Science in Eastern Studies and Holistic Health. She has also experience as a substance abuse counselor. As Director of the National Class Action for Therapeutic Cannabis, she attended many patients interviewing them over their diseases which include the following: Glaucoma, Epilepsy, Asthma, Digestive Disorders, Anxiety, among others. The information she gathered from them served as validation of her book: An Introduction to the Yoga of Marijuana
Marijuana consumption has many physical benefits since it produces effects on people’s nervous system. Joan Bello, in her book Introduction to the Yoga of Marijuana, expresses “The simultaneous opposing action of marijuana is akin to balancing our entire system. Such balance in the ANS [Autonomic Nervous System] can be understood as a charged equilibrium, which is defined as ‘well-being’ experienced as physiological expansion and psychological contentment and responsible for health”
Although specific effects of marijuana in the body are well known, each has been taken in isolation without noting that both sides of the Autonomic Nervous System are conjoined. Instead of a perspective that sees the whole person and the simple holistic effect of marijuana, a myopic and reductionistic method of measurement has been employed, and marijuana’s profound meaning for health has been lost.
Most of the people only see how harmful Marijuana can be. These people should step back to see the whole picture, so they will be able to realize that Cannabis Sativa has an effect on both parts of the brain at the same time; as left part of the brain—perception—is heightened, the right part of it—reception—is enhanced. This is the scientific reason some people say they are able to study better after smoking some weed—another name of Cannabis Sativa. They are more relaxed that is critical to learn easily, and their perception and reception are improved. As this drug has many effects in human brain, it is right to say it also has psychological consequences.
Relaxing and energizing cerebral effects lead to psychological benefits, so people are able to think clearly and efficiently. For instance, Joan Bello explains “Whereas marijuana results in an ‘altered state of consciousness,’ the depressant drugs have been described as producing ‘altered states of unconsciousness’ (Sugerman and Tarter), allowing for relaxation without awareness”
Tobacco | 435,0001 |
Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity | 365,0001 |
Alcohol | 85,000 1 |
Microbial Agents | 75,0001 |
Toxic Agents | 55,0001 |
Motor Vehicle Crashes | 26,3471 |
Adverse Reactions to Prescription Drugs | 32,0002 |
Suicide | 30,6223 |
Incidents Involving Firearms | 29,0001 |
Homicide | 20,3084 |
Sexual Behaviors | 20,0001 |
All Illicit Drug Use, Direct and Indirect | 17,0001, 5 |
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Such As Aspirin | 7,6006 |
Marijuana | 07 |
It might look impossible, but it is real. As Marijuana mental effects are about awareness and consciousness, it is believable to have zero as death cause cases. Furthermore, Marijuana will not tolerate repression; tranquilizers and depressants might release people’s tension but it is unconscious, while alcohol could tranquilize people, but it becomes a high need to the body—addictive
Cannabis Sativa has spiritual benefits by constructing an equilibrated body plus efficient thoughts. Joan Bello said, “Meditation is the ultimate tool for self-knowledge. In the East, marijuana has been used to facilitate the process for millennia”
To conclude, Weed can be well used to create an active estate of conscience by fully activating people’s brain. Marijuana effects in mind is a highly effect of awakens, so people are able to understand better and easier. Spiritual effects of Cannabis Sativa generate cheerfulness, and then people are happier by knowing themselves deeper. Hence, it is right to say that Cannabis Sativa highly increases the possibilities to develop people physical, psychological, and spiritually. Even though this is not an attempt to lead people to use this drug, but to imply that Cannabis Sativa is not a harmful drug if people do not abuse of it.
Works Cited
Bello, Joan M. Benefits of Marijuana. 22 June 2009
Benefits of Marijuana. The Benefits of Marijuana. 22 June 2009
DrugWarFacts.org. Annual Causes of Death in the United States. 2004. 23 June 2009
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