THE DANGERS OF DABBING: IS POT GETTING MORE HAZARDOUS?
For the past few years, the cannabis community has been obsessed with dabbing – an increasingly popular method of marijuana consumption, which causes euphoric high amongst users and raises serious concerns about potential risks. Presumably, dabbing dates back to the 1970s, when a small group of marijuana users developed the technique. Yet, due to the advent of superior extraction methods in recent years, it has become a widespread hype among marijuana users, especially high school seniors and college students.
How does it work?
The concentrate butane hash oil (BHO), which goes by many names, including “honey oil”, “wax”, or “crumble”, is the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, which
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Paranoia, psychosis, anxiety, and hallucinations are often sited as side effects of inhaling the substance. But what’s even more frightening is the possibility of addiction or dependence. Because of the stronger high, dabbing is associated with more intense reward triggers and thus a deeper craving for repeated use. A survey of about 350 frequent marijuana users revealed that they view dabbing as more dangerous than smoking cannabis, mainly because it leads to worse withdrawal symptoms. What is more, due to the high concentration of BHO in dabbing, it now seems possible to overdose on cannabis. While information is still limited, critics alarm that the concentrate may lead to very uncomfortable highs and passing …show more content…
Although some of the benefits of medicinal marijuana are clear, concerns about abuse are not through yet. The increasing popularity of dabbing adds a new spectre to the debate. John Stogner, who is an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, co-authored a paper on the emergence of dabbing in 2015. According to him, the rising popularity of dabbing can be attributed to the latest developments in the legalization of pot for medicinal and recreational purposes. In states where marijuana can be bought legally, it is also possible to buy the butane oil extracts necessary for producing the “dab”. Dabbers often use modified water pipes, known as dab rigs, although sometimes the substance may be stored in e-cigarettes. This might have citizens, especially parents, worried over the negative outcomes associated with the relaxed laws on purchasing
Since the 1970’s, marijuana has been an extremely controversial drug. While some argue that it does not harm to your body, and can do good in the world, others classify it as a “gateway” drug. As the number states in the U.S. legalize the drug increases, 26 to be exact, the debate is only getting more heated. Also known as weed, cannabis, dope, etc., marijuana has been scientifically proven to do good in the medical world, be safer than alcohol and tobacco, and increase a growth in our economy.
Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. Many people are under the assumption that Marijuana is a harmful drug and receive heavy criticism because of stereotypical view people have on “pot smokers” or “pot heads. However it is a well know fact that people
The emergence of electronic cigarettes or vape pens has given cannabis smokers a new method of inhaling marijuana. Cannabis users can discretely “vape” deodorized cannabis extracts without people being able to smell it. According to Paul B. Tchounwou, an academic editor for Int J Environ Res Public Health (2015), “E-cigs could provide an alternative gateway to cannabis use for young people. Furthermore, vaping cannabinoids could lead to environmental and passive contamination.” People can mix in synthetic marijuana into e-liquids and can be inhaled through a pen-sized vaporizer. Not only can people smoke cannabis out of vaporizer pens, they can also smoke psychoactive drugs such as, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, or bath salts (cathinones).
Cannabis Sativa, more commonly known as Marijuana, is made up of dried parts of the Cannabis hemp plant and is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. For centuries, people all over the world have been using marijuana to achieve “euphoria”, but the drug has remained illegal in the United States despite countless efforts to reverse the law. In the last few years, the legalization of Marijuana became both a prominent and controversial issue in our country and remains an extremely touchy subject. Despite its short term effect of distorted perceptions and memory impairment, Marijuana has several pro’s that can not only help individuals but could benefit our country as a whole. These “pros” include medical use, a boost in our
Marijuana is classified by the federal government as a “Schedule 1 Drug” and has become stereotyped as an addictive substance that has become a burden to society, as well as a gateway to other drugs. However, this fallacy undermines the positive aspects that can come from this plant’s natural healing chemicals. In addition, the drug itself is not as harmful as some may perceive. The first generalization that is related closely to the effects of
Have you ever smoked a joint? If so you're not alone, because 1 out of 3 people in America have tried marijuana at one point in their lives. Occasional use isn't that much harmful, because anytime marijuana gets into your system it's going to have an affect on your mind and body. In this paper i'm going to share what marijuana is and different ways it may be consumed that leads to different health effects in the human body.
In our society, especially in recent times, the topic of interest for many is the highly stigmatized drug marijuana. Marijuana is currently under national debate on whether it should be legalized on a federal level. A myriad of news and media outlets report that marijuana is legal in multiple states for numerous reasons, but the federal government still fails to legalize it as of now. To provide insight, marijuana also referred to as cannabis, is derived from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant and can be used in many ways—smoking, edibles (food or drink), vaporizing, tinctures, ingestible oils, topical lotions or balms, and dabbing (delivers a higher THC in the form of hash oil, wax, or shatter). THC and CBD are called cannabinoids, which are the major chemicals in marijuana that assist the user for medical purposes or recreationally. As stated by Americans for Safe Access (ASA), “The federal government claims that marijuana is not medicine and in Gonzales v. Raich (2005) the United States Supreme Court held that the federal government has the constitutional authority to prohibit marijuana for all purposes… States have recognized marijuana’s medical value” (Americans for Safe Access). Furthermore, marijuana is used recreationally and medicinally in some states and the District of Columbia under state specific laws. Although the use of cannabis is legal in certain states, in the federal government’s eyes, marijuana use,
Marijuana also known as Mary Jane, pot, bud, or ganja has been used in the world for thousands of years. It has been used for different reasons, medical or recreational. “The main psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical in marijuana, responsible for most of the intoxicating effects that people seek, is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The chemical is found in resin produced by the leaves and buds primarily of the female cannabis plant. The plant also contains more than 500 other chemicals, including more than 100 compounds that are chemically related to THC, called cannabinoids.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse 1). The cannabis plant, known as marijuana has a positive view for medication, but the side people do not see, is where weed can damage a person physically and mentally, along with influencing one’s brain to make unordinary decisions while damaging the brain at the same time.
Lester Grinspoon, M.D., the Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School states that although cannabis is not entirely harmless, it is a safe drug. He also says that it is less toxic than the other conventional drugs that it would replace if it were legalized. In the history of its use it has never caused an overdose death. Cannabis would be one of the least toxic and addictive medicines in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia if rescheduled and legalized for medical use. Patients would not have to deal with the anxiety and expense that they deal with now. Cannabis would be at least 100 times less expensive than current medicines that perform the same treatment. Dr. Grinspoon also states that the most serious concern would be respiratory damage from smoking. The particulate matter in the smoke could be separated from the active ingredients, the cannabinoids to reduce the risk. Prohibition has prevented this technology from happening (Lester Grinspoon, 1997).
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a natural plant containing the psychoactive substance Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis originated in central Asia but has since spread worldwide, becoming the most consumed illicit drug in the world. Around the world, different countries and states laws regarding cannabis use vary greatly. Himmelstein (1983) wrote on how cannabis had previously been regarded as a “killer weed” in the United States, but in the mid-1960s, this view changed dramatically, and cannabis was then seen as a “drop-out drug”, which resulted in a major shift in how the public viewed the use of cannabis throughout the world. “In the last three decades, the recreational use of cannabis has become widespread among adolescent
"Marijuana is the second most popular drug after alcohol in the country today. So many people smoke marijuana that the numbers alone seem to legitimize and condone its presence in people's lives. Yet, even in moderation marijuana is not 'safe.' Somehow this information had not filtered down to people who think they are smoking a fairly innocuous drug. Our society perpetuates the myths about pot being a fun, harmless, recreational drug. These myths feed into people's denial of marijuana's problems" (Baum 6). However, the abuse of marijuana is a problem. It is not only a personal problem, but also more importantly a social problem. Throughout history marijuana has been used to serve various purposes in many
Cannabis, also commonly known as marijuana, is the most widely used illegal recreational drug. Recreational drugs are used to alter states of consciousness and heighten mood. Out of all recreational drugs, marijuana use ranks among alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine use. Marijuana refers to dried leaves and flowers from the Cannabis sativa plant. When smoked or ingested, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is absorbed through the bloodstream and carried to the brain and other organs. THC is a mind-altering chemical that attracts most to the drug because of the “high” it gives. Marijuana causes the user’s eyes to redden, increases heart rate and relaxes muscles. It may also cause mouth dryness and increased feeling of hunger. Studies have shown that marijuana is the safest of all recreational drugs but it is still classified under schedule I controlled substances by the government. Schedule I controlled substances are drugs with high potential for abuse. Because of this, marijuana is grouped with drugs such as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy and is illegal to possess or consume. Recently, the use of medical marijuana has increased greatly. Some doctors argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, and other conditions. There has been an intense debate over the legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use. Unfortunately, many helpful aspects of marijuana are overlooked by government officials and those that oppose
Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a plant used to produce hemp fiber and as a psychotropic drug. There are many ways to consume the plant, but most often, it is consumed through a cigarette. Over many years, marijuana has been looked at as a gateway drug and something attached to violence and addiction. Users of marijuana have been stereotyped to abuse the drug to get high rather than to medicate their bodies. The hip-hop and hippie communities shed a light on marijuana that gave society a good excuse to view it negatively. Many have overlooked the benefits of marijuana by being blinded by the stereotypes society has created. Despite the negative outlooks, there are an abundance of benefits that using
I chose to review “The Pot Book, A Complete Guide to Cannabis. Its Role in Medicine, Politics, Science, and Culture.” The book is a collection of essays from over fifty contributors. The essays range from Medical Studies, to interviews, to humorous anecdotes. The contributors are doctors and scientists, reporters and lawyers, people from all walks of life.
in “Marijuana Facts” 1). From an outsider’s perspective, one has to ask why is there so much tension and hesitation in legalizing marijuana? If alcohol is the direct cause of many deaths, while marijuana has not been responsible for any, it only makes sense that our health would not be our greatest concern in legalizing the drug. Also, it is important to understand marijuana consumption is less susceptible to overuse than alcohol or other drugs (Marijuana 10:477). Despite this, critics often argue that marijuana is a gateway to other more potent and harmful drugs. According to Dr. Halbach of the World Health Organization there is no pharmacological link between cannabis and opiates (Marijuana 10:477). This demonstrates the physiological unlikelihood of marijuana being a stepping-stone to other more potent drugs containing opiates. Marijuana does have drawbacks and side effects, as any other drug whether medicinal or recreational. However, putting the drug in perspective helps one to understand the contradiction in legalizing other drugs while continuing to ignore marijuana even though it can beneficial in different capacities.