World Of Weed

Being in a ‘high’ state also means being in ecstasy, which is to be outside of oneself. When people get high, they are partly in a trance, which results in a heightened ability for extraordinary experience and imagination. The monks, shamans and other spiritual guides were the first humans to achieve a high. They took plants to use as drugs and to reach this desired condition. These plants used as drugs are now known as herbal highs.

Today, herbal highs such as marijuana, opiates, and cannabis are used to achieve the state of being high. These household herbal highs are known to be illegal in most countries, yet some people are still producing these kinds of highs. The most commonly used household herbal high today comes from marijuana. It is the earliest known drug used by monks or shamans as household herbal highs to achieve a trancelike state like being in heaven.

Imbibing in household herbal highs can cause slowness, caution, agitation, paranoia, anxiety, and disruption of linear memory. They are also known for physical effects, such as pain relief, reduced nausea, increased appetite, dilation of alveoli, or air sacs, in lungs, dry mouth, and dilation of blood vessels, confusion, headache, and dizziness. However, the general effects of herbal highs include mild euphoria, general change in consciousness, increased appreciation of music and other arts, humour, relaxation, stronger connection of body and mind, lassitude, drowsiness, and physical pleasure. These drugs are also known to cause many harmful effects once an individual becomes addicted to them. These include lowered blood pressure and the precipitation of existing of mental disorders.

It has emerged from a recent study by Queen’s University, Belfast that 14 and 15 year-olds in Northern Ireland are daily users of cannabis. After an initial survey of cannabis use in school children, the study showed that 1 in 10 of those who’d admitted to taking it at least once had since progressed to daily use. What this means is they are no longer simply experimenting with cannabis – they are now habitual users. The press will have a field day with this information. Because it sounds bad, doesn’t it? Well it’s certainly not a good thing that these kids are missing out on their educations, but shouldn’t we be looking at trying to work on the social problems that led to this supposed abuse, rather than demonising cannabis yet again?

And what does this study actually tell us? It can’t prove that more people will become habitual cannabis users now than in time gone by, because there has been no previous study of its kind. It can only suggest that a minority (10%) of those who try cannabis will go on to become heavy users, which has always been the case. With any drug. But we all know that cannabis is not addictive. So it’s not cannabis that’s the problem! It’s the social and family environment.

The study found that daily users of cannabis were usually from the lowest socio-economic groups – poorer areas and broken homes. They were disinterested in their school work and there was a lack of communication between them and their parents or guardians. So they’re looking for escapism. I wonder how many of them drink as well as smoke dope? I would guess that most do. However, it’s easier for these kids to buy cannabis than it is to buy alcohol. Most cannabis dealers will sell to kids – there’s no age limit as far as they’re concerned. So smoking daily can be achieved without too much fuss.

This brings me back to my usual point that cannabis should be legalised. If it were, age restrictions could be imposed and strength could be regulated. We could educate people properly, with advisers who can actually admit to taking cannabis themselves, instead of the officious, suit-wearing health counsellors that infiltrate schools at the moment. And cannabis would also lose its rebellion-related status. Let’s face it – the fact that cannabis is illegal adds extra appeal to a lot of kids who try it.

OK, so there will always be a black market for cannabis, and their will always be kids on drugs. But we can’t keep blaming the drugs themselves. Let’s take a new approach and raise awareness for the other problems involved.