​Is Cannabis a Drug? In-Depth Overview of the Cannabis Plant and Its Uses

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​​Cannabis is an herb widely used for medicinal purposes, but it has also been used as a recreational drug. In fact, it has the same effects as other drugs like cocaine and heroin. Cannabis affects our brain and nervous system in different ways. It affects how we think and feel, not just physically. So if you’re 18 years old, you can use cannabis legally to relieve pain without any prescription. If you’re less than 18 years old, you can get into trouble with the law if you use cannabis in public places or near children.

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The History of Cannabis

​​Cannabis originated from the Indica family of plants and has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years. Cannabis is a key part of our cultural history and has been grown in various parts of the world. Cannabis is still used for medicinal purposes in several parts of the world today. Cannabis is an illegal drug in America. But in the 1970s and 1980s, cannabis began to gain popularity as a recreational drug, particularly among teenagers and young adults. The arrival of the drug coincided with the popularity of the hip-hop culture, which promoted the drug to the young population. Cannabis Legalization was decriminalized in several states in the 1970s and 1980s.

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Cannabis’s effects on the brain and nervous system

​​When our brain is damaged by the effects of a substance, the cells in our brain release molecules to help the damaged brain cells. The molecules they release have different functions depending on the substances they attach to. Our brain cells have an extensive number of receptors. These are proteins on the surface of the cells. When substances attach to receptors, they release chemicals that tell our brain cells how to react to the substance. When the body makes enough of a receptor for a substance, it becomes available for use. For example, if the body makes enough of a receptor for cocaine, it becomes available to be used as a recreational drug. One of the receptors in our brain is the CB1 receptor, which cannabis activates. It was discovered in 1998.

Cannabis as a drug

​​Cannabis is illegal because the government says that it is a drug. The Controlled Substances Act, which was amended in 1970, defines a drug as any substance that has “a high potential for abuse” and is capable of producing “addictive or deleterious effects on the individual.” These substances can be a pain reliever, but they also include: Substances that affect the central nervous system (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin), Substances that affect the endocrine system (e.g., LSD, ecstasy), Substances that affect the cardiovascular system (e.g., caffeine, nicotine), Substances that affect the respiratory system (e.g., alcohol), Substances that affect the body’s ability to metabolize food (e.g., cannabis). Drugs can only be considered legal if they have accepted medical use.

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