Question

Name the plant source of ganja. How does it affect the body of the abuser?

Answer 1

Hint: Ganja, also known as Marijuana, is a psychoactive drug which is used for different purposes. But this drug is often abused by people in large quantities which result in leaving various effects of this drug on their body. The drug has been illegalized in many countries while in some, consuming a certain amount of the drug by adults has been legalized.

Complete answer:
• Marijuana is a psychoactive drug which is obtained from the plant – Cannabis.
• Marijuana is basically used for medical and recreational purposes but abusive uses of this drug leave many adverse effects on our body.
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive component of this drug. Along with this chemical, there are 438 more components like cannabinoids, cannabidiol, etc. present in the plant.
• Intake of this drug can be done by smoking, vaporizing, as an extract or within the food.
• This drug leaves many mental and physical effects. These effects include the state of euphoria, loss of senses, difficulty in concentration, short- term memory, increase in appetite, etc.
• When the drug is taken through smoking, it reaches directly to our lungs, from where it gets transported to the heart, then to our bloodstream and to our brain and other organs of the body. Smoking of this drug gives almost instant effects.
• While when taken with food or drinks, the effect of the drug may take some time to be observed.
• Although, very small doses of this drug do not damage the body badly, the higher doses are proved to be fatal as well.
• Effects of higher doses include- delusions, anxiety, panic attacks, psychosis, hallucinations, etc.
• Increased heart rate, nausea, difficulty in breathing, dry mouth and red eyes are some physical effects of this drug.
• Use of this drug to longer terms result in the addiction of the drug, chronic coughing, susceptibility of our lungs to respiratory diseases and decreased mental stability.
• Main of component of this drug (THC) is highly soluble in lipids and can bind with the lipids for a long term. THC might bind with the lipid membranes of neurons which might result in release of a high amount of dopamine which results in psychotic behavior of the drug taker.
• Traces of THC can be found in our body even after a week or two (even if you take the smallest amount of dose).
• While medical use of this drug is limited to treat nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy and to increase the appetite of HIV/AIDS patients, the harmful effects of this drug forced many governments in the world to illegalize the drug.

Note: Beside the recreational and medical use of Cannabis, this plant has also held its status in sacred rituals. Use of powerful drugs which eliminated sorrow and anguish, had been mentioned in many Greek mythologies. Cannabis has served as an entheogen in many cultures. Use of this plant in Vedic periods in the subcontinents of India has been mentioned and the disciples of Rastafarian Movement use this drug as an aid to meditate.