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What is Cannabis?
Cannabis
is a plant that grows much like corn or wheat, not
some powdered drug produced in a clandestine laboratory.
It has many other uses besides being the lowest risk
recreational substance used in society.
The
stalk of the plant, known as "Hemp", contains
fiber and hurds and is a sustainable, environmentally
friendly, renewable, natural resource.
The
flowers contain a mild psychoactive ingredient called
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). When the flowers or "buds"
are dried and smoked they are more commonly referred
to as "Marijuana".
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Who uses cannabis recreationally?
People
from middle teens, to seniors, in all walks of life,
in every country around the globe. Yes, even doctors,
lawyers, judges, police and politicians!
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Why do people smoke it?
Cannabis
produces a feeling of well being, promotes the facilitation
of interpersonal behavior, and reduces aggressive
behavior. In other words, it usually makes people
happy, sociable and peaceful.
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Is cannabis addictive?
No.
Cannabis produces no withdrawal symptoms no matter
how heavily it is smoked. It is habit forming (psychologically
addictive), but not physically addictive.
For
a drug to be physically addictive, it must be reinforcing,
produce withdrawal symptoms, and produce tolerance.
Marijuana is reinforcing, because it feels good, but
it does not do the other two things.
Caffeine,
nicotine and alcohol are all physically addictive.
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Has anyone ever died from smoking it?
No.
Cannabis is nontoxic. No deaths from a cannabis overdose
have ever been verified. It has been estimated that
one would have to smoke eight hundred cannabis cigarettes
to induce a fatal reaction, and even then one would
probably receive a lethal dose of carbon monoxide
first.
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Does cannabis lead to harder drugs?
No.
This is known as the “gateway” or “stepping
stone” theory. That by trying cannabis, it will
lead to the use of heroine, cocaine or other dangerous
substances. Fact is, caffeine, tobacco,
and alcohol are the first drugs to be encountered
during adolescence, as these are legal and more readily
available. People who use hard drugs do so of their
own choice whether or not they have tried cannabis.
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Does cannabis have any other uses?
Cannabis
is usually ranked among the top medicines, called
“panaceas”, a word which means “cure-all”.
The therapeutic potential of cannabis includes: treating
multiple sclerosis, asthma & breathing difficulties,
alcoholism, glaucoma, AIDS, epilepsy, migraine headaches
& severe pain, as well as being an antiarthritic,
antidepressant & anticonvulsant. It can be used
to control inflammation, and for relief of nausea
in cancer treatment patients. This is just a sampling
of the medicinal properties this plant has to offer.
Hemp
Stalks and Hemp Seed have vast industrial applications.
See the chart below for a quick overview of hemp’s
incredible potential.
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Why is cannabis illegal?
Prohibition
began when cannabis / hemp was made illegal under
the name "marijuana" in the Opium and Narcotic
Drug Act of 1923. It was a decision based on misinformation,
sensationalism and public manipulation that effects
us to this day.
Help us bring an end to prohibition!!
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One of
these things is not like the others... |
Tobacco |
Cannabis |
Alcohol |
Available at any grocery or convenience
store.
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Available just about everywhere,
although nowhere legally.
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Available at regulated retail
establishments and any restaurant or bar.
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More than 30% of Canadian smoke
cigarettes. |
1 in 4 Adults have tried it, with
1 in 12 using it regularly. |
Nearly 3/4 of Canadians aged 15
and up drink alcohol. |
Possible side effects:
Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, Addiction,
Death. |
Possible side effects:
Mild Euphoria, Increased Appetite, Reddening of
the eyes, Jail. |
Possible side effects:
Drunkenness, Vomiting, Violence, Alcoholism, Liver
damage, Death. |
Approx: 35,000 deaths a year in
Canada.
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No deaths ever.
Not possible to overdose. |
Approx: 16,000 deaths a year in
Canada. |
Billion Dollar Industry
$ $ $
Large Tax Revenue Generator. |
Billion Dollar Industry
NO Tax $ Generation.
Millions of Tax Dollars spent on prohibition. |
Billion Dollar Industry
$ $ $
Large Tax Revenue
Generator. |
Legal - Regulated |
Illegal via Prohibition |
Legal - Regulated |
Now advertised in print and soon
to be on T.V. |
Until Oct. 1994, it was illegal
to distribute information about it.
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Advertised in print.
Only beer & wine allowed to advertise on T.V.
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Can You
Guess Which One? Can you tell us why? |
Of
the 60,000+ drug charges each year in Canada,
2/3 are for cannabis, and of these, 65% are for
simple possession.
Over
600,000 Canadians now have criminal records because
they chose to smoke cannabis. For the most part,
these are otherwise law abiding, caring, socially
productive individuals who have made a personal
choice as to the libation they prefer.
Isn’t it time we stopped
criminalizing this segment of society? Cannabis
prohibition makes no sense. |
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