Essay Sample on Cannabis in Healthcare

Introduction

Cannabis is a type of plant that synthesis a chemical called delta -9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis is also called pot, hash, weed, dope herb, Buddha, ganja, joint, and cones. The main types of plants that produce this chemicals are; cannabis indica, and cannabis sativa. It is generally a drug since it changes the normal functioning of the body when consumed. The plant is categories as a depressant. This is because it's slow down the way the body coordinate with the brain (Di Tanna Gianluca et al.2012).

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Furthermore, it makes somebody lose concentration, excited, gain courage, excessive talking than the normality and talking without prober coordinating words. There are also some other physical symptoms associated with the usage of this drugs which is not limited to red eyes, the upsurge in heartbeat, dizziness and rough mouth. Too much usage of this drug may make somebody lose sleep, related mental diseases, e.g., depression, problems of the lungs and sexual.

This type of plants originate from India, and it can be used in different ways. The various sections of the plant can be used in different methods and for each option it has a specific name. Out of the many, the commonest of all is marijuana, hashish (hash) and hash oil. The dry leave and flowers of the plant are called cannabis. It is often administered to the body through smoking after rolling or in a pipe. Hashish 'hash' is cannabis resin which is dry. This part of the plant is highly concentrated with THC than marijuana and thus portraying more side effects when used than the rest. The mode of administering this part of the plant is often mixed with tobacco then smoked alternatively it's added with food before eating .hash oil is a liquid that is extracted from the cannabis plant specifically from the flower. The liquid is also active in THC content . The mode of usage of this oil is through smearing on the apex of the cigarette or the paper then smoked. Both the cannabis and the hash can also be smoked in a vaporizer that heats the part of the plant until it releases the THC.

When cannabis is smoked, it directly goes to the lungs where it is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls found in the lungs. Alternatively if eaten it goes to the stomach where it is digested through the wall of the stomach and the intestine to the bloodstream. The bloodstream then moves the THC to the brain where it causes some disturbance on the normal functioning of the mind; the person started feeling 'high.' The impact of smoking cannabis is much faster than adding to food since when smoked it is absorbed directly to the bloodstream.

When marijuana reaches the brain, it works through a system called endocannabinoid (EC) system. This is fundamental communication system in the brain and the body that affects the different signals and messages wired in the body and not limited to how a person reacts, feels, moves and the speed of responding. Within the endocannabinoid, (EC) system are chemicals called Cannabinoids that help to regulate the critical body function through interacting with receptors. (Crane Natania A et al. 2013).

The cells found in the brain communicate with each other and the other parts of the body by sending the chemicals in that carries the message. This message helps to connect and regulate everything that we do, think and feel, chemicals by the name neurotransmitters emitted from presynaptic cells passed through the synapse and then link with postsynaptic cells where it triggers the neurons which receive into action hence provoking an event that allows the communication of an intended message. Contrary to this, the EC system carries its message differently since its functions in a backward direction. When a postsynaptic neuron is triggered, cannabinoids which for this case are the chemicals messengers of the EC system produce on demand by fats cells found in the neuron. They are then released from the cells and move backward to then neuron called presynaptic and attach with cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids limits the number of neurotransmitters released this will affect the way the messages are send received and interpreted by the cells.

When individual smoked marijuana, THC patronize and supersedes the EC system and very fast attaches the cannabinoid receptors all over the brain, and the body, the ability of the natural cannabinoids to perform their task in the usual situation of balancing communication between neurons is significantly affected thus leading to loss of balance. The cannabinoid receptors are present in many parts of the brain and the body, therefore, the impact of THC is very enamored. The rate of reaction of a person under this drugs is slow down; hence an individual tends to forget what has just happened in some few minutes. It also makes somebody anxious and impairs judgment.it also bring an impact on the section of the brain that makes a person feel good, but in the long run, it can lead to a person losing memory, addiction and health problems ( Jennifer M., and Cheer Joseph F. 2014).

Medical Cannabis continues to penetrate usage. Currently, medical cannabis is continuously being researched. Patients can be administered marijuana through the following ways;

Vaporizing or vaping - this is where the cannabis is heated in a particular electronic device then inhaled. This method react very quickly in the body hence the effect is felt very fast and also the method has less harsh . However, the dosage and the amount of THC intake may be difficult to be determined and also the vaping units are expensive.

Smoking- this is where cannabis is rolled and smoke like cigarettes. This method also reacts with the body very quickly thou the amount of THC delivered through this method is too difficult to be determined.

Nasal - this where the nasal spray is used to intake the cannabis. Then cannabis is inhaled through the nasal of the nose. This method is a good way of administering cannabis especially patients with problems of coordinating inhalation since as long as long as the nasal spray goes into the nostril it just goes by its own. However, this method may affect the lungs since it goes directly to the lungs.

Oral- this is where cannabis is taken through mouth either by adding food or taking it directly in the form of distillates or oil. This method is not effective since the effect takes some time to be felt unlike when inhaled. However, this method is the safest since the THC diffuse into the body slowly.

References

Cascini Fidelia, Aiello Carola, and Di Tanna Gianluca. 2012. Increasing Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D-9-THC) content in herbal cannabis over time: a systematic

Review and Meta-a Covey Dan P., Wenzel Crane Natania A., Schuster Randi Melissa, Fusar-Poli Paolo, and Gonzalez Raul. 2013.

Effects of cannabis on neurocognitive functioning: recent advances, Neurodevelopmental influences, and sex differences Jennifer M., and Cheer Joseph F. 2014. Cannabinoid modulation of drug reward and the Implications of marijuana legalization analysis.