Cannabis controversy By Billy Lampropoulos

What is Cannabis ? Cannabis is part of the flowering plants family Cannabaceae. The main active ingredient in cannabis, commonly known as THC, is the part of the plant that gives the "high." There is a wide range of THC potency in cannabis products.

Forms of Use Cannabis is used in three main forms: marijuana, hashish and hash oil.

Application of Cannabis Medical use: Medical cannabis and its constituent is used to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy and to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms. e.g. everyday activities such as watching the television and listening to music can become altered and more intense.

Application of Cannabis Recreational use: Cannabis is a popular recreational drug around the world, only behind alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. Most people use it in order to experience a sense of mild euphoria and relaxation, often referred to as a "high."

Effect on the user Cannabis causes changes in the user's mood and also affects how they think and perceive the environment.

The Medical Use…

Countries-States cannabis is legal Medical use only Both medical and recreational Greece Canada (October 2018) Alabama California Australia Netherlands Czech Republic Oregon Canada biggest country to legalise it

Statistics in states it is legal According to a recent study published in the Guardian, when a state on the Mexican border legalized the medical use of the drug, violent crime fell by 13% on average “When the effect on crime is so significant, it’s obviously better to regulate marijuana and allow people to pay taxes on it rather than make it illegal,”

Statistics in states it is legal Data from the FBI’s crime reports, made clear that among the border states the effect of the change in law was largest in California, where there was a reduction of 15% in violent crime. Robbery  19% Murder  10% Homicides (related to the drug trade)  41%

Situation in Greece In June 2017, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced that a joint ministerial decision regarding the legality of medical cannabis had been made. It declared the medical use of cannabis to be legal for patients with a doctor's prescription.

Decriminalisation VS Legalisation Decriminalisation does not mean that people can use drugs with impunity. Instead it means that possessing small amounts no longer lands the perpetrator with a criminal record or a jail sentence.

Decriminalisation VS Legalisation Legalisation means that consumers face no penalty at all. More importantly, it means that the supply side of the business—cultivation, transportation and retailing—is also legal.

It is also a form of art

Sources The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/14/legal- marijuana-medical-use-crime-rate-plummets-us-study ) Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weed) The Economist (https://www.economist.com/the-economist- explains/2014/06/18/the-difference-between-legalisation-and- decriminalization)