Surprisingly, to a large number of people on a worldwide scale, the cannabis plant of all things carries a cloud of negative judgment over it and has done so for more than a few years, even since the very beginning of the plant’s reputation. In today’s post, we will be disproving the 6 most common myths about the infamous cannabis plant.
Several countries around the world have even gone as far as to legalize the use of cannabis to an extent, with many others voicing that they intend to follow in their footsteps. There are a plethora of myths regarding cannabis that are typically based around some scientific fact, while others are used to misinform the public intentionally.
Contained within the list below are the 6 most common myths surrounding the marijuana plant. In doing so, we must consider the predilection that exists on both sides of this spectrum. Approaching this topic without any predisposition, we will attack the most highly discussed cannabis myths.
The Idea That Sativa And Indica Strains Are Always Different
Even some individuals deep within the cannabis community have fallen victim to the misconception that Indica strains are limited to stoney and sleep-inducing effects, while Sativa strains are in turn limited only to energetic and mind-altering effects.
Scientists within the cannabis community have disputed this idea heavily, most notably by a cannabis expert and neurologist by the name of Dr. Ethan Russo. He claims that this notion is nothing but misinformation. This common misconception is most likely another marketing ploy designed by dispensaries to assist in further marketing cannabis. Still, it does not hold any weight within the scientific community.
The characteristics of the Indica and Sativa strain’s effects have proven to overlap in almost every way. Cannabis experts and scientists encourage the public to eliminate the vocabulary “strain” to avoid this common misconception.
Cannabis Is Not Addictive In Any Way
Sure, there are many individuals who consume marijuana regularly and are not addicted to it at all whatsoever. However, contrary to popular belief, in some situations, people can find themselves addicted.
Still, this kind of addictive behavior is not only attributed to cannabis consumption. The same way that online shopping, materialism, and workaholic type dopamine-releasing reward systems can negatively affect the brain and, in turn, your life is consistent as well with routine cannabis consumption.
Using Cannabis Will Make You Lazy
Cannabis users everywhere receive an abundance of different labels, of course, backed mainly by false information. It is true that marijuana, in some instances, can lead to the consumer indulging in some couch potato type behavior.
Yet, many people who have used cannabis throughout recent years have achieved great success in almost all walks of life. From people within the athletic world to the entertainment world and beyond, individuals have used cannabis to relax and unwind for a long time with zero reported adverse effects.
Weed Does Not Cause Hangover-like Symptoms
As the controversies surrounding marijuana-induced hangovers and alcohol-induced hangovers continue, we must consider a couple of things.
First and foremost, cannabis hangovers in their absolute entirety are nothing compared to the following day’s consequences brought on by heavy alcohol use. Although people may feel sensations of lethargy, red eyes, and a foggy brain, the day after using marijuana, when consumed in reasonable quantities, should leave users waking up feeling refreshed.
Marijuana Is A Gateway To Hard Drugs
This notion that using cannabis will likely influence teens to experiment with harder, more illicit, and possibly dangerous drugs has been a theme pushed by the government and the educational system since the beginning of the marijuana discussion in general.
To put it simply, this idea is entirely false. Millions upon millions of cannabis users of all ages consume the substance without ever once toying with the concept of using drugs like cocaine, amphetamine, or opiates.
The Legalization Of Recreational Cannabis Use Is A Mistake
Many people within this country and others are still claiming that the recreational use of Marijuana should be outlawed and treated like other class A substances such as cocaine or methamphetamine. Although there can be some, albeit very few, negatively perceived results in allowing Recreational Dispensaries in Los Angeles and other legalized areas to sell cannabis-related merchandise, the many positives could significantly improve the American economy. Taxing all cannabis products the same way we tax cigarettes and alcohol could raise the government over 6 billion dollars a year. Not to mention the millions of new jobs it would open up to American citizens.
In conclusion, just like any other substance, there’s more than one side to it. On one hand, you have a huge number of people that find cannabis to be a substance that induces lethargic, addictive, and mostly harmful effects and behavior. While the other side swears by its healing, calming non overly addictive traits. Yes, it is 100% true that the use of cannabis can have adverse effects on the body and brain and, in turn, even your life, mainly when abused or used excessively. But in comparison to the vast number of consequences following consistent and heavy use of alcohol or other drugs is, to say the least, not the same thing, if even remotely within the same realm of discussion.