What Is Marijuana Essays - Herbalism, Medicinal Plants, Entheogens

What Is Marijuana? Marijuana, a drug obtained from dried and crumpled parts of the ubiquitous hemp plant Canabis sativa (or Cannabis indica). Smoked by rolling in tobacco paper or placing in a pipe. It is also otherwise consumed worldwide by an estimated 200,000,000 persons for pleasure, an escape from reality, or relaxation. Marijuana is known by a variety of names such as kif (Morocco), dagga (South Africa), and bhang (India). Common in the United States, marijuana is called pot, grass, weed, Mary Jane, bones, etc. The main active principle of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol. The potency of its various forms ranges from a weak drink consumed in India to the highly potent hashish. The following consists of pure cannabis resin. Marijuana is not a narcotic and is not mentally or physically addicting drug. One can use mild cannabis preparations such as marijuana in small amounts for years without physical or mental deterioration. Marijuana serves to diminish inhibitions and acts as an euphoriant. Only once in a while will it produce actual hallucinations. More potent preparations of cannabis such as hashish can induce psychedelic experiences identical to those observed after ingestion of potent hallucinogens such as LSD. Some who smoke marijuana feel no effects; others feel relaxed and sociable, tend to laugh a great deal, and have a profound loss of the sense of time. Characteristically, those under the influence of marijuana show incoordination and impaired ability to perform skilled acts. Still others experience a wide range of emotions including feelings of perception, fear, insanity, happiness, love and anger. Although marijuana is not addicting, it may be habituating. The individual may become psychologically rather than physically dependent on the drug. Legalization Of Marijuana Those who urge the legalization of marijuana maintain the drug is entirely safe. The available data suggested, this is not so, Marijuana occasionally produces acute panic reactions or even transient psychoses. Furthermore, a person driving under the influence of marijuana is a danger to themselves and others. If smoked heavily and a great deal of consistency, its use has been clearly associated with mental breakdown. In many persons who smoke chronically, the drug reinforces passivity and reduces goal-directed, constructive activity. The chronic use of pure resin (hashish) has been associated both with mental deterioration and criminality. One of the major complications of marijuana use is the tendency on the part of some users to progress to more dangerous drugs. Users in economically deprived areas usually go on to heroin, whereas more affluent individuals tend to move from marijuana to more potent hallucinogens such as LSD. There is no established medical use for marijuana or any other cannabis preparation. In the United States, its use is a crime and the laws governing marijuana are similar to those regulating heroin. Many authorities now urge that the laws be modified to mitigate the penalties relating to conviction on marijuana possession charges. The Case For Legalizing Marijuana Use The United States stands apart from many nations in its deep respect for the individual. The strong belief in personal freedom appears early in the nation's history. The Declaration of Independence speaks of every citizen's right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Constitution and Bill of Rights go further, making specific guarantees. They forbid the government to make unwarranted entry into dwelling places. They forbid seizure of personal property, except when very clear reasons are approved by the courts. They allow every citizen to remain silent in court when accused of a crime. Legal decisions have extended these rights, so that every citizen may feel safe, secure, and sheltered from public view in the privacy of his or her home. The Right To Privacy In recent years, Americans have referred to privacy as one of the basic human rights, something to be claimed by anyone, anywhere. United States citizens feel strongly about this and often tell other countries that they must honor their people's claims to privacy and personal freedom. Foreign leaders often disagree. They resent what they deem arrogant meddling by the United States. Leaders of the Soviet Union, for example, regard individual privacy as trivial when compared to the needs of the state. If the United States is to be persuasive in promoting freedom in other parts of the world, it must respect the privacy of its own citizens. Sometimes it is hard to do this because what goes on in people's private lives may seem offensive. But, according to U.S. traditions, there is a strong case to be made against legislating the private behavior of adults, so long as that behavior does not in turn violate the rights of others. Some people feel that this

Parental Substance Abuse essays

Parental Substance Abuse essays The Social influence that is most significant was when growing up as a child; I was exposed to parental substance abuse. By the time I turned ten, my mother was addicted to crack. Before I turned twelve, my mother had a little brother that I had to take care of. As a result, I had to grow up at an early age. I was deprived of my childhood because I had to raise myself as well as my brother. For example, instead of playing hop scotch and double-dutch, I became the responsible child for the environment that I was in. I would direct my brother in the room and close the door because my mother was under the influence, and I did not want my brother to have to endure that. I would ensure that my brother completed his homework. I fed him, instructed him to take a bath, put his night clothes on and then go to bed. This routine became the norms (Myers 2013) for this twelve year old little girl who had a flow chart across her bed room wall marking down what she needed to do. I assumed a lot of responsibility because I needed some type of structure. In addition, I was very frightened for me and my brothers well being, because of the concern that I had pertaining to my mother dying as a result of her addiction to crack. In my eyes, my mother wanted to be drug addict and not a mother to her children. As a result, I adopted dual attitude system.(Myers 2013) The conflict of my attitudes was I disliked my mother because of her addiction, but because she is my mother, I had to respected her enough not to tell her how I really felt. As a result, my social life was limited because I conjured up a low self esteem. (Myers 2013) I avoided bringing home friends or going out in public with my mother. I avoided making friends out of the profound fear of what other parents would say about troubled families. Consequently, learned helplessness (Myers 2013) kicked in because I did not understand my mothers mood and behavior was determined by th...

Major punishment philosophies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Major punishment philosophies - Essay Example This essay is a critical evaluation on the punishment response to first-time and habitual DWI offenders. Different punishments for driving while under intoxication are exercised depending on the state where the offence was done. The most possible punishment is brief confinement in a county jail for a period not more than one year and a fine not exceeding $ 5000 and in some cases withdrawal of the offender’s driving license for a short period of time (Head 2006). This punishment is justifiable for first time offenders because even though the law terms ignorance as no defense, it is possible that the offence could be committed out of ignorance or mere carelessness. This means that, the offenders have not formed a habitual DWI thus a short confinement would help them by opening their eyes to the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol (Bosworth 2005). Not only does it endanger their own lives but also the lives of other road users. This would go in line with one purpose of punishments which is to rehabilitate the offenders. Leaving the offenders to go free by fining them without confinement would be playing on a delicate ground even if the offender has never committed such a crime before. This is because the offence when committed is a threat to human life and if not punished properly, there is a probability that there would be a recurrence of the same. The brief confinement would serve the purpose of punishments which is to incapacitate the offender by denying him/her the opportunity to commit the offence (Neubauer 2007). This is achieved because during the time he is in confinement, he would not have the chance to drive and at the same time he will have the time to reflect on his mistakes such that by the time of his release, he will have changed his attitude and felt the pain of losing the comfort of his vehicle. Confinement as a form of

The Impact of Stevedoring & Its Implications on the Port Productivity Research Proposal

The Impact of Stevedoring & Its Implications on the Port Productivity - Research Proposal Example This was done in an effort to increase efficiency in the delivery of services at the port. Whereas the port has been widely successful in carrying out its functions, its efficiency has been affected by the poor operation of stevedoring. These constitute all institutions, public and private, as well as individuals involved in the loading and offloading of goods from ships at the docks. This proposal seeks to lay the ground for the implementation of a study to establish the relationship between stevedores and service delivery at the Jeddah Islamic Port, as well as establish the relationship between logistics and these operations. The proposal lays down the criteria for the study, establishing the problem, objectives, assumptions, and methodologies of research. These are discussed in the following sections of the proposal. Stevedoring entails all persons involved in the loading and unloading of containers at the port (Logistics Training council 3). Currently, the port’s activities are mostly automated; however, the equipment is operated by human beings. The efficiency with which stevedoring carry out their operations, together with logistical operations, has a direct effect on productivity at Jeddah Islamic Port (MacElwee and Taylor 37). Some of these effects are positive, others negative, while some have no significant impacts. These effects could be financial or social and are both local and international (Thomas 13). The current trend in stevedoring is such as to raise the efficiency of operations and increase the productivity of Jeddah Islamic Port. This research will be necessary to establish the impacts of stevedoring and logistical operations on productivity in the port. Information acquired from this study will be useful in the management of the port. This information can be used to optimize port operations to guarantee maximum profitability form operations. The result would be increased productivity, leading to improved service delivery. The port

Critically assess the costs versus benefits of a staging a global Essay

Critically assess the costs versus benefits of a staging a global sporting event (London) - Essay Example loping countries have increased their budgetary allocation to cater for the construction of the facilities with an aim of staging the global sporting events in future. Apart from the benefits that are associated with the international sports, the events brought about high costs that the hosting countries must incur in order for the sports to be successful (Kamper and Mallon, 1992). Some of the major costs are incurred in the process of providing security, construction of stadiums and infrastructure, construction of hotels and restaurants as well as during advertising and promotion of the events. This paper aims at accessing the costs versus benefits of staging the 2012 London Olympic Games, one of the global sporting events that were held in the city of London. London is the largest city in United Kingdom. Being one of the most populous areas and the capital city of UK, London strength is based on expansive commercial activities, entertainment, health care, professional services, well developed tourism sector and developed infrastructure among other services. With a population of approximately 8.3 million people, London City has the largest airport system by considering passengers traffic. This is based on the large number of visitors who go the UK either for business activities, sporting or learning. Being one of the cities with the largest GDP, the city of London is a home to various ethnic groups (Coates, 1998). Some of the key ethnic groups that are found in the city include the White British, Irish, Asians, Indians, Chinese, Arabs and Pakistanis. Based on the peaceful coexistence of the various ethnic groups within the city, Ackroyd (2001) argues that the region has been one of the favourite places for holding an international sportin g event. Approximately 20% of the UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is generated by London. With more than $670Â  billion being generated by the London metropolitan area, the city has significantly contributed to the development

Saint Anthony Of Padua Theology

Saint Anthony Of Padua Theology Saint Anthony is a beloved saint. He devoted his life to the poor and less fortunate, even though he came from a wealthy family. Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal on August 15, 1195, to his parents Martin and Theresa de Boullion. This is also the date of our Blessed Mothers Assumption. At his baptism his mother dedicated him to the Blessed Virgin, and he had a lifelong devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary (Lovasik 3). He was given the name Fernando at baptism (About St. Anthony). Saint Anthony is the patron saint of miracles and of the poor (Craughwell 379; Little, Brown and Company 205). Saint Anthony started his prayer life early. His parents sent him to a cathedral school for his education. When he turned fifteen, he went to study at the Augustine house of studies, St. Vincents Outside the Walls, by Lisbon. St. Anthony joined the community, Canons Regular. He wanted to become a priest, so he stayed there for ten years. He spent two years at St. Vincents and he spent eight years at the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra. He wanted to become a martyr so he became a Franciscan. He took the name Anthony (Lovasik 8). Anthony was often tempted by the devil, but prayed for strength to defeat him. When he was younger, he used to serve the Eucharist at his uncles mass at the cathedral. He believed that the Eucharist gave him strength (Lovasik 5, 7, and 9). St. Anthony had a good relationship with St. Francis of Assisi. He met him in Morocco, when his ship got blown off course (Lovasik 11). St Anthony was united with St. Francis spirit and Gods wisdom and guidance (Lovas ik 16). St. Francis also asked Anthony to do things for him like teach Theology to the St. Francis fellow friars. Anthony followed his orders and did so (Lovasik 18). St. Anthony loved to preach. He preached to the poor and less fortunate. He set his life to preach. Even though he came from a wealthy family, he gave up everything and practiced poverty, so he could preach truly about it (About St. Anthony). When he joined the Franciscan Friars, they soon realized that he preached wonders, so they sent him along to preach his miracles (Craughwell and Haeger 377). He was a gifted preacher. He forgave everyone. St. Anthony drew many crowds filled with less fortunate people, careless people, and even criminals. His sermons usually brought the criminals to confession (Little, Brown and Company 205). St. Anthony had a hard life because people wanted to hurt him, and he did get hurt along the way. He traveled tirelessly to preach his gift, though he became sick many times. He became very sick with edema and decided go back to Padua, Italy (Catholic Online). On his way there he died. He died on June 13, 1231. He was thirty-six years old. He died from his labors (Craughwell and Haeger 379). It is said that right before he died he cried out, I see my Lord (Lovasik 26). In the years after his death he has earned the title The Wonder-Worker (Little, Brown and Company 205). St. Anthony has also been called The Ark of the Testament and the Repository of Holy Scripture. Forty-six miracles were confirmed for his canonization. One reason for St. Anthony becoming the patron saint of lost things is when he lost a book of psalms that had all of his teachings in it. Anthony prayed and prayed for his book to be returned and it was returned by a novice who had stolen it. The book is being kept in the Franciscan friary in Bologna (About St. Anthony). Only two miracles were accomplished during his lifetime (Lovasik 26). St. Anthonys feast day is June 13, the day he died. Only one year after his death, Pope Gregory IX canonized him as a saint (Craughwell and Haeger 179). In 1946, Pope Pius XII declared him a doctor of the church on January 16 (Catholic Online). That same year that he died, people in Padua built a basilica in honor of St. Anthony. The basilica was finished in the year 1263, thirty-six years after his death. It is reported that about thirty-two years after his death, people found his body totally corrupted. However, his tongue was perfect, moist and filled with color as it was when he was living (Lovasik 28-29). St. Anthony is usually depicted holding an infant. The infant is said to be baby Jesus. St. Anthony was visited by the infant Jesus while he was praying in his cell. The infant smiled at him and held out his arms to St. Anthony. In remembrance of this ev ent St. Anthony is seen with the infant, a lily for innocence, and the Bible representing his teachings (Lovasik 23). People love St. Anthony so much! Many people find St. Anthony an understanding friend. Many pilgrims travel to Padua to St. Anthonys tomb and pray every year. St. Anthony has also been called the Saint of the World (Lovasik 31). I first heard about St. Anthony in kindergarten when Mrs. Arcuri would call him to find lost things. St. Anthony further piqued my interest when I saw a movie called The Christmas Tree. In the movie a little orphaned girl named Anna is dropped off at a convent where she is raised. Her only possession is her precious satchel. As a teenager, she lost her satchel and is distraught. The sisters tell her to pray to St. Anthony and he would find her satchel. The sisters prayed and prayed to St. Anthony and indeed Anna found her satchel. As a young adult she decided to become a nun and took the name Sister Anthony in gratitude. I admire that he gave up everything to help people that dont have much or anything at all. He devoted his life to the poor. He tried to live what he preached. St. Anthony is a beloved saint!

Islam Does NOT Advocate Terrorism Essay -- ISIS, Terrorism 2015

A few years ago, an extreme offshoot of al-Qaeda proclaimed itself a caliphate in the Middle East. Today, the entire world has witnessed ISIS commit brutal crimes against humanity, including beheadings and other horrific acts of violence as well as its unlawful seizure and destruction of public and private property in Iraq, Syria and beyond. Because of this, many people think that Islam requires fighting non-Muslims, killing, invading other lands, etc. All these thoughts about Islam are totally wrong. Islam does not advocate any form of terrorism. Islam is not responsible for any terror operations done by any movements that relates itself to Islam. According to the text mentioned in the Holy Quran, killing a person is like killing all humankind, and saving a person is like saving all humankind. I wonder how could some people think that a religion that includes this text in its religious book is responsible for such crimes. The problem is not Islam itself, but the way people understand Islam and the way Muslims represent Islam. In fact, I think that many people should focus more on what’s the reason behind the spread of terrorism among Muslims, instead of focusing on the religion or country that produces these movements. In other words, they must realize tha... ...otect themselves against those who try to attack Muslims. Unfortunately, many Islamic extremists all over the Islamic world, especially Saudi Arabia, misunderstand this concept or try to use this concept as a justification to their bad practices against civilians in other western countries. In fact, I would prefer discussing the Lesser Jihad in a separated blog post incorporating Al Qa’eda as a terror movement who interpret Jihad the way they want. Works cited: Cook, David. â€Å"The Greater Jihad and the Lesser Jihad.† Understanding Jihad. Berkeley and Los Angeles: The Regents of the University of California, 2005. 35-39. Print.