32: Marijuana

Activity 1. Read the fact below

Since its initial cultivation in China era 4000 B.C., cannabis or “marijuana” has been among the most popular abused illegal drugs all over the world. It also goes by other names by users around the globe such as pot, weed, grass, Jane, reefer, dope and ganja. The dry, shredded herbs, stems and leaves of the planet are usually smoked in cigarettes called “joints or spliffs,” hollowed-out cigars or “blunts,” pipes called bowls and water pipes known as “bongs.” Sometimes, it is mixed with food or tea. The main active substance in cannabis is THC and upon smoking it, users experience short-term effects such as distorted perception of reality and loss of coordination. Surprisingly, on the other hand, marijuana holds an antidote to more than a hundred diseases including cancer and depression.

Activity 2. Answer the questions below

• What are other names for marijuana?
• Where did cannabis originate?
• How was it ordinarily consumed?
• What is the main active chemical in marijuana?
• What positive effects does cannabis have?