KUSH AND THE YOUNG.

Kush, weed, grass, skunk, jamba, blauw, green or sensimila – take your pick. Just as there are several names for cannabis, today more and more young people have turned to the herb as their drug of choice. It is frightening to know that two in five teenagers use marijuana regularly, some from as early as thirteen years old. You can see them purchasing or puffing away on a street corner, at the beaches or even in bars that permit use. I got to thinking; is marijuana use really that bad or just a moral argument, is it helpful or harmful and if harmful, what could be the possible risks to the hordes of young people using it. I made some research. Cannabis is the illicit drug most likely to be used by young people. A 2011 School Students’ Alcohol and Drug Survey found that 14.8% of secondary school students aged between 12–17 years had used cannabis at some stage in their life. The use of cannabis increased with age, with 3.4% of 12 year olds reporting ever having used cannabis compared to 29.2% of 17 year olds. There are two reasons marijuana is the drug of choice for young people; it is relatively cheap and also quite easy to obtain. It can be used by smoking, ingesting or drinking (a strain in tea or alcohol) though smoking is the most popular mode of usage. Studies have shown that if a young person uses cannabis early in life (before the age of 16 years) and for a prolonged period of time, it can lead to a number of significant problems.

What are the concerns?

Adolescence is a period when many developmental changes are occurring. It is a time when a young person's intellectual capacities expand and their friends become increasingly influential. Adolescent use of cannabis has been linked to a range of developmental and social problems. While there are serious concerns about the potential effects of cannabis use on memory and learning, it hasn’t been proved that the use of cannabis is ultimately detrimental in this area.

A review of current literature suggests that the early initiation of cannabis use can have an impact on the following:

Memory, attention and learning

Early and continued use of cannabis can:

·         Affect memory, attention and ability to think clearly, making it difficult to concentrate and learn new things.

·         Affect movement and balance whilst intoxicated.

·         Be associated with a moderate decrease in IQ in heavy, current cannabis users.

Problematic Behaviors

Studies have shown that those who use marijuana from an early age are at risk of later developing problems, characterized by social disadvantage, behavioral difficulties, and problematic peer affiliations.

A 2008 study of heavy cannabis users from ages 14 to 25 found that increasing cannabis use in late adolescence and early adulthood is associated with a range of adverse outcomes in later life.  High levels of cannabis use are related to poorer educational outcomes, lower income, greater dependence and unemployment, and lower relationship and life satisfaction.  These findings add to a growing body of knowledge regarding the adverse consequences of heavy cannabis use.  However, this study primarily established correlation rather than causality.

Using marijuana at an early age is also linked to higher risk taking behavior such as:

• Higher levels of leaving the family home;
• Immature sexual activity, which can result in unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections;
• Increased risk of driving while under the influence of marijuana. It is a fact that marijuana use more than doubles a driver's risk of being in an accident. 
• Higher levels of criminal behavior such as theft and break-and-enter offences to pay for drug use. Although heavily debated, marijuana use has been linked to a range of mental health problems such as psychosis, depression or anxiety. A 2002 study in Sweden found that heavy cannabis use at age eighteen increased the risk of later schizophrenia sixfold. However, this study says most vulnerable are teens with a family history of mental disorder.
• Other Concerns About Use of Marijuana by Young People
  • Impaired emotional development.
  • Marijuana use can lead to dependence in young people who use it regularly over a period of time.
  • Sustained use of marijuana can lead to low sperm count and subsequently infertility.
  • Increased risk of becoming more dissatisfied with life.
• However, this study primarily established correlation rather than causality.

• Relationships with family and other friends who don't use marijuana may become problematic.
• Using marijuana has been associated with a decrease in motivation, which can impact school, work, family, friends and life in general.
• The cost of using marijuana can result in financial difficulties.

Is marijuana actually that bad for you?

Of course marijuana activists are busy trying to disseminate the benefits of the herb. They believe that anti-drug activists who think that a few puffs on a joint will turn you into a red-eyed, unemployed psychopath for life are only on a scare campaign.

With several American states having decriminalised the herb for personal use, scientists are publishing more information to show what cannabis actually does on a mass scale. And guess what? Cannabis actually has some surprising health benefits. Here’s a few.

1) Smoking weed makes you thinner – or at least less likely to be obese

A study in the journal Obesity found that regular weed smokers are less likely to be obese than non-smokers.

The researchers from Conference of Quebec University Health Centers looked at 700 adults aged 18-74 – and found that cannabis users tend to have low body mass index scores (often taken as a sign of good health).

People with low BMIs tend to have less body fats and tend to be at lower risk for diabetes.

2) Marijuana can actually improve lung function

Smoking weed isn’t actually that bad for your lungs, and smokers actually have improved lung function when compared to both cigarette smokers – and people who have never smoked either. Researchers, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, say that the big drags taken by weed smokers may actually ‘train’ lungs to be more efficient.

3) It can increase creativity

A 2012 study in Consciousness and Cognition found that marijuana made people more creative – at least in terms of how well they used language. The researchers said, ‘We investigated the effects of cannabis smoked naturalistically on schizotypy and divergent thinking, a measure of creativity.

‘One hundred and sixty cannabis users were tested on 1 day when sober and another day when intoxicated with cannabis. ‘Cannabis increased verbal fluency in low creatives to the same level as that of high creatives.’

4) Weed can help athletes perform better

Some athletes credit marijuana use for increased performance and recovery, however unscientific you deem their self-experiment to be. A bodybuilder found that he performed better on the treadmill and was less sore after a heavy squat session.‘Studies have shown that the drug has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is one reason why medical marijuana is so prevalent.’

Because of marijuana’s illegality in most places, hard research is still hard to come by.

5) Cannabis can kill cancer cells

In what could be a key moment for advocates of legal cannabis, the U.S. government has admitted that the drug can shrink cancer cells.

In a page of official government advice, the U.S. government now says,, ‘Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory.’

The site says that the effect has so far been seen in rodent studies, and cautions,  ‘At this time, there is not enough evidence to recommend that patients inhale or ingest Cannabis as a treatment for cancer-related symptoms or side effects of cancer therapy.’

6) It’s a far safer alternative to alcohol – in fact, it’s 114 times safer

Cannabis could actually be the safest drug available, after a study found it is actually 114 times less deadly than alcohol, according to the journal, Scientific Reports.

The reports‘ authors studied the effects of alcohol, heroin, cocaine, tobacco, ecstasy, crystal meth and cannabis.

The verdict?

I believe that even though cannabis may have medicinal applications and health advantages, it is still an illegal drug and as such its use must be regulated and controlled.In most cases and from what I see on the street corners and beaches, more and more young people are not using but abusing the drug.

Marijuana is a drug and if you ever have a medical condition that can be treated by it, your doctor might prescribe.  Remember that drugs are supposed to be taken according to doctors’ prescription. So like the drug that Kush is, play safe and do not self-medicate. The jury is out!