10 Interesting Cannabis Facts

10 interesting facts about cannabis

Cannabis goes by many street names, including weed, pot, Maryjane, Ganga, dope, trees, the list is endless. Although the plant has a long and interesting history of medical and recreational use, it is perhaps the most controversial plant globally.

Over the years, however, people have radically changed their views and attitudes about cannabis. Consequently, 18 states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes, while 37 states have legalized it for medical purposes.

If you want to join the cannabis bandwagon with extra knowledge, here are 10 interesting facts about cannabis.

• Cannabis Coevolved With Humanity

Humans have developed mutually beneficial relationships with other species for thousands of years, including animals, bacteria, and even plants. Cannabis has been documented for use and cultivation by humans for tens of thousands of years. Although, aspects of biology suggest that the relationship between humans and cannabis reaches back much further.

Evidence seems to trace early cannabis back to when Himalaya, the world's highest mountain range, was forming. Research also places cannabis on the oldest records of natural medicines. It was traditionally used to alleviate symptoms or treat diseases, including pain.

Ancient China cultivated cannabis for its nutritious seeds as a source of food. The plant was also used for industrial purposes such as making ropes, clothes, and oil. As the Chinese traded with their neighboring cultures, the medical and industrial purposes of cannabis grew rapidly, spreading to other regions, including Africa, Europe, and eventually in the United States.

The medical potential of cannabis officially started being studied in the 1800s by British doctors who discovered many benefits that have been confirmed by recent clinical trials.

The popularity of this diverse plant became so widespread that even the governments of America and Asia demanded landowners to grow it commercially. It wasn't until much later on, after world war II, that people stopped the commercial cultivation of cannabis and shifted their focus to its medicinal and recreational properties.

• Cannabis as a Truth Serum?

Marijuana is said to have been used by America's spy agency during the years of world war II in an attempt to extract truthful statements from opposing soldiers.    

As the short version goes, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which was the national intelligence agency in the 1940s, was in search of a drug that would be used to help in the interrogation of world war II prisoners. OSS scientists experimented with many drugs before settling on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) acetate.

THC is the active ingredient in marijuana. And though it did not actually compel the prisoners into telling the truth, it made them fully relaxed, while the head high distracted them enough to become a useful tool that would help the U.S. military during the war.

• Marijuana has Different Effects On Men and Women.

Generally, women and men are different on multiple levels, including emotionally, physically, and mentally. A previous study on rats concluded that females are more sensitive to THC than males. 

The study also found that the females build up a cannabis tolerance faster than their male counterparts. Women may also have fluctuating responses to cannabis based on individual factors like hormonal imbalance and menstrual cycles.

For instance, according to the same rat study, women may be more sensitive to THC during ovulation, perhaps due to the high estrogen levels. This means that even if a woman consumes a small dose of THC during this time of the month, the high chances are that she will still develop a THC tolerance within ten days.

• Cannabis Can Help With PTSD?

Unfortunately, veterans are often exposed to a range of serious physical, mental, emotional, and environmental hazards during their service. This kind of trauma leaves them at a high risk of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which currently has no definitive cure.

This anxiety disorder can seriously diminish a victim's quality of life. However, some veterans swear that marijuana has helped them cope with PTSD effectively. Cannabis can alter the sleep cycle where serious nightmares usually occur. Reduced nightmares mean deeper and better quality sleep for those with PTSD.

• Smoked Weed Can Lower A Teenagers 'IQ

A popularly held myth is that cannabis can lower your 'IQ. Unfortunately, this myth has some level of truth, provided you are a teenager! Studies suggest that adolescent cannabis users could actually be shaving points off their 'IQ.

A study involved 1,000 kids who had 'IQ tests when they were adolescents and much later in life when they were 38 years old. The researchers discovered that those who were regular pot smokers by their 18 birthday and continued with heavy marijuana use had a significant loss of at least 8 'IQ points by the time of retesting.

• Cannabis Was The First Product Bought and Sold Online

If you thought the origin of online shopping was fashion or perhaps groceries, you're wrong. Interestingly, cannabis was the first e-commerce transaction by Stanford students back in the early 70s'. While the actual purchase did not happen on the internet, the meeting was arranged online.

• It's Practically Impossible To Overdose on Cannabis

Using too much weed can bring a number of unwanted effects like poor coordination, increased heart rate, extreme confusion, and paranoia, but it certainly won't kill you. In theory, you would need to smoke roughly 680KGs of cannabis all at once to die of THC- well, that's an excessive amount!

• Cannabis Is Less Addictive

Cannabis is generally considered safe with a low risk of addiction. Studies suggest that alcohol and smoking are more harmful than cannabis. In fact, while cigarettes have a 90% addiction rate, cannabis is even much less addictive than coffee.

• Cannabis Can Be A Danger To the Environment

Unknown to many, cannabis poses huge risks to the ecosystem. Understand that each pound of indoor-grown cannabis releases approximately 4,600 pounds of CO2!

• Chocolates Can Give You the High Of Marijuana

Though not halfway as potent as marijuana, scientists have found chocolates produce a similar effect in the brain as weed. If you need a quick pick-me-up but can't get your hands on weed, unwrap a chocolate bar and enjoy the closely similar antidepressant effects.

Final Thoughts

The history of cannabis goes back to ancient times! In fact, there are so many interesting facts about cannabis that we cannot exhaust them all in one blog post! But we have made sure to pick the most interesting facts that will elevate your knowledge and help you keep the conversation going with fun facts at your next party.