Marijuana refers to the dried flowers, leaves, stems and seeds of the Cannabis plant.
These parts contain the compounds that produce the mind-altering effect that recreational users seek when smoking or ingesting the plant, but they also provide components with potential medical benefits.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MARIJUANA
There are more than 400 chemicals in marijuana but only 61 of them are unique to the Cannabis plant. These are called Cannabinoids.
One of them, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), was isolated and synthesised in 1964 and is clearly the most pharmacologically active.
Take special note that the relationship of THC to Cannabis is probably more similar to the relationship of alcohol to beer, wine, or distilled spirits. Alcohol is the only behaviorally active agent in alcoholic beverages, but there are several active agents in Cannabis.

Other constituents of the Cannabis plant are:
* Nitrogenous compounds (27)
* Amino acids (18)
* Proteins (3)
* Glycoproteins (6)
* Enzymes (2)
* Sugars and related compounds (34)
* Hydrocarbons (50)
* Simple alcohols (7)
* Aldehydes (13)
* Ketones (13)
* Simple acids (21)
* Fatty acids (22)
* Simple esters (12)
* Lactones (5)
* Steroidr (11)
* Terpenes (120)
* Non-cannabinoid phenols (25)
* Flavonoids (21)
* Vitamins (1)[vitamin A]
* Pigments (2)
* Elements (9)

The very most of these compounds are found in other plants and animals and are not of pharmacological relevance with regard to the effects exerted by Cannabis preparations.

BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION
Many neurological effects are ascribed to THC but a major aspect appears to be rapid release and uptake of neurotransmitter norepinephrine. From a cognitive stand point, this magnifies any thought or sensation by engaging a larger population of neurons for any activity at hand, incidentally triggering the adrenalin release responsible for mild euphoria.
A temporary norepinephrine deficit and reaction to the adrenalin leads to a physical and mental drowsiness until normal levels are restored.

When marijuana is smoked, its effects begin immediately after the drug enters the brain and last from 1 to 3 hours.
If marijuana is consumed in food or drink, the short-term effects begin more slowly, usually in 30 minutes to 1 hour, and last longer, for as long as 4 hours.
Smoking marijuana deposits several times more THC into the blood than does eating or drinking the drug.

There are two phases of marijuana "high":
* Initial stimulation (giddiness and euphoria)
* Sedation and a pleasant tranquility

The "high" associated with marijuana is not generally claimed to be integral to its therapeutic value. But mood enhancement, anxiety reduction, and mild sedation can be desirable qualities in medications, particularly for patients suffering pain and anxiety.

MEDICAL VALUE
The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS, or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. And it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe everyday.
Medical guidelines regarding the prudent use of marijuana should be established.
Unfortunately, clinical research on potential therapeutic uses for marijuana has been difficult to accomplish, despite the reasonable evidence for the efficiency of THC and marijuana as anti-emetic and anti-glaucoma agents and the suggestive evidence for their efficacy in the treatment of other medical conditions, including AIDS.

CONCLUSION
Marijuana may have adverse effects and its use may presage serious addictions. So smoking marijuana everyday is not a solution but plain drug abuse. It is similar to taking pain killers everyday when you are not even in pain.
Before we organise a march and chant "LEGALISE MARIJUANA" we need to understand what we are legalising it for.

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