Archive for September, 2011

How to Quit Smoking Marijuana Today

September 27th, 2011

Here is a short quiz for you to take. It will tell you if you have a problem with marijuana use. There is no specific time limit to answer these questions, but answer them in the shortest possible time. You need to answer these questions in simple yes or no.

· Do you smoke alone?

· Do you smoke more than four joints every day?

· Is your day modelled around grass?

· Do you choose friends based on their use of marijuana?

· Have you been chided or scolded by friends and family members due to you cannabis use?

· Have you ever skipped work or left work early to smoke weed?

· Is weed affecting your financial, social and personal life?

If you answered yes to many of these questions, then you have a problem with marijuana and it is high time you think of quitting pot. Studies have shown that pot is not as addictive as other drugs like cocaine and heroin, nevertheless quitting pot can be very difficult because of the psychological addiction it provokes. As a result withdrawal of cannabis may lead to some unpleasant side effects. The common symptoms observed after quitting pot include insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and restlessness, loss of appetite, mood swings, fatigue and anhedonia. Many of these symptoms are mild and transient. However some like depression tend to persist for a few weeks after quitting smoking pot.

Therefore here are a few tips to help smokers quit pot:-

· Get rid of all marijuana supplies. Dump the stock of grass, pipes, bongs, vaporisers and other paraphernalia in the garbage.

· Avoid all places that remind you of marijuana.

· Avoid events and occasions that remind you of marijuana, college reunions and get together with friends who smoke pot are a strict no.

· Channelize your energy and time is some creative pursuit. involve yourself in hobbies or something which you are passionate about.

· Exercise regularly. Join a gym and workout for 1-2 hours each day. This will not only improve fitness, it will also help combat depression and insomnia seen in the initial few days after quitting pot. Exercise also causes increases secretion of endogenous cannabinoids- cannabis like substances produced by the body itself. This can also reduce the withdrawal symptoms.

· Eat a balanced diet. Snack on healthy foods like low fat salads and fruits. Drink plenty of water. Water will help flush out the toxins form the body. Avoid snacking on high salt items like chips and wafers

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Falun Dafa: An Aid to Quit Smoking Weed

September 19th, 2011

Falun Dafa or Falun Gong is a Chinese spiritual movement or a “cultivation system” in traditional Chinese. This was introduced to the Chinese by Li Hongzhi in 1992 and this movement was banned by the Chinese Govt in 1999 as being heretical. There have been reports of many human rights abuse by the Chinese govt against practioners of Falun dafa.

Falun dafa differs from other qigong schools in it greater emphasis on morality and theology and the absence of rituals in daily worship. Its central tenets are Compassion, forbearance and truthfulness. It has redefined the existing qigong schools and has been instrumental in transforming the lives of millions around the world enabling their superior health and good wisdom.

As a part of its emphasis on ethical behaviour Falun Dafa prohibits smoking, alcohol, drugs, pre marital sex and homosexuality. These are believed to cause negative Karma and are counterproductive to the goals of practice.

According to the principles of Falun Dafa one must continuously try to harmonise oneself with the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. This is what is meant by cultivation. To help people achieve this aim, there are five sets of easy to learn exercises with gentle movements and meditation. These exercises are only a supplement and cultivating oneself remains the primary objective. While these exercises do have a deep inner meaning, they are very effective to relive anxiety and stress especially in the setting of cannabis withdrawal.

Principles of the Exercise

The main aim of these exercises is to acquire energy in a short span of time while at the same time relieving stress and anxiety.

The movements are simple and easy to learn and are all directed towards all energy channels. These exercises aim to stretch and open all energy channels flowing through the body so as to enable flow of energy to those areas where this flow is blocked. By doing these exercises a practioners can hope to increase his energy levels in a short span of time.

Naturally one question arises. How does this help people help quit weed?

By opening up all energy channels these exercises improve stamina and well being. It also removes negative energy from the body and enables the mind to focus on positive things. Most importantly the movements are gentle and there is great emphasis on breathing. Both of these contribute to reduced anxiety and stress in individual who has quit weed recently. The spiritual dimension of this exercise form provides a support from marijuana relapses as well.

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Marijuana Fast Facts For Teens

September 6th, 2011

What is Marijuana?

Marijuana is a mixture of the dried leaves and inflorescence of the plant cannabis sativa also called the Indian hemp. It may either be green, brown or gray.

What is the active ingredient of Marijuana?

The active main ingredient of marijuana is a substance called 9 THC. THC is a psychoactive substance and is responsible for most of the effects of smoking marijuana. Apart from THC, weed smoke contains over 400 chemical of which 66 belong to the cannabinoids family. The potency of the stuff is directly proportional to the proportion of THC. This value is constantly rising and presently on an average there is 10% THC in marijuana compared to 3-4% in 1970′s. On an average each reefer contains about .5-1 gm of marijuana.

What are the different forms of Marijuana?

Marijuana refers to the leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant which is smoked. The resin produced by the flowering tops contains about 10-25% of THC and oil based plant extract of cannabis plant called hash oil contains about 25-60% of THC. Smoking is the commonest method of consumption of cannabis.

How Many people smoke Marijuana?

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in US and much of the world. In US it is estimated that 37% of teens have smoked at least one reefer in their lives. It is estimated that a further 5-10% of these individuals could abuse cannabis on a chronic basis. Cannabis use is widespread in south east and central Asia.

What Are the Short-Term Effects of Marijuana Use?

The immediate effects of marijuana are euphoria, disinhibition, a general feeling of goodness, altered sensory perceptions, inattention, insomnia, loss of memory and poor reflexes. The active ingredient THC crosses the blood brain barrier and stimulates specific receptors in a mid brain structure called nucleus accumbens. This leads to release of dopamine, a central exitogenic neurotransmitter. This activates the pleasure pathway comprising the hippocampus and limbic pathway. With constant use, the individual becomes psychologically addicted to marijuana.

The two physical effects of marijuana use are conjunctival injection and increased heart rate. The increase in heart rate stabilises over time and a degree of tolerance develops to this effect of marijuana.

Marijuana like other drugs can affect judgment and enhance inappropriate behaviour. Hence there is increased risk of conditions like high risk sexual behaviour leading to HIV, pregnancy etc.

What Are the Long-Term Health Effects of Marijuana Use?

Chronic cannabis use has been associated with a variety of conditions. Some of the common effects of long term cannabis use include:

• Long term use of pot can cause memory problems. It can also lead to psychosis in patients of schizophrenia. Chronic use of cannabis like other drugs can reduce social interaction and lead to isolation of the individual thus impacting personal and work life. Apart from these problems cannabis use may also lead to increased rates of depression and anxiety, but concrete evidence is lacking.

• Smoking Marijuana is the commonest method of consumption. Pot smokers usually inhale deep and retain smoke for a longer period of time in an effort to maximise absorption of THC. This can lead to chronic bronchial irritation. Although there is no direct evidence linking cannabis to cancer, tobacco use is usually concurrent and hence the rates of lung cancer are more.

• Cannabis was traditionally considered a soft drug, a drug with low addiction potential. But due to the increasing use of cannabis and increase in potency of pot smoked over the years, the addiction potential of this drug are being realised.

Does Marijuana Use Lead to the Use of Other Drugs?

While most marijuana smokers do not go on to abuse other drugs, marijuana use puts them in contact with people who use or sell these drugs. Apart from this it is a fact that most users start smoking pot first before going to other hard drugs.

What are the medical uses of Marijuana?

Under US federal law Marijuana is a Schedule I drug. It means that marijuana has no known medical role. But many states have laws which permit medical use of marijuana. Synthetic analogues of THC are in common use in oncology and AIDS.

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