Mythbusters

Cannabis is one of the most recognizable and used substances in the world, but people still lack valuable knowledge. In addition to people being ill-informed, cannabis suffers from old myths and stigmas. This is why it is important to differentiate between a cannabis fact and a cannabis myth. Here's a quick look at some of the myths following cannabis.

Myth 1: Cannabis is a gateway drug.

No form/strain of cannabis is scientifically classified as a gateway drug. The most known form of cannabis, marijuana, is unfairly seen as a gateway drug to harder drugs like cocaine, amphetamine, and heroin. This is because some studies and people suggest that people develop a craving for drugs after they start using cannabis. However, according to a study in 2012 by PubMed Central, 83.2 percent of users of recreational substances did not use cannabis first.


Myth 2: Cannabis has no health benefits.

Some people stray away from cannabis because they believe there are only harmful effects to it. However, some people are only shown the harmful effects of marijuana/cannabis. First, marijuana is not the only strain of cannabis. Second, marijuana has some positive health benefits. Other forms of cannabis have plenty of health benefits and have very few harmful effects on a person's health. For example,  health-conscious cannabis users usually use CBD (cannabidiol) because it helps with reducing stress, pain relief, anxiety, and sleeplessness , and it has very few harmful effects. In addition to CBD, medical marijuana can help with appetite loss, cancer, glaucoma, pain relief, and more.



Myth 3: Cannabis can only be used through smoking.

For people who are just starting their journey with cannabis, it is important to understand how you want to use your cannabis. Most people know that marijuana is used by smoking cannabis in a tobacco wrap or hemp wrap, but most people don't understand that cannabis comes in many forms. Cannabis can be used as an oil, a cream or a food.  Some people put CBD oils and creams on their body for different ailments. Then, there are cannabis drinks  and cannabis candy. In addition to these methods, people can vaporize these oils and dry herbs of cannabis with a vaporizer . Each method comes with its own health risks and rewards.

Myth 4: People can't become addicted to cannabis.

No form of cannabis is physically addictive, but marijuana can lead to a psychological addiction. Additionally, marijuana can make a person physically dependent on it. Marijuana can lead to addiction because of  the THC(tetrahydrocannabinol) on it. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, only one and seven marijuana users develop problematic use and only 30% of users become addicted. However, the potency of the drug affects how addictive it is. When deciding to use marijuana, it is important to monitor the potency of the preferred marijuana and the number of uses.

Myth 5: Cannabis ruins the community.

Besides the medical benefits, cannabis has created billions of dollars in tax revenue. Some state governments use this tax revenue to fund  public school construction, healthcare programs, grant programs, and more. For example, Colorado uses cannabis tax revenue to fund their schools, and California has created a community grant program to give services to communities harmed by prior drug laws.


These are just a few myths following cannabis. Additionally, people could use cannabis as something that helps the community become healthier and more connected. In order for people to connect and enhance their lifestyle, they have to keep an open mind towards new information.

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