Detoxification, or detox, focuses on managing the acute symptoms of drug intoxication and withdrawal. Detox is aimed at ameliorating the physical effects of drug abuse. So, weed rehab is more concerned with the psychological and social ramifications. The goals are long term discontinuation of drug use and adopting a new, drug-free lifestyle. Rehabilitation is more complicated than trying to clear the substance from the system in order to pass a drug test at work.
The Source
Marijuana comes from a plant called Cannabis sativa. The female flowers and leaves of this plant have been smoked, drunk or used in oils for thousands of years in religious rites. Today, it is more likely to be ingested for recreational use. It is reported to be both the least harmful and most widely used illicit substance in the world. Most countries criminalized its use in the first quarter of the Twentieth Century.
The Intake
Used socially, it is mainly rolled in cigarette papers to make ‘joints’. The customary ritual is to light up a joint, inhale and pass it on to the next smoker in the group. The smoke induces a feeling of calmness and euphoria. The senses are heightened and everything looks, feels and sounds more intense while high.
The Results
The passage of time becomes distorted. Users can feel that a few minutes last for up to an hour. They also report symptoms like ‘munchies’ and ‘cotton mouth’. More conventionally, these sensations are called hunger and thirst.
Social Aspect
Watching television and listening to music are popular pastimes when stoned. This may be attributed to the heightened audio and visual senses. Social occasions often involve dispatching one of the group on a ‘munchies run’, a practice that involves visiting a supermarket and loading up on drinks and sweet or salty snacks. Alternatively, a drive through the nearest fast food outlet may be called for. As cannabis use can induce feelings of paranoia, especially when set apart from the pack, the munchies runner needs to be selected with care. These effects wear off within a day or so, although the drug remains detectable in the system for a matter of weeks.
Potency
Today’s strains of cannabis are far more potent than the weed that the Baby Boomer generation smoked during their formative years. Known as ‘skunk’, the high-strength strains have been selectively bred for the past thirty to forty years. Arrests and seizures of the high-strength drug have skyrocketed while the same figures for lower strength varieties have fallen.
Dependence
Despite common folklore to the contrary, it is possible to become addicted to cannabis. This is defined as the point when it takes larger amounts to reach the same feeling of high or when it obstructs participation in employment or normal social activities. There are more people enrolling in heroin drug addiction detoxification programs for cannabis than any other substance, including crack, heroin and cocaine.
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