By Samuel Titim
Marijuana, also known as “Cannabis”, “weed”, “Igbo”, among other names is possessed, used and cultivated in Nigeria.
According to research, Marijuana is mostly used recreationally or medically in Afghanistan, Canada, China, Columbia, India, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Paraguay, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United States, and United Kingdom.
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Although, it may also be used for spiritual purposes, a research in 2018 showed that between 128 and 232 million people use marijuana (2.7% to 4.9% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 65).
Marijuana has been in use for at least 2,500 years.
Although, marijuana has been subjected to legal restrictions since the turn of the 20th century, its possession, use and cultivation is illegal in most countries, including Nigeria.
Uruguay became the first country to legalise recreational use of marijuana. Other countries to have done so are: Canada, Georgia, Mexico, South Africa, and 18 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia in the United States.
Presently, marijuana is federally illegal in Nigeria. That includes its possession, use and cultivation.
Though, marijuana have some negative physical effects, research have shown three (3) important reasons why people use it.
1. It serves as depressant
It makes you feel relaxed and calm, and as a speaker, in a debate on the legalization of marijuana, I made a submission that , if the whole world be given a controlled dose of marijuana, the world will be at peace for about 3hours.
2. It gives a state of euphoria; a feeling of happiness
According to a medical report, the pleasure centers in the human body are functionally linked to one another. Activation of one hotspot results in the recruitment of the others.
Therefore, the simultaneous activation of every hotspot is believed to be necessary for generating the sensation of an intense euphoria; it has been seen to have certain natural rewards e.g. happiness, eating, shopping, listening to or making music, and also help social activities, such as aerobic exercises, i.e exercises that are enduring because it requires oxygen to meet energy efficiency.
3. It gives a state of hallucination
A perception in the absence of the external stimuli that has the qualities of a real perception. It may be auditory; perceiving sounds without auditory stimulus, which involves hearing of one or more talking voices. Olfactory; the special sense through which smell are perceived.
The senses of smell has many functions which includes detecting, desirable food, hazards, and also play a role in taste. Visual; it gives a clear and bright picture of objects and colours.
Instead of battling the possession, use and cultivation of marijuana in Nigeria, which may not be possible because of the natural rewards the users have seen in the use of marijuana, legalising it will see the country enjoy the economic benefits that can come from a regulated commercial availability of it.
It can increase tax revenues, job creation, job growth, and investment opportunities in Nigeria.
