Jamaica is one of the larger islands within the Greater Antilles known for its sandy beaches, turquoise waters and an abundance of marijuana. The role of marijuana in Jamaican culture is multifaceted from its economic standpoint to the ties within the Rastafarian movement. Cannabis, the plant, has over sixty chemicals that can be used for medicinal purposes; these chemicals can be extracted into food or beverage, even some lotions for treatments. Even though marijuana is an illegal drug, marijuana plays a pivotal role throughout the country. Marijuana derives from the stems of the female flowers of the plant and is one of the forms of cannabis. The cannabis stem is an important source of hemp fiber which is used for making clothing, rope, …show more content…
Howell's The Promise Key, written using the pen name G.G. [for Gangun-Guru] Maragh, in the early 1930s.” ("Religion and spiritual,”)Marcus Garvey is known as the father of the Rastafarian movement. Many of Garvey’s followers considered him a prophet similar to John the Baptist. “Being a Rastafarian actually means that one believes in the divineness of Haile Selassie and wants to return home to Africa, the country of origin. Selassie is said to be the savior of the black (African) people, who were taken to the Americas against their will. There they live in virtual captivity, just as the “Babylonian Captivity’ mentioned in the Bible.” (Boekhout van Solinge) The colors of the Rastafari flag: red, bloodshed by the martyrs for the Rastas; yellow represents the wealth of African; green symbolizes vegetation and resources of Africa. The lion place in the middle of flag represents Haile Selassie, the Conquering Lion of Judah. In any place where there is a connection to Rastafarians the lion is …show more content…
Patients that have chemotherapy have trouble controlling vomiting but in today’s use of marijuana, it aids in the control of nausea. While ganja continues to make an impact on their economy, Robert Randall, president of Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics, smoked ganja for his glaucoma and called it a miracle medicine. Two scientists did experiments to determine which ganja constituents were responsible for marijuana's anti-glaucoma effects. Dr. West and Lockhart were honored for formulating a ganja-based medicine that helps decrease intraocular pressure with none of the side effects caused by other treatments. In 1983, the Jamaican government granted them a new drug certification for Canasol. “Recently, two new ganja-based products have been developed ¬ Asmasol (a drug used to treat asthma, coughs and colds), and Cantimol (which also contains Canasol), and is a more potent drug used in the treatment of glaucoma.” (Boekhout van Solinge) Marijuana has also been used in its liquid form for therapeutic purposes. Ganja tea is used for to strengthen the immune system and fight fevers and
The article discussed several potential health benefits to medical cannabis. For example, medical marijuana can be used to test glaucoma by slowing the progression of the disease and preventing blindness. It can help control epileptic seizures and decrease the symptoms of a severe seizure disorder known as Dravet’s Syndrome. The chemical CBD may help prevent cancer from spreading. In addition, it may decrease anxiety, ease the pain from multiple sclerosis, and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Medical marijuana may lessen the side effects from treating some illnesses such as hepatitis C. It has also been used to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and promote
Despite the often negative image projected in the press and other writings, the Rastafarian movement has grown at a rapid rate. In 1977, an estimated 75,000 native Jamaicans were followers of Rastafari (Davis and Simon, Reggae Bloodlines, 63). By 1988, Barrett conservatively calculated the membership of the worldwide movement to be 300,000 (2). Forsythe observed that Rastafarianism "represents a growing force wherever sizable West Indian communities are found--in Britain, Canada, the USA and in the Caribbean" (63).
The National Institute of Drug Abuse defines marijuana as, “The dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds” (“DrugFacts: Marijuana”). It was not until the Food and Drug Act of 1906 that marijuana was required to be labeled as an over the counter herbal remedy (“Regulatory Information”).... ... middle of paper ... ...
The term "marijuana" is a word with indistinct origins. Some believe it is derived from the Mexican words for "Mary Jane"; others hold that the name comes from the Portuguese word marigu-ano, which means "intoxicant". The use of marijuana in the 1960's might lead one to surmise that marihuana use spread explosively. The chronicle of its 3,000 year history, however, shows that this "explosion" has been characteristic only of the contemporary scene. The plant has been grown for fiber and as a source of medicine for several thousand years, but until 500~ AD its use as a mind-altering drug was almost solely confined in India. The drug and its uses reached the Middle and Near East during the next several centuries, and then moved across North Africa, appeared in Latin America and the Caribbean, and finally entered the United States in the early decades of this century. Marijuana can even be used as "Biomass" fuel, where the pulp (hurd) of the hemp plant can be burned as is or processed into charcoal, methanol, methane, or gasoline. This process is call...
Marijuana is one of the oldest cultivated plants (Nahas 8). Since it became illegal in 1967, there have been questions of whether or not it is good for purposes, such as medicine, other than being a leisure drug. Debates between pro and con groups for the use of marijuana in the medical profession, have been heated and in recent months, referendums have been pasted in a least three states to make it accessible for medical treatment. Personally, I feel that marijuana has the potential to be a significant help with certain aliments, however, more research needs to be done to maximize its potential.
The Rastafari movement stems from the teachings of the great Jamaican leader and motivator of masses, Maces Garvey. Garvey told the African people of the world to unite and to return to African, the homeland. Garvey’s vision was for the “Blacks to overcome their feelings of inferiority and build upon their own unique and evolving culture, and ultimately return to Africa to redeem their homeland and to build a future...
Jazz musicians, labor workers, and river boatmen were quickly taking to its euphoric effects (Gettman, 1995). Smoking marijuana also became more popular during Prohibition when more people began cultivation of the plant and importing it into the U.S. to replace alcohol (Doweiko, 2002). In 1942, marijuana was removed from the United States Pharacopoeia and the Federal Government began to criminalize non-medicinal marijuana possession and use (Carter et al., 2003). Marijuana became extremely popular in the 1960's and, today, is considered the most widely used illicit drug in the world, Canada, and the United States (Gettman, 1995). Pharmacology and Chemistry of Marijuana Cannabis is known to contain over 400 chemicals in which about 70 are classified as plant cannabinoids.
Before we can debate the topic of marijuana we must first know the material. Marijuana also known as weed, cannabis, or reefer is a green plant that will virtually grow anywhere. Commonly developing up to 8ft in length cannabis can be consumed through digestion or inhaling. The only part of the plant that is consumed is the flower or bud. The stem and leaves of the plant can be broken down to make other materials. From this plant we could create consumer textiles, industrial textiles, paper, building materials, food, industrial products, and hygiene product...
Also, the medical sales of marijuana would create an alternative source of natural medicine that has less harmful side-effects than some prescription medicines. Another more practical use for the cannabis plant is “hemp”. Hemp is another variety of cannabis that is used mainly for its fiber, oil, and seeds. The fiber can be used to make anything from clothes to cars, as Henry Ford shows us with his 1941 car made of hemp fibers mixed with other types of plant fibers, and ran off of hemp biofuel (Lance).... ...
... believes this to be very true. But the smokers do not want to be associated with the “pothead” stereotype. They want very much to destroy the connection of marijuana with the tie-dyed, hippy era. Society just assumes smokers are useless, lazy, uneducated bums; which is very inaccurate. There are many hard working people out there that smoke marijuana recreationally to relieve stress. First, this cannot be true because there are an inestimable amount of marijuana smokers that successfully keep their habit a secret. These people are able to blend with society, allowing them to make friends/acquaintances that don’t agree with smoking marijuana. People who use marijuana do not look negatively upon the rest of society. They relate and form bonds with the whole culture as normal people would.
Marijuana is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world (7). Since it became illegal in 1967 (5), there have been many questions of whether or not it is good for medical purposes. Debates between people that are for and against the use of marijuana in medicine have been heated and in recent years, referendums have been brought up in several states to make it available for medical treatment. Personally, I think that marijuana has the power to be a significant help with certain aliments, however, I think that more research is needed to prove its' medical potential.
Marijuana is a drug that is derived from the dried and cut leaves of the hemp plant known as "cannabis sativa". Marijuana has a variety of street names such as "grass", "Mary Jane", "pot", "smoke", "reefer", "herb", and "weed". The active ingredient in marijuana is delta tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (3). . Marijuana has been used throughout history and in many different cultures to change mood, perception, and consciousness (to get "high"). Its effects range from increasing creativity to provoking mystical experiences, to heightening the capacity to feel, sense and share. After alcohol, it is the most popular of what are called "recreational drugs." It has been used around the world for other purposes. In some primitive tribes of South America, Africa, and India, "cannabis" is used in religious ceremonies and for medical purposes. African mine workers have used it to ease the drudgery of their work and many Jamaicans use it at the end of the day to relieve fatigue. It has been used as an intoxicant in various parts of the world for centuries and in the United States, for the most part the 20th century. Marijuana was first described in print in a Chinese book of
Rastafari is a theology based upon the writings of Marcus Garvey a Jamaican social activist. The movement’s global spread from Jamaica across the world has been strongly influenced by Bob Marley and closely associated with reggae. Many of Marley’s songs captured the essence of Rastafari religion and its social and political beliefs. (bbc.co.uk, 2014)
Since the ancient times the drug known as marijuana has been used for multiple reasons. From using it to just get high off of the THC, to using the oil from the plant for healing purposes, it’s always been a part of human history. One of the earliest recorded uses of marijuana dates back to 2737 B.C. in China, but did not stop there (Burnett). From North Africa to India it is widely known as the healing herb and used as such. In ancient times marijuana was used to treat things such as gout, rheumatism, malaria, and in some cases absent mindedness along with a million other sicknesses. In the United States Marijuana is one of the top three drugs used by adults. Marijuana may have dangerous aspects about it but no more than alcohol or cigarettes. Keeping it
6. There are also some medicinal uses of marijuana such as relieving nausea and pain. Some studies also indicate the possible relief of glaucoma.