TEACHER: MISS BENNET GYANJIT MAHAPATRA

9G
Year 9 Health Assignment Task
TASK 1:- Research/test
i)

Research the following questions on cannabis

1. What is cannabis? Outline the history of its use.
Answer: Cannabis is derived from the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa)
and is considered as an illegal drug (depressant as well as hallucinogen).
Back in Middle Stone Age times, the cannabis plant was originally
harvested for the fibre it produced to make from ship rigging to the
noose that hangmen slipped around the necks of the person being
hanged.
2. Why do people use cannabis?
Answer: Surveys into why people use cannabis indicated that 1/2 users
use it to improve their quality of life. Other possible reasons are to
improve their social status, peer pressure, family & relatives, the
eagerness to try something new and thinking it as a medicine.
3. What are the short term and long term effects of using cannabis?
Answer: Using cannabis can affect your body detrimentally in several
ways, depending on the person as well as the amount of time of it being
taken.
The short term affects are:
mood changes: relaxed, 'high', sleepy, silly, anxious, depressed
stronger sensory experiences
impaired attention and memory
hunger
dizziness and nausea
dilated pupils and blood-shot eyes
increased heart-rate
blood pressure changes (increase while sitting, falls when
standing)
The long term affects are:

sleepy looking eyes with bloodshot pupils

Infections of the respiratory system (lung cancer, bronchitis,

emphysema, chest infections etc.)

Infections of the circulatory system (increased heart rate and

blood pressure, increased risk of heart failure, poor circulation)

During pregnancy, the baby has a high chance of suffering from

lowered birth weight, foetal abnormalities, poor growth and development
and a small head.

Heavy damage on the Central Nervous System (CNS) (short term

memory loss, hallucinating, impaired ability to learn new things, slower
reactions, sleep disturbances, poor concentration, loss of motivation etc.)

Damage to the stomach and intestines (bleeding, ulcers, may lead

to cancer)

TEACHER: MISS BENNET GYANJIT MAHAPATRA

9G

Pancreas has a risk of getting cancer

The reproductive systems of both genders are affected (decreased

sperm count and movement, egg damage, irregular menstrual cycle,
impaired fertility etc.)
However, there hasnt been any reports of any deaths caused by
cannabis which is quite surprising compared to alcohol and tobacco.
4. Can cannabis lead to dependence? Explain?
Answer: Yes as cannabis users, from its excessive use, may see cannabis
as an enhancer to their daily lifestyle or just a thing that makes them
feel normal.
5. What are the trends of cannabis use in Australia?
Answer: Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia, with a
reported 1/3 of all Australians aged 14 or older (33.5%, about 5.8
million) having tried cannabis and 1.6 million using it in the past year.
6. Explain the link between the use of cannabis and mental
illness/psychosis.
Answer: From frequent uses of cannabis, researchers have found mental
illnesses present on the user. These illnesses include anxiety, panic
attacks, hallucinations, depression, delusions and schizophrenia which is
a medical condition interfering the persons ability to think, feel and act.
7. Are there any medical uses for cannabis?
Answer: it is not certain but cannabis is said to be in great medicinal
value in the diseases:
AIDS
Cancer chemotherapy
Chronic pain
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
Menstrual cramps and labour pain
Migraine
Multiple Sclerosis
8. What are the health, social and financial cost of cannabis use to
individuals and society?
Answer: Health-related costs per user are eight times higher for drinkers
than they are for those who use cannabis, and are more than 40 times
higher for tobacco smokers, according to a report published in the British
Columbia Mental Health and Addictions Journal. Social costs of cannabis
are the loss of the ability to learn and be motivated as well as
dramatically affecting the persons social behaviour. Financial costs of
cannabis depend on the quality of the product. Prices vary from $1000$2000 per pound for cannabis.

TEACHER: MISS BENNET GYANJIT MAHAPATRA

9G
9. What is the law regarding cannabis use in Australia? Consider
possession, supply and cultivation
Answer: The law regarding cannabis use in Australia is the Australian
Drug Misuse & Trafficking Act which reduced the amount of indoor
cultivated cannabis plants.
10.Explain the difference between decriminalisation and legislation?
Answer: If cannabis is decriminalised, then if a person would be in
possession of a small amount of it, he/she will be faced a civil penalty
such as a fine rather than a criminal charge. If cannabis is legalised this
therefore means that cannabis is no longer an illicit drug but would be
now legal.
11. In your opinion, why is cannabis illegal while tobacco and alcohol are
legal?
Answer: In my opinion, one reason I can think of why cannabis is illegal
and alcohol and tobacco arent is that cannabis is usually associated
with the many illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ice,
methamphetamine etc. therefore giving marijuana a bad picture
compared to alcohol and tobacco. Another reason is that it priced at very
high prices and can be home grown causing ethical issues.