Investigating the Impact of Cannabis use on Health of Adolescent in UK (Research Paper Sample)

Investigating the impact of cannabis use on the health of adolescent in the UK
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Introduction
Cannabis abuse is common among teens in the United Kingdom (UK) and has become a growing source of worry. Despite the fact that current research indicates that cannabis use has been dropping in recent years, the rate of adolescents misusing this substance in Europe is the greatest. Cannabis refers to the numerous constituents of the plant C. sativa, such as hashish, dehydrated and crumpled leaves, and cannabis extracts (oil and wax). Commonly used terms to describe Cannabis or marijuana include "weed," "grass," and "pot" (Grant, & Belanger, 2017). 
What is Cannabis
One of the most widely utilized psychoactive substances in modern medicine is cannabis, a chemical produced from the cannabis plant. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are the Indian hemp plants from which the plant is derived. A depressant, THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary active constituent. THC and CBD are two of the most commonly discussed cannabinoids in cannabis (news.bbc.co.uk 2009). When taken in combination with THC, cannabidiol (CBD) acts as a mild antagonist of CB1 receptors, but it can also reduce the effects of CB1R activation and endocannabinoid degradation (Charboneau et al. 2013). Users desire a 'high' from THC, which has been reported to affect memory, attention, and verbal fluency in a dose-dependent manner and contribute to temporary paranoid-like symptoms in lab experiments. Contrast this with the non-addictive properties of CBD, which has been shown to reduce verbal memory impairment and psychotic symptoms (Atakan 2012).
You do not have to be depressed to take antidepressant medication. There is a decrease in central nervous system function, as well as brain-to-body communication, due to this. An additional side effect of high cannabis doses is the potential for hallucinatory effects. To the untrained eye, the cannabis plant's leaves might resemble many different things. The brilliant green leaves have five or seven distinct leaflets. Sticky resin coats the flower heads and higher foliage. THC and other active chemicals in cannabis are used for their psychoactive (mind- and mood-altering) properties. The psychoactive component of marijuana is THC. Medical marijuana, hashish, and hash oil are all types of psychoactive Cannabis. Pot is the most prevalent and least potent variety of cannabinoids. Hemp (or "hash"), as the term suggests, is dried marijuana resin in the format of a wedge. When compared to marijuana, hashish has a larger concentration of THC, resulting in more potent effects. Cannabis is used to make hash oil, a thick, oily liquid ranging in color from amber to dark brown. The most potent form of Cannabis is hash oil. Cannabis-related accoutrements abound. Wood, glass, porcelain, metal, and other materials can all be used to create pipes. In order to prevent inhalation of ash, most pipes require the use of iron screens. A bong is a water pipe with a bowl attached that is usually made of plastic. Unfertilized female plants, for example, are more effective since the plant concentrates its energy into making cannabinoids rather than seeds. Because of its high THC content, which ranges from 1 percent to 24 percent, it is commonly referred to as ‘skunk' in the UK and is known as sinsemilla (Spanish for "without seeds") (mean 15 percent ).
How Cannabis is used
There is much-related paraphernalia of Cannabis. Cannabis is commonly smoked in the form of cannabis cigarettes (joints), cigars (blunts), and pipes from personal devices. There is an increasing trend in e-cigarettes by youths leading to a more recent practice of "vaping" the substance (Grant & Belanger, 2017). Another common form that tends to be attractive to teenagers is cannabis-infused food products in various formats, such as cookies for those who would not like to smoke. Materials such as lumber, glass, ceramic, metal, and others is being used to make pipes. Iron screens are often necessary to keep individuals from inhaling ash from tubes. It is a water pipe that has a bowl attached to the end of a long tubular piece of plastic. (Drug Policy Alliance n.d.). A bong filters smoke using water or other liquids such as wine. A hookah is a traditional Middle Eastern and Turkish smoking equipment. It is usually highly elaborate, made of brass or a less expensive imitation, and has a rope-like tube attached for smoking. Dabbing also makes use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) resins produced from the marijuana plant. A blowtorch is used to heat a glass pipe or bong. When the resin extract is inserted into the pipe, it immediately produces vapor, producing a higher high than smoking marijuana.
Hookahs are frequently disguised as decorative items. To roll the drug into a joint, rolling papers such as Zig Zag or Raw are utilized. Marijuana smokers hollow out store-bought cigars like Swisher Sweets and Phillies Bong hits and load them full of Hemp. Hash, fluid, and tetrahydrocannabinol can all be smoked with an assortment of vaporizers. Cannabis has been used medicinally for ages. Cannabis has been reported to be beneficial for nausea and vomiting, particularly when used in conjunction with chemotherapy. Additionally, in patients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or anorexia nervosa, wasting and extreme weight loss may be utilized as an appetite stimulant and pain reliever, for example, in people with cancer and arthritis. Relief of symptoms associated with some neurological illnesses characterized by muscle spasms, such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord damage, glaucoma, epilepsy, and asthma.
The legality of Cannabis in the UK
In the UK, there has been a long-running discussion about whether or not to legalize cannabis; in fact, some statistics estimate that about 30% of the population has tried it at least once. Indeed, the government's inability to stop people from trading and consuming can be considered as a failure. While medical cannabis was legalized in the UK in 2018, the recreational purposes and usage of Cannabis remain unlawful in the UK legislation. Now that cannabis is a class B drug, people who have it can be sent to prison for up to five years (Gov UK, 2016). The UK legislation Dangerous Drug Act 1928 (Independent Drug Monitoring Unit) prohibits the use or possession of Cannabis, which has resulted in heated debates among different stakeholders, who want the drug to be prohibited and those who want the drug to be legalized (UK Government 2013). The first negative impact of cannabis Legalization is the freedom of smoking; this will lead to an increase in the number of users. The law allows the usage of Cannabis as a recreation source; thus, the usage rate will automatically increase than the status quo. The legalization of Cannabis is perceived to increase the number of users, majorly the adolescents, since they will have the nation that they are not participating in a risky activity (Graeme & Culliford 2019). 
Secondly, the legalization of Cannabis is perceived to affect the users' memory (Cousijn et al., 2013). While overdosing is probably unlikely among the users and maybe impossible, addiction is a real possibility. According to medical research, long-term usage of Cannabis has detrimental effects on mental status; thus, increased use is directly connected to the psychosis rate. Psychosis describes a wide range of mental health illnesses, such as schizophrenia (Hamilton 2017). According to the NHS, a large percentage of people with schizophrenia are attributed to long-term usage of Cannabis (Halperin 2019). According to medical studies, Cannabis contains some active ingredients that can alter information processing through the hippocampus (D’Souza et al. 2004). Therefore, the use of Cannabis, especially at a tender age, has a detrimental impact on the development of the brain, resulting in cognitive impairment in old age (Hamilton 2017). At the same time, the use of Cannabis by adults may also experience mental memory loss since the active ingredients tend to activate the process of age-related brain cell loss, resulting in poor mental performance (Hill 2016). With a high number of mental illnesses in the population, pose the society into a large number of criminal activities. Numerous medical studies have connected mental illness with violence. According to Culliford (2020), London tends to have more mentally ill offenders than any other place in England and Wales, with more than 17% translating to more the 45,000 offenders on probation. According to the record, one in 7 adults have a criminal record, which is attributed to poor mental treatment and management. From the record, it is quite clear that the crime rate will increase with an increase in cannabis use among the population, thus posing a largely innocent population to death and criminal activities. 
Conclusion
Regarding the stream of research on cannabinoid efficacy and drug-associated concerns, there is now a persuasive need to investigate how various cannabis products impair adolescent health. Using cannabis places youngsters in the company, shadows individuals who use and sell other illegal drugs