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Photo of someone rolling a joint with mason jars filled with weed.

Photo of someone rolling a joint with mason jars filled with weed.

Five Fun Facts About Cannabis

High There

By High There

March 29, 2017

Yeah, yeah so you smoke it and you think you know all about it, right?  But maybe not, here are some of the lesser know facts about the weed we all know and love.

  1. It’s in you

Weirdly, we are biologically linked to this plant whether we like it or not. Our physiological processes are controlled by the

.  This little system with the big name is found in every living animal on the planet and it affects our appetite, how we feel pain, our mood and even our memory.  It responds directly to cannabis, making us a part of our favorite plant!  Weird huh?

  1. It’s different for boys and girls

According to a 2014 study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, men and women experience smoking very differently.  In research on rats, Washington State University psychologist Rebecca Craft found that females were more sensitive to cannabis’ painkilling qualities, they were also more likely to develop a tolerance for the drug, which could contribute to negative side effects and dependence on marijuana.

The female rats’ higher levels of the hormone estrogen seem to play a role in these sex-specific effects. Female rats are more sensitive to the effects of cannabis at ovulation, when estrogen levels are highest, Craft

. So, now you know!

  1. Our pets love it too

Yup, if we enjoy medicinal marijuana, why shouldn’t our pets enjoy it too? Many pet owners already use medicinal marijuana to

. Animals can feel the beneficial effects within a few hours to help alleviate pain and suffering.  But, please don’t try this at home kids, too much can be deadly. Always seek the advice of a veterinarian before considering offering your pets anything other than recommended food and medicines.

  1. Some folk are actually allergic to it

Imagine that.  Being a plant, marijuana can

s in some people. A 2015 review in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology showed that both the plant’s pollen and its smoke could cause allergies in some people. Symptoms include those similar to most plant allergies; itchy eyes, coughing, sneezing and a runny nose.

  1. Even the Bard (maybe) smoked dope

England’s greatest ever storyteller and play write, William Shakespeare, has often been thought to be partial to the herb.  In 2001 fragments of a pipe found in William Shakespeare’s garden in England were described as having traces of weed on them and his Sonnet 76 has an aside about “noted weed”.  Perhaps Bill was baked after all.

High There

About The Author

High There

HIGH THERE MISSION

WE’RE A CREATIVE COMMUNITY — EXPLORING THE SCIENCE, CRAFT, AND CULTURE OF CANNABIS.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS ERADICATING THE STIGMA, MISINFORMATION, AND INEQUITIES SURROUNDING THIS PLANT, SO WE CAN UNLOCK ITS TRUE POTENTIAL FOR ALL.