CigarFox

According to the United Nations, 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana – more than 3.8% of the planet’s population.

Marijuana is the word used to describe the dried flowers, seeds and leaves of the Indian hemp plant. It is usually green, brown or gray in color. On the streets, it is called by many other names, such as: astro, turf, dope, dogga, grass, hemp, Mary Jane, pot and weed.

Hashish is a related form of the drug, made from the resins of the Indian hemp plant. It is tan, brown or black and shaped into balls, sticks or bars. Also called chocolate or hash, it is on average six times stronger than marijuana.

“Cannabis” describes any of the different drugs that come from Indian hemp, including marijuana and hashish. When smoked, both marijuana and hashish give off a distinctive, sweet odor.

Regardless the name, this drug is a hallucinogen – a substance which distorts how the mind perceives the world a person lives in.

The chemical in cannabis that creates this distortion is known as “THC”. The amount of THC found in any given batch of marijuana may vary substantially, but overall, the percentage of THC has increased in recent years. THC levels averaged 1% in 1974 and 4% in 2004. In 2008, levels reached 9.6%.

Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint), but may also be smoked in a pipe. Less often, it is mixed with food and eaten or brewed as a tea. Sometimes users open up cigars and remove the tobacco, replacing it with pot – called a “blunt”. When a person smokes a joint, he usually feels its effects within minutes. The immediate sensations – increased heart rate, lessened coordination and balance, and a “dreamy”, unreal state of mind – peak within the first 30 minutes. These short-term effects usually wear off in two to three hours, but they could last longer, depending on how much the user takes, the potency of the THC and the presence of other drugs added into the mix.

As the typical user inhales more smoke and holds it longer than he would with a cigarette, a joint creates a severe impact on one’s lungs. Aside from the discomfort that goes with sore throats and chest colds, it has been found that consuming one joint gives as much exposure to cancer-producing chemicals as smoking five cigarettes.

The mental consequences of marijuana use are equally severe. Marijuana smokers have poorer memories and mental aptitude than do non-users. Physical reactions are followed by depression, sleepiness, personality and mood changes, inability to understand things clearly.

Marijuana itself does not lead to other drugs; people take drugs to get rid of unwanted situations or feelings. The drug masks the problem for the time while the user is high. When the “high” fades, the problem, unwanted condition or situation returns more intensely than before. The user may then turn to stronger drugs since marijuana no longer “works”. The vast majority of cocaine users (99.9%) began by first using a “gateway drug” like marijuana, cigarettes or alcohol.

By giving the truth about drugs anyone can help others to make informed decision to live a drug free life. To get the facts visit www.drugfreeworld.org.

And for the person with a drug problem, there are also real solutions to addiction.  Narconon, a drug rehabilitation program that utilizes the methods of L. Ron Hubbard, has a success rate of more than 75%.  (www.narconon.org)

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Truth About Marijuana

Mich smoking ban signed into law

The V & A Waterfront is a microcosm of all of the best parts of Cape Town life. It started as a simple extension to the harbor, but has now grown into one of the number one attractions in the city. If you were not the out-and-about type, it would be possible to rent a hotel room and never leave the V & A Waterfront at all! Attractions include luxury accommodation, restaurants, pubs, theater, live music (especially jazz) throughout the day and a large mall packed with a mixture of designer stores and local crafts.

If you are thinking of staying at the V & A Waterfront, remember that when a development goes up in such a small place on the water, you pay a premium. Still, the hotels and apartments that are available are some of the finest in the city, and you definitely get what you pay for. Both the Victoria & Alfred Hotel and the Cape Grace have worldwide reputations as two of the finest places to stay in Cape Town. Both offer five star accommodation and direct access to all of the attractions that the waterfront has to offer.

At the Victoria & Alfred, expect to pay around $100 – $200 per night per person sharing, and at the Cape Grace expect anywhere from $200 – $1000 for the same deal. If you don’t want to stretch your budget this far on your accommodation, but would still like to stay in a Waterfront apartment, the Breakwater Lodge offers luxury accommodation at a reasonable rate. Rooms here are available from $25 – $75 per night, and the hotel is just as close to all of the attractions as the others.

The V & A Waterfront is extremely tourist friendly, and the Tourism Center that operates here provides info about not only the Waterfront, but about any and all Cape Town tourist destinations. Open top buses and private taxis can be booked from here, and an information booth can be found just about anywhere in the Victoria and Alfred Mall or around the Waterfront.

If you find yourself hanging around the V & A Waterfront by night, don’t despair – there is no need to go anywhere else! Tourists and locals alike mingle in one of the many restaurants and pubs. For relaxing cocktails overlooking the water, try the Alba Lounge. If you like the finer things in life and you want them at low local prices, the Bascule Whiskey and Wine bar (voted best bar in the Waterfront, 2007) offers anything from cocktails to imported cigars and fine cognac.

For the young at heart there is also a lot to do at the V & A Waterfront after sunset, and everyone will enjoy the legendary Paulaner Brauhaus situated near the Clock Tower. This German-style beer restaurant serves excellent, hearty German cuisine, and they brew their own delicious beers (for only $2 each!) Ferryman’s pub is always popular with the locals, and Mitchell’s Scottish Ale House and Brewery are responsible for the Mitchell’s draft you will find anywhere around the Waterfront.

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We are your source for Cape Town Self Catering, Camps Bay Hotels, Somerset West Bed & Breakfasts, and more.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The V & A Waterfront – So Much To Do And See

Ben Prestage – No Overdubs