Essay - Marijuana the Vaults of Erowid is a User Supported Web...

Marijuana

The Vaults of Erowid is a user supported web site that, according to the "Funding and Support" section, "operates in the style of public radio or television, supported by the donations ***** our visitors." Authorship information is available on request but most of the informati***** contained on the Erowid web site ***** n*****-credited writing. Erowid is not associated with any governmental, nongovernmental, corporate, or academic organization or any one individual. Part ***** the reason for ***** anonymity is that the ********** contained on the web site can seem c*****troversial.

The "vault" on *****nabis/marijuana (http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/)is extensive, providing information on the drug's effects, legal issues, health issues, and chemical composition. Noting ***** ***** effects of the drug vary considerably from person to *****, the estimated duration of smoking marijuana is stated to be between ***** and four hours, with an onset time ***** less than ten minutes, a plateau at 15-30 minutes, and a "coming down" period lasting up to 180 minutes. No hangover is indicated for smoking marijuana, although ingesting the ***** orally might lead to some hangover effects.

***** effects include e*****horia, "creative, philosophical or deep thinking," ***** "increased awareness of senses." Physiological effects include increased appetite, tiredness, and possible change in v*****ion. Negative physiological and psychological effects listed include mild ***** sever anxiety, dizziness, confusion, racing heart, coughing, and paranoia. Noting that "there are no confirmed deaths caused by ***** alone," the Erowid site mentions that marijuana impairs motor functioning and ***** "deaths can and do result from injuries sustained while intoxicated." Consequences ***** use range from mainly positive psychological and social effects to negative consequences ranging from psychotic episodes and extreme anxiety ***** legal problems.

Erowid *****es ***** provide statistical data about populations that use marijuana, ***** implies through its articles and in*****mation sheets that people of all ages and backgrounds ***** ***** drug, ***** seniors ***** health ***** to teenagers experimenting with altered states of consciousness.

Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I regulated substance in the United States, classified as a hallucinogen. Some efforts ***** underway to change the schedule to Schedule II because of the increased acceptance ***** marijuana for medical purposes. Penalties vary from state to state and even municipality to municipality. For example, the city of Denver, Colorado legalized personal possession of up ***** one ounce ***** marijuana, and in ***** rest of the ***** the penalty ***** possession of up to one ounce is a $100 fine. In New Mexico, on ***** other hand, possessing one ***** or less ***** marijuana on a first offence c*****n lead ***** fifteen days in prison.

In addition the fascinating information regarding state-by-state laws in America, the Erowid web site offers a wealth of factoids about marijuana. One of the most troubl*****g stories included on the site pertains to the death of a 67-year old woman who volunteered for a medical trial on synthetic cannabis: a drug called Sativex. Also interesting are the ***** about ***** early history of marijuana, which grew naturally in many