A predetermined set of motives, largely adapted from the alcohol literature, has been used in previous research to assess marijuana motives among adolescents and emerging adults. The goal of this study was to pinpoint marijuana users’ reasons for using it. Recent high school graduates who admitted to using marijuana (N = 634) gave their own justifications. Enjoyment/fun, conformity, experimentation, social enhancement, boredom, and relaxation were the most frequently cited motives. In contrast to enjoyment, habit, activity enhancement, and altered perception or perspectives, which were linked to heavier use and more problems, regression analyses consistently showed a relationship between experimentation and less use and fewer problems.

I have been told that I have a tendency to be slightly “extreme” when it comes to my views on things. I am also known for being very open minded and accepting of all possibilities, which can sometimes come off as naivete or even gullibility. But this is what makes me stand out from the crowd, because I believe there are some things in life that cannot be explained by science. In fact, they often defy logic. And one such topic would be cannabis. 

Cannabis has become somewhat of an obsession for me. It’s not really something that I’m trying to get people to adopt into their lives, but it has become a part of who I am. I am a firm believer that marijuana has so much more potential than most people give it credit for. 

It’s true that cannabis is illegal in Australia. You may think I’m crazy for saying this, but just because something is illegal doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t look at the evidence. The problem with looking at the evidence is that it’s not always presented clearly. For example, if you were to ask anyone why cannabis should be legalised, they would probably say something along the lines of “Because it isn’t addictive!” While this is correct, it doesn’t take into account the other benefits that could be gained from making cannabis legal. The following seven reasons will hopefully convince you that you need to try out some delta 8 flower.

1) It helps you relax! 

The thing about cannabis is that it does make you feel relaxed. But this effect isn’t limited to only weed. Many different types of drugs (such as alcohol and MDMA – ecstasy) will also help you relax. However, when you compare the two, the effects of cannabis are almost instantaneous. Alcohol takes longer to kick in, while MDMA can take up to three hours to kick in after consumption. This means that if you want to enjoy cannabis without feeling groggy, you will have to consume it early in the night, before you go out to party. 

2) It helps you sleep better! 

When you’re stressed (like many students), your mind races. Your body becomes tense, then you lie down and eventually fall asleep. When you wake up, you feel tired and sluggish, but you don’t remember anything from the previous day. With cannabis, however, you’ll find that you will sleep better. Instead of waking up feeling exhausted, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed. This means that you’re able to stay productive during the day instead of crashing in bed and sleeping until noon. 

3) It helps you focus! 

While we’ve already established that cannabis helps you relax, it can also help you focus. If you’ve ever gone to an exam or a job interview where you had too little time to study properly, you know how stressful it can be to cram in everything you possibly can. But if you smoke before hand, you will find that you will be able to concentrate on what you need to do, rather than wasting time worrying about what you should have studied. 

4) It helps you relieve stress! 

If you’ve ever experienced severe anxiety, you’ll understand how debilitating it can be. Anxiety is a natural response that our bodies experience when we feel threatened. It’s important that your body reacts quickly in order to avoid danger. However, sometimes it causes us to overreact when we are under threat. This is called hyperarousal, and it can be really debilitating. Some people turn to anti-depressants in order to treat this condition. But the side-effects of these medications (such as lethargy, drowsiness, dry mouth, etc.) can actually exacerbate the symptoms. 

Instead of using pharmaceuticals to alleviate your stress, you can use cannabis to help you relax. The best way to do this is by smoking. By inhaling the smoke, you will immediately feel an effect that will calm you down. Many people use this technique to unwind after work. They’ll roll a joint and slowly inhale each puff, allowing the THC to permeate through their lungs. 

5) It increases serotonin levels! 

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, meaning that it plays a role in transmitting signals between neurons. Serotonin is essential to maintain proper mood balance, and in low amounts, it can be linked to depression and anxiety. However, in higher quantities, it can produce feelings of happiness. So what happens when you increase the amount of serotonin in your brain? Well, it allows you to feel happier, calmer, clearer, and with a sense of well-being. 

6) It improves memory! 

One of the biggest problems with age is forgetfulness. As we get older, our memories deteriorate. Our ability to recall events diminishes, and we can easily become confused or disorientated. One of the greatest factors contributing to this decline in memory is stress. Stress can cause your heart rate to rise, which in turn increases blood pressure and can damage your blood vessels. This can result in poor circulation and reduced oxygen flow to the brain. 

Fortunately, cannabis can help combat the effects of stress on our brains. This includes improving memory retention, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and treating depression.

7) It improves brain function! 

A 2013 study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois compared the effects of cannabis to those of pharmaceuticals used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The results showed that the patients treated with cannabis performed significantly better on cognitive tests, including ones measuring reasoning, processing speed, and attention.

This shows that cannabis can improve brain function, especially if you suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. 

All of these reasons are good enough reason to support its legalization in countries around the world. Even though it’s still illegal in Australia, you can still gain the benefits of cannabis by growing your own. All you need is a few plants, a decent grow lamp, and about 20-30g of bud every couple of weeks. You can grow them indoors, which is the easiest option, or outside, so long as you live in an area where it can survive. Growing your own provides you with complete control over what goes into your body, and it also gives you the chance to experiment with different strains. 

So if you’ve never tried cannabis before, I’d strongly encourage you to try it. Not only is it incredibly pleasurable (especially in high doses), it can actually be extremely beneficial.