Marijuana Possession Gets Dallas Men Arrested

Marijuana remains illegal in Texas despite nationwide legalization

Even as a wave of cannabis legalization sweeps the US, marijuana possession remains illegal both on a federal level and according to Texas state law. While laws and attitudes towards marijuana in North Texas may have relaxed somewhat, the possession of marijuana is still illegal. Underlining this, the Dallas County Sheriff Office recently arrested three men on drug charges, including for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Regardless of one’s opinion on cannabis legalization, there are still serious doubts among health experts and in the scientific community about its safety, especially when consumed by adolescents. Dallas drug rehab centers continue to see individuals with marijuana use disorders, many of whom have had developed profound psychiatric issues from years of misuse.

What is marijuana?

Marijuana is a highly popular psychoactive drug derived from the three major species of the cannabis plant, including Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis.

While these plants’ psychoactive compounds could be found in all their parts, the leaves, sap, and flowers contain the highest concentrations and are the ones normally consumed. These parts are usually dried out in preparation for immediate use or further processing.

In the United States, the most common way to consume marijuana is to smoke it rolled in paper or packed into a pipe. However, an extremely wide variety of alternative consumption methods are also used. Other popular methods include blunts, which consist of cigar skins stuffed with cannabis, and marijuana food products or “edibles”.

As the most commonly consumed illicit drug, marijuana has in some ways, broken out of the underground culture associated with most illicit drugs and has entered the mainstream. As a result, its many street names and slang are fairly common knowledge, even among non-users. Common street names for marijuana and cannabis include weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, locoweed, Mary Jane, spliff, Thai sticks, reefer, joint, and roach, among many others.

What is THC?

While over a hundred unique chemical compounds could be found in cannabis plants, the main psychoactive compound is the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better know as THC. While found throughout the cannabis plant, this chemical is most concentrated in the flowers, leaves, and buds.

Though not the only psychoactive chemical in marijuana, THC is the one responsible for its strongest intoxicating effects. High THC intakes have been specifically linked to the prevalence of marijuana use disorders as well. Notably, Texas state law limits the amount of THC that could be included in legally-prescribed medical marijuana products.

Thankfully, marijuana use disorder is a treatable condition. Some Dallas drug rehab facilities even specialize in the treatment of marijuana use disorders in both adolescents and adults. To learn more about your options in the Dallas metro, call today at (214) 935-2287.

Why is marijuana so controversial?

Marijuana is a subject of much discussion and controversy. Its medicinal value, addictive potential, and the historical circumstances of its prohibition have all made the question of legalization a highly debated one throughout the United States.

Today, very few states have a blanket prohibition on marijuana. Some states have legalized its recreational use while many more permit it for medical purposes only. Marijuana possession has also been decriminalized in several states, even where it is technically illegal for any use. Texas notably, allows for the limited use of medical marijuana while still criminalizing its unauthorized use.

Regardless of its legality in individual states, marijuana is still, with much controversy, classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal government through the DEA. Schedule I drugs are deemed to have no medical purpose and a high potential for abuse and dependence. This legally puts marijuana on the same classification as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.

Marijuana use disorder

Marijuana use disorder (formerly known as marijuana addiction, abuse, and dependence) is a psychiatric condition where a user feels compelled to find and consume marijuana.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 30% of adults who use this drug will develop a marijuana use disorder. In 2018, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)  reported that 43,500,000 Americans used marijuana in the past year.

Withdrawal symptoms characterize by this dependence include mood swings, crankiness, insomnia, cravings for marijuana, and mild physical discomfort. Withdrawal symptoms may last an average of about two weeks, at times longer for some. While withdrawal management does not involve any extensive medical intervention, years of behavioral therapy may be needed to treat serious marijuana use disorders.

Find help for marijuana use disorders in Dallas

If you or a loved one need help overcoming a problem with marijuana, we can connect you to drug treatment centers in Dallas that specialize in treating marijuana use disorders. Call Dallas Drug Treatment Centers at (214) 935-2287 to find a rehab facility in North Texas that meets all your unique recovery needs.