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During a recent interview of the two-time Most Valuable Player and current NBA Champion – Giannis Antetokounmpo, he brought into the interview stand a Coor Light beer. At first, I thought it was a publicity stunt for the beer, but after he opened and tasted the beer and remarked that this is not for him, I started thinking about the many things that set this Greek-born Nigerian apart from other NBA Stars and celebrities generally. At 27 years of age, he is already an NBA Great, yet even a light beer is not for him. These days it is a common sight to see many Nigerian musicians freely smoking weed (marijuana) in their music videos. It is also common to see many youths going to local gin joints to appease their craving or addiction to alcohol. This is perhaps one of the few negative legacies of one of Nigeria\u2019s greatest \u2013 Fela Anikulapo Kuti who arguably made mainstream the use of Cannabis before it was presently legalized in many developed countries. The recent arrest of Rev. Ugochukwu Ekwem on his way to a crusade in Kenya with weed wraps around his body, is a reminder of how endemic the use of weed has become in Nigeria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The list of known weed users in Nigeria is very disturbing. From Wizkid to the new Yoruba musical sensation Portable, weed smoking is becoming a norm. Grammy Award-winning artist Burna Boy who reportedly said, “It’s like everybody does it, but no one wants to be the one that is seen with it. It’s just kind of hypocritical out there. Everybody smokes weed,\u201d<\/em> might be overshooting the truth with his \u201ceverybody\u201d conclusion, however, the rate youths consume the drug in Nigeria is alarming.<\/em> In a 2018 report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), it was revealed that marijuana is the most consumed ‘drug’ in Nigeria, being consumed by an estimated 10.8% of the population. So, one might ask, what are the benefits of smoking weed? According to WebMD, Marijuana, weed, pot, or dope comes from the cannabis plant. You can smoke it, vape it, drink it, or eat it. Most folks use marijuana for pleasure and recreation. But a growing number of doctors prescribe it for specific medical conditions and symptoms. Marijuana has mind-altering compounds that affect both your brain and body. It can be addictive, and it may be harmful to some people\u2019s health. Here\u2019s what can happen when you use marijuana:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201d<\/strong>It\u2019s why most people try marijuana. The main psychoactive ingredient, THC, stimulates the part of your brain that responds to pleasure, like food and sex. That unleashes a chemical called dopamine, which gives you a euphoric, relaxed feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. It May Affect Your Mental Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone\u2019s experience with marijuana is pleasant. It often can leave you anxious, afraid, panicked, or paranoid. Using marijuana may raise your chances for clinical depression or worsen the symptoms of any mental disorders you already have. In high doses, it can make you paranoid or lose touch with reality, so you hear or see things that aren\u2019t there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Your Thinking May Get Distorted<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Marijuana can cloud your senses and judgment. The effects can differ depending on things like how potent your pot was, how you took it, and how much marijuana you\u2019ve used in the past. It might:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With these hazards associated with the use of weed, it is a wonder that many developed nations have legalized its use. In Canada and many states in the United States that have legalized its use, it is big business \u2013 perhaps the real reason behind its legalization. Many users only talk about its usefulness like they talk about the usefulness of alcohol. The truth is that just as most of us do not know anyone who alcohol has helped; we cannot also identify anyone who weed has weeded their sorrows. The fact that developed nations are decriminalizing possession and use does not also make it unharmful. I applaud the recent gingering of the NDLEA led by Buba Marwa. Parents, religious, governmental, and non-governmental organizations must do all to help retrace our steps to the era where we do not depend on stimulants to be stimulated, courageous, or creative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ata Ukuta, Editor – Towncryyers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" During a recent interview of the two-time Most Valuable Player and current NBA Champion – Giannis Antetokounmpo, he brought into the interview stand a Coor Light beer. At first, I thought it was a publicity…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6758,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[1659,2217,2263,2264],"class_list":["post-6757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","tag-marijuana","tag-ndlea","tag-rev-ugochukwu-ekwem","tag-weed"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n