(By Solomon Mahoi, [Pseudonym, "Abck Obba"])
March 25, 2024
Youth drugging is nothing new to the world. In fact, in Sierra Leone, youth drugging has been around since the1980s, a decade that saw youths experimenting Camel and Marlboro brands cigarettes just to have the nicotine in them to bolster their moods.
And as the 90s decade approached, youths' cravings for nicotine gradually switched to cravings for weed of the cannabis plant. And while this cannabis trend of the 90s continues up to the early to mid-2000s, Sierra Leone saw more of its youths become habitual to cannabis smoking, but the cannabis strain that was common at the time was the sativa strain whose effects induces high energy on the user, compared to the synthetic marijuana circulating as "Kush," whose relaxing effects decreases the user's energy thereby causing the user to experience tiredness and ultimately, body laziness, causing the user to lack the energy and focus needed in maintaining appropriate body hygiene and, in some cases, the loss of appetite for food.
What's worse is that if the user lacks nutritious diet daily, the user's health then becomes increasingly deteriorated because there isn't sufficient nutrition in the user's body to rebuild or repair cells which the user's smoking habit destroys.
Meanwhile, as Kush related deaths continues to soar amongst Sierra Leone's youths, and as authorities in the country are working on measures to curtail further death incidences, it is therefore important that we know the breakdown of the cannabis strains as this would increase our understanding on the differences between Kush (or synthetic marijuana) versus the original marijuana.
THE CANNABIS STRAINS
Indica and Sativa are the main types of weed that come from the cannabis plant. While Indica is known for its relaxing effects, Sativa is know for its energizing effects.
Within the Indica strains are the Purple Kush, Granddaddy Purple, and Northern Lights. And within the Sativa strains are the Blue Dream, Sour Diesel, and Super Silver Haze. There is also the Hybrid strain which include Girl Scout Cookies and Gelato.
HISTORY OF KUSH
The origins of Kush, according to well-established accounts, is that it is from landrace plants that are mainly found in Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and North-West India, with the name being derived from the Hindu Kush mountain range which Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and North-West India share in common within that region. Further accounts also states that in the mid-to-late 1970s Kush strains were taken to the United States, where to this day it continues to be available.
WHAT NOW FOR SIERRA LEONE'S YOUTH KUSH-SMOKERS?
Currently there is a nation-wide raid on youth Kush-smokers in the country, but with objective to minimize Kush-related death incidences along with ensuring the cessation of the circulation of the drug for a healthy Sierra Leone.
Please stay tuned for this and other related developments. Thank you.
In the meantime, credit on the various cannabis strains goes to "Pure Oasis," a Boston dispensary in the state of Massachusetts that offers user-friendly experience with knowledgeable staff and a wide variety of high-quality cannabis products. They can be accessed online at www.mypureoasis.com/a-biginners-guide-to-marijuana-strains/