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Face–to–Face with S.G –Part III

 From listener to a user today –smoking of Marijuana is becoming a trend now and looks like it is going to remain forever. 


After the introduction of television in the year 1999, Bhutanese have had access and were bombarded with many foreign contents. There is no less denying fact than to consume whatever is made available on television. Now is the era of the Internet and smartphones, there is no looking back. 

 

The use of these grass plants dates back to around 2800 BC, when it was listed in the Emperor Shen Nung's pharmacopoeia and set to be originated from Asian nations. Cannabis has been used for its alleged healing properties for millennia. And in some parts of the world, the plant is used for religious purposes and more. Given its demands world-wide, the sale of the plant benefits many poor sections of society for their livelihood. 

 

This plant is truly a gift of nature!

 

The first time I heard about this plant was when my mother used it to subdue the pig from its madness. She occasionally administered these raw techniques to put some naughty pig into a long good night sleep. It not only makes them lazy, but also helps them gain weight because it improves appetite. This could be one reason our youngsters wanted to experience and be like that lazy hog but only to find themselves addicted. 

 

There is no concrete data, or finding on when the usage of this plant actually started in the country. There is some oral information that it must have started from early 2000. With little findings, the popularity of this plant became popular once television was introduced in the country. Undoubtedly, this trend is becoming a fashion especially among our youngsters. It could be due to peer pressure, or influence. 

 

Besides smoking and drinking, this plant is one of the highest used drugs among adolescents (around 12%). I am pretty sure, this figure could be even higher. 

 

Going by report, or response from many students, the cool kid fashion to boost confidence to relieve some acute pain to overcome anxiety to be in a friend circle, cannabis abuse is a worrying trend. 

 

Without knowing much, at a larger spectrum, this habit would simply cost the government in meeting up with growing demand on mental health related issues. 


Present trend is already worrisome for the fact that many of our school-going adolescents are addicted. Beside smoking weeds, there are around 60-70% of our young kids who are into smoking, drinking, chewing tobacco and consuming other deadly tablets. The Doma and Supari fashion is another picking up trend amongst our youth. 


Each year schools across the country are facing a huge crisis of our young and abled-children dropping out of school. The bigger reason cited was due to addiction to drugs and alcohol. In this figure, I am sure there are just a few exceptional cases of family background compelling them to quit their education. 



 

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