Q.What are psychoactive drugs? Add a note Marijuana and Opium

Step 1. The chapter defines psychoactive drugs as phytochemicals/drugs from certain plants that 'alter an individual's perceptions of mind by producing hallucination', historically used across ancient cultures, especially by shamans and traditional healers.

Step 2. Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), native to South-Eastern Europe and Western Asia and grown under licence in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, yields opium from the exudate of its fruit; traditionally used to induce sleep and relieve pain, it is the source of morphine, 'a strong analgesic which is used in surgery' — though the chapter is explicit that 'opium is an addiction forming drug.'

Step 3. Cannabis/Marijuana (Cannabis sativa), native to China, has trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as its active principle. THC is 'an effective pain reliever and reduces hypertension', treats the raised eye pressure of glaucoma, reduces nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy/radiation, and dilates bronchial vessels to relieve asthma and other bronchial disorders. …

Recall the chapter's definition of psychoactive drugs, then the separate active-principle, use and risk …

• Describing only the recreational/addictive angle without covering the specific medicinal uses (morphine as a surgical analgesic, THC for …