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I believe the future world would look extremely different if present day agricultural, economic, social, and political practices went unchecked. I envision the world with a sustainable future including elements of bright green cities, collaboration, bio mimicry, and clean technology. I think if we prepared enough, in the future our world would still be very environmentally sustainable. The picture below describes my version of a sustained environment. The future world would look more green with many more plants and crops and it would be very beautiful.

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THC oil or tetrahydrocannabinol is the chemical response for most of marijuana's physiological effects. Despite the fact that THC is extracted from marijuana, the distillation process uses a wiped film evaporator to also remove lipids, solvents, and any other impurities, leaving you with a clear THC distillate. I chose this chemical because although many people may use THC negatively, it it actually extremely beneficial to humans. It helps with pain relief, it helps the digestive tract, restricts cancer growth, and it helps to heal skin.

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Molecule of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main mind-altering ingredient found in the Cannabis plant.

Credit: style-photography.de | Shutterstock

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects. It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in certain areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and time perception. THC attaches to these receptors and activates them and affects a person's memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception, according to NIDA.

THC is one of many compounds found in the resin secreted by glands of the marijuana plant. More of these glands are found around the reproductive organs of the plant than on any other area of the plant. Other compounds unique to marijuana, called cannabinoids, are present in this resin. One cannabinoid, CBD is nonpsychoactive, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and actually blocks the high associated with THC.

THC stimulates cells in the brain to release dopamine, creating euphoria, according to NIDA. It also interferes with how information is processed in the hippocampus, which is part of the brain responsible for forming new memories.

THC can induce hallucinations, change thinking and cause delusions. On average, the effects last about two hours, and kick in 10 to 30 minutes after ingestion. Psychomotor impairment may continue after the perceived high has stopped, however.

"In some cases, reported side effects of THC include elation, anxiety, tachycardia, short-term memory recall issues, sedation, relaxation, pain-relief and many more," said A.J. Fabrizio, a marijuana chemistry expert at Terra Tech Corp, a California agricultural company focused on local farming and medical cannabis. However, he said, a study in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that other types of cannabinoids, as well as terpenes (compounds that produce flavor and fragrance in plants), can modulate and reduce negative effects.

The effects of marijuana make it a popular drug. In fact, it is considered one of the most commonly used illicit drugs in the world. But these effects also concern mental health advocates. THC can trigger a relapse in schizophrenic symptoms, according to NIDA.

Another possible risk of consuming THC comes in the form of impaired motor skills. Marijuana may impair driving or similar tasks for approximately three hours after consumption and it is the second-most common psychoactive substance found in drivers, after alcohol, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. People taking medical marijuana are instructed not to drive until it has been established that they can tolerate it and conduct motor tasks successfully.

The use of marijuana may cause problems for younger people, and long-term problems. "Some of the side effects of THC include a decrease in IQ, memory and cognition, especially in younger people," said Dr. Damon Raskin, medical director at Cliffside Malibu Treatment Center. "However, the jury is still out on long-term effects, as not enough research has been done on it yet. There is some speculation that it could impair fertility in men and women and also compromise a person's airways, but the studies are still not clear."

A study by the University of Montreal published in the journal Development and Psychopathology in 2016 found that early use of marijuana can affect teens. Smokers that start around age 14 do worse on some cognitive tests than non-smokers. The study on almost 300 students found that pot smokers also have a higher school dropout rate. Those that waited to start around age 17 did not seem to have the same impairments.

NIDA reports that rats exposed to THC before birth, soon after birth or during adolescence have shown problems with specific learning and memory tasks later in life.

The drug can also have drug interactions with certain medications.

According to the National Cancer Institute, marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes for more than 3,000 years. As of early 2017, more than half of the United States has legalized the use of medicinal marijuana. Several states have also legalized the drug for recreational use, as well.

THC can be extracted from marijuana, or synthesized, as is the case for the FDA-approved drug dronabinol. Dronabinol is used to treat or prevent the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer medicines and to increase the appetites of people with AIDS, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It is a light yellow resinous oil.

Other studies are showing more evidence that, when used properly, THC has many additional medical benefits. For example, THC may be able to improve memory when taken in small doses, according to a 2016 study on mice.

People tout marijuana as a better drug than prescription pills because it is "all-natural." That may not be true. "Just because something is considered 'natural' doesn't mean it's healthy," Raskin said. "For example, poison oak can be harmful. Just because it grows in the ground doesn't mean it's good for you or healthy."

Edibles, foods containing THC, have become a large problem in states that have legalized pot because of overdosing.

"Edibles can lead to overdose sometimes because people often ingest a full serving of a cookie instead of a diagnosed smaller amount," Raskin said. "I mean, who eats a half a cookie? It is easier to swallow a cookie and it's very attractive to younger people or those who don't want to inhale it in a smoke form."

Raskin also explained that edibles are extremely high in potency, and when ingested in the gastrointestinal tract, the drug can last longer and with greater intensity. "The effect from inhaling THC will last 45 minutes to a few hours, but edibles can last for six to eight hours and are more likely to lead to a trip to the ER with an overdose," he said.

When THC is exposed to air, it degrades into cannabinol, a cannabinoid that has its own psychological effects. THC concentration also depends on the cultivation of the marijuana plant, known scientifically as Cannabis sativa L.

A type of cannabis that has a minimal amount of THC, as low as 0.5 percent, is hemp, according to the North American Industrial Hemp Council. Hemp is used for industrial and medical purposes.

Some strains of cannabis can have as little as 0.3 percent THC by weight. In other strains, THC makes up 20 percent of the weight in a sample. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the average THC concentration in marijuana is 1 to 5 percent; in hashish, it is 5 to 15 percent, and in hashish oil, it averages 20 percent. THC in recreational doses of marijuana is highly variable and the lower the THC content in the marijuana, the more the user must consume to produce the desired effects.

Additional reporting by contributing writers Jessie Szalay and Lauren Cox.

Additional resources

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THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects. It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in certain areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and time perception.

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The Third Agricultural Revolution (The Green Revolution) marks the development of technology transfer initiatives occurring between the 1930's and the late 1960's. However, this web page linked below explains the invention of high-yield grains, especially rice, with the goal of reducing hunger. The Third Agricultural Revolution increased production of rice. It also introduced new varieties in wheat and corn. In specific, IR-36 was invented in 1994. IR-36 is the 36th version of genetically modified rice that assures at least 2 harvest of rice per year. I chose IR-36 because it was a great benefit during this time. This invention had a huge impact on India and China. It made them self-sufficient in growing rice.

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Agricultural Revolutions, a timeline made with Timetoast's free interactive timeline making software.

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The Neolethic is the New Stone Age. It is a prehistoric period beginning about 10,000 years ago in which peoples possessed stone based technologies and depended on crops. This diagram shows how the human population size has grown steadily since The Neolethic. In the Neolethic, human settlements began in what are referred to as agricultural villages. The villages were comprised of a few dozen people. Settled means of living made made it easier to bear more children than that of the hunter gatherer, which resulted in a steep increase of population. Based on this diagram, Agriculture and farming increased human population over the years tremendously.

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I chose the Tundra as the biome that I believe is in the most danger of ecological change. I believe the Tundra is in the most danger because of its extremely cold temperatures. In the Tundra, summer days average around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and during the Winter the average daily temperature is 0. Due to extreme cold in the Tundra, there is high demand for food on the body. The food is scarce and there is very little readily available food. There are many polar bears found in the Tundra. I believe this biome is in the most danger of ecological change because the ozone layer in the Tundra has thinned quite a bit. The ozone layer is what protects the earth from dangerous ultraviolet solar radiation.

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Gymnosperms found only in Georgia include : Pinaceae, which is the most diverse. Pinaceae have needle-like leaves and female strobili that resemble typical "pine cones", however cone size varies. The scales on the cones are imbricate in Pinaceae, which means they overlap in a sprial formation from the base to the apex. These gymnosperms are among the most economically important plants in the state. Pinaceae is very popular as it is seen as many Christmas trees. The Christmas tree industry has given the family of Pinaceae added significance.

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In this crash course video, the creator really explains the true process of photosynthesis in a way that the listener can easily understand how photosynthesis truly works. The creator explains everything from the complex series of reactions, how plants feed themselves on sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. He explained how there are two reactions in photosynthesis which consists of the Light independent reaction and the Light dependent reaction. The Light Independent reactions are called the calvin cycle which is stage 2 of photosynthesis. Click the video below to learn about the true process of photosynthesis and how it all works.

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I chose this picture because it closely represents my understanding of the role of plants in our society and the environment. This picture shows how most species and organisms depend on plants for survival. Plants are used for a source of food to humans and animals, shelter, protection and decomposes. Animals and humans benefit from plants. Humans use plants for fuel, oxygen and medicine. Plants also reduce pollination by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air