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National Geographic explores the science behind marijuana

SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 24: Candy bars laced with medical marijuana are seen on display at the Alternative Herbal Health Services cannabis dispensary April 24, 2006 in San Francisco, California. The Food and Drug Administration issued a statement last week rejecting the use of medical marijuana declaring that there is no scientific evidence supporting use of the drug for medical treatment. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Candy bars laced with medical marijuana are seen on display at the Alternative Herbal Health Services cannabis dispensary April 24, 2006 in San Francisco, California.
(
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
)
Listen 16:08
National Geographic explores the science behind marijuana

There is a lot in the news about the laws surrounding marijuana use and its production, but what about the science behind the cannabis plant?

What exactly does smoking or eating marijuana do to our minds and bodies?

National Geographic Magazine’s June 2015 cover story, High Science looks at what’s going on inside the plant and how marijuana really affects our brains.

The story’s author Hampton Sides shares the history of cannabis, past and present efforts to ban marijuana and how recent scientific findings could lead us to new beneficial pharmaceuticals.

National Geographic Magazine's June issue will be on newsstands May 26.

Guest:

Hampton Sides, frequent contributor to National Geographic and editor-at-large for Outside magazine