Marijuana

Statistics show that nearly 40 percent of the United States population has tried marijuana at least once. Also called weed, pot, grass, or hemp, it is the most widely used recreational drug, used by people of all ages and economic backgrounds. Oftentimes, users don’t feel it is an actual drug like cocaine, LSD, or heroin. While it may not be as immediately dangerous as other drugs, marijuana is a real drug with real effects, and it can be highly addictive.

Marijuana is almost always smoked, although it can be ingested orally. It can be smoked in a cigarette, joint, or blunt, or with the help of smoking aids like a bong or pipe. On occasion, marijuana may also be mixed into food like brownies, or it can be steeped into tea.

The active ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is this substance that induces the high and causes the dangerous effects. In the short-term, marijuana can have effects on users such as:

• Difficulty with memory
• Problems learning
• A distorted perception of reality
• Difficulty with problem-solving skills
• Lack of coordination
• Increase in heart rate
• Anxiety or panic attacks

THC alters the way information is received and acted upon by the hippocampus, the area of the brain critical to learning, remembering, and interpreting emotions. These effects are caused by the hindrance of the actions of neurons in the hippocampus.

In addition to the effects that marijuana has on the brain, it is known to affect the respiratory system as well. It contains more than 400 harmful chemicals, many of which are the same ones found in cigarette smoke. A user who smokes marijuana on a regular basis stands to have some of the same problems as cigarette smokers, including a cough, the presence of phlegm, colds and bronchitis. Smoking marijuana on a long-term basis can cause irreversible damage to lung tissue. Because marijuana smoke is inhaled and held in the lungs, users stand to take in two to three times the amount of tar and carbon monoxide as cigarette smokers.

Marijuana use affects different people in different ways. Some may seem more lethargic or withdrawn than usual. They may not enjoy their normal activities, and might experience an increase in appetite. It can have negative effects on work, family relationships, and romantic relationships. Combined with the harmful health effects, marijuana use can take a serious toll not only on the life of the user, but on those around them, as well.

If you know and love someone you suspect is using marijuana, encourage them to get help as soon as possible. Stopping use of marijuana can be of immediate health benefit, but may not be easy, and professional help may be in order.

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