Marijuana
Marijuana is dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica plant. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other similar compounds. Extracts can also be made from the cannabis plant. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. It is used across the country amongst young people. In 2015, more than 11 million young adults ages 18 to 25 used marijuana over the course of the year.
People smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints), in pipes or in water pipes (bongs). They also smoke it in blunts or emptied cigars that have been partly or completely refilled with marijuana. People can mix marijuana in food (edibles), such as brownies, cookies, or candy, or brew it as a tea. A newly popular method of use is smoking or eating different forms of THC-rich resins. People can use the resins to “dab” and it is very effective and contains large amounts of THC.
When a person smokes marijuana, THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. The body absorbs THC more slowly when the person eats or drinks it. In that case, they generally feel the effects after 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the person. Marijuana over activates the part of the brain that contains the most receptors. When these receptors are over activated it gives the sensation of a “high.” Other affects include: altered senses (an example being, seeing brighter colors), altered sense of time, changes in mood, impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-solving, impaired memory, hallucinations (when taken in high doses), delusions (when taken in high doses), and psychosis (when taken in high doses).
Marijuana also affects brain development. When people begin using marijuana as teenagers, the drug may weaken thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between certain things. Researchers are still studying how long marijuana’s effects last and if some of the changes are permanent.
In New Zealand, a study was conducted by researchers at Duke University that showed people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens and had an ongoing marijuana use disorder lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities didn’t fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults. Those who started smoking marijuana as adults didn’t show notable IQ declines. Marijuana has a greater effect on younger people because they are still developing.
- Breathing problems. Marijuana smoke aggravates the lungs, and people who smoke marijuana frequently can have the same breathing problems as those who smoke tobacco. These problems include daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness, and a higher risk of lung infections. Researchers so far haven’t found a higher risk of lung cancer in people who smoke marijuana.
- Increased heart rate. Marijuana raises the heart rate for up to 3 hours after smoking. This effect may increase the chance of heart attack. Older people and those with heart problems may be at higher risk.
- Problems with child development during and after pregnancy. One study found that about 20% of pregnant women aged 24-years-old and younger screened positive for marijuana. However, this study also found that women were about twice as likely to screen positive for marijuana use from a drug test than self-reported measures. This suggests that self-reported rates of marijuana use in pregnant females is not accurate and may be fake news regarding the use of marijuana. Pregnant women could pose threats to their children. Children exposed to marijuana in the womb have an increased risk of problems with attention, memory, and problem-solving compared to unexposed children. Some research also suggests that moderate amounts of THC are passed into the breast milk of nursing mothers. With regular use, THC can reach amounts in breast milk that could affect the baby’s developing brain.
- Intense Nausea and Vomiting. Regular, long-term marijuana use can lead to some people to develop Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. This causes users to experience regular cycles of severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, sometimes requiring emergency medical attention.
Long-term marijuana use has been linked to mental illness in some people, such as temporary hallucinations, temporary paranoia, worsening symptoms in patients with schizophrenia — a severe mental disorder with symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized thinking. Marijuana use has also been linked to other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among teens. However, study findings have been mixed.
Marijuana use can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, a medical illness in which the person is unable to stop using a substance even though it’s causing health and social problems in their life. Severe substance use disorders are also known as addiction. Research suggests that between 9 and 30% of those who use marijuana may develop some degree of marijuana addiction. People who begin using marijuana before age 18 are four to seven times more likely than adults to develop a marijuana use disorder. Many people who use marijuana long term and are trying to quit report mild withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult. These include grouchiness, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and cravings.
Overall, Marijuana can be very unsafe if it used in the wrong situations and has a moderate impact on consumers. Marijuana is made of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant (Cannabis Saliva). It can come in many different forms but the most common one is the dried leaves and it appears as long green leaves. Some effects can be short term and some could last a lifetime depending on how big the dose is.
Originally published at medium.com.
