Marijuana

Also known as:
Pot, Grass, Joints, Roaches, Reefer, Weed, Mary Jane

You probably know why marijuana is abused--

Relaxation

Euphoria

But did you know that-

Marijuana may cause impaired short-term memory, a shortened attention span and delayed reflexes.

During pregnancy, marijuana may cause birth defects.

Marijuana may cause a fast heart rate and pulse.

Repeated use of marijuana may cause breathing problems.

Possession of marijuana is illegal in all fifty states.

Marijuana may cause relaxed inhibitions, disoriented behavior.

the effects

Getting 'stoned' on cannabis makes most users relaxed and talkative.

It heightens the senses, especially when it comes to colours, taste and music.

Cooking and eating hash makes the effects more intense and harder to control.

It can leave people feeling tired and lacking energy.

Hash may bring on cravings for certain foods.

what it looks like/how its taken

Cannabis is derived from a plant called cannabis sativa.

It comes in a solid, dark lump known as 'resin' or as leaves, stalks and seeds called 'grass', or as a sticky oil.

It can be rolled with tobacco in a spliff or joint, smoked on its own in a special pipe, or eaten.

There are different strengths of cannabis - some (e.g. skunk) are very strong.

Cannabis is a Class B drug (but Class A penalties can apply to cannabis oil).

Q: Why do young people use marijuana?

A: There are many reasons why some children and young teens start smoking marijuana. Most young people smoke marijuana because their friends or brothers and sisters use marijuana and pressure them to try it. Some young people use it because they see older people in the family using it.

Others may think it's cool to use marijuana because they hear songs about it and see it on TV and in movies. Some teens may feel they need marijuana and other drugs to help them escape from problems at home, at school, or with friends.

No matter how many shirts and caps you see printed with the marijuana leaf, or how many groups sing about it, remember this: You don't have to use marijuana just because you think everybody else is doing it. Most teens do not use marijuana!

Q: Can people become addicted to marijuana?

A: Yes. While not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, when a user begins to seek out and take the drug compulsively, that person is said to be dependent or addicted to the drug. In 1995, 165,000 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, showing they need help to stop using the drug.

According to one study, marijuana use by teenagers who have prior serious antisocial problems can quicky lead to dependence on the drug.

Some frequent, heavy users of marijuana develop a tolerance for it. "Tolerance" means that the user needs larger doses of the drug to get the same desired results that he or she used to get from smaller amounts

Q: How can you tell if someone has been using marijuana?

A: If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might

seem dizzy and have trouble walking;

seem silly and giggly for no reason;

have very red, bloodshot eyes; and

have a hard time remembering things that just happened.

When the early effects fade, over a few hours, the user can become very sleepy.

Q: Does marijuana lead to the use of other drugs?

A: It could. Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns of drug use show that very few young people use other illegal drugs without first trying marijuana. For example, the risk of using cocaine is 104 times greater for those who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. Using marijuana puts children and teens in contact with people who are users and sellers of other drugs. So there is more of a risk that a marijuana user will be exposed to and urged to try more drugs.

To better determine this risk, scientists are examining the possibility that long-term marijuana use may create changes in the brain that make a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine. While not all young people who use marijuana go on to use other drugs, further research is needed to predict who will be at greatest risk.

Q: What are the long-term effects of marijuana use?

A: Findings so far show that regular use of marijuana or THC may play a role in some kinds of cancer and in problems with the respiratory, and immune systems. Cancer
It's hard to know for sure whether regular marijuana use causes cancer. But it is known that marijuana contains some of the same, and sometimes even more, of the cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Studies show that someone who smokes five joints per week may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day. Lungs and airways
People who smoke marijuana often develop the same kinds of breathing problems that cigarette smokers have: coughing and wheezing. They tend to have more chest colds than nonusers. They are also at greater risk of getting lung infections like pneumonia. Immune system
Animal studies have found that THC can damage the cells and tissues in the body that help protect people from disease. When the immune cells are weakened, you are more likely to get sick.

Q: Does marijuana affect school, sports, or other activities?

A: It can. Marijuana affects memory, judgment and perception. The drug can make you mess up in school, in sports or clubs, or with your friends. If you're high on marijuana, you are more likely to make stupid mistakes that could embarrass or even hurt you. If you use marijuana a lot, you could start to lose interest in how you look and how you're getting along at school or work.

Athletes could find their performance is off; timing, movements, and coordination are all affected by THC. Also, since marijuana use can affect thinking and judgment, users can forget to have safe sex and possibly expose themselves to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Q: What are the short-term effects of marijuana use?

A: The short-term effects of marijuana include:

problems with memory and learning

distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)

trouble with thinking and problem-solving;

loss of coordination; and

increased heart rate, anxiety.

These effects are even greater when other drugs are mixed with the marijuana; and users do not always know what drugs are given to them.

Q: What happens if you smoke marijuana?

A: The effects of the drug on each person depend on the user's experience, as well as:

how strong the marijuana is (how much THC it has);

what the user expects to happen;

where (the place) the drug is used;

how it is taken; and

whether the user is drinking alcohol or using other drugs.

Some people feel nothing at all when they smoke marijuana. Others may feel relaxed or high. Sometimes marijuana makes users feel thirsty and very hungry - an effect called "the munchies."

Some users can get bad effects from marijuana. They may suffer sudden feelings of anxiety and have paranoid thoughts. This is more likely to happen when a more potent variety of marijuana is used.

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