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      Marijuana: The Basics

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. There is growing scientific evidence that heavy, regular use of marijuana that begins during the teen years may lower a person’s IQ and interfere with other aspects of functioning and well-being. Between 1990 and 2010, marijuana usage decreased. Since 2010 however, marijuana usage has been increasing. This is mainly due to teens’ misconception that marijuana is not harmful.

Marijuana is a drug that is made from dried parts of the Cannabis sativa (hemp) plant.  It is consumed in a variety of ways: 

·       It is most commonly rolled into a cigarette called a “joint.”

·       Can be brewed in tea, or mixed into different foods (ex. brownies)

It is a psychoactive drug, which means it alters your mental state.  The main psychoactive ingredient in the Cannabis plant is delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol or THC.  There are over 500 additional drugs in the plant.

 

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              Health Effects

Marijuana affects brain cell receptors that are critical to the growth and development of the brain and its many functions. This causes many mental and physical side effects.

Can result in negative consequences with:

·       School

·       Sports

·       Driving

·       Short-term mental & physical functions

·       Long-term mental & physical functions

 

Effects of Marijuana

School

·       Difficulty processing and storing new information

·       Impairs ability to pay attention and complete complex tasks that require focus and concentration

·       For frequent users of marijuana, these effects can last even after the high is long gone. That can make it harder for users to do well in school

 

Sports

·       Lose the ability to control the timing

·       Lose control of movement

·       Weakens hand-eye coordination

 

Driving

·       Marijuana significantly impairs judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time

·       The risk of being involved in a car accident nearly doubles after marijuana use

·       Studies have found a direct relationship between blood THC concentration and impaired driving ability

 

Short-Term

·       Impaired body movement and lowered reaction time

·       Sense distortion

·       Uncontrollable changes in mood

 

Long-Term

·       Increased heart rate

·       Suppression of the immune system

·       Reduced cognitive ability

 

 

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          Gateway Drug

Marijuana is referred to as a “gateway drug.” This means that people who use marijuana are more likely to try other drugs as well. Other examples of gateway drugs are cigarettes & alcohol.

While not everyone who uses marijuana will transition to using heroin or other drugs, people who use marijuana also consume more legal and illegal drugs than people who do not use marijuana.

·       Marijuana use is positively correlated with alcohol use and cigarette use, as well as illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine

·       The vast majority of cocaine users (99.9%) began by first using a “gateway drug.”

·       One study found that youth (12 to 17 years old) who use marijuana are 85 times more likely to use cocaine than kids who do not use pot.

Marijuana can lead users to consume more potent drugs to achieve the same or more intense high because tolerance builds up as they smoke more and more. There is ample evidence that early initiation of marijuana use primes the brain for enhanced later responses to other drugs. Drug dealers often lace blunts with cocaine, crack, PCP, or even embalming fluid. It is hard to know for sure that the marijuana you are using is relatively safe and won’t harm you.  PCP, a powerful hallucinogen, is also sometimes combined with marijuana to enhance its effects, or intensify the high.  PCP is a dangerous drug and can lead to violent behavior, severe seizures from hallucinations, and even death. Laced marijuana can cause psychological dangers like hallucinations, euphoria, panic, and rage.

 

              Laws

It’s your responsibility to know what is legal and illegal in your state. Even if your state has passed legislation to legalize marijuana, that does not mean you can use it freely!

·       You still must be 21 in all (legal) states to consume marijuana

·       Amounts are regulated, so even if you are of age in a legal state, you can be charged, jailed, and fined if you have more than the legal limit of marijuana.

·       Regardless of whether you are in a state where possession and consumption are legal, if the land you are smoking on is federal land, you will be severely charged.

Laws on marijuana vary significantly by state. Thus it is essential that you know and understands your state’s regulation and consequences.

Click here to watch the VIDEO.

 

              Takeaways

1.  Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that alters your mental state. The main ingredient is THC.

2.  There are a variety of long & short term effects. Marijuana impacts many parts of daily life, including school, sports, and driving.

3.  Marijuana is addictive. People who begin using cannabis as a teenager are more likely to get addicted and experience withdrawal symptoms.

4.  Marijuana is a gateway drug, which means people who use marijuana are significantly more likely to use and become addicted to other drugs.

5.  Laws around marijuana possession and use vary from state to state, and it is your responsibility to be familiar with the laws and consequences for your state.