What It Is: A mixture of the crushed leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. The main active chemical is THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). However the plant contains over 400 other chemicals. Many of these chemicals have unknown effects. Further, when smoked, over 2000 chemicals are produced, just as with cigarette smoking. Slang/street names include Pot, weed, herb, trees, dope, Mary Jane, chronic, reefer, nuggets, schwag, bud, etc…
Type of Drug: Psychoactive Drug
Method of Use: Smoked or orally (usually mixed in food and eaten)
What It Does: It causes both physical and psychological effects. It causes a feeling of Euphoria (a feeling of extreme happiness). Other effects include: increased problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty thinking, problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Heath Risks: Long-term Marijuana use can effect the brain, lungs, learning, and social behavior. It slows the brain’s ability to comprehend and evaluate, decreases concentration and memory, causes suspiciousness and paranoia (a mental disorder characterized by delusions causing a person to feel like someone is out to get them or talking about them). It also causes confusion and brain atrophy (a wasting away or failure to grow). Long-term use also causes an increased risk of lung and throat cancer, Bronchitis and Emphysema. It can slow sexual development in adolescents by decreasing testosterone and estrogen levels, lower sperm count in men, interfere with menstrual cycles in women reducing fertility, and if pregnant may increase the risk for developmental delays and behavioral problems. Lastly, the immune system and the heart are affected. It reduces the ability to resist and fight off infections and narrows the arteries so the heart has to work harder and beat faster. The heart rate may increase by 50%.
Using Marijuana may also cause Motivational Syndrome. This is a long-term psychological effect that causes the user to have a loss of ambition, mental confusion, diminished attention span, inability to concentrate, depression, and dependence. (WARNING: This is especially dangerous for adolescents because it will have a negative affect on their academic and social development. It can cause a student that did well in school and participated in extra-curricular activities such as sports and plays, to stop caring about school, activities, friends, etc. Their primary goal is just to get “high”.)
Legal Status: Illegal in the United States (There is controversy over medical use for cancer patients).
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