What is it? Marijuana comes from the greenish-brown leaves of the Indian Hemp Plant known as Cannabis Sativa. Marijuana use results in many of the same effects as stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens such as an impairment of judgment and coordination (due to its targeting of the Central Nervous System). The main active mind-altering chemical in marijuana is THC, which stands for delta -9-tetrahydrocannabinol.  THC causes nerve cell abnormalities, alters normal cell division, disrupts activities inside nerve cells, and decreases cell immunity, which leads to the increase of viral and bacterial infections. Street Names Bhang, Homegrown, Blanche, Mary Jane, Bud, Old Man, Dagga, Pot, Dope, Reefer, Ganja, Sinsemilla, Grass, Weed, Herb, Endo, Cannibus How is it taken? Marijuana is most commonly smoked in a cigarette, pipe, or bong (a large pipe).  Marijuana can be added to certain foods and eaten (often brownies). The Scoop on Marijuana

• Marijuana is the most often used illegal drug in this country. Today's marijuana is said to be 7 to 10 times more potent than marijuana used in the 1960?s.
• Marijuana tends to be the first illegal and illicit drug used by teenagers (after tobacco and alcohol) and is considered a "gateway drug", because it often leads to other illegal drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and LSD.
• It contains more than 400 harmful chemicals, including cancer causing carcinogens.
• From smoking a single joint, hundreds and hundreds of chemical compounds enter the body affecting the nervous system and specifically targeting the brain.
• Long-term users of marijuana may become psychologically dependent on marijuana making it very difficult to stop marijuana use.
• Research suggests that marijuana use during pregnancy causes harm to the fetus, which may result in miscarriage, birth defects, low birth weight, and physical and mental abnormalities..
• With its ability to impair coordination and perception, marijuana affects a driver's thoughts and reflexes when driving.

Short-Term Use of Marijuana * Note:   Please keep in mind that peoples experiences with marijuana may vary and depend upon the dose of the drug, frequency of use and the potency of the drug.

• Likely to feel calm and relaxed
• Elevates the heart rate and pulse rate
• Cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeats
• Difficulty in breathing
• Panic attacks
• Anxiety
• Dry throat, mouth, and lips
• Drowsiness/Sleepiness
• Bloodshot eyes
• Hallucination
• Paranoia
• Decrease in memory, reflexes and coordination
• Alters the users perception on time
• Increased hunger (munchies)

Long-Term Use of Marijuana

• Addiction
• Anxiety
• Amotivational Syndrome
• Burnout
• Risk of Lung Cancer, Bronchitis, and Emphysema
• Memory Loss
• Damage to Immune System
• Infertility (for both men and women)
• Irregular Periods (for women)
• Impotency (for men)
• Heart and lung damage
• Hormonal imbalances
• Low blood pressure
• Blurred Vision

Behavior of Users

• Wear shades or sunglasses to hide bloodshot eyes
• Change their friends
• Decline in school academics and performance at the workplace
• Secretive
• Suffer from a loss of motivation and interest in life
• Not able to perform simple tasks
• Less socially interactive
• Constant Déjà vu
• Self-absorbed
• Sloppy
• Loud talk and laughter

Tolerance Users who are tolerant of marijuana increase their use to achieve direct effects.  It is possible for users to take high levels of marijuana without some of the severe mental effects. Withdrawal Symptoms

• Anxiety
• Craving
• Depression
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Nausea
• Restlessness
• Sleep disturbances
• Sweating
• Stomach upset

Marijuana vs. Tobacco It's true that both marijuana and tobacco contain toxic chemicals such as tar, carbon monoxide, and cyanide.  But marijuana smoke has more cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco. As stated before, it contains more than 400 harmful chemicals, which includes cancer-causing carcinogens. Marijuana smoke contains some of the same carcinogens and toxic chemicals as tobacco, but in higher concentrations. The amount of marijuana smoke inhaled per puff is two thirds larger than a typical puff of a tobacco cigarette.  The reason behind this is that marijuana is smoked differently than tobacco.  Marijuana smoke is inhaled deeper into the lungs, and is held there up to four times as long. These long drags force the rapid absorption THC by the lungs, the active ingredient in marijuana.  As a result, the toxic chemicals in marijuana smoke can do much more damage to the lungs than cigarette smoke. Marijuana and Driving Does using marijuana while driving effect a driver's perceptions? Some people think that marijuana does not impair the ability to drive...but it DOES. Marijuana blocks the nervous system's messages to the brain and most importantly alters one's perceptions of time and distance. In other words, marijuana affects reflexes and coordination.  The decrease in attention and concentration that a marijuana user experiences can be very dangerous when driving a vehicle. The feeling of drowsiness that is produced is deadly on the streets or highway where full awareness is needed. For More Information: Marijuana Center for Substance Abuse Research     GREAT INFO!

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Sources: 1.  Kuhn, Cynthia, Scott Welder, and Wilkie Wilson. Buzzed. W. W. Norton and Company. New York: 1998 2.  "Cannabis: Mind Altering Drugs Series."  Wisconsin Clearinghouse 3.  Cohen, William E.  and Darryl S. Inaba.  Uppers, Downers, All Arounders.CNS Productions. Ashland:  1989.