MARIJUANA
By: Charlotte Wong
Background Information
- Cannabis
- Active chemical in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- A preparation of the cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug (chem. substance that affects the brain’s function, resulting in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behaviour)
- Contemporary uses of cannabis are:
Recreational or medicinal drug
- Part of religious or spiritual rites
Usage
- Smoking
- Vapourizing
- Adding to other edibles
Short-Term Effects
These effects are reduced after 3-4 hours
Marijuana hangs around in your system for as long as a month after consumption
This means you’re impaired for several days to weeks after the high wears off
Rapid heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Increased rate of breathing
Red eyes
Dry mouth
Increased appetite
- Slowed reaction time
Psychological:
Generally eases after a few hours
Residual effect can last for days
Distorted sense of time
Paranoia
Short-term memory loss
Anxiety and depression
Long-Term Effects
Can cause some of the same health effects as smoking cigarettes
Chronic bronchitis
Damaged lung tissue
Increased risk of lung cancer
Growth disorders
Rapid destruction of the lung fibers, and injuries to the brain could be permanent
Legal Aspects
Illegal to use, sell, and possess cannabis in the US
Has been decided by the federal government that the substance has both high potential for abuse and no established and safe medical use
However, state laws regarding cannabis differ from federal laws
Out of the 50 states, only 2 of them have legalised cannabis
- Some of them only legalize medical cannabis, while others have both medical and decriminalization laws