Marijuana
By Mason Shu and Eric Chung
1. What is Marijuana?
- Marijuana is made from the shredded and dried leaves, seeds, stems, and flowers of Cannabis sativa
- Cannabis sativa - the hemp plant
- Colors can be gray, brown, or green
- Has over 500 chemicals, including THC
- Is banned under federal law to buy, sell, market, and possess marijuana
- Also known as weed, pot, bud, grass, herb, Mary Jane, MJ, reefer, skunk, boom, gangster, kif, chronic, and ganja
2. How is Marijuana Abused?
- Marijuana can be abused in many different ways.
- Marijuana is most wide used in Pipes, Bongs (Water-Pipes), or just hand-held cigarettes.
- Ways such as mixing with tobacco, inserting in vaporized cigarettes, or brewing with tea is all ways to abuse this drug.
- All this leads to an unhealthy body.
3. How does Marijuana affect the brain?
- THC in marijuana goes from the lungs to the bloodstream
- passed on to organs, such as brain
- Cells or neurons with cannabinoid receptors are affected by the THC
- Increases activity of the endocannabinoid system and brain releases dopamine
- Causes people to get high
Learning and memory
- The hippocampus of the brain is affected
- Disruption causes problems in memory, learning, and studying
- A drop in IQ
Coordination
- The cerebellum of the brain is influenced
- Affects performance in various activities such as video games, sports, and driving
Judgement
- THC may cause you to do things you normally wouldn't
- Affects decision making
- Some of these decisions include the risk of contracting STDs, being the passenger of a drunk or high driver
4. What are other effects of Marijuana?
There are many harmful side effects from abusing Marijuana. Here's some examples.
Health Issues
- Increased Heart Rate
- Respiratory Problems
- mental problems
- problems for unborn babies
- using other drugs for teens
Mental Issues for school and social life
- Reduced quality of education and performance in school
- More careless driving
5. Can you get addicted to Marijuana?
- Addictive to experience being high
- Addiction after repeated use
- Cannot control drug abuse and cannot stop taking the drug
- ~9% marijuana users will become dependent
- Addictions factors include: genetics, age of first use, relationships, environment, and other drugs
- Withdrawal (relapses occur) lead to: desire to use drug, anxiety, lack of appetite, insomnia, and irritability. May last for days-weeks after stoppage
6. Can you die from use?
- Very unlikely for death from overdose of marijuana
- Due to its brain-altering effects, can cause people to injure themselves which can cause death
- Users may experience panic attacks and paranoia
7. How many teens abuse this drug?
- Most common drug used by teens and adults in the US
- Some people may not know the risks
- Teens before 18 are 4-7 times likely to be addicted
- ~1/6 teens use marijuana, 25-50% use it daily (leads to addiction)
- Daily 8th grade abusers: 1.10%
- Daily 10th grade abusers: 3%
- Daily 12th grade abusers: 6%
8. What should you do if someone needs help from Marijuana?
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
- Call when you or a friend need to talk about a crisis
- This lifeline is not limited to suicide, as they also discuss problems and assist you in finding help
Call the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator at 1-800-662-HELP or visit www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.
- Call or visit website when you need info on treatment
Visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/have-a-drug-problem-need-help for info on how to help