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| Marijuana |
What Is
Marijuana?
Right behind caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, marijuana
is the most commonly used psychoactive (mood-altering) drug in the United
States. It is estimated that 70 million Americans have tried marijuana at least
once and 11.1 million Americans are current users. The average age people start
smoking marijuana is under 14 years. Marijuana's scientific name is Cannabis
Sativa (the hemp plant), and it grows wild in temperate and tropical climates.
Most wild marijuana is considered inferior to cultivated marijuana because it contains a low concentration of Delta -9-tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC). Cultivated marijuana contains ten times the THC of wild marijuana. THC
is the primary mind-altering agent in marijuana and is highly concentrated in
the flowering tops and upper leaves of the female plant. Twenty-five percent of
the marijuana consumed in the United states is domestically grown. Major
producers of marijuana include Alabama, Hawaii, Kentucky, Tennessee, West
Virginia, and California. The growing marijuana plant normally has an odd
number of leaves per stem, such as five, seven, or nine, and can grow up to
twenty feet high. When prepared for use as a drug, marijuana consists of dried
and crushed leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. In small doses, marijuana acts
as a sedative. In larger amounts, it can cause hallucinations. The cannabis
plant contains more than 430 chemicals. Many of these chemicals severely affect
the user's health. The potency of marijuana varies, depending on the type and
part of the plant used, and whether it has been treated with other chemicals.
Dealers may treat marijuana with PCP, fentanyl nitrate, or embalming fluid to
increase its potency. Doctored marijuana is extremely dangerous.
 What Is Hash-ish?
The dark brown resin from the top
of the hemp plant is hashish. Hashish has a higher concentration of THC than
the marijuana leaves. Hashish can be compressed into pills or cakes, or
extracted into oil. Hashish oil contains approximately 20 percent THC content.
Tobaccos treated with hashish oil are equal to one joint of marijuana.
Marijuana Legalized?
Several states have passed laws that allow
possession of marijuana for medicinal use. Some supporters of medical marijuana
are genuinely exploring the potential use of marijuana for providing relief
from suffering for ill persons. Others are using this medical issue to
challenge the drug laws in the United States to legalize drugs, mainly
marijuana for personal gain. To protect consumers, medical protocol is set by
health authorities and not determined by popular vote. The Food and Drug
Administration withholds approval of a drug until studies indicate that it is
safe and effective for its intended use. Unless such studies determine that
marijuana used medically meets that criteria, the American Medical Association
refuses to recommend that the drug be prescribed for medical purposes.
What Are The Physiological Effects?
When a person inhales
marijuana smoke into the lungs, THC enters the blood stream rapidly through
metabolism and through tissue absorption. THC reaches the brain rapidly within
as little as 14 seconds after inhalation. THC binds to proteins in the blood
and remains stored in the body fat tissues. 5 Days after smoking marijuana, 20
percent of the THC remains stored in fat.
Effects On The Central
Nervous System
Marijuana mainly affects the Central Nervous System.
Effects can vary according to the mental state of the user, the social setting,
and previous usage. Marijuana alters moods, coordination, memory, and
self-perception. Marijuana users often claim heightened aware- ness of
surroundings, a slowing of time, extreme hunger and a dry mouth. Increased
usage of marijuana causes hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and paranoia. The
THC in marijuana alters several neurotransmitter systems in the brain. This
explains marijuana's somewhat unpredictable effects. THC alters the lipid
membrane in all neurons and interferes with the normal functions of these brain
cells.
What Are The Effects On The Respiratory System?
Scientists have identified more than 150 chemicals in marijuana smoke
and tar. Marijuana smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals such as benzopyrene,
which occurs 70 percent more in marijuana smoke than in tobacco smoke.
Examinations of human lung tissue exposed to continuous marijuana smoke in
laboratory testing show precancerous cellular change. In laboratory tests, the
tars from marijuana smoke produce tumors when applied to animal skin. These
studies suggest that prolonged marijuana use causes cancer. Through studies
like these, scientists have learned that exposure to marijuana smoke interferes
with the work of white blood cells. White blood cells in lung tissue remove
debris from the lungs. When exposed to marijuana smoke, these cells cannot
remove bacteria and other debris. Smoking marijuana significantly reduces lung
functions. Marijuana users increase their chance of contracting respiratory
problems such as laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, asthma-like conditions,
cough, hoarseness, and dry throat.
What Are Marijuana's Effects On
The Cardiovascular System?
Marijuana increases the heart rate and
decreases blood pressure. Frequently, users report an abnormally low blood
pressure while standing. Individuals with angina and other cardiovascular
 problems increase the danger of heart attacks when they smoke
marijuana. Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke binds with hemoglobin decreasing
the oxygen flow to the body. This causes a marijuana smoker to become
breathless from exertion. This also increases the risk of heart attack.
Marijuana Dangerous?
Based on the information above,
clearly Marijuana is much more dangerous than most believe or know, it is also
considered to be a "gateway drug", meaning that the marijuana use might lead to
another drug, one that is generally considered to be even more dangerous than
marijuana. |
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