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Negative Effects of Marijuana
Thursday, February 05, 2009
InstructionsHow Marijuana Interacts With the BodyStep 1: Marijuana is a drug made from the cannabis plant. THC is the most potent active chemical in marijuana, and it is THC that produces the negative effects of marijuana use. When you smoke marijuana, THC enters the blood stream through the lungs and is pumped throughout the body to your brain and vital organs. THC then interacts with certain areas of the brain to produce the high that is associated with using marijuana.
The HighStep 1: The area of the brain impaired by marijuana controls pleasure, sensory function, physical coordination, memory and relationship to time. This means that when you smoke marijuana, senses are dulled, physical abilities are impaired, and coherency and ability to think clearly is reduced. The length of these impairments depends on the amount of marijuana that has been smoked or otherwise ingested into the body and at what frequency.
Marijuana and Respiratory HealthStep 1: Marijuana is typically smoked, providing the same negative effects to the body as smoking other substances. It contains many carcinogens that damage lung tissue and may lead to cancer. Marijuana use also raises your heart rate and blood pressure, leading to an increased risk of heart attack.
AddictionStep 1: Marijuana is a highly addictive drug. Addiction to marijuana can develop rapidly and make it difficult to stop using the drug, even when a person wants to do so. This addiction impairs ability to function normally in school, social, and work settings. It is difficult to hide an addiction to marijuana as many workplaces require urine tests from their employees to screen for the presence of the drug, making it difficult for those using the drug to find employment and stay employed.
Marijuana and Mental HealthStep 1: Deterioration of mental health is a secondary but important effect of marijuana addiction. Marijuana addicts experience increased irritability, depression and inability to maintain healthy relationships. This impact on mental health impacts all areas of life which means the overall quality of life for marijuana users is decreased.
Gateway TheoryStep 1: While still disputed, many feel that marijuana is a primary gateway drug. This means that marijuana use is often a stepping stone to the abuse of other more serious illegal drugs. Even though this has not been firmly proven, the risk is significant enough to consider when contemplating the negative effects of marijuana use.
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