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Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers
and leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). The main active chemical in
marijuana, also present in other forms of cannabis, is THC
(delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Of the roughly 400 chemicals found in the
cannabis plant, THC affects the brain the most. It is arguably the most often
used illegal drug in the country. It is variously known as Aunt Mary , Boom ,
Chronic , Dope ganja , Gangster , Grass , Hash , Herb , Kif , Mary Jane , Pot ,
Reefer , Sinsemilla , Skunk , Weed. Most users roll loose marijuana into a
cigarette called a "joint". It can be smoked in a water pipe, called a "bong",
or mixed into food or brewed as tea. It has also appeared in cigars called
"blunts".
 Short-term effects - Short-term effects of marijuana include
problems with memory and learning, distorted perception (sights, sounds, time,
touch), trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination,
increased heart rate, and anxiety. These effects are even greater when other
drugs are mixed with marijuana. A user may also experience dry mouth and
throat.
Long-term effects - Marijuana smoke contains some of the
same cancer-causing compounds as tobacco, sometimes in higher concentrations.
Studies show that someone who smokes five joints per week may be taking in as
many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes
every day. |