Marijuana

Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Cannabis is a term that refers to marijuana and other drugs made from the same plant. Other forms of cannabis include sinsemilla, hashish, and hash oil. All forms of cannabis are mind-altering (psychoactive) drugs.

The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety.

Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint) or in a pipe or bong. Marijuana has also appeared in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana, sometimes in combination with another drug, such as crack. It can also be mixed into foods or used to brew a tea.

Health Effects

Marijuana abuse is associated with many detrimental health effects. These effects can include frequent respiratory infections, impaired memory and learning, increased heart rate, anxiety, panic attacks and tolerance. Marijuana meets the criteria for an addictive drug and animal studies suggest marijuana causes physical dependence and some people report withdrawal symptoms. Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers do, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illnesses, a heightened risk of lung infections, and a greater tendency toward obstructed airways. Cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs may also be promoted by marijuana smoke. Marijuana has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because marijuana smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke.

Marijuana's damage to short-term memory seems to occur because THC alters the way in which information is processed by the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation. In one study, researchers compared marijuana smoking and nonsmoking 12th-graders' scores on standardized tests of verbal and mathematical skills. Although all of the students had scored equally well in 4th grade, those who were heavy marijuana smokers, i.e., those who used marijuana seven or more times per week, scored significantly lower in 12th grade than nonsmokers. Another study of 129 college students found that among heavy users of marijuana critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning were significantly impaired, even after they had not used the drug for at least 24 hours.

For further Information from The White House Drug Policy go to  www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov

Drug Information

• Alcohol
• Club Drugs
• Cocaine
• Crack
• Heroin
• Inhalants
• Marijuana
• Methamphedamine
• Prescription Drugs

Addiction Treatment Programs Offered:

Drug
Rehab Program

Read more about
drug abuse and our
drug rehab program.

Alcohol
Rehab Program

Read more about alcoholism and our alcohol rehab program.

Gambling
Rehab Program

Read more about gambling addiction and our gambling rehab program.

Transportation is included with all of our addiction treatment programs,
from anywhere in the continental(48) states,

Including but not limited to the following cities: See details...

• New York City NY., Los Angeles CA., Chicago IL., Houston TX., Phoenix AZ., Philadelphia PA., San Antonio TX., San Diego CA., Dallas TX., San Jose CA., Detroit MI., Jacksonville FL., Indianapolis IN., San Francisco CA., Columbus OH., Austin TX., Memphis TN., Fort Worth TX., Baltimore MD., Charlotte NC., El Paso TX., Milwaukee WI., Boston MA., Seattle WA., Washington DC., Denver CO., Louisville KY., Las Vegas NV., Nashville TN., Oklahoma City OK., Portland OR., Tucson AR., Albuquerque NM., Atlanta GA., Long Beach CA., Fresno CA., Sacramento CA., Mesa AZ., Kansas City MO., Cleveland OH., Virginia Beach VA., Omaha NE., Miami FL., Oakland CA., Tulsa OK., Minneapolis MN., Colorado Springs CO., Arlington TX., Wichita KS., Raleigh NC., St. Louis MO., Santa Ana CA., Anaheim CA., Tampa FL., Cincinnati OH., Pittsburgh PA., Bakersfield CA., Aurora CO., Toledo OH., Riverside CA., Stockton CA., Corpus Christi TX., Newark NJ., Anchorage AK., Buffalo NY., St. Paul MN., Lexington KY., Plano TX..