Marijuana (also referred to as pot, dope, herb, weed, grass, chronic, ganja, or Mary Jane) is a drug that is derived from the plant Cannabis sativa.
Usually a greenish-brown mixture of dried leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers, marijuana is among the most commonly-abused drugs in the United States.
The active ingredient in marijuana and other cannabis-related drugs such as hashish is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (usually referred to as THC). Most street versions of marijuana can contain as many as 400 other chemicals.
Depending upon the amount of THC that is found in any particular sample of the substance, the effects of the drug can vary considerably.
How marijuana is used
Marijuana is usually smoked – either as a cigarette (known as a “joint”), in a pipe, or via a bong (which uses water to cool the smoke before it is inhaled.
Marijuana can also be eaten, though smoking remains the most popular manner of ingestion.
Marijuana’s effect on the body
The short-term effects of marijuana include impaired memory and cognitive ability; distorted perception of time, space, and sounds; loss of coordination; increased heart rate; heightened hunger and thirst; and a sense of anxiety and panic.
Long-term consequences include some brain damage, depression, continued academic under-performance, and cardiopulmonary damage that is similar to that which is inflicted by continued exposure to tobacco smoke.
Chronic marijuana use has been linked with emphysema, the development of some types of cancers, and damages to the body’s immune system.
Because THC is absorbed by fatty tissues among various organs, traces of the substance may remain in the body for days or even weeks after last use.
Teens & Marijuana
Contrary to what many may believe, the majority of U.S. teens have never used marijuana – and most never will. About 20 percent of U.S. 10th-graders report having used marijuana within the past month, and just under 25 percent of high school seniors report the same.
Most young people who do experiment with marijuana do so because they are offered the drug by a friend or family member. Some mistakenly believe that using the drug will make them “cool,” or will help them deal with stresses related to school, peer interactions, or family life.
Marijuana and school, sports, and other activities
It can be decidedly difficult to play a sport while under the influence of marijuana, as the drug can effect your coordination, timing, judgment, and perception.
Continued use of marijuana has also been associated with lower academic performance, as well as reduced interest in school and extracurricular activities.
Marijuana as a "gateway drug"
There has been considerable debate about whether or not using marijuana leads young people to abuse other drugs – but several studies have shown that almost all drug users start with marijuana.
It has been estimated that the likelihood of cocaine is more than 100 times higher for people who have used marijuana that for those who have never tried it.
Using marijuana also puts people in touch with other drug users – and perhaps dealers – which increases the likelihood that they will be presented with the opportunity to try harder substances.
Marijuana & pregnancy
One study on animals has associated marijuana use with spontaneous abortion early in pregnancy.
Other studies have found that women who use marijuana during pregnancy give birth to babies who are shorter, of lower weight, and had smaller head sizes that were babies whose mothers remained sober during pregnancy.
Preliminary studies have also indicated that children who were born to marijuana-using mothers may be more prone to developing attention or concentration disorders later in life.
How to quit using marijuana
Depending upon factors including the amount and frequency with which one smokes marijuana, treatment options may range from outpatient therapy to a stay at a residential recovery facility.
Most marijuana treatment programs focus on counseling, therapeutic support programs, and the development of relapse-prevention strategies.
Family doctors and other health professionals are excellent sources of information about how to get help for a teenager or adolescent who is abusing marijuana or other drugs.
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