Drug Information

Marijuana

It's a fact…

Marijuana is the greenish tobacco-like substance produced by drying the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis sativa plant. It contains more than 400 chemicals. The psychoactive, mind-altering chemical that is responsible for the physical and psychological effects of marijuana is Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Some of the most common nicknames for marijuana are pot, grass, dope, weed, reefer, doobie, tea, herb, Thai sticks, Acapulco Gold, Sinsemilla, bud, Mary Jane, blunt, and hydro.

Method of Ingestion:

Marijuana is smoked in the form of loosely rolled cigarettes called "joints", in hollowed out commercial cigars called "blunts", in standard pipes or in water pipes known as "bongs".

Short-Term Effects of Smoking Marijuana:

• Drowsiness
• Impaired short-term memory
• Reduced ability to concentrate
• Loss of coordination
• Increased heart rate
• Dry mouth
• Bloodshot eyes
• Decreased social inhibitions

Long-Term Effects of Smoking Marijuana:

• Paranoia
• Abnormal physical development in males: reduced testosterone levels may delay deepening of voice, growth of beard, development of muscle mass. It can also lead to decreased sperm count and difficulty having children.
• Abnormal physical development in females: Increased testosterone and decreased estrogen levels may cause irregular menstrual cycles and an increased risk of infertility.
• Carbon monoxide and tar into lungs (Pot smoke has 70% more cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco smoke, so that heavy pot smokers may have as much or greater potential for developing cancer as cigarette smokers).
• Reduced capacity to fight off infections (and added risk of infection to smokers who share joints)
• Decreased motivation/ambition