The Truth About Marijuana
Cannabis or marijuana is the most popular psychoactive substance worldwide.
The marijuana plant contains 400 different chemicals. The one which creates the greatest effect on the human body and mind is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Marijuana can be taken in a number of different ways. The fastest and the most common way is by inhalation.
People can use marijuana for many reasons. One of the main reasons why young people do so is because of the pressure they feel from their friends or people around them. Some may use it because they think it’s “cool” after seeing it on TV or reading about it.
Another reason might be because they think of it as a way to get rid of problems with the family, work, school or society.
When marijuana enters the body, it causes a number of effects such as:
- Muscle relaxation
- Slowed digestion
- Dry mouth, dry eyes
- Distorted perception (sight, sound, time, touch)
- Agitation, anxiety, confusion, paranoia
- Increased appetite
- Mild hallucinations
- Difficulty in thinking, memory, and problem-solving.
These effects are even stronger if mixed with other types of marijuana or other substances, such as alcohol, cocaine, heroin, etc.
Marijuana use can affect a person’s activities. It affects memory, judgment, and perception. The substance can cause problems at school, in sports, or in the environment. Under the effects of marijuana, a person can make mistakes. People who have been using marijuana for a long time lose interest in their performance at school or work and relationships with others deteriorate. Some users may experience feelings of anxiety or paranoid thoughts, and in rare cases, a user who has taken high doses of the substance may have severe psychotic symptoms.
Long-term abuse of marijuana can also affect mental health. Studies have shown that using marijuana may increase the risk of developing psychosis, including false ideas about what is happening (delusions), as well as seeing or hearing things that do not exist (hallucinations).
Marijuana has long been considered a “gateway drug,” and long-term studies with users have shown that very few people use other illegal substances without first using marijuana. The problem is that people are still not very aware of the great risk of using it.
Sources:
- Marijuana: Effects, Medical Uses and Legalization / Medically reviewed by L. Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Nov 26, 2018. https://www.drugs.com/illicit/marijuana.html
