MARIJUANA HEALTH HAZARDS

Dangers of Marijuana:     Ingredients     Health Hazards     Puzzle

    

 

            Marijuana is a toxic plant that is unsafe for human use.  It is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States.  Marijuana can be smoked, brewed, or mixed into baked goods.  It is a mild hallucinogen that can cause serious health effects.

            When marijuana is smoked, it is smoked unfiltered and therefore the smoke is consumed almost entirely.  Smoking marijuana can cause different diseases such as laryngitis and bronchitis.  There are also many side effects from using marijuana.  If you are intoxicated, marijuana can impair your driving performance, communication, memory, and it can interfere with your decision-making abilities.  There are 50-70% more cancer causing chemicals in marijuana than in cigarettes.  The risk of heart attack becomes 4 times more likely with marijuana.  Some feelings that you may get from smoking it are tiredness, depression, paranoia, anxiety, or you can become severely disoriented.

            Many people, especially teens, think that smoking marijuana makes them feel relaxed when in fact, it tricks the brain into feeling relaxed when it actually speeds up your heart rate.  Many people dislike marijuana because of the weight gain caused by the “munchies” that come as a result of smoking it.  Smoking marijuana merely postpones coping with problems.  And since it is stored in your body, the effects can persist for several days or even weeks.  And no matter what you have heard, there is no current accepted medical use for marijuana in the U.S.

            The most active chemical in marijuana is THC.  And marijuana can sometimes be “laced” with other chemical substances that can increase its harm. 

       

Sources

Youth Game Plan http://youthfirstinc.org/youth/effects.html

Basic Facts About Drugs: Marijuana http://www.acde.org/common/Marijuana.htm

Info Facts: Marijuana http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofax/marijuana.html

Fact line on Marijuana http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/publications/iprc/factline/marij.htm

Is Marijuana Hype or Hip? http://www.forreal.org/think/hypeorhip.asp

Research Report Series: Marijuana Abuse http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/Marijuana4.html

Parenting of Adolescents http://parentingteens.about.com/library/sp/drugs/blmj8.html