Ill Effects on the Drug Marijuana From 4 Different Web Sites
- Short- & Long-Term Effects of Marijuana – Negative Side Effects of Weed – Drug-Free World
- Effects of Marijuana Use: How Weed Affects Your Mind & Body
- How marijuana affects the body – Medical News Today
- Marijuana: Effects of Weed on Brain and Body | Live Science[Health Effects
Short- & Long-Term Effects of Marijuana – Negative Side Effects of Weed – Drug-Free World
Content From: drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/short-and-long-term-effects.html
“I started using on a dare from a best friend who said that I was too chicken to smoke a joint and drink a quart of beer. I was fourteen at that time. After seven years of using and drinking I found myself at the end of the road with addiction. I was no longer using to feel euphoria, I was just using to feel some semblance of normality.
Content From: drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/short-and-long-term-effects.html
Short-term memory problems:
- Severe anxiety, including fear that one is being watched or followed, (paranoia)
- Very strange behavior, seeing, hearing or smelling things that aren’t there, not being able to tell imagination from reality, (psychosis)
- Panic
- Hallucinations
- Loss of sense of personal identity
- Lowered reaction time
- Increased heart rate (risk of heart attack)
- Increased risk of stroke
- Problems with coordination (impairing safe driving or playing sports)
- Sexual problems (for males)
- Up to seven times more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
- Decline in IQ, (up to 8 points if prolonged use, started in adolescent age)
- Poor school performance and higher chance of dropping out
- Impaired thinking and ability to learn and perform complex tasks
- Lower life satisfaction
- Addiction, (about 9% of adults and 17% of people who started smoking as teens)
- Potential development of opiate abuse
- Relationship problems, intimate partner violence
- Antisocial behavior including stealing money or lying
- Financial difficulties
- Increased welfare dependence
- Greater chances of being unemployed or not getting good jobs
“I started using on a dare from a best friend who said that I was too chicken to smoke a joint and drink a quart of beer. I was fourteen at that time. After seven years of using and drinking I found myself at the end of the road with addiction. I was no longer using to feel euphoria, I was just using to feel some semblance of normality.
Then I started having negative feelings about myself and my own abilities. I hated the paranoia [suspicion, distrust or fear of other people]. I hated looking over my shoulder all the time. I really hated not trusting my friends. I became so paranoid that I successfully drove everyone away and found myself in the terrible place no one wants to be in—I was alone. I’d wake up in themorning and start using and keep using throughout the day.”
Paul
Effects of Marijuana Use: How Weed Affects Your Mind & Body
Contents From: webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/marijuana-use-and-its-effects#1
- How Pot Affects Your Mind and Body
- You Can Get “High”
- It May Affect Your Mental Health
- Your Thinking May Get Distorted
- You May Get Hooked
- It May Impair Your Brain
- Your Lungs May Hurt
- It May Ease Your Pain and Other Symptoms
- You May Feel Hungrier
- It May Harm Your Heart
- It Intensifies Alcohol’s Dangers
- Your Newborn Might Be Underweight
- Connection to Cancer Is Unclear
Ways to Use Marijuana
Marijuana, weed, pot, dope, grass. They’re different names for the same drug that comes from the cannabis plant.
You can smoke it, vape it, drink it, or eat it. Most folks use marijuana for pleasure and recreation. But a growing number of doctors prescribe it for specific medical conditions and symptoms.
Marijuana has mind-altering compounds that affect both your brain and body. It can be addictive, and it may be harmful to some people’s health. Here’s what can happen when you use marijuana:
- Types of Multiple Sclerosis
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- their characteristics.
You Can Get “High”
It’s why most people try pot. The main psychoactive ingredient, THC, stimulates the part of your brain that responds to pleasure, like food and sex. That unleashes a chemical called dopamine, which gives you a euphoric, relaxed feeling.
If you vape or smoke weed, the THC could get into your bloodstream quickly enough for you to get your high in seconds or minutes. The THC level usually peaks in about 30 minutes, and its effects may wear off in 1-3 hours.
If you drink or eat pot, it make take many hours for you to fully sober up. You may not always know how potent your recreational marijuana might be. That also goes for most medical marijuana.
It May Affect Your Mental Health
Not everyone’s experience with marijuana is pleasant. It often can leave you anxious, afraid, or panicked. Using pot may raise your chances for clinical depression or worsen the symptoms of any mental disorders you already have.
Scientists aren’t yet sure exactly why. In high doses, it can make you paranoid or lose touch with reality so you hear or see things that aren’t there.
Your Thinking May Get Distorted
Marijuana can cloud your senses and judgment. The effects can differ depending on things like how potent your pot was, how you took it, and much marijuana you’ve used in the past.
It might:
- Heighten your senses (colors might seem brighter and sounds might seem louder)
- Distort your sense of time
- Hurt your motor skills and make driving more dangerous
- Lower your inhibitions so you may have risky sex or take other chances
How marijuana affects the body – Medical News Today
Marijuana is the dried and ground up or shredded parts of the cannabis plant. The following article discusses some of the potential benefits and side effects that marijuana has on the body.
Contents From: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324948.php
When people use it medically, marijuana is often useful for the following. Some of the most common effects a person may experience include:
Marijuana is the dried and ground up or shredded parts of the cannabis plant. Nearly all parts of the plant make up marijuana, including the leaves, stem, flowers, and seeds. As with other medications and procedures, marijuana use can potentially bring both positive and negative effects.
Many of marijuana’s effects are short-term, meaning that they last for only a short period. Other effects are long-term and may not show up immediately.
There is not much research into the effects of secondhand marijuana smoke. It is possible that secondhand smoke exposure may be enough to cause some of the temporary effects, as well as some of the long-term effects, in some people.
More research is necessary to examine the effects of secondhand marijuana smoke. Often, a person will smoke marijuana to feel its effects. However, a person could also:
- cook it into food
- use it as part of an oil
- brew it with teas
- use other topical or oral marijuana products
How marijuana affects physical health
Some of the most common effects on physical health from marijuana use include:
- a higher likelihood of developing bronchitis, when a person smokes it
- more phlegm, when a person smokes it
- lung irritation from irritants including some carcinogens, such as accidentally burning the mouth or throat when smoking
- a weakened immune system due to the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana
- pain relief
- reduction in vomiting and nausea
- faster heart rate by 20–50 beats per minute
- red eyes from the increase in blood flow
- relief from the symptoms of glaucoma, for short periods
- aggravation of existing lung conditions, such as asthma, when a person smokes it
- potential interference with tumor growth
- interference with fetal development during pregnancy
- interference with brain development among teenagers
When people use it medically, marijuana is often useful for the following:
- reducing pain associated with certain medical conditions
- reducing inflammation
- helping with glaucoma
- reducing nausea in people undergoing chemotherapy
Some of the most common effects a person may experience include:
- increased appetite and thirst
- increased or decreased depression symptoms, depending on the user
- increased or decreased anxiety symptoms, depending on the user
- impaired judgment, making it harder for people to think clearly
- problems with memory
- the release of dopamine, which causes the feeling of being high
- symptoms of withdrawal after long-term use
- delayed reactions to stimuli
- temporary paranoia and hallucinations
- addiction, in some cases
Marijuana has many potential psychological effects, and it is worth noting that this is not a comprehensive list.
How marijuana affects younger people
Marijuana is only potentially safe for use by adults. Children and teenagers are susceptible to potential ill effects.
When a mother uses marijuana while pregnant, the baby may develop memory and concentration issues as they grow. Breastfeeding mothers who also use marijuana may be exposing their baby to its potentially harmful effects. Women should avoid using marijuana while pregnant and breastfeeding.
Marijuana may affect the brain development of older children and teenagers. This can lead to memory loss, concentration issues, and impaired problem-solving skills.
Research strongly suggests that for those under 25 years of age, marijuana use can impair memory and learning ability.
Long-term effects of marijuana. Marijuana effects on the body joints.
The long-term effects of using marijuana depend on several factors, including a person’s age and frequency of use.
Long-term effects depend on several factors, including:
- how a person uses marijuana
- how often they use it
- the age of the person using it
- how much a person uses at any given time
Some of the potential long-term effects include the following:
- memory loss
- concentration and memory issues from exposure while in the womb
- lung irritation
- possibly lung cancer, although research does not fully support this
- development of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which causes nausea and vomiting
Takeaway
Marijuana has many potential short- and long-term effects on the body. Although many proponents believe that marijuana is a modern day cure-all, others believe that its negative effects outweigh its potential medicinal benefits.
People have used marijuana recreationally for many years. As of 2019, 34 states in the United States have some form of legal cannabis.
A few states have also legalized its recreational use. In states where recreational use is still not legal, people should consider other approaches and speak to their healthcare provider about what is best for them.
Marijuana: Effects of Weed on Brain and Body | Live Science Health Effects
Contents From: livescience.com/24558-marijuana-effects.html
By Lauren Cox – Live Science Contributor June 07, 2017
Smoking marijuana produces euphoria and a range of psychological and physical effects that can be unpredictable at times.
Marijuana is a combination of shredded leaves, stems and flower buds of the Cannabis sativa plant.
Marijuana can be smoked, eaten, vaporized, brewed and even taken topically, but most people smoke it.
The intoxicating chemical in marijuana is tetrahydracannabinol, or THC. According to research from the Potency Monitoring Project, the average THC content of marijuana has soared from less than 1 percent in 1972, to 3 to 4 percent in the 1990s, to nearly 13 percent in 2010.
Today, some retail marijuana has 30 percent THC or more.
The increased potency makes it difficult to determine the short- and long-term effects of marijuana.
In a 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 17.4 million people in the United States said they had used marijuana in the past month. Since then, many states have made it legal to use marijuana recreationally or medically.
As of early 2017, 26 states and the District of Columbia have made the use of pot legal in one form or another.
A 2016 Gallup poll found that one in eight people smoke marijuana, and 43 percent of U.S. adults admit to trying it.
Marijuana is usually smoked, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The Cannabis (called “pot,” “weed,” “grass,” etc.) is typically spread on rolling papers and formed into a cigarette, often referred to as a joint, or a cigar-like blunt.
Smoking releases the THC, which is absorbed into the blood stream through the lungs. Glass pipes, bubblers and bongs are other ways to smoke marijuana.
Marijuana can also be ingested in food, often a choice of those who are using medical marijuana. Aside from the popular “pot brownie,” edible marijuana can be added to a number of foods, including candy, ice cream and butter.
Some states that have legalized marijuana have issued rules for packaging and labeling “marijuana edibles.” Cannabis can be taken in liquid form, by brewing it as a tea. It can also be added to other beverages, including soda, milk and alcohol. Hashish is a resin made of the concentrated plant material. Other forms include capsules, oral sprays and topical oils.
A relatively new method of inhaling marijuana is vaporization, a “smokeless” delivery system using devices such as e-cigarettes. By heating the Cannabis at lower temperatures, the plant’s oils or extracts are released. Several studies suggest that “vaping” is better for health than smoking pot. Vaporized marijuana contains little other than cannabinoids, according to a 2004 study in the
Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics. Users inhaled fewer toxic compounds and carbon monoxide when vaping compared with smoking marijuana, according to a 2007 study in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, there hasn’t been enough research to conclude how much healthier vaping is than smoking unfiltered marijuana.
How marijuana affects the mind
Marijuana reaches the same pleasure centers in the brain that are targeted by heroin, cocaine and alcohol.
Depending on the quantity, quality and method of consumption, marijuana can produce a feeling of euphoria — or high — by stimulating
brain cells to release the chemical dopamine. When smoked or otherwise inhaled, the feeling of euphoria is almost immediate. When ingested in food, it takes much longer, even hours, for the drug to signal the brain to release the dopamine, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Other changes in mood can occur, with relaxation frequently being reported. Some users experience heightened sensory perception,
with colors appearing more vivid and noises being louder. For some, marijuana can cause an altered perception of time and increased appetite, known as the “munchies.”
The impact can vary by person, how often they have used the drug, the strength of the drug and how often it has been since they have gotten high, among other factors.
“In some cases, reported side effects of THC include elation, anxiety, tachycardia, short-term memory recall issues, sedation, relaxation, pain-relief and many more,” said A.J. Fabrizio, a marijuana chemistry expert at Terra Tech Corp, a California agricultural company focused on local farming and medical cannabis.
Other effects, according to the NIH, include:
- Feelings of panic and fear (paranoia)
- Hallucinations
- Trouble concentrating
- Decreased ability to perform tasks that require coordination
- Decreased interest in completing tasks
When coming down from the high, users may feel depressed or extremely tired. While marijuana use produces a mellow experience (users are sometimes referred to as “stoners”) for some, it can heighten agitation, anxiety, insomnia and irritability, according to the NIH.
Marijuana and teens
When marijuana use begins in the teen years, it can have a significant impact on brain development, including decreased brain activity, fewer neural fibers in certain areas and a smaller than average hippocampus, which controls learning and memory functions.
According to a 2014 Northwestern Medicine study of teen marijuana users, memory-related structures in the brain appeared to shrink, a possible signs of a decrease in neurons. These abnormalities remained two years after the teen stopped using marijuana, indicating that the drug has long-term effects and look similar to brains of schizophrenics.
Those who started using marijuana after 21 generally do not experience the same type of brain abnormalities as those who started using the drug earlier. Long-term users report that they sometimes have trouble thinking clearly, organizing their thoughts, multitasking and remembering things. Sustained marijuana use can also slow reaction times in some individuals.
Another study by the University of Montreal published in the journal Development and Psychopathology in 2016 found similar results after researching almost 300 students. Those that started smoking around age 14 did worse on some cognitive tests than non-smokers.
The study found that pot smokers also have a higher school dropout rate. Those that waited to start around age 17 did not seem to have the same impairments.
How marijuana affects the body
Marijuana smoke can cause many of the same respiratory problems experienced by tobacco smokers, such as increased daily cough and
phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illnesses such as bronchitis, and a greater instance of lung infections, according to NIDA.
While it had been thought that there was a connection between marijuana smoking and increased risk of lung cancer, even those who are heavy marijuana users do not appear to be at greater risk for lung cancer, according to a 2013 study by Dr. Donald Tashkin, UCLA professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine.
A 2017 study by the Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia found that those who used marijuana were 26 percent more likely to have a stroke than those who did not use marijuana. Those studied were also 10 percent more likely to have developed heart failure.
Marijuana can also raise heart rate by 20 percent to 100 percent shortly after smoking and the effect can last up to three hours, according to NIDA. Marijuana also can reduce sperm production in men and disrupts a woman’s menstrual cycle, according to NIDA.
While it is widely thought that marijuana is not addictive, about 30 percent users may have some degree of marijuana use disorder, according to NIDA. Long-term marijuana users who try to quit experience cravings, irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite and anxiety — some of the same physical symptoms of those trying to quit other types of drugs or alcohol.
A 2016 study found a link between certain genetic markers and symptoms of marijuana addiction, suggesting that some people may have a genetic predisposition to marijuana addiction. That same study showed some overlap between the genetic risk factors for marijuana dependence and the genetic risk factors for depression, suggesting a possible reason why these two conditions often occur together, the researchers said.
Medical marijuana – Mayo Clinic
Contents From: www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/medical-marijuana/art-20137855
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Medical marijuana
Marijuana is a controlled substance in the U.S. Federal law prohibits its use for any reason. Many states, however, allow medical use of marijuana to treat pain, nausea and other symptoms.
Medical marijuana also called medical cannabis, is a term for derivatives, of the Cannabis sativa plant, that are used to relieve serious and chronic symptoms.
Cannabis sativa contains many active compounds, but two are of interest for medical purposes:
- THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), and CBD (cannabidiol).
- THC is the primary ingredient in marijuana that makes people “high.”
Is medical marijuana legal in the U.S.? U.S. federal law prohibits the use of whole plant Cannabis sativa or its derivatives for any purpose.
CBD derived from the hemp plant (< 0.3% THC) is legal under federal law to consume. Many states allow THC use for medical purposes.
Federal law regulating marijuana supersedes state laws. Because of this, people may still be arrested and charged with possession in states where marijuana for medical use is legal.
When is medical marijuana appropriate?
Studies report that medical cannabis has possible benefit for several conditions. State laws vary in which conditions qualify people for treatment with medical marijuana. If you’re considering marijuana for medical use, check your state’s regulations.
Depending on the state, you may qualify for treatment with medical marijuana if you meet certain requirements and have a qualifying condition, such as:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- HIV/AIDS
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Glaucoma
- Multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms
- Severe and chronic pain
- Severe nausea
If you are experiencing uncomfortable symptoms or side effects of medical treatment, especially pain and nausea, talk with your doctor about all your options before trying marijuana. Doctors may consider medical marijuana as an option if other treatments haven’t helped.
Is medical marijuana safe?
Further study is needed to answer this question, but possible side effects of medical marijuana may include:
- Increased heart rate
- Dizziness
- Impaired concentration and memory
- Slower reaction times
- Negative drug-to-drug interactions
- Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
- Increased appetite
- Potential for addiction
- Cyclic vomiting syndrome
- Hallucinations or mental illness
- Withdrawal symptoms
Is medical marijuana available as a prescription medicine?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has approved one cannabis-derived and three cannabis-related drugs:
- dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros), nabilone (Cesamet), cannabidiol (Epidiolex).
Dronabinol and nabilone can be prescribed for the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and for the treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in people with AIDS. Cannabidiol can be prescribed for treatment of severe forms of childhood epilepsy.
What you can expect
Medical marijuana comes in a variety of forms, including:
- Oil for vaporizing
- Pill
- Topical applications
- Oral solution
- Dried leaves and buds
How and where you purchase these substances legally varies among the states that allow medical use of marijuana. Once you have the product, you administer it yourself. How often you use it depends on its form and your symptoms.
Your symptom relief and side effects also will vary based upon which type you are using. The quickest effects occur with inhalation of the vaporized form. The slowest onset occurs with the pill form.
Some medical marijuana is formulated to provide symptom relief without the intoxicating, mood-altering effects associated with recreational use of marijuana.
Marijuana is Known as a gateway drug
Using it can lead to using:
- Heroin
- Cocaine
- Meth, also known as Crystal Meth
- Crystal Meth
Used as a recreational drug. A pain killer and opioid, as the most addictive drug.
Heroin
Heroin is an opiate that raises the dopamine levels in the brain’s reward system by up to 200 percent in experiments. Heroin is not only the most addictive drug, it’s the most dangerous because, once you get addictive to it it’s extremely hard to quick using it.
If you’re lucky to quick using it’s a one day at a time effect to return using it again. So many deaths are attributed to its using, like, overdose, suicide.
Cocaine
It’s estimated that between 14 and 20 million people use cocaine as a recreational drug. Cocaine causes dopamine levels to rise more than three times the normal level.
Once you get addictive to it it’s extremely hard to quick using it.
Meth, also known as Crystal Meth
Meth abuse does not create a physical dependency, but it quickly develops into a vicious psychological addiction.
The quick and intense euphoric feelings that are felt and the changes in the brain lead the abuser to have a mental dependency on meth.
There are signs that are exhibited when a person is high on methamphetamines. These are some examples of the signs:
- Euphoria
- Psychosis
- Seizures
- Depression
- Aggressive and violent behavior
- Severe dental problems
- Dramatic weight loss
- Dilation of pupils
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Nausea
Another consequence of using meth is the onset of obsessive behaviors.
People may begin to participate in repetitive activities and behaviors for prolonged periods of time as a result of meth destroying the brain’s inhibitory control.
Paranoia and aggression also often result from meth use, as does the onset of hallucinations and delusions, including feeling things such as having bugs crawling under their skin and hearing voices that are not really there.
What’s Crystal Meth
Unlike cocaine which is naturally occurring, crystal meth, also known as methamphetamine is a man-made substance.
It is derived from various ingredients including: drain cleaners, OTC allergy and cold medications, gun cleaners, battery acid, muriatic acid, gasoline additives, acetone, lye, ammonia, and kitty litter.
There are many reports that making Crystal Meth on a stove in a kitchen can cause a big blow up.
What is its form?
Crystal meth comes in the form of a white, bitter-tasting powder, it may also be available as a pill.
When you look at it, it resembles glass fragments. It looks like some bluish, white rocks. Crystal meth has other names such as,Crack, ice, chalk, meth, and speed.
How Does Meth Affect the Brain?
Methamphetamine works by increasing dopamine in an individual’s brain. The crystal meth’s ability to rapidly bring about highdopamine levels in the user’s brain produces the “rush,” “flash,” or the euphoric feeling.
How is Crystal Meth Abused
People may take crystal meth by smoking or inhaling, snorting, and injecting. In case of the pill form of the drug, it is mostly swallowed.
When injecting the powder, a user will first dissolve it in water. Sometimes, users dissolve the powder in alcohol, to get a faster, more intense high.
Since the “high” off crystal meth starts and fades pretty quickly, individuals often use the drug in a pattern known as binge, and crash.
What are the Side Effects of Crystal Meth
People who take crystal meth may have side effects like:
- Reduced appetite
- Increased physical activity and wakefulness
- Faster breathing
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased body temperature
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Long-term use of crystal meth can cause extreme loss of weight and severe dental problems. A person may experience intense itching that results in skin sores.
It is common for long-term users of methamphetamine to have anxiety, sleeping problems, hallucinations, and violent behaviors.
Withdrawal Symptoms of Meth
If you’re addicted to crystal meth, stopping it’s use suddenly may cause withdrawal symptoms that include:
- Severe depression
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Intense drug craving
- Psycho
Hazardous Recreational, and Medical Use of Marijuana
Doctor Michael Savage Conservative Radio Talk Show Host, Hazardous
Dr. Savage has for a number of years that said that Marijuana is 10 times more powerful now than it used to be, and it’s detrimental to your health.
Doctor Savage can be listened to at, 560 KSFO radio, 12 noon to 2 PM, Monday through Friday.
Marijuana, has 2 drugs from the Cannabis Plant, THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), and CBD (cannabidiol).
My daughter in law, Beverly takes medical marijuana in a cookie form and in a liquid form squirted into the mouth to go to sleep.
My daughter Cherie’s mother stricken with cancer wasn’t eating, so Cherie gave her medical marijuana in a liquid form, and she started eating again.
Medical marijuana comes in many forms to eat, and is prescribed by doctors.
California has legalized the sale of Marijuana along with a few other states.
If you don’t quite understand this follow the money trail. Anything sold in California is taxed. Marijuana sold will be taxed, that’s money coming into the California coffers.
Ill effects isn’t a concern, only the money coming in.