MARIJUANA

FACTS AND EFFECTS

Mr. Corabi’s Health Education courses

Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush

Philadelphia

WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE DRUG?

Commonly called Marijuana is the word used to describe the dried

flowers, seeds and leaves of the Indian hemp plant. The Latin term for the plant and

another common name is Cannibis There are different types of Cannibis plants you’ll be introduced to later

WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE DRUG? Street names vary and change based on

age way it enters the body, and source for users but include:

Pot, weed, dope, Maryjane, reefer, ganga, grass, hemp, home grown, J, Mary Jane, roach, Scooby snacks, chronic, blunt, herb, skunk, and a host of more

CURRENT STATS…..

As of 2013, 44.6 % of High School Age students have smoked once in the last 30 days

25.1 % are “regular smokers” of Marijuana

Over 60% of young users do not believe it is a drug

CURRENT STATS…..

The % of high school age students who smoke Marijuana is steadily increasing

In 2009, over 14 million Americans admitted to using Marijuana at least once in last 30 days

WHAT TYPE OF DRUG IS IT?

Psychoactive Depressant that also acts like a Pain Killer Hallucinogen And when smoked, partial stimulant

MOST COMMON FORM

The most common form of Marijuana use

is recreationally. This type of Marijuana use

Commonly comes (over 80% of it) from the specific Hemp Plant CANNIBIS SATIVA

MOST COMMON FORM

Review: DRUG = Any Substance that enters the body that is not a nutrient or Oxygen and causes an effect.

Marijuana is a drug ONLY because of the

mind-altering chemical

delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

WHY IS IT A DRUG

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the chemical that causes the effects we commonly associate with Marijuana and is a clas of drugs known as Cannabinoids

WHY IS IT A DRUG

THC levels averaged 1% in 1974 and 4% in 1994. In 2008, levels reached 9.6%, highest ever since analysis of the drug in the 1970’s

THC levels change based on how it’s grown and if it’s hybrid

One form of cannabis, called sinsemilla (Spanish for “without seeds”), may have THC levels from 7.5% to as much as 24%.

HOW DOES IT ENTER THE BODY

Most commonly Smoked in cigarettes (joints), cigars (blunts), pipes (bowls/bongs)

Also can be inhaled (second had nsmoke or vaporizers / vaping

eaten in the form of pastries/cookies

Drank in forms of soups/ speciality drinks

Injested as a pill

HOW DOES IT ENTER THE BODY

Also can be eaten in the form of pastries/cookies

Drank in forms of soups/ speciality drinks

Ingested as a pill

IS IT ADDICTIVE…..

Some people may become physically addicted however

It has few severe withdrawal symptoms and the majority of people who use it recreationally are able to quit easily.

Withdrawal symptoms might include mild anxiety, depression, nausea, insomnia and some gastrointestinal problems.

There is STRONG Psychological addiction in many people

SHORT TERM EFFECTS:

When a person smokes marijuana, THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. The body absorbs THC more slowly when the person eats or drinks it. In that case, the user generally feels the effects after 30 minutes to 1 hour.

THC acts on specific brain cell receptors that ordinarily react to natural THC-like chemicals in the brain. These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and function.

SHORT TERM EFFECTS:

Marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contain the highest number of these receptors. This causes the "high" that users feel.

Other effects include:

•altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors)

•altered sense of time

•changes in mood (up or down)

•impaired body movement similar to alcohol

•difficulty with thinking and problem-solving

SHORT TERM EFFECTS:

Decreased memory and short term memory loss (black outs)

•Unusual sensitivity to light or sounds

•Drowsiness

•rapid heart beat,

•Rapid breathing rate at first (does not seem to be associated with decreased lung function in people who are not asthmatic)

•disorientation,

•Sometimes followed by depression or sleepiness.

• Some users suffer panic attacks or anxiety.

SHORT TERM EFFECTS:

• reddening of the eyes,

• dryness of the mouth

• Anti-Imflamatory effect (similar to asprin)

• Pain killer

• It has also been linked to a decrease in intra-ocular pressure, which is why it is sometimes prescribed for people with glaucoma (a condition that involves pressure on the eye).

• Increased Appetite specifically for salty foods (munchies)

• Decreased Nausea

• Decreased Sex Drive

SHORT TERM EFFECTS:

• temporary hallucinations—sensations and images that seem real though

they are not

• temporary paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others

• worsening symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (a severe mental disorder with symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized thinking)

SHORT TERM EFFECTS:

• What about Violence?

• Many people indicate that Marijuna use is a calming sensation?

But a 2004 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), studied delinquent behavior among youth of marijuana use." And found that "the percentages of youths engaging in specific delinquent behaviors in the past year rose with increasing frequency of Marijuana use

• Cut classes or full days at school• engaged in serious fighting including group-against-group fighting• attacked someone with the intent to seriously hurt them during the past

year• stole or tried to steal something worth more than $50• sold illegal drugs• carried a handgun during the past year

LONG TERM EFFECTS…….

To be honest, many of the Long term Negavtive effects of Marijuana in general are more associated with the SMOKING of Marijuana then the Actual Drug (THC) itself

Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke.

One major research study reported that a single cannabis joint could cause as much damage to the lungs as up to five regular cigarettes smoked one after another. Long-time joint smokers often suffer from bronchitis, an inflammation of the respiratory tract.

LONG TERM EFFECTS…….

BRAIN DAMAGE and LONG TERM MEMORY LOSS:

Heavy use of weed during that time has been linked to permanent problems with memory, learning, perception, impulse control, and more.

Studies in Australia in 2008 linked years of heavy marijuana use to brain abnormalities. This is backed up by earlier research on the long-term effects of marijuana, which indicate changes in the brain similar to those caused by long-term abuse of other major drugs.

LONG TERM EFFECTS…….

BRAIN DAMAGE and LONG TERM MEMORY LOSS:

Researchers at Duke University: a study of more than 1,000 people from the time they were born until they reached the age of 38.

Studies were performed periodically throughout their lives, and were carefully controlled to ensure test subjects did not have any other drug or alcohol addictions or psychological disorders, and were not high at the time of the test.

They found that those who used pot more than once weekly before age 18 displayed more severely impaired intelligence, slower reaction times, shorter attention spans, and poorer listening skills than those who began using marijuana after age 18..

LONG TERM EFFECTS…….

Other groups of scientists have studied the brains of teenagers, too.

Compared to those who never used pot, the tissue in the brains of young pot users has been shown to exhibit structural changes.

Specifically, the white matter (the cells in our brains that connect different areas) is more porous in subjects that began regularly using pot at a young age, a physical state associated with slower mental processing.

Gray matter (the cells in the brain responsible for processing information) showed changes in shape and size, alterations that are associated with executive dysfunction, mood issues, and poor memory. In addition, the brains of teenagers who are heavy pot users have lower blood flow, develop abnormal neuron connections, and show inefficient brain activation patterns. All of these physical features are associated with poor memory, attention, impulse control, organization, and time management.

LONG TERM EFFECTS…….

In addition, the brains of teenagers who are heavy pot users have lower blood flow, develop abnormal neuron connections, and show inefficient brain activation patterns.

All of these physical features are associated with poor memory, attention, impulse control, organization, and time management.

FURTHERMORE: Teenagers who use weed daily have increased rates of depression, anxiety, and psychosis later in life.

(Scientists cannot conclude whether heavy weed use helps cause depression and psychosis among people who otherwise wouldn't develop symptoms, or whether people who suffered from depression and psychotic symptoms tend to seek out weed to help them deal with the world, by coping through self medication

LONG TERM EFFECTS…….

Furthermore:

• Marijuana changes the structure of sperm cells, deforming them. Thus even small amounts of marijuana can cause temporary sterility in men.

• Marijuana use can upset a woman’s menstrual cycle.

• Cannabis is one of the few drugs which causes abnormal cell division which leads to severe hereditary defects.

• A pregnant woman who regularly smokes marijuana may give birth prematurely to an undersized, underweight baby. Studies also suggest that prenatal (before birth) use of the drug may result in birth defects, mental abnormalities and increased risk of leukemia1 in children.

• Over the last ten years, many children of marijuana users have been born with reduced initiative and lessened abilities to concentrate and pursue life goals.

LONG TERM EFFECTS…….

IT is deeply debated and still unknown if increased marijuana smoking increases the rate of cancer

It is probable that the smoke does contribute to increased cancer risk due to the other compounds commonly found in joints, blunts and residual use but more research is needed

It is probable that smoking marijuana in blunts increases chances of long term heart disease

It is unknown if long term vaporation contributes to heart disease

TYPES OF CANNABIS…..

Most Marijuana used as a drug comes from the PLANT Species Cannabis Sativa L.

But Cannabis Sativa L has two sub-strains

"Despite the huge variety of marijuana available these days, almost all of them (over 99%) are ultimately derived from only two cannabis family species. These two essential species are known as Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica and they differ fundamentally in their chemical composition, physiological aesthetic, and medical application... “

The Golden State Collective (GSC) Cannabis Laboratories wrote in a blog entry titled "Cannabis Sativa and Indica Compared," posted online Dec. 6, 2011:

TYPES OF CANNABIS…..

Cannabis Sativa - Most common recreational form up until mid 90’susually much higher in Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

(THC) are tall, loosely branched and have long, narrow leaves.Generally act like a stimulant to body

users for medical use tend to use this during the day

Cannabis Indica –usually Much higher in Cannabidiol (CBD) but contain

THCare short, densely branched and have wider leaves. Generally act like a Depressant on bodyusers for medical use tend to use this in evening

These two forms of Cannabis are the basis for over 90% of all recreational types and strands that are created via cross pollination (hybrids) in labs, farms and greenhouses

The Effects vary based on the amount of THC and other CBD’s

TYPES OF CANNABIS…..

In addition, Cannabis Ruderalis is another extremely common form of Cannabis

Like it’s Indica “sister”, it is often high in cannabidiols (CBD)…substances that DO NOT solicit a drug effect on the body but it tends to even have less THC than other Cannabis species.

Medical users of this type of Cannabis tend to rarely exhibit short term “negavtive” reactions to the drug

NOT ALL HEMP IS A DRUG….

Without using it as a drug, Hemp is a great source of food and it’s fibers are good raw material

• hemp seed foods = REALLY great source of Protein

• hemp oil and Hemp based lotions = Really good for the skin

• Hemp based soap

• wax,

• rope, (commonly used for large ocean liners and Navy Ship Anchors)

• Textiles (cloth and fabric)

• paper = 1 acre of hemp plants can make as much paper as 5 acres of North American Pine Trees

• Plastic

• Building materials (hempcrete and insulation) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp

AND THE DEBATE GOES ON……

There are two ongoing debates about Marijuana in this country:

1) Marijuana should be legal for legitimate medical use as it shows benefits in treating some

illnesses and may show benefits in treating others

2) Marijuana should be legal for full recreational use with a set age for legal use just like

Tobacco and Alcohol

A different class will take the time to examine these two debates and try to separate true fact from propaganda. As for now, take the opportunity between now and then to truly research from reliable sources the two debates.