FACTS ABOUT MARIJUANA

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FACTS ABOUT MARIJUANA

• PAUL G. BLAZER SENIOR HIGH
• SOPHOMORE HEALTH
• BY AJ DOC STADELMEYER
• FALL 2009

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Marijuana

• Often called pot, grass, weed, reefer, dope, mary
  jane, bud, sinsemilla.
• It is smoked or eaten.
• It looks like dried parsley mixed with stems,
  buds and seeds.
• Its main ingredient is Tetrahydrocannabinal,
  also called THC
• The scientific name for marijuana is cannabis
  savita.

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Hashish

• This is another form of marijuana.
• Also called hash or hash brownies.
• It is eaten or smoked.
• It looks like brown or black balls or cakes.
• Hash oil looks like concentrated syrupy liquid
  varying in color from clear to black.
• The oil is mixed with tobacco and smoked.

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Tetrahydrocannabinol

• Also called THC
• It is the main active ingredient in marijuana and
  hashish.
• It can be smoked or taken orally in a pill form.
• In pill form it looks like soft gelatin capsules.

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Effects of Marijuana

• The immediate effects of marijuana use are blood
  shot eyes, increased heart rate, dry mouth and
  throat, increased appetite, short term memory
  loss, altered sense of space and time, loss of
  concentration, impaired coordination, impaired
  vision, paranoia, loss of knowledge retention,
  coughing, fatigue, dizziness.

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Marijuana and Thinking

• People do not retain knowledge when they are
  high.
• You are unable to learn or remember anything when
  you are high.
• Comprehension of new information is lost.

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Addiction

• Long-term users of cannabis may develop
  psychological dependence.
• They develop tolerance to marijuana they need
  more and more of the drug to get the same effect.
• The drug becomes the center of the users life.

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Addiction

• Marijuana is considered highly addictive.
• Withdrawal from marijuana can last 3 to 6 months.

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Other Ingredients

• Marijuana contains over 421 different chemicals
  besides THC.
• Some of these chemicals are 50 to 100 more
  carcinogenic (cancer causing) than the chemicals
  in tobacco.
• Marijuana contains more cancer causing agents
  than tobacco.

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Marijuana Smoke

• Because marijuana smokers tend to inhale the
  unfiltered smoke deeply and then hold it in their
  lungs as long as possible, the smoke is more
  damaging to the lungs and respiratory system than
  tobacco smoke is.

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Marijuana Users

• The average age for beginning marijuana use today
  is 12. The younger the user, the worse and longer
  the effects.
• Marijuana is a Gateway Drug.
• 90 of cocaine users smoked marijuana before
  trying cocaine.

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Facts About Marijuana Users

• They often have a chronic, hacking cough and red
  eyes.
• They usually need money and cant account for
  where their money has been spent.
• They often sell or trade personal items from
  their home for marijuana.
• They have a low tolerance for rules and authority.

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Facts About Marijuana Users II

• They are often disrespectful to adults.
• They have poor impulse control, leading to sudden
  outbursts of laughter, anger or depression.
• Their thinking and memory are damaged. Often they
  cant remember what happened yesterday.

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Facts About Marijuana Users III

• They cant use their mind for tasks such as
  school work or jobs.
• Depression, self-absorption, manipulative
  behavior, and frequent lying are common.
• Deteriorating performance in school and at work,
  along with non-participation in sports and other
  school activities is common.

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Facts About Marijuana Users IV

• They are prone to legal problems for driving
  violations, shoplifting, and vandalism.
• They have poor judgment and show a detachment
  from reality.
• They often show drastic changes in behavior,
  appearance and personality in a short period of
  time.

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Facts About Marijuana Users VI

• They are usually reluctant to talk about new
  friends with their parents.
• They tend to have discipline and grade problems
  at school, especially after using marijuana for
  awhile.
• They usually abandon their old friends for their
  new drug using friends.

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More Information About THC

• Todays marijuana smoke contains 5 to 10 times
  more THC than the marijuana available just 5
  years ago.
• THC can remain in the bodys fat cells for over a
  month and show up on certain drug tests for up to
  3 months.
• Marijuana with high THC content (3 20) can
  trigger panic, anxiety, flashbacks,
  hallucinations, and toxic psychosis.

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Legal Information

• Marijuana has been illegal to possess, use, or
  sell since 1937.
• It is a Schedule I drug, along with other hard
  drugs like cocaine, heroin, LSD etc.
• It is a felony in KY to use or possess marijuana.
• Possession of more than __?__ounces will result
  in a drug trafficking charge.

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Legal Information II

• Possession or use within 1000 feet of any school
  is also a separate felony charge.

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Short Term Effects Of Marijuana Use

• Increased heart rate
• Blood shot eyes
• Dry mouth and throat
• Increased appetite
• Change in body temperature
• Hallucinations
• Slowed Reaction Time

• Decreased vision
• Decreased coordination
• Intoxication
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Short term memory Loss

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Short Term Effects of Marijuana Use II

• Reduced attention span
• Loss of balance
• Coughing
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Decreased eye pressure

• Distorted senses and perception of reality
• Increased blood pressure
• Relaxation
• Injuries from accidents
• Deaths from accidents
• Legal Problems

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Long Term Effects Of Marijuana Use

• Loss of money and financial security
• Psychological dependence
• Asthma, Bronchitis
• Respiratory System Damage
• Decreased Sex Drive

• Infertility
• Delusions, Panic
• Schizophrenia
• Amotivational Syndrome
• School Problems
• Family Problems
• Legal Problems

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Long Term Effects Of Marijuana Use II

• Long term memory loss
• Brain tissue damage
• Damage to unborn babies
• THC Tolerance
• Immune System Damage

• Damage to chromosomes, DNA and genes.
• Cancer of the lung, throat, mouth
• Emphysema
• Aggression and hostility

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Long Term Effects Of Marijuana Use III

• Damaged and decreased sperm in males
• Disrupted menstrual cycles in females
• Fetal Marijuana Syndrome (similar to FAS)

• Pituitary gland damage
• Difficulty in forming concepts and thoughts
• Hypertension
• Heart Disease
• Arteriosclerosis
• Increased illnesses