Transcript Marijuana - ExtraLapp8C

Marijuana
Dried flowered
bud of
Cannabis
sativa
What is marijuana?
 Green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded
leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant
(Cannabis sativa)
 Mind-altering (psychoactive) drug
 Main active chemical is THC (delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol)
 Usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint) or in a
pipe or bong
 Has also appeared in blunts (cigars that have been
emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana)
sometimes in combination with another drug, such
as crack
 Can also be mixed into foods or used to brew a tea
Long-Term Effects
 Problems in the
respiratory and
immune systems
 Greater risk of
cancer
 Psychological
dependence
 Gateway drug
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Short-Term Effects
Problems with memory and learning
Loss of coordination
Increased heart rate
Sleepiness
Cardiac dangers for those with heart disease
Bloodshot eyes
Dry mouth and throat
Decreased socially
Hallucinations
Impaired or reduced short-term memory
Impaired or reduced comprehension
Paranoia
Intense anxiety or panic attacks
Psychological Side Effects
 THC passes from the lungs
to bloodstream to the brain
and other organs
 THC acts upon specific sites
in the brain (cannabinoid
receptors) kicking off a
series of cellular reactions
that ultimately lead to the
high
 Long-term marijuana abuse
leads to addiction
Marijuana growing indoors
Street Names
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Pot
Ganga
Weed
Grass
Reefer
Herb
Mary jane
Mj
How are teens introduced
to marijuana?
 Peers (often
acquaintances, friends,
sisters, and brothers)
 Want to be “part of the
group”
 Must be taught at a
young age how to say
no to peer pressure
Marijuana “Burnout”
 Term used by marijuana
smokers to describe effect of
extended use
 Young people smoking
marijuana over large periods of
time become slow moving,
inattentive, and dull
 “Burned-out" users are
unaware of their surroundings
and don’t reply when friends
talk to them or realize they
have a problem.
How long do chemicals from
marijuana remain in the body
after it is smoked?
 THC is absorbed by most tissues and
organs in the body
 Primarily found in fat tissues
 The body chemically transforms the THC
into metabolites
 Urine tests can detect THC metabolites
for up to a week after people have
smoked marijuana
 Tests involving radioactively labeled THC
have traced metabolites in animals for a
month
Is marijuana legal?
 NO, it is illegal, because it is…
 Addictive
 Not known to have a true
medical use
 Linked with narcotics like heroin
 Connected with bad lifestyles
 (Was once) associated with
oppressed ethnic groups
 Linked to unwanted disinterest
 Advocates for marijuana
legalization don’t present an
alluring case
Where can you get help for
someone addicted to
marijuana?
 http://www.drugrehab.com/marijuanaaddiction.htm can be
used to help you find a
treatment center
 It also provides you with
telephone numbers to get
help
Works Cited
 http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/marijuana/inde
x.html
 http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/marijuana.html
 http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjp_faq14.htm
 http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjkids_faq07.htm
 http://www.clearhavencenter.com/substance-abuse-treatmentresources/signs-of-Marijuana-use.php
 http://www.drug-rehab.com/marijuana-addiction.htm
 http://addiction-dirkh.blogspot.com/2007/05/is-marijuanaaddictive.html
 http://www.well.com/user/woa/fspot.htm
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)