Question: Is marijuana
truly harmful
for people?
What happens to people when they
use it?
What are the short-term effects of
marijuana?
What are the long-term effects of
marijuana?
How does it affect the brain?
Some facts and myths about
marijuana
Project answer and analogy
References used
Any
form of marijuana changes how and human being’s mind works.
All
types of marijuana have one main active chemical in them called THC. The scientific name for it is called,
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
It
also contains cannabinoids (they fade away in the fat cells of the body and
leave the body at a slow rate.)
Marijuana also contains over 400 other
chemicals.
What happens to people when they use it?
People
experience intense sensory experiences and a feeling that time is passing very
slowly.
Most
users have cognitive (brain) impairments, as well as memory impairments. (the memory impairment mainly occurs
for frequent users of the drug)
People
who stop using this drug do not receive the intense withdrawal symptoms that
other drugs or addictions do.
Some,
who have used the drug on a frequent basis and then quit, may experience
symptoms such as: restlessness, irritability, anxiety, stomach pain, loss of
appetite, and cravings for the drug.
The
affects of the drug differ per individual. Some may not feel anything at all, while others may feel
high or relaxed.
Short term Effects
1.
Difficulty with thinking and
problem solving
2.
Memory and learning problems
3.
Distorted perceptions of
sounds, time, touch, and sights
4.
Increased heart rate
5.
Decrease or loss of motor
coordination
Note: The short term effects of
marijuana increase in intensity when the drug is mixed with other drugs.
Long term
Effects
· Cancer- The drug has some of the same or more of the
cancer-causing chemicals that are commonly found in tobacco smoke.
Note: studies have shown that a
user who smokes 5 joints per day intakes the same amount of chemicals
equivalent to a person who smokes a pack of cigarettes in one day.
· Lungs and airways- marijuana users commonly develop the
same types of breathing problems as cigarette smokers, such as: coughing and
wheezing. They could have more
chest colds than nonusers and be at a higher risk for lung infections (i.e.:
pneumonia)
· Immune system- studies done on animals show that THC can
harm tissues and cells in the body that aid in protecting against disease.
How it
affects the brain
Scientists are continuing to
study and learn all of the affects that marijuana has on the brain.
Some known affects is that
when taken in large amount, a person’s mental functions are damaged.
Daily use of the drug affects the
brain areas that control attention, memory, and learning (which is in relation
to damage to the hippocampus)
Using the drug can create
changes in the brain similar to those from cocaine use, alcohol use, and heroin
use. (Alcohol facilitates GABA
receptors and cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine other neurotransmitters.)
The main affect on the brain
that is
located in our biological
psychology textbook, is that is excites the negative feedback of receptors on
the presynaptic cells. This
process prevents glutamate or GABA from being released.
Some Facts and Myths
Myth: It had no medical value.
Fact: Its use is affective in reducing nausea
feelings caused by cancer chemotherapy.
Myth: It is highly addictive. Users do have physical dependence for
the drug and may experience withdrawal.
Some may need professional drug treatment to break the habit.
Fact: Most people who smoke
it do it occasionally.
Myth: It is a gateway
drug, meaning that it causes people to want to use harder drugs
Fact: This drug does not
cause people to want to use harder drugs.
Project
Answer and Analogy
Answer: Marijuana is a useful drug for
medical purposes and does not pose serious effects when used occasionally. Even though it is not the hardest drug
out there to use, it is still and drug and still altars that mind. It is better not to use any kind of
non-prescription drug, or if a person does, they should do so responsibly and
occasionally.
Analogy: Marijuana use is like eating
chocolate as a sense of “comfort” food. The chocolate candy tastes
good may provide and sugar high and sense of calmness from stress for a short
time, but it does not last forever.
In the long run, the longer a person constantly turns to chocolate, the
more harmful it will be to their body.
They can gain weight, become depressed from the weight gain, get
cavities, or make themselves more susceptible to diabetes and other health risk
due to not eating the right foods.
This is like marijuana use because when it is used too often, it can
greatly affect the brain and cause more harm than good for the person and the
body.
References
Kalat, James W. Marijuana, Biological
Psychology 8th Edition, pg457.