WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT... MARIJUANA

Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug.

What does it do to your mind/body?

Within 20 minutes of smoking marijuana, the drug is converted by the liver into dozens of different psychoactive substances. THC, the main ingredient, is absorbed by the brain and can act as an upper or a downer, depending on the potency of the plant.

Marijuana can negatively impact:

• perception, memory, and learning
• coordination, and judgment (causing serious accidents)
• white blood cells which fight infections
• testosterone production and lower sperm counts in males. It also disrupts hormone cycles in females. (Gold MS. Marijuana, NY:Plenum Medical Book Co., p. 69-71)
• mental health by triggering attacks of anxiety, depression, bipolar (manic-depressive) psychosis and schizophrenia

Marijuana smoke:

• produces airway injury, acute and chronic bronchitis, lung inflammation, and decreased pulmonary defenses against infection
• contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as does tobacco smoke. (Tashkin DP. West J Med 158:635-637, 1993)

Cancer of the mouth, tongue, larynx, jaw, head, neck, and lungs have been reported in young marijuana smokers.(Donald PJ Otolaryn Head & Neck Surg 94:517-521, 1986. Ferguson RP et al. JAMA 261:41-42, 1989. Taylor FM. South Med J 81:1213-1216, 1988, Donald PJ Adv Exp Med Bio 288:33-46, 1991)

IS IT ADDICTIVE?

Depending on how much and how long a person has been using marijuana, he/she CAN build up a tolerance, which leads to dependence and an obsession to continue using. There can also be withdrawal symptoms when a marijuana user stops. These include: anxiety, depression, sleep and appetite disturbances, irritability, tremors, nausea, muscle convulsions and restlessness.

Find out more about marijuana.