MARIJUANA
1
What is Marijuana????
A mixture of the dried and shredded
leaves, stems, and flowers of the hemp
plant.
•
• Marijuana has a chemical in it called
tetrahydocannabinol (THC) which is the
mind altering ingredient
• Marijuana is 20-25 times stronger than
it was in the 1960’s ( 10 times more THC)
2
Marijuana contains about 400
chemicals
„
„
„
„
Some of these chemicals may cause lung
cancer
Marijuana has some of the same cancercausing substances as cigarettes
Marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply
and hold their breath longer than cigarette
smokers do (more smoke enters the lungs).
Puff for puff, smoking marijuana may increase
the risk of cancer even more than smoking
cigarettes does (also at risk for bronchitis)
3
„
Smoking marijuana may increase the risk
of a heart attack
„
„
Marijuana increases heart rate and blood
pressure
The chemicals from marijuana can remain
in the body for 45 days.
4
What are some common names of
marijuana?
„
„
„
„
Weed
Pot
Grass
Maryjane
5
How is marijuana used?
„
Smoked- joint or blunt
„
Water Pipe or bong
„
Eaten- mixed with food
6
How many teens use marijuana?
„
As part of a 2002 NIDA (National Institute
on Drug Abuse) funded study, researchers
asked teens if they had used marijuana in
the past month
„
Of all the 8th graders surveyed, only 8.3%
said yes.
7
What are the common effects of
smoking marijuana?
„
„
„
„
„
Loss of coordination
You could forget your best friends phone
number
Watch your grade point average drop
Get into a car accident
High doses of marijuana use can cause
anxiety and panic attacks
8
Addiction
„
„
„
For some people, smoking marijuana
makes them feel good.
Within minutes of inhaling, a user begins
to feel “high.”
THC triggers brain cells to release the
chemical dopamine. Dopamine creates
good feelings– for a short time.
9
Addiction
„
„
„
Heres the thing: Once dopamine starts
flowing, a user feels the urge to smoke
marijuana again, and then again, and then
AGAIN!
Repeated use could lead to addiction.
(searching for the high)
10
„
„
Smoking 3-5 marijuana cigarettes a week
can have the same effect on the lungs as
smoking 16-18 “regular” cigarettes a day,
7 days a week.
That is almost a pack a day- every day.
11
Short-Term Effects
Increased Appetite
„ Altered sense of time
„ Bloodshot eyes
„ Dry mouth and throat
„ Increased heart rate
„ Loss of balance
„ Loss of short-term memory
„ Paranoia
„
12
Long-Term Effects
Weight Gain
„ Loss of short-term memory
„ Reduced immune system
„ Slower mental abilities
„ Increased risk of throat, mouth, head, and
neck cancers
„ Lung diseases (emphysema and bronchitis)
„ Psychological dependence
„
13
How much THC is in marijuana
today?
„
„
In 1960, an average marijuana joint
contained 0.2% THC.
Today the level of THC in an average joint
is between 5% and 14%
14