| Marijuana is one of the most commonly abused | | | | is smoked since it passes through the lungs into |
| drugs in the world. This is because it is relatively | | | | the bloodstream. It is not actually the Marijuana |
| cheap in its true form and can be easily bought | | | | that is detected by the drug test kits but |
| and grown. As a plant, its leaves are green with | | | | metabolites which are residue of the drug. |
| five spiky separations per leaf, like a spread out | | | | Many of the protein receptors that bind with THC |
| hand. It can grow fast and is hardy hemp that is | | | | to create the high are located in the part of our |
| named Cannabis Sativa. | | | | brain that influence our sensory, memory, |
| Marijuana is sold as a dry greenish brown mixture | | | | concentration, pleasure, thought, time perception |
| of flowers, leaves, stems and seeds of the plant. | | | | and movement. This is the reason why so many |
| People usually smoke this plant just like a | | | | users like getting high because they actually sense |
| cigarette or maybe put it in a bong (a glass | | | | pleasure and happiness with the high which the |
| device for inhaling the smoke, much like a pipe). | | | | cannabis creates. On the other hand, Marijuana |
| Others also use it as a tea or mixed with food. | | | | can also affect an individual’s judgment, |
| Many heated debates have been launched in | | | | learning, memory, distorted perception and cause |
| support of the plant and against it. It has been | | | | increased heart rate. Long term effects of |
| used for different reasons for centuries but | | | | Marijuana are loss of memory, distorted |
| mainly for the hallucinogenic effect and it medicinal | | | | perception and stress. |
| properties. Many countries across Asia still use it in | | | | Marijuana also affects the heart by exposing the |
| spite of its ugly reputation and the question of | | | | user to four times the risk of a heart attack |
| legality. | | | | within the initial hour of using the drug. It can also |
| Effects of Marijuana | | | | cause upper respiratory complications such as a |
| Marijuana has short term effect and long term | | | | painful cough and stinging throat and mouth. Users |
| effects on people. Within a few minutes of inhaling | | | | are prone to acute chest illness, high risk of lung |
| the smoke of the cannabis hemp, it should take | | | | infections and prone to obstructed airways. |
| effect on your brain. The main chemical element | | | | Marijuana stays in an individual’s system for |
| in Marijuana that usually affects people is THC, | | | | as short as three days and more than ninety |
| also known as delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol. Some | | | | days. The length of stay depends on how long |
| protein receptors in our nerve cells actually bind | | | | the individual has used Marijuana and the |
| with THC and this starts off a series of events in | | | | metabolism of a person. This means not |
| our brain. This series of events in our brain | | | | everybody has the same length of time when |
| ultimately ends with the high that users | | | | Marijuana stays in your body. |
| experience. It enters the body within minutes if it | | | | |