Marijuana Dried flowered bud of Cannabis sativa. What is marijuana? Green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers.

MarijuanaMarijuana

Dried flowered bud of Cannabis sativa

What is marijuana?What is marijuana? Green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded Green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded

leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) (Cannabis sativa)

Mind-altering (psychoactive) drug Mind-altering (psychoactive) drug Main active chemical is THC (delta-9-Main active chemical is THC (delta-9-

tetrahydrocannabinol) tetrahydrocannabinol) Usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint) or in a Usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint) or in a

pipe or bong pipe or bong Has also appeared in blunts (cigars that have been Has also appeared in blunts (cigars that have been

emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana) emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana) sometimes in combination with another drug, such sometimes in combination with another drug, such as crackas crack

Can also be mixed into foods or used to brew a teaCan also be mixed into foods or used to brew a tea

Long-Term EffectsLong-Term Effects Problems in the respiratory Problems in the respiratory

and immune systemsand immune systems Greater risk of cancer Greater risk of cancer Lower sperm counts and Lower sperm counts and

decrease in testosterone decrease in testosterone levels for men levels for men

Increased risk of infertility Increased risk of infertility and increase in testosterone and increase in testosterone levels for women levels for women

Either smaller or greater Either smaller or greater sexual pleasure sexual pleasure

Psychological dependence Psychological dependence Gateway drug Gateway drug

Short-Term EffectsShort-Term Effects Problems with memory and learningProblems with memory and learning Loss of coordination Loss of coordination Increased heart rate Increased heart rate Sleepiness Sleepiness Cardiac dangers for those with heart disease Cardiac dangers for those with heart disease Bloodshot eyes Bloodshot eyes Dry mouth and throat Dry mouth and throat Decreased socially Decreased socially Hallucinations Hallucinations Impaired or reduced short-term memory Impaired or reduced short-term memory Impaired or reduced comprehension Impaired or reduced comprehension Paranoia Paranoia Intense anxiety or panic attacks Intense anxiety or panic attacks

Psychological Side EffectsPsychological Side Effects

THC passes from the lungs THC passes from the lungs to bloodstream to the brain to bloodstream to the brain and other organs and other organs

THC acts upon specific sites THC acts upon specific sites in the brain (cannabinoid in the brain (cannabinoid receptors) kicking off a receptors) kicking off a series of cellular reactions series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the that ultimately lead to the high high

Long-term marijuana abuse Long-term marijuana abuse leads to addiction leads to addiction

Marijuana growing indoors

Street NamesStreet Names

Pot Pot Ganga Ganga Weed Weed GrassGrass ReeferReefer HerbHerb Mary janeMary jane Mj Mj

How are teens How are teens introduced to marijuana?introduced to marijuana? Peers (often Peers (often

acquaintances, friends, acquaintances, friends, sisters, and brothers) sisters, and brothers)

Want to be “part of the Want to be “part of the group” group”

Must be taught at a Must be taught at a young age how to say young age how to say no to peer pressureno to peer pressure

Marijuana “Burnout”Marijuana “Burnout” Term used by marijuana Term used by marijuana

smokers to describe effect of smokers to describe effect of extended use extended use

Young people smoking Young people smoking marijuana over large periods of marijuana over large periods of time become slow moving, time become slow moving, inattentive, and dull inattentive, and dull

““Burned-out" users are Burned-out" users are unaware of their surroundings unaware of their surroundings and don’t reply when friends and don’t reply when friends talk to them or realize they talk to them or realize they have a problem. have a problem.

How long do chemicals from How long do chemicals from marijuana remain in the body marijuana remain in the body after it is smoked?after it is smoked? THC is absorbed by most tissues and THC is absorbed by most tissues and

organs in the body organs in the body Primarily found in fat tissues Primarily found in fat tissues The body chemically transforms the THC The body chemically transforms the THC

into metabolites into metabolites Urine tests can detect THC metabolites for Urine tests can detect THC metabolites for

up to a week after people have smoked up to a week after people have smoked marijuanamarijuana

Tests involving radioactively labeled THC Tests involving radioactively labeled THC have traced metabolites in animals for a have traced metabolites in animals for a month month

Is marijuana legal?Is marijuana legal? NO, it is illegal, because it is…NO, it is illegal, because it is… Addictive Addictive Not known to have a true Not known to have a true

medical use medical use Linked with narcotics like heroin Linked with narcotics like heroin Connected with bad lifestylesConnected with bad lifestyles (Was once) associated with (Was once) associated with

oppressed ethnic groupsoppressed ethnic groups Linked to unwanted disinterest Linked to unwanted disinterest Advocates for marijuana Advocates for marijuana

legalization don’t present an legalization don’t present an alluring casealluring case

Where can you get help for Where can you get help for someone addicted to someone addicted to marijuana?marijuana?

http://www.drug-http://www.drug-rehab.com/marijuana-rehab.com/marijuana-addiction.htm can be addiction.htm can be used to help you find a used to help you find a treatment center treatment center

It also provides you with It also provides you with telephone numbers to get telephone numbers to get help help

Works CitedWorks Cited http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/marijuana/indehttp://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/marijuana/index.htmlx.html

http://http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/marijuana.htmlwww.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/marijuana.html http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjp_faq14.htmhttp://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjp_faq14.htm http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjkids_faq07.htmhttp://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjkids_faq07.htm http://www.clearhavencenter.com/substance-abuse-http://www.clearhavencenter.com/substance-abuse-

treatment-resources/signs-of-Marijuana-use.phptreatment-resources/signs-of-Marijuana-use.php http://www.drug-rehab.com/marijuana-addiction.htmhttp://www.drug-rehab.com/marijuana-addiction.htm http://addiction-dirkh.blogspot.com/2007/05/is-marijuana-http://addiction-dirkh.blogspot.com/2007/05/is-marijuana-

addictive.htmladdictive.html http://www.well.com/user/woa/fspot.htmhttp://www.well.com/user/woa/fspot.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)