What is Marijuana?
Marijuana is a mixture of the dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis sativa�the hemp plant. The mixture can be green, brown, or gray. Stronger forms of the drug include sinsemilla (sin-seh-me-yah), hashish ("hash" for short), and
What part of Marijuana makes you high?
Of the more than 500 chemicals in marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, is responsible for many of the drug's psychotropic (mind-altering) effects. It's this chemical that changes how the brain works, distorting how the mind perceives the
Legal Status
t is illegal to buy, sell, or carry marijuana under Federal law. The Federal Government considers marijuana a Schedule I substance�having no medicinal uses and high risk for abuse. However, across the United States, marijuana state laws for adult use are
Hash Oil
The honey-like resin from the marijuana plant has 3 to 5 times more THC than the plant itself. Smoking it (also called "dabbing") can deliver dangerous amounts of THC to users, and has led some people to the emergency room. People have been burned in fire
How Marijuana is used?
Marijuana is commonly smoked using pipes, water pipes called "bongs," or hand-rolled cigarettes called "joints" or "nails." It is sometimes also combined with tobacco in partially hollowed-out cigars, known as "blunts." Recently vaporizers, that use heat
Affects on the Brain
The main chemical in marijuana that affects the brain is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When marijuana is smoked, THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries it to organs throughout the body, including the brain. As it enter
Parts of Brain Affected
Learning and memory. The hippocampus plays a critical role in certain types of learning. Disrupting its normal functioning can lead to problems studying, learning new things, and recalling recent events. A recent study followed people from age 13 to 38 an
Other affects
Increased heart rate. When someone uses marijuana, heart rate�normally 70 to 80 beats per minute�may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute or, in some cases, even double. This effect can be greater if other drugs are taken with marijuana. The increased he
Affects on Social and Profesional life
Reduced school performance. Students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school than their peers who do not use. The effects of marijuana on attention, memory, and learning can last for days or weeks. These
Addiction
Yes, marijuana is addictive. A user may feel the urge to smoke marijuana again and again to re-create the "high." Repeated use could lead to addiction�which means the person has trouble controlling their drug use and often cannot stop even though they wan
Withdrawal Symtoms
iritability
Sleeplessness
Lack of appetite, which can lead to weight loss
Anxiety
Drug cravings
Death by Marijuana
It is very unlikely for a person to overdose and die from marijuana use. However, people can and do injure themselves and die because of marijuana's effects on judgment, perception, and coordination, for example, when driving under the influence of the dr
Teen Use
Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States by teens as well as adults. The growing belief by young people that marijuana is a safe drug may be the result of recent public discussions about medical marijuana and the public debate o
Medical Use
he marijuana plant contains chemicals that may be useful for treating a range of illnesses or symptoms. A growing number of states have legalized the plant's use for certain medical conditions. Read more about marijuana-related state laws.
Although it is
Help
If you or a friend are in crisis and need to speak with someone now, please call:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (they don't just talk about suicide�they cover a lot of issues and will help put you in touch with someone close by).