EXACTLY HOW KIND IS MARY JANE

Marijuana has the ability to wreak more havoc on the lungs than cigarettes!

Surprisingly, it is reported that nearly 40 percent of Americans over the
age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime.

It is also considered the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. As
time goes on, the pot is getting more potent and the number of users is
sure to climb now that Michigan has approved the medical marijuana laws.
Things like cotton mouth, high (red) eyes and the munchies are all
classically known symptoms of the effects marijuana use has on our bodies,
thanks to movies like Half Baked and '70s pot icons Cheech & Chong.
However, what about the lesser talked about ways pot affects our body?

Your lungs take a huge beating if you are a pot smoker. Marijuana contains
at least 50 percent more carcinogens than tobacco. In fact, smoking pot
can create many of the same respiratory problems tobacco users have.

Because pot is deeply inhaled and held (for a few moments), it exposes the
lungs to carcinogens even more than the simple inhale/exhale method of
smoking tobacco. While there is no proof that marijuana causes cancer,
there is irrefutable proof that marijuana causes a host of breathing
issues such as chronic coughing, obstruction of airways, more lung
infections and increased phlegm. In short, marijuana has the ability to
wreak more havoc on the lungs than cigarettes!

Your heart can also suffer. According to the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, a study was done on the effects that marijuana abuse has on the
heart. This study indicated that within the first hour of smoking pot your
risk of a heart attack is quadrupled. The researchers speculated the
reason being is that marijuana can increase blood pressure and heart rate.

Your brain functions also fall victim. Nobody can dispute the fact that
pot plays a huge role in lack of motivation and memory loss, but did you
know that it can actually make changes in the brain? These changes are
very similar to those seen in other forms of drug abuse and can increase
activity in your stress response system. Additionally, marijuana can cause
problems with learning and retaining information, perception distortion
and increase difficulty in problem solving.

There is also the argument of addiction. Is it really addictive or isn't
it? Many pot advocates will probably plead the case that it's not habit
forming. However, continual studies are leaning more towards yes, it is
addictive. It has been reported by long-term users that when quitting one
can experience depression, anxiety, cravings and irritability, all of
which are classic symptoms of addiction.

Obviously, if you're an adult it is up to you to make an informed decision
about whether or not you choose to smoke.

However, kids often do things without taking all of the consequences into
consideration.

While marijuana is considered the least evil of drugs and addiction, there
are great reasons for being concerned with the use by kids.

In 2007 there was a survey done by Monitoring the Future. They found out
that 14.1 percent of 8th graders (yes, that's right - 8th graders)
surveyed have used marijuana in their lifetime. They also discovered that
24.6 percent of 10th graders had used marijuana in the past year. And not
to be outdone, 5.1 percent of the 12th graders they surveyed admitted to
using marijuana on a daily basis.

No matter what your "smoking status" is, keep yourself aware. Familiarize
yourself with the signs and symptoms of pot smoking. Keep yourself on the
lookout for signs in your kids and their friends because often birds of a
feather do flock together. Also, inform yourself on the consequences and
effects pot has on the body. Being informed will help you have an
effective conversation with your child. Not only will it help them make
good, educated choices for themselves, but it will help you do the same.