TRY TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF WITHOUT DRUGS

What is Marijuana?

Marijuana (grass, pot, weed) is the common name for a crude drug made from
the plant Cannabis Sativa. The main mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient
in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) , but more than 400
other chemicals also are in the plant.

A marijuana "joint" is made from the dried particles of the plant. The
amount of THC in the marijuana determines how strong its effects will be.

The type of plant, the weather, the soil, the time of harvest and other
factors determine the strength of marijuana. The strength of today's
marijuana is as much as ten times greater than the marijuana used in the
early 1970's. This more potent marijuana increases physical and mental
effects and the possibility of health problems for the user. Hashish or
'hash' is made by taking the resin from the leaves and flowers of the
marijuana plant and pressing it into cakes or slabs. Hash is usually strong
than crude marijuana and may contain five to ten times as much THC. Pure
THC is almost never available, except for research. Substances sold as THC
on the street often turn out to be something else, such as PCP.

Some immediate physical effects of marijuana include a faster heartbeat and
pulse rate, bloodshot eyes and a dry mouth and throat. No scientific
evidence indicates that marijuana improves hearing, eyesight and skin
sensitivity. Studies of marijuana's mental effects show that the drug can
impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time and reduce ability
to do things which require concentration, swift reactions and coordination,
such as driving a car or operating machinery.

A common bad reaction to marijuana is the 'acute panic-anxiety' reaction.
People describe this reaction as an extreme fear of 'losing control', which
cases panic. The symptoms usually disappear in a few hours.

Long-term regular users of marijuana may become psychologically dependent.
They may have a hard time limiting their use, they may need more of the
drug to get the same effect, and may develop problems with their jobs and
personal relationships. The drug can become the most important aspect of
their lives.

One major concern about marijuana is its possible effects on young people
as they grow up. Research shows that the earlier people start using drugs,
the more likely they are to go on to experiment with other drugs. In
addition, when young people start using marijuana regularly, they often
lose interest and are not motivated to do their schoolwork. The effects, of
marijuana can interfere with learning by impairing thinking, reading
comprehension and verbal and mathematical skills. Research shows that
students do not remember what they have learned when they are 'high'.

Driving experiments show that marijuana affects a wide range of skills
needed for safe driving - thinking and reflexes are slowed, making it hard
for drivers to respond to sudden, unexpected events. Also, a driver's
ability to 'track' (stay in lane) through curves, to brake quickly and to
maintain speed and the proper distance between cars is affected. Research
shows that these skills are impaired for at least 4 - 6 hours after smoking
a single marijuana cigarette, long after the 'high' is gone. If a person
drinks alcohol, along with using marijuana, the risk of an accident greatly
increases. Marijuana presents a definite danger on the road.

Studies of men and women may have a temporary loss of fertility. These
findings suggest that marijuana may be especially harmful during
adolescence, a period o rapid physical and sexual development.

Marijuana use increases the heart rate as much as 50 per cent, depending on
the amount of THC. It can cause chest pain in people who have a poor blood
supply to the hear and it produces these effects more rapidly than tobacco
smoke does.

Scientists believe that marijuana can be especially harmful to the lungs
because users often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and hold it in their
lungs as long as possible. Therefore, the smoke is in contact with lung
tissues for long periods of time, which irritates the lungs and damages the
way they work. Marijuana smoke contains some of the same ingredients in
tobacco smoke that can cause emphysema and cancer. In addition, many
marijuana users also smoke cigarettes; the combined effects of smoking
these two substances creates an increased health risk.

Marijuana smoke has been found to contain more cancer-causing agents than
is found in tobacco smoke. Examination of human lung tissue that had been
exposed to to marijuana smoke over a long period of time in a laboratory
showed cellular changes called metaplasia that are considered
pre-cancerous. In laboratory tests, the tars from marijuana smoke have
produced tumors when applied to animal skin. These studies suggest that it
is likely that marijuana may cause cancer if used for a number of years.

How are people usually introduced to marijuana?

Many young people are introduced to marijuana by their peers, usually
acquaintances, friends, sisters and brothers. People often try drugs such
as marijuana because they feel pressured by peers to be part of the group.
Children must be taught how to say no to peer pressure to try drugs.
Parents can get involved by becoming formed about marijuana and by talking
to their children about drug use.

What is marijuana burn-out? "Burnout" is a term first used by marijuana
smokers themselves to describe the effect of prolonged use. Young people
who smoke marijuana heavily over long periods of time can become dull, slow
moving and inattentive. These 'burned-out' users are sometimes so unaware
of their surroundings that they do not respond when friends speak to them
and they do not realize they have a problem.

When marijuana is smoked, THC (it's active ingredient) is absorbed by most
tissues and organs in the body; however, it is primarily found in fat
tissues. the body, in its attempt to rid itself of the foreign chemical,
chemically transforms the THC into metabolites. Urine tests can detect THC
metabolites for up to a week after people have smoke marijuana. Tests
involving radioactively labelled THC have traced these metabolites in
animals for up to a month.