MARIJUANA

Know What You Smoke

Smoking weed is not a new thing. Marijuana and its related studies have
been going on for several years. It is the most widely used illicit drug in
America. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) claims that over 38
percent of the total population between the ages 12 and 17 have tried
marijuana at least once in their lifetime.

Though surveys show a decline in the usage of the drug amongst eight
graders, it also suggests that marijuana use is still a major issue amongst
adolescents. In 2001 however, over 20 percent of eight-graders had tried
marijuana and 8 percent were using marijuana on a regular basis. The Drug
Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reported marijuana as the reason behind over
110,000 emergency department visits in the United States.

Marijuana and its effects have been a concern for many years now. Though no
conclusive results have been obtained to prove its negative effects,
reports and research are suggestive of a number of indirectly linked
problems marijuana smoking may give rise to.

Marijuana is made from the dried seeds, leaves and stem of the hemp plant,
the scientific name of which is Cannabis Sativa. It is smoked usually as a
blunt or as a joint. A blunt is a cigar filled with marijuana instead of
tobacco. Hand-rolled cigarettes filled with marijuana are called joints. It
is also smoked using a bong. A bong is a crude bottle-like device used to
filter the fumes of smoking hemp. (Image below)

Marijuana and its effects in a nutshell.

The main chemical present in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC), which is passed rapidly through the lungs and circulation system of
the body when the fumes are inhaled. THC then attaches itself to specific
sites in the nervous system called cannabinoid receptors, influencing the
response and action capabilities of those cells. Cannabinoid receptors are
found in the brain. Areas that govern memory, concentration, sensory cells,
coordination and pleasure are known to have cannabinoid receptors in them.
This means that smoking marijuana will lead to blurry vision, short-term
memory loss, lack of coordination and pleasurable experiences which is the
"high" that smokers experience.

NIDA reports that smoking marijuana deposits large amount of THC in the
blood and the effects may last for three hours.

THC's effects on the brain dulls sensory nerves and perception, which is
the cause of many marijuana-related deaths. THC present in marijuana
affects the cerebellum and basal ganglia (parts of the brain), leading to a
loss of balance and coordination in motion. Marijuana intoxication
therefore can lead to fatalities indirectly. Under the influence, the brain
is unstable and unable to judge time, speed and distances. NIDA reports
that 6 to 11 percent of accident fatalities are linked to the presence of
THC in the blood.

Amidst global concerns over the use of marijuana, USA recently hosted a
debate on the topic of marijuana legalization in the United States. USAPD
Detective Dave Sumner points out that alcohol abuse is a more serious
problem than smoking marijuana. According to him, the decriminalization or
legalization of marijuana would be a step in the right path. He believes
that the law is too harsh on marijuana smokers. "Go after the source, not
the occasional smoker," says Sumner.

College students are under constant pressure of peers and friends in issues
that concern drug abuse. The best way to prevent yourself from being a
victim is learning the facts and making rational decisions concerning the
use of marijuana.