Essay/Term paper: Marijuana effects

Essay, term paper, research paper:  College Papers

Marijuana is a mood altering or psychoactive drug that

has many nicknames, such as pot, weed, ganja, sensi, herb, and

others. It is an ancient drug that dates back to hundreds of

years to Asia. Many cultures have used it during meditation, religious

worship, and for intoxication. Marijuana itself comes from the

Indian Hemp plant. It is the third most widely used drug in the United

States, according to a survey taken in 1988, and it is the number one

illegally used drug in the United States. Marijuana is so popular that an

estimated one out of every three people in the US have tried it and

around 44% of US high school students have smoked it. Marijuana

users are not easily detectable, nor is the drug just used in one area of

society. The Indian Hemp plant is found all over the world, including

the US. There are three different types of Indian Hemp. They are

Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis Rudderalis. These

three plants vary in size and mood altering effect. The hemp plant has

many uses and has been farmed for centuries. Marijuana can be taken

in three ways, by eating, made into a tea, or smoking (the most

popular). Smoking it can be done three ways, through a pipe, a joint,


blunt. A joint is a rolled piece of paper that is twisted at the ends. A

blunt is normally an emptied cigar wrapper filled with marijuana. In a

blunt you can fit much more marijuana. Though a blunt isn't always

purely marijuana, it can be mixed with other drugs such as angel dust.


The results are varied when someone smokes marijuana.

Different people will get different results, and certain types of cannabis

can cause different effects. The amount of THC (marijuana's main

active chemical) may also change the result. If alcohol, or other drug

use is occurring while smoking marijuana, the effect could be different.

A first time marijuana smoker will probably feel no effect. A chronic or

heavy user will get a high (intoxication). When a person is high, normal

sights, sounds, tastes, or events can seem very funny or interesting.

When intoxicated, time seems to pass a lot slower. To the user, minutes

will seem like hours. The intoxicated person may get very thirsty or

hungry, a common effect called, " the munchies." A few minutes after

the person inhales they will probably get a dry mouth, rapid heartbeat,

decreased reaction time, and also a loss of coordination. The blood

vessels in the user's eyes will probably enlarge, giving the person a



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blood shot appearance. Within 2 to 3 hours the effects will die down

and the person will feel sleepy.


How is marijuana harmful? There are many ways that

marijuana can harm the body, both the immediate effect and long term

effects. It often disables the users short-term memory and may cause

trouble with challenging tasks. Even very simple tasks can become a

struggle for someone who is high. A student that is under the influence

of marijuana may find it hard to learn or concentrate. A persons timing

and coordination are normally delayed by marijuana. As a result the

person will be very confused and useless.


The effect marijuana can have on the brain and central nervous

system are very serious. Smoking marijuana will reduce the strength

and speed of communications between the mind and body. This occurs

in the brain and muscles, causing the user to not be as focused. Short-

term marijuana use leads to a drowsiness and relaxing effect. This is

why marijuana users have trouble remembering things. A heavy dose

of marijuana can decrease the amount of blood pumped into the brain.

Marijuana effects the brain's control over muscles also. Heavy usage of


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marijuana can have a lasting effect on the users short-term memory.

The blood flow to the back of the brain is greater than the front, after

smoking. This is believed to cause the high sensation the user is after.


The short-term effect of marijuana will increase blood pressure

and pulse rate up to 16 points above normal. It will also slow down the

digestive processing of food. People who smoke marijuana often will

have a below normal pulse rate and blood pressure. A chronic user may

experience dizziness or even faint. A user may not even need to be high

to experience that, if the person stands up quickly they may faint. A

well-known and common effect is blood shot eyes, though this effect

wears off quickly.


How does marijuana effect the heart? During the time when the

user is high they will have an increased heart rate up to 50% above

normal. The amount the heart rate increases depends on the amount of

marijuana that was smoked. This will make exercise and other

activities seem a lot harder. The effect could be extremely dangerous

for a person with a congestive heart or with an irregular heartbeat. A

chronic smoker will have a decreased heart rate, often below normal.

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The immediate effect of smoking marijuana on the lungs are a

brief opening of the bronchial tubes. That is why marijuana has been

tested for possible medical uses. It was not approved because there is a

rebound reaction, which closes up the user's airways. Marijuana also

irritates lung tissue. The long-term effect of smoking marijuana

regularly is close to the effects of a tobacco cigarette smoker. Though

the amount of tobacco consumed by the cigarette smoker is a lot higher

than the amount of marijuana a chronic smoker will inhale, the harmful

ingredients in marijuana are a lot higher than the amount in tobacco,

causing a similar effect on the lungs. Marijuana smoke in the lungs will

kill cilia. Cilia moves mucous, dirt and other particles out of the lungs.

Also the heavy usage will decrease your lung's defense against bacterial

and fungal infections.


Marijuana is very harmful yet very widespread. It is an illegal

drug that can harm almost every vital part of your body. It can make

your memory vanish and cause your heart rate to slow. You could

develop lung cancer or a dangerously low blood pressure. This drug

isn't deadly, but close to it. It causes Americans everyday suffering just

for those few minutes or hours of a good feeling. Is it worth it?

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