Marijuana is made from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The main psychoactive (mindaltering) chemical in marijuana is delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Marijuana has a variety of Street Names such as Blunt, Bud, Dope, Ganja, Grass, Green, Herb, Joint, Mary Jane, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Trees, Weed; Hashish: Boom, Gangster, Hash, Hemp. There are also various brand commercial names in states where the sale of marijuana is legal.
The common form of marijuana is greenish-gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and/or flowers; resin (hashish) or sticky, black liquid (hash oil). Marijuana is taken by smoke, eating it mixed in food or brewed as tea.
Possible Health Effects
Short-term: Enhanced sensory perception and euphoria followed by drowsiness/relaxation; slowed reaction time; problems with balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; problems with learning and memory; anxiety.
Long-term: Mental health problems, chronic cough, frequent respiratory infections.
Other Health-related Issues
Youth: Possible loss of IQ points when repeated use begins in adolescence.
Pregnancy: Babies born with problems with attention, memory, and problem solving.
In Combination with Alcohol: Increased heart rate, blood pressure; further slowing of mental processing and reaction time.
Withdrawal Symptoms include Irritability, trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, anxiety.
Medications –There are no FDA-approved medications to treat marijuana addiction.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Contingency management, or motivational incentives
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
- Behavioral treatments geared to adolescents
The information in this publication is for informational use only and has been taken from: National Institute for Drug Abuse https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse