Marijuana: Myth and Reality
To explore reasons why people choose to
participate in the illegal use of marijuana
And the short term and long term effects of
marijuana.
The nature of Marijuana
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Cames from a plant call cannabis sativa. It
grows wild. Cannibis sativa contains over
400 chemicals.
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The seeds of cannabis sativa are used in
feed mixtures and the oil as an ingredient
in paint.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol
THC
THC
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= delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
The is a psychoactive or mind altering
ingrediant which is the intoxicant in
marijuana.
What percentage of teenagers use
marijuana?
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What percentage of teenagers smoked
marijuana during the past month?
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What percentage of teenagers smoke
marijuana daily.
Prevalence of Marijuana Use
Marijuana Use
8th Grade
12.5%
10th Grade
28.8%
12th Grade
36.4%
Combined
25.9%
The five year threndshows an increase in daily, current, and past year
marijuana use by 10th and 12th graders. The increases might be
attributable, in part, to a decline in the perceived risk associated with
marijuana use.
Fewer people smoke marijuana than
you think. As with cigarettes people
who use marijuana represent a small
minority with the vast majority of
teen and adults.
It is not “something that everyone is
doing”.
Reasons Teenagers Begin
Smoking Marijuana
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Curiosity: marijuana is something new and different to
try.
Peer Group Pressure: Friends smoke it so it cant be bad
if “everyone is doing it.”
Desire to appear more grown-up: may be viewed as
adult like behavior.
Pleasurable Effects: teenagers may smoke marijuana
because they like the way it makes them feel.
Coping Device; some people may begin smoking
marijuana because they think it will help them deal with
life problems.
Effects of Marijuana
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Immediate
Effects
An increase in heart and pulse
rate.
Reddening of the eyes
A dryness in the month of
throat.
A mild decrease in body
temperature
Restlessness
Increase sense of well being
Dreamy state of euphoria
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Long Term Effects
THC is absorbed by many tissues
and organs in the body
Marijuana can increase the heart
rate by 50%
Marijuana can effect the lungs
Heavy marijuana use can effect
white blood cell formation
necessary for the body’s immune
system
Marijuana can have an effect on
the make and female reproductive
systems.
Synthetic Marijuana

AKA - Blaze, Blueberry Haze, Dank,
Demon Passion Smoke, Genie, Hawaiian
Hybrid, K2, Magma, Ninja, Nitro, Ono
Budz, Panama Red Ball, Puff, Sativah
Herbal Smoke, Skunk, Spice, Ultra Chronic
and Voodoo Spice.
Synthetic Marijuana
Fake weed products are legal. They are
often marketed as “100% organic herbs”
insinuating that they are natural or
completely safe.
 The truth is that not of the products on
the market are completely natural.

Synthetic Marijuana

the fake marijuana products contained a
chemical called HU-210, which has a
molecular structure very similar to THC -the active ingredient in marijuana.
Because HU-210 is listed as a Schedule 1
controlled substance in the United States,
the fake weed products were
manufactured and sold only in Europe.
Synthetic Marijuana

A Schedlued 1 Controlled Substances has
a high potential for abuse, has no
currently accepted medical use in
treatment in the United States, and there
is a lack of accepted safety for use of the
drug or other substance under medical
supervision.
What happens when you smoke
synthetic marijuana?
We don’t know!!!! We have no scientific
evidence of what happens to humans.
 Some research consucted on animals
suggest it has the same long term effects
as marijuana.
 Do not take anything that has not been
tested and there’s no reseach on. That
just plain dumb!!!

Other No No’s
Inhalants
 Prescription and over the counter drugs.
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teen.drugabuse.gov/peerx/