FACTS ABOUT MARIJUANA
PAUL G. BLAZER
SENIOR HIGH
SOPHOMORE HEALTH
BY AJ “DOC”
STADELMEYER
FALL 2009
Marijuana
• Often called pot, grass, weed, reefer, dope, mary
jane, bud, sinsemilla.
• It is smoked or eaten.
• It looks like dried parsley mixed with stems, buds
and seeds.
• It’s main ingredient is Tetrahydrocannabinal, also
called THC
• The scientific name for marijuana is cannabis
savita.
Hashish
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This is another form of marijuana.
Also called hash or hash brownies.
It is eaten or smoked.
It looks like brown or black balls or cakes.
Hash oil looks like concentrated syrupy
liquid varying in color from clear to black.
• The oil is mixed with tobacco and smoked.
Tetrahydrocannabinol
• Also called THC
• It is the main active ingredient in marijuana
and hashish.
• It can be smoked or taken orally in a pill
form.
• In pill form it looks like soft gelatin
capsules.
Effects of Marijuana
• The immediate effects of marijuana use are
blood shot eyes, increased heart rate, dry
mouth and throat, increased appetite, short
term memory loss, altered sense of space
and time, loss of concentration, impaired
coordination, impaired vision, paranoia, loss
of knowledge retention, coughing, fatigue,
dizziness.
Marijuana and Thinking
• People do not retain knowledge when they
are high.
• You are unable to learn or remember
anything when you are high.
• Comprehension of new information is lost.
Addiction
• Long-term users of cannabis may develop
psychological dependence.
• They develop tolerance to marijuana; they
need more and more of the drug to get the
same effect.
• The drug becomes the center of the users
life.
Addiction
• Marijuana is considered highly
addictive.
• Withdrawal from marijuana can
last 3 to 6 months.
Other Ingredients
• Marijuana contains over 421 different
chemicals besides THC.
• Some of these chemicals are 50 to 100%
more carcinogenic (cancer causing) than the
chemicals in tobacco.
• Marijuana contains more cancer causing
agents than tobacco.
Marijuana Smoke
• Because marijuana smokers tend to
inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply
and then hold it in their lungs as
long as possible, the smoke is more
damaging to the lungs and
respiratory system than tobacco
smoke is.
Marijuana Users
• The average age for beginning marijuana
use today is 12. The younger the user, the
worse and longer the effects.
• Marijuana is a Gateway Drug.
• 90% of cocaine users smoked marijuana
before trying cocaine.
Facts About Marijuana Users
• They often have a chronic, hacking cough
and red eyes.
• They usually need money and can’t account
for where their money has been spent.
• They often sell or trade personal items from
their home for marijuana.
• They have a low tolerance for rules and
authority.
Facts About Marijuana Users
II
• They are often disrespectful to adults.
• They have poor impulse control, leading to
sudden outbursts of laughter, anger or
depression.
• Their thinking and memory are damaged.
Often they can’t remember what happened
yesterday.
Facts About Marijuana Users
III
• They can’t use their mind for tasks such as
school work or jobs.
• Depression, self-absorption, manipulative
behavior, and frequent lying are common.
• Deteriorating performance in school and at
work, along with non-participation in sports
and other school activities is common.
Facts About Marijuana Users
IV
• They are prone to legal problems for driving
violations, shoplifting, and vandalism.
• They have poor judgment and show a
detachment from reality.
• They often show drastic changes in
behavior, appearance and personality in a
short period of time.
Facts About Marijuana Users
VI
• They are usually reluctant to talk about new
friends with their parents.
• They tend to have discipline and grade
problems at school, especially after using
marijuana for awhile.
• They usually abandon their old friends for
their new drug using friends.
More Information About THC
• Today’s marijuana smoke contains 5 to 10 times
more THC than the marijuana available just 5
years ago.
• THC can remain in the body’s fat cells for over a
month and show up on certain drug tests for up to
3 months.
• Marijuana with high THC content (3 – 20%) can
trigger panic, anxiety, flashbacks, hallucinations,
and toxic psychosis.
Legal Information
• Marijuana has been illegal to possess, use,
or sell since 1937.
• It is a Schedule I drug, along with other
“hard” drugs like cocaine, heroin, LSD etc.
• It is a felony in KY to use or possess
marijuana.
• Possession of more than __?__ounces will
result in a drug trafficking charge.
Legal Information II
• Possession or use within
1000 feet of any school is
also a separate felony
charge.
Short Term Effects Of
Marijuana Use
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Increased heart rate
Blood shot eyes
Dry mouth and throat
Increased appetite
Change in body
temperature
• Hallucinations
• Slowed Reaction Time
• Decreased vision
• Decreased
coordination
• Intoxication
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Short term memory
Loss
Short Term Effects of
Marijuana Use II
• Reduced attention
span
• Loss of balance
• Coughing
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Decreased eye
pressure
• Distorted senses and
perception of reality
• Increased blood
pressure
• Relaxation
• Injuries from accidents
• Deaths from accidents
• Legal Problems
Long Term Effects Of
Marijuana Use
• Loss of money and
financial security
• Psychological
dependence
• Asthma, Bronchitis
• Respiratory System
Damage
• Decreased Sex Drive
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Infertility
Delusions, Panic
Schizophrenia
Amotivational
Syndrome
• School Problems
• Family Problems
• Legal Problems
Long Term Effects Of
Marijuana Use II
• Long term memory
loss
• Brain tissue damage
• Damage to unborn
babies
• THC Tolerance
• Immune System
Damage
• Damage to
chromosomes, DNA
and genes.
• Cancer of the lung,
throat, mouth
• Emphysema
• Aggression and
hostility
Long Term Effects Of
Marijuana Use III
• Damaged and
decreased sperm in
males
• Disrupted menstrual
cycles in females
• Fetal Marijuana
Syndrome (similar to
FAS)
• Pituitary gland
damage
• Difficulty in forming
concepts and thoughts
• Hypertension
• Heart Disease
• Arteriosclerosis
• Increased illnesses