Cannabis Fact Sheet LP10 Physiological Complications 550-106 Jamie M. Floeter 12/08/2012 Marijuana A hemp plant that is gray, green, or a brown mixture of shredded dried leaves, flowers, seeds, and stems. “Cannabis Sativa” Classification in 1753 by a Swedish botanist named Carolus Linnaeus. Cannabis Sativa is a dioecious plant (male and female plant) that is readily grown in many parts of the world. Cannabis can be considered a sedative and a mind altering drug that contains over 421 different chemicals. Many of these chemicals have not been identified. One of these identified chemicals in THC. (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannbinal) Botanists have never been able to trace its original origin. The first known record was in a book written by a Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2737 BC, who prescribed marijuana for treating gout, malaria, gas pains, and absentmindedness. In history you will find that it’s uses where medical use and its woody like fibers to make cloths and rope. Trends in the United States According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug use and Health that there were about 15.2 million past-month users. Making marijuana the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Marijuana is used widely among young adults and teenagers. In 2009, 11.8 percent of 8th graders reported to using marijuana, and 6.5 percent were current users. 10th graders were at 26.7 that had used marijuana in the past year, and 15.9 were current users. In 12th graders they were at 32.8 that had used in the last years while 20.6 were still currents users. I do hope that by the time my son gets to be in late middle school and early high school things will have changed. I hope the teachers better educate their students about this drug. Even though I don’t completely oppose to the drug, I feel that children are to under educated and have not matured enough to use the drug. I also feel that marijuana has a bad effect on a teenager’s attitudes and their outlook on life. I also believe that THC doesn’t mix well with the rush of hormones that teens produce while going through puberty. Cannabis Fact Sheet LP10 Physiological Complications 550-106 Jamie M. Floeter 12/08/2012 Therapeutic use Marijuana has been used in therapy for centuries. Marijuana has been used to treat many types of illnesses such as depression, migraines, chronic pain, anorexia, asthma, glaucoma, and muscles spasms. The Food and Drug Administration feel that there are other medicines that are at least as effective and do not have abuse potential. Street Names Mary Jane Green Bud Devils lettuce Nuggets Nuggies Dank Ganj Ganja Smoke Reefer Killer Effects on the brain The chemical in marijuana “THC” stimulates the brain cells to release dopamine. THC also affects the nerve cells in the part of the brain where our memories are formed. This is why people who use have troubles learning or remembering certain things and events. Like what they had for breakfast. What’s going on that causes the High? THC stimulates our cannabinoid receptors, disrupting the functions of natural cannabinoids. The overstimulation of these receptors in certain brain areas. Over time and chronic use can alter the functions of the CBR’S system along with other brain changes that can lead to abuse and withdrawal. Cannabis Fact Sheet LP10 Physiological Complications 550-106 Jamie M. Floeter 12/08/2012 Physiological Effects In the Cardiovascular System depending on dose, Cannabis can increase a person’s heart pulse rate, but it can also reduce the typical heart rate to inhalation when breathing or coughing. It also produces hemoglobin that limits the amount of air that gets to the tissues that is around the heart. Cannabis can cause swelling in blood vessels around the eyes, causing them to go blood shot. In the Respiratory system cannabis is dangerous. Cannabis contains more carbon monoxide that a cigarette and the smoke for cannabis is inhaled much deeper and held longer thus causing more of a tar build up. Cannabis can also weaken the white blood cells in the living lung tissue. These cells remove debris from the lungs. Cannabis plays its toll on the CNS such as altered perceptions, delayed reaction time and an increase in appetite. In some cases, those who smoke in a bad setting or under extreme amounts of stress, they can feel high anxiety. Those chronic users can lose motivation and self-interest. Signs of Dependence Daily use Tolerance Withdrawal Lack of motivations Lack in personal self Social difficulties Failed to attempts to quit Cannabis Fact Sheet LP10 Physiological Complications 550-106 Jamie M. Floeter 12/08/2012 References http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr5/Marijuana_Use_in_the_United_Sta tes.pdf A special report from the bulletin of Cannabis Reform By Jon Guttman, Ph.D. Sept 22, 2008 http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuanaabuse/what-scope-marijuana-use-in-united-states NIDA, The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction What is the scope of marijuana use in the U.S. Updated Sept. 2010 http://intraspec.ca/medical-marijuana.php Medical Marijuana Medicianl and Therapeutic uses of Cannabis Sativa Updated Sept 29, 2011 http://bigheadshop.com/marijuana-streetnames.htm Marijuana Street Names Drug Info http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1808 How marijuana affect the brain? Akudo Ejelonu 2004 First Web Paper http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/ledain/physiological_effects.h tm Cannabis The Report of the Canadian Government Commission of Inquiry into the NonMedical Use of Drugs – 1972 Cannabis Fact Sheet LP10 Physiological Complications 550-106 Jamie M. Floeter 12/08/2012 http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/c/cannabis_dependence/intro.htm Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 6 November, 2012 Drugs and Society By, Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC © 2012 Criteria Fact Sheet defines/describes cannabis. Fact Sheet identifies trends in cannabis consumption in the U.S. Fact Sheet describes the therapeutic uses of cannabis and controversy regarding medical marijuana. Fact Sheet provides a list of street names for cannabis. Fact Sheet describes the effects of cannabis abuse on the brain. Fact Sheet identifies the physiological effects from cannabis abuse. Fact Sheet identifies the health risks of the cannabis abuse. Fact Sheet identifies the signs and symptoms of cannabis abuse/dependence. Fact Sheet is organized, professionally appearing, and free of errors. Fact Sheet synthesizes information from a variety of sources. Fact Sheet is submitted by the due date. Fact Sheet includes “References” to sources of information used. Values 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 8 4 0 10 0 10 8 4 0