Smoking cannabis dates back to nearly 10,000 B.C in the Middle East. Through history, it has been used for recreational, religious, and spiritual activities. Marijuana is extracted from the plant Cannabis sativa. Marijuana is a dry mixture of the stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds, and is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical in marijuana that causes the high experienced by people using it.

Marijuana Use

Marijuana is smoked in a pipe, cigar, or a cigarette. Marijuana can also be mixed with tealeaf and certain foods. It is known as hash oil when it is in the form of black liquid; in its resinous form it is known as hashish. Marijuana is often used in conjunction with alcohol and cigarettes. It is known as a ‘gateway drug’, as use of this drug can lead to the use and possible addiction to other illegal drugs.

When a person smokes marijuana, the THC in the smoke passes through the lungs and into the blood stream where it is carried to the brain. The THC then acts on the receptors of brain, causing a euphoric feeling or high. THC binds to specific sites called cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) located on the surface of nerve cells. These receptors are found in high-density in areas of the brain (including the hippocampus, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex) that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, and sensory and time perception.

Although the effect of marijuana wears off in two to three hours, it still remains in the body. Urine and blood tests can detect its presence even after two to four weeks of using marijuana.

Marijuana has the potential to cause dependency if taken for an extended period, which varies from person to person. In addition, some users may develop a tolerance to the drug, meaning they need to use more to achieve the same state of euphoria. Depending on a person’s level of dependence on the drug, quitting marijuana may be difficult due to possible withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, depression, and difficulty sleeping.

Marijuana does not just make a user feel high. The physical effects of smoking marijuana range from shaking, decreased coordination, problems breathing, increased appetite, nausea, headache, and reduced blood flow to the brain. It can also adversely affect major organs and can cause irrevocable damage to the brain, heart, lungs, and reproductive system.

Effect on the Brain

Marijuana is considered hallucinogenic and psychoactive, meaning it alters brain function. This includes impaired coordination, the inability to solve problems or to think properly, distorted perceptions, memory loss, and failure to learn things.

Effect on the Heart

When a person smokes marijuana, the heart rate increases considerably for approximately three hours. According to studies, marijuana smokers have a high risk of heart attack in the first hour of smoking the drug. This is because of an increase in heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and palpitations due to the marijuana smoke. This risk is higher if the person has a previous history of heart disease or if the person is elderly.

Effect on the Lungs

Marijuana smoke is a lung irritant, and, like all smoke, it contains carcinogens or cancer-causing ingredients. Marijuana smoke actually contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Marijuana smokers tend to inhale the smoke for longer periods, which increases the risk for lung cancer. The other harmful effects of marijuana smoke on the lungs are lung diseases, increase of cough and phlegm production, and high risk for infections of the lung.

Effect on the Reproductive System

Marijuana use affects the sex hormones in men and women. In women it can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and can inhibit ovulation, which decreases fertility. In the case of pregnant women, all smoking should be avoided, but with marijuana, it may lead to low birth weight babies, infant health problems, and developmental delays. In men, marijuana use for a prolonged time leads to delay in puberty and decreased sperm count.

If used consistently for an extended period of time, it is possible to become chemically dependent on marijuana. If you are addicted to marijuana, help is readily available.

Consult your doctor for advice, drug rehabilitation centers and support groups are found in almost every city and town in the U.S. Treatment can involve medications to assist in withdrawal symptoms, diminish cravings, and re-establish normal brain function.

Behavioral therapy can teach healthy life skills and help modify the attitudes and behaviors related to drug use.

The use of marijuana starts as a way to feel euphoric, but gradually it can cause dependence if the feeling of euphoria becomes harder to recapture. Once you are dependent, the urge for marijuana increases despite knowing the adverse effects it can have on your health, work, and relationships.

The best way to avoid marijuana addiction is to not smoke it at all. Peer pressure, stress, anxiety, or pain may tempt a person to use the drug, but there are alternatives. Establish healthier habits for dealing with issues. Exercise, new hobbies, and making new friends with people who avoid drugs is a start. A mentor, counselor, or physician may be able to advise you on ways to improve your outlook and avoid behaviors that can lead to chemical dependency.