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Marijuana
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Other Names:
Weed, Pot, Reefer, Dope, Ganjga, Mary Jane, Hash, Herb,
Skunk, Boom, Blow, BallyMcgash.
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What is it?
Marijuana is a product of the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa).
The main active chemical in marijuana, also present in
other forms of cannabis, is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).
Of roughly 400 chemicals found in the cannabis plant,
THC affects the brain the most.
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Short-term effects:
Short-term effects of marijuana include problems with
memory and learning, distorted perception (sights, sounds,
time, touch), trouble with thinking and problem-solving,
loss of motor co-ordination, increased heart rate and
anxiety. These effects are even greater when other drugs
are mixed with marijuana. A user may also experience dry
mouth and throat.
- Long-term effects:
Cancer-It is hard to find out whether marijuana alone causes
cancer because many people who smoke marijuana also smoke
cigarettes and/or use other drugs. Marijuana smoke contains
some cancer-causing compounds as with tobacco, sometimes
in higher concentrations. Studies show that someone who
smokes five joints per week may be taking in as many cancer-causing
chemicals, as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes
every day. Studies have also shown a relationship between
heavy marijuana use and a higher probability for head and
neck cancer.
Heavy marijuana use can affect hormones in both males and
females, so it can affect sexual characteristics and reproductive
function. Heavy doses of the drug may delay the onset of
puberty in young men. Marijuana also can have adverse affects
on sperm production. Among women, regular marijuana can
disrupt the normal monthly menstrual cycle and inhibit ovulation
(the regular discharge of eggs from the ovaries).
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