The Legalization of Marijuana
The legalization of the drug marijuana is a hot topic nowadays. Many people want this substance to be legalized and regularly available like cigarettes. But what some people do not know are the serious health risks involved when using marijuana. There is a lot more to marijuana than just smoking it.
Marijuana can have very damaging affects on a person?s brain. It can impair a person?s short-term memory, decision-making and signal detection (Cannabinoids). ?In one study conducted in Memphis, TN, researchers found that, of 150 reckless drivers who were tested for drugs at the arrest scene, 33 percent tested positive for marijuana? (Marijuana). After having used marijuana a person?s driving skills are impaired. A person is not able to safely drive after having used marijuana, even up to 24 hours after use (Marijuana). This drug is very dangerous, and has longer lasting affects than people may think.
Not only does marijuana cause damage to the brain, it can also harm a person?s heart as well. Using marijuana can cause an alteration of heart rate, cause intense anxiety, panic attacks or paranoia (Fact Sheet, par. 7). This could worsen pre-existing heart conditions that people may or may not know about.
Smoking marijuana, in some ways, is like smoking cigarettes. Marijuana can produce airway injury, coughing and wheezing, some of the symptoms of cigarette smoking (Marijuana). But the downfall to smoking marijuana is it contains almost 50% more benzopyrene (the cancer-causing chemical in tobacco) than a cigarette (?Fact Sheet?). ?Marijuana contains cancer causing agents and toxic particles that can lead to bronchitis, emphysema, and lu...
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Marijuana is a drug that is harmful to a person¡¯s health. It has been found to have adverse impacts on one¡¯s mental processes such as memory, attention, judgement, and problem- solving (Butcher, Mineka, Hooley, 2004, p.415). Also, marijuana can interfere with a person¡¯s ability to think rationally and logically. Thus, the lapse in judgement caused by the drug use can lead to risky sexual behaviours and this may result in increasing sexually transmitted disease such as AIDS. Moreover, the long-term use of marijuana may cause chronic breathing problems and cancer ...
Although this is typically seen with recreational marijuana. Although some effects of patient’s using marijuana, can be that they lose motivation to participate in activities, and they may become tired, because the effects can cause your body to slow down. Marijuana mainly affects the neurons in the brain and the pathways, and when a patient uses marijuana they are inhibiting the normal brain development and the normal function. Effects of medical marijuana will be decreased because it is less potent than recreational marijuana, but may still affect the person. Some short term effects can be impaired memory, inability to problem-solve, and altered sense of time. Long term effects can be learning dysfunction from abnormal brain development, especially in teenagers. Studies have shown that although tobacco is usually the drug that leads to lung complications and problems, patients who smoke medical marijuana can also have lung issues because the drug is irritating to the alveoli. (Morrow,
First of all, some people feel smoking marijuana can get hyper, which providing them the emotion of happiness, and helping them to see the world from a different perspective. However, marijuana will cause a lot of healthy problems to human’s body. Marijuana has many physical effects on human such as rapid heart rate, red eyes and dry mouth. Because the chemical THC will enter into the body when people are smoking it, THC will enter through the bloodstream to the brain. The chemical affects them to feel ecstasy and unreality; therefore, THC will make them feel more confused if people smoke marijuana for a long time. According to, “ Treat marijuana abuse like a health problem” (McMillan, 2007, July 17), it shows using marijuana can cause more serious health issues on human’s body such as bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer. In addition, using marijuana has also been linked to lung damage and affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. For example, if marijuana ...
The brain is the most complicated part of the human body. I will begin explaining certain parts and their functions. In doing this to I hope to give a better understand of our brain while implicating the possibilities of chemical induced complications “The brain with its 15 billion neurons and nerve cells operates using chemical and electrical messages: (Swanson, 1975).1 This is how we perceive our senses. Differences in the way our brain translates these messages can impair perceptions. Hallucinogens prevent the brain from receiving all of these messages in order. All of the information that we receive is through millions of transactions of neurons, like a computer, marijuana alters these transactions .
The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety (Zimmer and Morgan 1-2).
When the cardiovascular system is affected it does damage to the body such as increased heart rate and dilation of eye blood vessels. Marijuana smoking has been proven to raise the risk of heart attacks. Difficulty in body movement and coordination is also a long term effect also pains in the chest is.
There is not a lot of information available of the evidence for the harmful consequences of marijuana smoking, as there have not been many long-term studies, which is required. Habitual marijuana use, as often as one joint per day, may result in serious pulmonary, immune and psychological consequences. With chronic use, breathing may be restricted, coughing may be increased, and resistance may be lowered to infections of the lungs such as pneumonia (Bloom 45). Respiratory cancer is a likely result in the long term.
Typically, a marijuana smoker holds in the smoke longer than a cigarette, which creates an impact on the lungs. Besides little consequences like chest colds and sore throats, it has also been found that
Marijuana affects both the body and the mind. Marijuana affects the cardiovascular system and relaxes the user’s nervous system. An increase in the blood pressure and heart rate is a factor with the use of marijuana. Marijuana can also impair balance and coordination which leads to the risk of hurting oneself (Brownstein, 2014). The national institute on drug abuse cited a survey that indicated 6.8 percent of drivers, beneath the age of 35 that was involved in traffic accidents verified positive for THC (Kroll, 2014). Marijuana is recognized to have addictive abilities and withdrawal symptoms when terminations of extended use (Kroll, 2014). Marijuana ...
Marijuana’s short-term effects include temporary problem with memory and problems with learning. It also causes temporary distorted perception (sounds, time, touch etc.), trouble thinking and solving problems. For some people smoking marijuana causes loss of motor coordination. But compare it to the short-term effect that tobacco produces.
The legalization of marijuana has been a debated subject in America since the 1970's. The pro-marijuana society in America has made claims as to how marijuana can help cure or lessen the effect of some diseases and that by legalizing the drug; the use of pot will actually decline. The fact of the matter is that marijuana is a drug that can be placed into a similar category as cocaine or heroine. Like these other drugs, pot (marijuana) smoking carries with it serious side effects that can effect the user forever, and sometimes-even cause death. Marijuana was first cultivated in America during the colonial time period and was used as a fiber for rope and even clothing. The plant was not used for its psychoactive properties until 1910, when Mexican farmers began smuggling it across the boarder for poor black and Mexican workers in the Southern states (Abood Me 202). By the 1930's marijuana was widespread throughout the U.S., before the Federal Government in 1937 outlawed the use of it. However, marijuana use continued to spread, even with these restrictions and in 1970 the Controlled Substance Act was passed. This act basically categorized marijuana as being a harmful and addictive drug. Presently, marijuana use, especially among teenagers is on the rise once again. Pro-marijuana advocates must ask themselves the question that if marijuana is so great, why is it causing so much damage to the body?
Marijuana has many bad side effects that harm the body. According to Szara Braude, marijuana slows down reactions causing problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking, and loss of coordination (Marijuana as a medicine 53). Many people use this drug not knowing wh...
It can increase irritability and restlessness. Marijuana affects the brain’s amygdala, which results in increased panic or paranoia, and the neocortex, which can cause strange sensations and altered thinking. As a result, people who use marijuana may experience hallucinations and temporary paranoia. In fact, schizophrenics that use marijuana will experience worse symptoms, such as extreme delusions or disorganized thinking. In addition to this, people who use marijuana are at higher risk for developing depression, panic attacks, anxiety and bipolar
There are effects from using marijuana. The short term effects are, people feel more relaxed. People feel calm and high. It can alter senses and vision, it can impair your judgement and coordination. It can also impair your memory and cause you to have bloodshot eyes and dry mouth. Some people experience paranoia and anxiety while smoking. These effects can last up to four hours after smoking and up to twelve hours after ingesting.
4. Some short-term effects of marijuana include distorted perception, increased heart rate, and a loss of motor coordination.