Marijuana
Marijuana, or cannabis sativa, is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States . Marijuana is a mind-altering drug which distorts perception and diminishes motor skills. Hashish and sensimilla are other forms of cannabis. Known as a "gateway drug," marijuana frequently opens the door to use of other drugs.
According to a 2002 survey of Missouri public-school students (grades 6, 8, 10, and 12), 21.8 percent reported any use, and 10.2 percent reported use in the 30 days preceding the survey.
Commonly known as grass, pot, herb, or weed, marijuana is a tall, leafy, dark-green plant (cannabis sativa) that is cultivated for street sales.
How It Is Used
Marijuana gets its hallucinogenic properties from the chemical THC, short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. It is just one of more than 400 chemicals found in the marijuana plant - the effects of many on the human body are not yet known. THC is found throughout the marijuana plant but is concentrated in oils found in the leaves and in the seeds. Through hybridization, marijuana grown today is many times more potent than that grown even 10 years ago. It is grown extensively out-of-doors in warm climates, both in the United States and in other countries, and indoors under lights in cooler locations. International smuggling is a major concern of U.S. law enforcement officials.
Smoking is the most common method of using marijuana. The leaves and other parts of the plant are dried and then crumbled into smaller pieces that are then rolled into a cigarette called a "joint" or burned in pipes or water pipes called "bongs." Occasionally, small cigars are hallowed out and filled with marijuana or a joint is dipped in a volatile fluid before smoking. Marijuana also is sometimes added to food and ingested.
Its Effects
People under the influence of marijuana are said to be "high."
Short-term Effects or Symptoms Include:
- difficulty in thinking and problem solving
- distorted perception
- problems with memory and learning
- loss of coordination
- increased heart rate
- increased absences from work, tardiness, accidents, workers' compensation claims, and job turnover;
- depression, anxiety, and personality disturbances;
- increased risk of neurological problems in development of babies born to women who used marijuana during pregnancy;
- lower sperm counts in men and increased risk of infertility in women;
- impairment of the immune system;
- increased risk of cancer of the head, neck and lungs;
- increased risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, and emphysema;
- addiction
Marijuana is the most commonly used and abused illicit substance. More than 83 million Americans age 12 and older have tried marijuana at least once. Despite its widespread use, there are currently no known proven medical uses. Research continues on the efficiary of medical use with certain chemotherapy patients and others.
Information
For additional information about marijuana, please visit the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (www.prevention.samhsa.gov), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (www.nida.nih.gov/NIDAHome.html) and Missouri 's prevention website (www.missouriprevention.org).
For more information,contact the
Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
P.O. Box 687, 1706 East Elm
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-4942
1-800-364-9687
