Marijuana is a very popular drug and has many street names which include: bud, chronic, dope, dubie, gange, ganja, grass, hemp, herb, joint, marijuana, mary jane, pot, reef, reefer, roach, wake and bake, and weed. Marijuana is a green, brown, or grey mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant.
Marijuana appears to interfere with a person's ability or willingness to pay attention. People under the influence of marijuana do not divide their attention very well. When driving, they may attend to certain parts of the driving task, but ignore other parts. Marijuana will generally diminish inhibitions, impair perception of time and distance, create disorientation, and can cause body tremors. However the effects of marijuana will depend on the users experience as well as: how strong the marijuana is, what the user expects to happen, where the drug is used, how it is taken, whether the user is drinking alcohol, or using other drugs. Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette called a joint, a nail, or a blunt. This drug is also smoked through a pipe or a bong. If you use marijuana a lot, you could start to lose energy and lose interest in how you look, and how you are getting along at school work.
Users of marijuana genarally feel the effects within 8-9 seconds after inhaling the smoke. The effects will reach their peak within 10-30 minutes, and usually last for approximately 3-6 hours. The user will typically feel "normal" within 3-6 hours after smoking marijuana.
Evidence of marijuana can be disclosed in some blood and urine tests long after the effects have dissipated. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in cannabis that causes intoxication. Some tests can indicate the presence of THC metabolites for up to 45 days after smoking marijuana.
Two important metabolites of THC affect the duration, and perception, of the effects of cannabis. One of these metabolites is Hydroxy THC: this causes the user to feel euphoric, so that he or she is aware of the effects. The other important metabolite is Corboxy THC. This metabolite also causes impairment, but no feeling of euphoria, so the user might not be aware that he or she is still impared. The short term effects these two metabolites cause are: problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem-solving, loss of coordination, and increased heart rate, anxiety, panic attacks.
Excessive use of marijuana can create paranoia and possible psychosis. These same effects may develop from long-term use of the drug, which has also been observed to produce sharp personality changes, especially in adolescent users. Other long-term effects include: damage to immune system, damage to the reproductive system, lung damage, chronic bronchitis, lowering of testosterone, acute anxiety attacks, chronic reduction of attention span, and possible birth defects, still births and infant deaths.
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