Marijuana
Click on the links below to learn more about Marijuana
1. Definition
2. History
3. Street Names
4. Drug Combinations
5. Terms Associated with Marijuana Use and Abuse
6. Warning Signs of Use
7. Short Term Effects of use
8. Long Term Effects of use
9. Methods of Use
10. Myths
Marijuana (cannibus) is a member of the cannabis sativa family of plants , the names comes from the latin term meaning "cultivated hemp". It is a very common street and recreational drug that comes from the marijuana plant. The plant that produces marijuana, as is well known, is the hemp plant cannabis sativa. The pharmacologically active ingredient in marijuana is tetra-hydro-cannabinol.
Almost 5000 years ago cannabis was in use by Chinese physicians as a treatment for malaria, constipation, the pain of childbirth, and was used with wine as a surgical anesthetic.
These are some of the most common street names for Marijuana meaning if someone asks you if you want some "Bud" it's probably Marijuana.
• Beasters • Bud • Buddah • Cannabis • Cheeba • Chief • Chronic • Devil-Grass • Dope • Exotic • Flame • Ganja • Garbage • Grass • Green • Happy Smoke • Happy Stick • Herb • Herbals • Hooch • Hoot Hoot • Indica • Indo • Kaya • Kill • Kind • Krypto • Kush • Left-Handed Cigarette • Marijuana • Kryptonite • Mary Jane • Pot • Reefer • Sativa • Shiva • Shrub • Shrubbery • Skank • Smoke • Sticky • Sticky Icky • Stuff • Sweet Leaf • The Skunky Stuff • Wacky Tobaccy • Weed • 420
• Alcohol combined with marijuana • Amphetamines combined with marijuana • Cocaine combined with marijuana • Ecstasy combined with marijuana • Heroin combined with marijuana • Ketamine combined with marijuana • LSD combined with marijuana • Mushrooms combined with marijuana • Tobacco combined with marijuana
5. Terms Associated with Marijuana Use and Abuse
• Baker: A person who smokes Marijuana • Sack: Your bag of weed • Binger: A hit from the bong. • Bogart: v. To use selfishly. ex: "Dont bogart the bowl!" or "Quit bogartin' the munchies!" • Bong: A water pipe used to smoke marijuana. • Bud: The flowering part of the marijuana plant. It contains the most THC in the plant, and is almost always the only part that is smoked. • Ghosting a Hit: When you hold in your hit so long that when you exhale, there is no smoke. • Light Weight: Someone who gets stoned real easily. • Roach: Butt of a marijuana cigarette • Wake-n-bake: Smokin the Marijuana in the morning after waking up.
Signs of use include
• Intense euphoria • Red eyes • Increased blood pressure and heart rate • Increased appetite • Poor memory • Panic • Paranoia • A sense of peacefulness or increased anxiety • Passiveness • Disinterest • Disregard • Uncoordinated body movements • Lethargy
• Relaxation • Altered perception • Paranoia • Dilated pupils • Impaired concentration & memory • Dry mouth & throat. • Increased heart rate. • Fear & anxiety. • Cravings for sweets, referred to by drug users as, "munchies".
Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite the known harmful effects upon functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Estimates from research suggest that about 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana; this number increases among those who start young (to about 17 percent) and among daily users (25-50 percent).
Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms including: irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which can make it difficult to remain abstinent. These symptoms begin within about 1 day following abstinence, peak at 2-3 days, and subside within 1 or 2 weeks following drug cessation.
Smokes (inhaled) and ingested by mouth
Marijuana is Harmless -Regular marijuana use has been shown to be associated with long-term problems, including poor academic performance, memory loss and lung cancer. To a developing brain, like those of teenagers, marijuana can be especially toxic -- using pot can lead to panic attacks, depression and other mental health problems, not to mention increased anxiety.
Marijuana is Not Addictive -more teens enter treatment each year with marijuana as the main substance that they abused. In 2004, 64% of teens were admitted for treatment for marijuana as their main drug of choice vs. 36% of all other substances including alcohol. Marijuana is addictive, as it meets the criteria for substance dependence established by the American Psychiatric Association including:
Marijuana Isn't As Bad As Cigarettes -Pot actually contains many of the same cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco. Puff for puff, smoking marijuana may increase the risk of cancer more than smoking tobacco does. Therefore, if you smoke pot regularly, you may experience the same breathing problems as those who smoke cigarettes. To put it plainly, walking up flights of stairs will seem difficult, and if you're an athlete -- that unattractive wheezing and coughing caused by excessive smoking won't look so hot (or feel so good) on the playing fields.
Driving While High is Safer than Driving Drunk -even a moderate dose of marijuana was shown to impair driving performance, since it affects alertness, concentration, perception coordination and reaction time – essential skills required for safe driving. Researchers also found that 17% (1 in 5) of crash victims under the age of 18 tested positive for marijuana.
I Can Smoke Pot and Still Get Straight - A's-Researchers have found that heavy marijuana use may be especially problematic during teens' peak learning years, when the brain is still developing, since smoking pot can impair your ability to concentrate and retain information. This can cause poor academic performance. You might think you're doing well in school – but you'll never know if smoking pot is inhibiting your true academic potential.