Cannabis and Marijuana

What is marijuana?What is marijuana? Marijuana (grass, pot, weed) is the common name for the drug made Marijuana (grass, pot, weed) is the common name for the drug made

from the plant Cannabis sativa. from the plant Cannabis sativa. The main mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient in marijuana is THC. The main mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient in marijuana is THC. The "joint" is made from the dried particles of the plant. The amount of The "joint" is made from the dried particles of the plant. The amount of

THC in the marijuana determines how strong its effects will be. (The THC in the marijuana determines how strong its effects will be. (The type of plant, the weather, the soil, the time of harvest etc, determine type of plant, the weather, the soil, the time of harvest etc, determine the strength of marijuana). the strength of marijuana).

The strength of today's marijuana is about ten times greater than The strength of today's marijuana is about ten times greater than used in the 1970s. This stronger marijuana increases physical and used in the 1970s. This stronger marijuana increases physical and mental effects and health problems for the user. mental effects and health problems for the user.

Cannabis, is made by taking the resin from the leaves and flowers of Cannabis, is made by taking the resin from the leaves and flowers of the marijuana plant and pressing it into cakes or slabs. Hash is the marijuana plant and pressing it into cakes or slabs. Hash is usually stronger than crude marijuana and may contain five to ten usually stronger than crude marijuana and may contain five to ten times as much THC. times as much THC.

A few factsA few facts

It is now a recognised fact that some regular cannabis It is now a recognised fact that some regular cannabis smokers develop mental illness. - there's a fourfold increase smokers develop mental illness. - there's a fourfold increase in schizophrenia and a fourfold increase in major depression. in schizophrenia and a fourfold increase in major depression.

There's a massive amount of evidence from as far apart as There's a massive amount of evidence from as far apart as Sweden and New Zealand that cannabis actually causes Sweden and New Zealand that cannabis actually causes these problems.these problems.

Drugscope, a British drugs information service said cannabis Drugscope, a British drugs information service said cannabis may only precipitate schizophrenia in people who would may only precipitate schizophrenia in people who would have developed it anyway. However, Chief Executive of have developed it anyway. However, Chief Executive of Action on Addiction, said: "The evidence demonstrates that Action on Addiction, said: "The evidence demonstrates that cannabis use can be dangerous”. cannabis use can be dangerous”.

Currently, the number of cannabis users in the UK is Currently, the number of cannabis users in the UK is estimated at more than three million. estimated at more than three million.

As many as one in 10 cannabis users become addicted. As many as one in 10 cannabis users become addicted. Cannabis use is associated with cancers of the mouth, Cannabis use is associated with cancers of the mouth, tongue, throat, oesophagus and lung and reductions in tongue, throat, oesophagus and lung and reductions in fertility.fertility.

Some of the Some of the immediate effectsimmediate effects

of smoking marijuanaof smoking marijuana

Some immediate physical effects of marijuana Some immediate physical effects of marijuana include a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot include a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and a dry mouth and throat. eyes, and a dry mouth and throat.

Studies of marijuana's mental effects show that the Studies of marijuana's mental effects show that the drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which require concentration, swift reactions, and require concentration, swift reactions, and coordination, such as driving a car or operating coordination, such as driving a car or operating machinery. machinery.

A common bad reaction to marijuana is the "acute A common bad reaction to marijuana is the "acute panic anxiety reaction." People describe this panic anxiety reaction." People describe this reaction as an extreme fear of "losing control," reaction as an extreme fear of "losing control," which causes panic. The symptoms usually which causes panic. The symptoms usually disappear in a few hours. disappear in a few hours.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                            

The long-term effects of cannabis are controversial

Professor John Henry, a consultant in Professor John Henry, a consultant in toxicology from St Mary's Hospital in London, toxicology from St Mary's Hospital in London, found that studies pointed to an increase in found that studies pointed to an increase in schizophrenia among regular cannabis schizophrenia among regular cannabis smokers.smokers.

It appears likely that some cases of It appears likely that some cases of schizophrenia are attributable to the smoking schizophrenia are attributable to the smoking of cannabis, rather than the alternative of cannabis, rather than the alternative explanation which is; that patients prone to explanation which is; that patients prone to mental illness are more likely to be drawn to mental illness are more likely to be drawn to using the drug.using the drug.

WithdrawalWithdrawal Symptoms of withdrawing from cannabis can Symptoms of withdrawing from cannabis can

include appetite loss, mood swings, difficulty include appetite loss, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, irritability anger and craving.concentrating, irritability anger and craving.

However, the properties of cannabis are also However, the properties of cannabis are also medicinal which is why it is so popular.medicinal which is why it is so popular.

For example, if a person smokes cannabis to For example, if a person smokes cannabis to relieve anxiety or shyness then cessation will relieve anxiety or shyness then cessation will see the return of these feelings.see the return of these feelings.

If the reasons include avoiding PTSD or other If the reasons include avoiding PTSD or other traumas then as the psychological dependence traumas then as the psychological dependence is removed these factors will gradually return.is removed these factors will gradually return.

Some of the psychological problems are created Some of the psychological problems are created or amplified post as well as pre the onset of use.or amplified post as well as pre the onset of use.

TreatmentTreatment

There are no known pharmalogical There are no known pharmalogical interventions for the treatment of cannabis interventions for the treatment of cannabis addiction and many health professionals do addiction and many health professionals do not believe people actually become addictednot believe people actually become addicted

Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed but Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed but rather to deal with the symptoms pre or post rather to deal with the symptoms pre or post the onset of usethe onset of use

Treatments are usually therapeutic in nature Treatments are usually therapeutic in nature and focus on the causes as well as the and focus on the causes as well as the symptoms symptoms