Marijuana Use example essay topic

Introduction. a. How many people here have smoked marijuana? Ok, of those people, how many people think they know the true effects, both short and long-term, of marijuana? I researched this topic after finding most people have different ideas on the effects of marijuana. b. Marijuana is a mixture of green and brown leaves, stems and flowers of the Indian hemp plant called cannabis sativa. After using the drug, you may experience short-term and long-term effects.

There are also many medical uses for marijuana in treatments of certain diseases. Hopefully today I can give people a better understanding of what marijuana really does to your system. Body. I. Marijuana is used in two different forms; the plant form is a green and brown mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems and seeds of the hemp plant. The other form of marijuana is Sinsemilla or hash oil, which is the oil and resin of the stem of the plant.

Both forms of marijuana contain THC (delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the main active ingredient that makes a person feel "high", as well as 400 other chemicals. a. Marijuana in its plant form is the most common form and can be used in two different ways. It can be smoked by rolling the dried leaves into cigarette papers or cigar papers. The other way it is used is by simply eating the dried leaves by mixing it with some other foods. When marijuana is smoked THC goes quickly into your bloodstream through the lungs, while being absorbed by the fatty tissues in the different organs in your body as well as to the brain. When THC reaches the brain the person may start to feel "high" which can occur within a few minutes of smoking.

When marijuana is eaten, the THC is passed through the stomach and intestine, then released into the bloodstream, which can take up to an hour to feel the effects. The effects of marijuana can be different for each person that uses the drug. This will depend on: how much of the drug is taken, how potent the THC levels are in the marijuana, if it is smoked or eaten, your size weight and health, and even the mood you are in. Because THC is quickly absorbed into fatty tissues in various organs in you body it can take up to a month for the THC to fully leave your body.

II. Initial effects of using marijuana are different in every person and depends on a number of factors, again how much is taken, the mood your in and so forth. When a person uses marijuana they are said to feel "high", giddiness and euphoria, followed by sedation and pleasant tranquility. When someone is said to be "high" they may seem dizzy or have trouble walking, seem silly or giggly for no reason, or have very red or bloodshot eyes.

Because marijuana is a mind altering drug there are many short-term affects of using the drug. Some of these sort term effects include: sleepiness, difficulty keeping track of time, reduced short term memory, increased heart rate, difficulty speaking, and retaining knowledge. Studies have found that bad side effects from marijuana actually occur in 40 to 60 percent of people who use marijuana. These unpleasant side effects can include: nausea, headache, breathing problems, and reduced flow of blood to the brain. Long-term effects of smoking marijuana seem to affect your body's defense system.

Findings so far show that regular use of marijuana or THC may play a role in some kinds of cancer and in problems with the respiratory and immune systems. Studies have shown that someone who smokes 5 joints a day is taking in as much cancer causing chemicals as a person that smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. And everyone knows that smoking a pack of cigarettes a day can certainly lead to cancer. Also people, who smoke marijuana often, have an increased chance of getting lung infections like pneumonia. a.

Studies have shown that the effects of marijuana are different in males then in females. In males, marijuana affects the parts of the brain, which control the sex and growth hormones. It can decrease testosterone levels. There have been some cases where heavy marijuana users report enlarged breasts which is triggered by the chemical impact on the hormones. Using marijuana regularly can also reduce sperm count in males as well as produce immature sperm. In females, marijuana affects the hormones that determine the sequence of the menstrual cycle, so women that smoke regularly can have irregular menstrual cycles.

Also mothers who smoke marijuana on a regular basis have an increased chance in having babies with a weak central nervous system and show abnormal reactions to light and sound, associated with drug withdraw.. A lot of people have their own views on the medical uses of marijuana and most of them are incorrect. Since the 1970's marijuana has been under what's called a schedule I controlled substance, which means that smoking marijuana has no commonly accepted medical use. Despite this, doctors have made a pill with the active ingredient of marijuana, THC. These THC pills are used as a prescription to treat nausea that occurs with certain types of cancer treatments. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of diseases.

These include pain relief, (pain from nerve damage), glaucoma: Marijuana relieves the internal eye pressure of glaucoma and relieves the pain, Epilepsy - in some patients; epileptic seizures can be prevented with Marijuana use. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia. Conclusion. I hope I have given you guys a better understanding about what really happens to your bodies, if or when you use any form of marijuana, As well as given you the true facts about the medical uses of marijuana.