Marijuana

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Marijuana is a dried mixture of stems, leaves, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa plant. Slang terms for marijuana include pot, weed, reefer, joint, and grass. It is usually smoked as a cigarette or in a pipe called a bong. Marijuana contains over 400 other chemicals, some of which may cause cancer.

Marijuana can cause many health problems, including:

• problems with memory and learning
• distorted perception
• difficulty in thinking and problem solving
• loss of coordination
• anxiety, panic attacks, and paranoia (being excessively suspicious and/or distrustful of others)
• increased risk of a heart attack
• reduced ability of the immune system to fight disease

Like smoking tobacco, smoking marijuana may cause:

• coughing
• trouble breathing
• lung diseases

One study showed that marijuana smoking doubled or tripled the risk of developing cancers of the head or neck. Marijuana also may cause lung cancer. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more cancer-causing compounds than does tobacco smoke.

Because marijuana makes it harder to learn and remember things, students who are heavy marijuana smokers tend to do worse in school. They get lower grades and are less likely to graduate from high school than are students who do not smoke marijuana.

For some people, marijuana can be addictive. Addiction means that you keep using a drug, even though it causes problems in your life. Using the drug also may take the place of things that you normally do for fun. If you stop using the drug, you crave it and experience withdrawal symptoms, such as sleeplessness and irritability.

Additional Information on Marijuana:

Publications

1.   Marijuana - The information includes statistics on marijuana use among 8th and 10th graders, and marijuana effects on the brain, lungs, heart rate and blood pressure.

   http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDACapsules/NCMarijuana.html

2.   Marijuana Myths & Facts: The Truth Behind 10 Popular Misperceptions - This report looks at 10 popular misperceptions about marijuana and, using the latest research findings and statistical information, explains why they are wrong.

   http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/marijuana_myths_facts/index.html...

3.   Marijuana: Facts for Teens - This booklet explains the current knowledge about marijuana and the latest scientific information on its effects. It provides teens with answers to frequently asked questions about marijuana, including what it is, who uses it, how it affects a person physically and mentally after short and long-term use.

   http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/Marijteens.html

4.   Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know - This on-line publication provides tips for parents to help them address the issue of marijuana with their children. It also contains information on signs of use and long term effects.

   http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/MarijparentsN.html

5.   NIDA Research Report Series: Marijuana - This National Institute on Drug Abuse Report focuses on the scientific aspects of marijuana use, including its effects on the brain, how it affects quality of life, addiction to marijuana, and use during pregnancy.

   http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/

6.   Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator - This web site can help you locate a substance abuse treatment facility in your area.

   http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

7.   Tips for Teens: The Truth About Marijuana - Part of a series of brochures that provides facts and dispels myths about substance use, this brochure discusses marijuana use, its long-term and short-term effects, physical and psychological risks, and legal implications.

   http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/phd641/

8.     What Americans Need to Know About Marijuana - This document provides critical information on the myths and misperceptions surrounding the most widely used illicit drug in America: marijuana.

   http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.org/publications/pdf/mj_rev.pdf

9. Marijuana's Adverse Effects (Copyright © AAFP) - This publication provides information on marijuana and the health risks involved in using it.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/drugs/485.html

Organizations

1.   Drug Enforcement Administration, DOJ
2.   National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, SAMHSA, HHS
3.   National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, HHS
4.   Office of National Drug Control Policy, EOP
5.   Office on Smoking and Health, NCCDPHP, CDC, HHS
6. American Council for Drug Education
7. American Lung Association
8. Partnership for a Drug Free America

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 19, 2008.