Drugs: Marijuana

MARIJUANA

WHAT IS MARIJUANA?

Marijuana is a mixture of leaves, flowers, stems and seeds of the hemp, Cannabis sativa. The plant contains a chemical that alters the mind called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other compounds related to this. Extracts with a high level of THC may also be derived from the cannabis plant (see "Extracts of marijuana").

HOW IS MARIJUANA USED?

People smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes (bareto or joint) or in pipes or water pipes (bongs). Also the cigarettes smoked in pipes-gaps are filled partly or completely with marijuana. Now there are more people using vaporizers as an alternative to avoid smoke inhalation. These devices extract the active ingredients of marijuana (including THC), and collect the steam in a storage compartment. Thus the person inhales the vapor and not smoke.

EXTRACTS OF MARIJUANA

Use of withdrawals concentrated in high THC marijuana, continues to increase. Those who use marijuana call this practice dabbing. There are various forms of these extracts being used, some are:

hash oil or oil-viscous liquid honey

Budder-wax or a solid substance with a texture similar to that of a lip balm

shatter-a hard, solid, amber

HOW DOES MARIJUANA AFFECT THE BRAIN?

Marijuana has effects on the brain in the short and long term.

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

When a person smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. Blood carries this chemical to the brain and other organs in the body. When a person eats food or drinks with THC, the body takes longer to absorb. In this case, the effects can start to feel 30 minutes or an hour later after eating.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Marijuana also affects brain development. When people start using marijuana during adolescence, the drug can reduce the mental faculties to think, remember and learn, and affect how the brain builds certain connections between different parts of the brain needed to perform these functions. The effects of marijuana on these functions can take a long time and may even be permanent.

VOCABULARY:

Drug: Natural, vegetable or animal origin, or synthetic substance, which is used in chemistry or in dyeing or in pharmacy and medicine.

Cigarettes: The consumption of snuff is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and mortality in the United States.

Marijuana: Drugs obtained from the mixture of dried leaves and flowers of the Indian hemp and sugary aromatic substances that produce euphoric and hallucinogenic sensations; usually smoked mixed with snuff and abuse may create dependency.

ESTAS SON ALGUNAS PAG.

Por Hannia González y Yohali Grimaldo