marijuana

Marijuana refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug. The typical herbal form of marijuana consists of the flowers, leaves, and stalks of female plants. The resinous form of the drug is known as hashish (or hash). The major psychoactive chemical compound in marijuana is THC. Aside from a subjective change in perception and mood, the most common short-term physical and neurological effects include increased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, impairment of short-term episodic memory, working memory, psychomotor coordination, and concentration. Long-term effects are less clear, although marijuana use has been assessed by several studies to be correlated with the development of anxiety, psychosis, and depression.



Articles Related to marijuana

Study Examines Impact of Music with Cannabis References on Adolescent Marijuana Use

Parents may have good reason to pay attention to the style of music their children prefer. While parents are often shocked by the language and subject matter of the songs their kids listen to, there may be something more shocking going on: a change in how kids make decisions about using illicit drugs.
June 10th, 2010 | Adolescent Drug Abuse | Read More

New Research Indicates Marijuana Really Can Be a Gateway Drug for Teens

Marijuana is widely used by teenagers as a recreational drug. The effects of using marijuana during the teen years have been debated, with some calling marijuana a “gateway drug” that leads to the use of more potent illegal drugs. Some parents consider using marijuana as a normal part of...
April 30th, 2010 | Research & News | Read More

Long-Term Marijuana Use and Psychosis

Young adults who have used cannabis or marijuana for a longer period of time appear more likely to have hallucinations or delusions or to meet criteria for psychosis, according to a report posted online that will appear in the May print issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives...
March 2nd, 2010 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More

Daily Marijuana Use May Hasten Psychosis

An Emory University study has found that daily marijuana use in adolescence may hasten the onset of symptoms leading up to psychosis. Science Daily reports that the study was published in the November issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
December 21st, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More

Common Genetic Factors Contribute to Alcohol and Marijuana Use and Dependence

Researchers at Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis discovered that many of the same genes influence both alcohol and marijuana use as well as dependence. Together, these genes make some people more likely to drink alcohol or use marijuana. As consumption of alcohol or use of marijuana increases,...
December 18th, 2009 | Research & News | Read More

Regular Users of Cannabis and Alcohol More Impulsive than Non-Users

Regular consumers of cannabis and alcohol are more impulsive than non-users, according to a study by psychologists from the University of Almeria in Spain, led by Dr. Pilar Flores and Flor Zaldívar. However, there is no evidence of the differences between both of these consumer groups, which makes these...
December 8th, 2009 | Research & News | Read More

Marijuana and Meth are the Most Abused Illicit Drugs in Iowa

In Iowa, marijuana and methamphetamine are the most abused illicit drugs, according to the 2010 Iowa Drug Control Strategy. Alcohol continues to be the most frequently abused substance in the state. The report also states that prescription drug abuse appears to be on the rise.
November 2nd, 2009 | Types of Addiction | Read More

Marijuana Addiction among Dutch Teenagers

An increasing number of Dutch teenagers are becoming addicted to marijuana. Many of them begin smoking pot regularly around age 13, and the habit develops into dependency and results in being admitted to a rehab clinic. Rob Kievit of Radio Netherlands reports that young smokers are getting into conflicts...
September 29th, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More

Marijuana and Memory Loss

A new study shows that memory loss associated with marijuana use is caused by the drug’s interference with the brain’s natural protein synthesis machinery. Though it has been documented that marijuana impairs memory, the exact mechanism was previously unknown.
August 3rd, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More

Is Marijuana Safe?

Ads touting medical marijuana flood newspapers and websites promise quick and easy access to the drug. Does this mean marijuana is safe? Is it even legal? What are the real facts about marijuana and what it can do to your body and mind?
July 20th, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More