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

Medical Marijuana Abuse

By Leslie Thompson In recent years, the medicinal value of marijuana has largely been scrutinized and contested. Proponents of the drug argue that cannabis provides help for individuals with life-threatening illnesses; opponents contend that there isn’t enough medical evidence to prove that marijuana...
June 18th, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More

Marijuana Smokers Face Rapid Lung Disease

Researchers have found that the development of bullous lung disease (also known as bullae) occurs in marijuana smokers about 20 years earlier than tobacco smokers. This condition is often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, and occurs when air is trapped in the...
May 29th, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction, Types of Addiction | Read More

Your Brain on Marijuana

There is a great deal of argument about the effects that marijuana has on the human brain. While there are those who attempt to popularize the use of the drug as one that has few, if any, side effects, the scientific facts prove otherwise.
May 14th, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Marijuana is a drug made from the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the Cannabis sativa plant. The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC, a fat-soluble substance that remains in the lungs and in brain tissue for as long as three weeks. In recent decades the potency in terms of THC content has...
May 8th, 2009 | Marijuana Addiction | Read More