Marijuana: Friend or Foe Joshua Caballero University of Houston (Downtown) Intro to Biology

“What Tis it?” Marijuana is a mixture of the dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant. The mixture can be green, brown, or gray.

Origin The oldest known written record on cannabis use comes from the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2727 B.C. Ancient Greeks and Romans were also familiar with cannabis, while in the Middle East, use spread throughout the Islamic empire to North Africa. In 1545 cannabis spread to the western hemisphere where Spaniards imported it to Chile for its use as fiber. In North America cannabis, in the form of hemp, was grown on many plantations for use in rope, clothing and paper.

Common Street Names Pot grass Herb Weed Mary Jane Reefa skunk chronic Ganja Killa

A bunch of leaves seem harmless, right? THINK AGAIN!!! Marijuana has a chemical in it called delta- 9- TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL, better known as THC. A lot of other chemicals are found in marijuana, too about 400 of them, many of which could affect your health THC is the main psychoactive ingredient.

Usage The most common method is smoking loose marijuana rolled into a cigarette called a “joint”.” Sometimes marijuana is smoked through a water pipe called a “bong.” Others smoke “blunts" cigars hollowed out and filled with the drug. And some users brew it as tea or mix it with food

Teen Abuse ranking just behind alcohol and tobacco as the most commonly used addictive substance by teens. Usage rates for high school students increased between 2009 and 2010 from 5.2% to 6.1% for high school seniors, 2.8% to 3.3% for tenth grade students and 1.0% to 1.2% for eighth grade students. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns that the current high rates of marijuana use by teenagers are placing them at risk for future brain development abnormalities, regular marijuana use in early years affects learning, judgment and motor skills.

EFFECTS OF “Bud” Leads to: School difficulties Problems with memory and concentration Increased aggression Car accidents Use of other drugs or alcohol Risky sexual behaviors Increased risk of suicide Increased risk of psychosis

LONG-TERM The same breathing problems as smoking cigarettes (coughing, wheezing, trouble with physical activity, and lung cancer) Decreased motivation or interest Lower intelligence Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, anger, moodiness, and psychosis Decreased or lack of response to mental health medication Increased risk of side effects from mental health medication

Medicinal Twenty states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use even though it hasn’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be a medicine. There are a few reasons why it hasn’t been approved. One in which there haven’t been enough studies to show that its benefits outweigh its harms.

Since the discovery of the cannabinoid system scientists are actively looking for ways to use this system for medical purposes. Several promising compounds are being tested for the treatment of obesity, pain, and other disorders. However, it is unlikely that smoked marijuana will be developed as a medication because of its negative health effects.

Stopping the habit A number of programs are designed specifically to help teenagers who abuse marijuana. When someone has a drug problem, it's not always easy to know what to do. If someone you know is using marijuana, encourage him or her to talk to a parent, school guidance counselor, or other trusted adult. There are also anonymous resources, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ( TALK) and the Treatment Referral Helpline ( HELP).

CITATIONS "Cannabis, Coca, & Poppy: Nature's Addictive Plants." Cannabis: History. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr "Marijuana and Teens." Marijuana and Teens. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr "Marijuana." NIDA for Teens. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr "Teenage Marijuana." Teen Marijuana Use. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr