EVERYONE’S FAVORITE TOPIC Marijuana

What is Marijuana? a product of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa main active chemical in marijuana, also present in other forms of cannabis, is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)  Of the roughly 400 chemicals found in the cannabis plant, THC affects the brain the most. the most often used illegal drug in this country

Nicknames weed grass pot chronic joint blunt herb Mary Jane

History Cultivation of the Cannabis sativa plant dates back thousands of years. The first written account of cannabis cultivation is found in Chinese records dating from 28 B.C. (used for medical purposes).

Terms Cannabinoids- a class of diverse chemical compounds present in Marijuana that occur naturally in the immune system of animals Contact Buzz: Getting a high because you are in close contact with someone who is smoking MJ.

What does Marijuana look like? Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant

How is it used? Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette called a “joint”. Weed can be smoked in a water pipe, called a “bong” or mixed into food or brewed as tea. It has also appeared in cigars called “blunts”.

How is it used (continued) Smoked: Lungs are lined with alveoli (tiny folds in longs that help with oxygen absorption) that instantly absorb the THC. Consumed: Stomach does not absorb as much THC as when smoked, but the high lasts longer.

Short-term effects problems with memory and learning, distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch) trouble with thinking and problem solving loss of motor coordination increased heart rate Anxiety dry mouth and throat These effects are even greater when other drugs are mixed with weed. A user may also experience

Long-term effects Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing compounds as tobacco, sometimes in higher concentrations. Studies show that someone who smokes five joints per week may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day.

Marijuana in the body Every time a user smokes a marijuana cigarette or ingests marijuana in some other form, THC and other chemicals enter the user's body. The chemicals make their way through the bloodstream to the brain and then to the rest of the body.

Mary Jane and the Brain

Mimics Anandamide (brain chemical)

Interestingly enough… Banned by the U.S. federal government in 1937 It is estimated that 14.8 million Americans use marijuana Marijuana costs between $400 and $2,000 per pound A pound of higher quality marijuana, known as sinsemilla, costs between $900 and $6,000.

Native to India and the Himalayan Mountain Range

Medical Marijuana Use of medical marijuana legal in 18 states. You cannot legally smoke marijuana in Colorado unless you have a permit for the medical use of marijuana or you have grown your own plants and smoke it on your own property.  Not enough studies have shown that the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to marijuana

Legal Stuff Possession  ½ ounce or less= $200 fine/misdemeanor  ½ ounce- 1.5 ounces= $1,000 fine/1-45 days jail time  1.5 ounces-10 pounds= $1,000 fine/3-8 months jail time/ felony offense Sale  Less than 10 pounds= $1,000 fine/ 3-8 months jail time/felony offense Cultivation  less than 10 pounds= $1,000 fine/3-8 months jail time  More than 10 pounds= $5,000/ years Paraphernalia  Sale= 1-45 days jail time/ $1,000 fine

Legal Stuff: Driving DUI- Driving Under the Influence  Consequences are severe… if a cop suspects you of being in possession of marijuana, they can search your car. If you do not consent, they can obtain a search warrant for your car or home. A cop can give you a field drug test and see if you have used marijuana and are currently under the influence of it.

Magic Grassssss