Marijuana An Educational Perspective Based on Information Contained In The Indiana Prevention Resource Center Factline on Marijuana

Indiana Prevention Resource Center By the end of this presentation: you will have… (1) Been exposed to general information about Marijuana. (2) Learned some basic facts about Marijuana users in Indiana. (3) Viewed the potential consequences of Marijuana use, both short-term and long-term. (4) Learned about prevention efforts in Indiana. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center What is Marijuana? Marijuana, Cannabis Sativa, is a fast-growing annual plant of the Cannabaceae family whose flowers produce the psychoactive chemical THC. The level of THC contained within the plant’s flowers determines the potency of the drug. THC content of a Cannabis Sativa plant ranges from .01 to 10 percent, with the later being 1,000 times more potent. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

About Marijuana Preferred methods of use include: Marijuana Cigarettes (“joints”) or Cigars (“blunts”) Inhalation through a pipe or water-pipe (“bong”) Mixed into Food or drink

Indiana Prevention Resource Center What are common "street names?" Typical street names include: Pot Doobie Hashish Dope Grass Bhang Ganja Mary Jane Weed Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Where does Marijuna come from? The plant was cultivated in North America since the 1600’s and harvested for the tough fiber of the stem which was used to make a variety of products such as rope, paper, and clothing. The Cannabis Sativa plant grows in tropical or temperate regions, and can thrive in a variety of environments including greenhouses. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Users are of all ages and come from all walks of life. Who uses Marijuana? Users are of all ages and come from all walks of life. In 2006, 15.6% of Indiana 8th grade students reported having used Marijuana at least once in their lives. By the end of 12th grade, according to 2006 estimates, 37.1% of students have used Marijuana at least once in their lives. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center What are the acute effects of marijuana abuse? Distorted perception Difficulty thinking and solving problems Dry mouth and throat Euphoria Increased appetite Impaired coordination Paranoia Vasodilatation Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center What other problems are related to marijuana abuse? Long-term effects of using marijuana include: Enhanced cancer risk Psychological dependence requiring more of the drug to get the same effect Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Medicinal Marijuana? Until 1937, Marijuana was used as a medicine in the United States, but the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 discontinued its use. By 1972, Marijuana had been classified as a Schedule I drug by the Controlled Substances Act. This classification denotes a high tendency for abuse and no accepted medicinal use. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Medicinal Marijuana? In recent years, there has been debate amongst the medical and research community regarding the utility of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Proposed uses include: Appetite stimulant in AIDS patients A pain killer for cancer patients Treatment of glaucoma A sedative and hypnotic for the treatment of neurological and movement disorders Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Medicinal Marijuana? Currently, 12 states have medical marijuana laws, but Indiana has no law permitting the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. In June 2001, the American Medical Association stated that marijuana should remain a Schedule I drug until further adequate and well-controlled studies are carried out in patients that demonstrate that medical value exceeds the associated risks. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center What about the law? The possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. For first offenders, the court may consider a conditional discharge. For possession of more than 30 grams, the penalties range from 6 months - 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Resources The Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s Survey on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents; Data from 1996-2005. http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/survey/atod/index.html The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute http://www.in.gov/cji/index.html The National Institute on Drug Abuse www.nida.nih.gov/ Other References:           Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. http://family.samhsa.gov/set/weedweb.aspx           Information Bulletin: Drug, Youth and the Internet (2002) http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs2/2161/           Drug Police Alliance (2004). Marijuana: The Facts. Retrieved on October 1, 2004 from www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/ <http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/>            Jones - McKyer, E.L., Jun, M.K., Raychowdhury, S., Samuel, S., Agley, J., Ortiz, M. Ayachitam, R., Kaushik, P., Thiagarajah, K., and Pothini, B.G. (2004). Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents: The Indiana Prevention Resource Center Survey - 2004 (IDAP Monograph No. 04-03). Bloomington, IN: Indiana Prevention Resource Center.           Krisberg, K. (2005, August). Court Decision on medical marijuana use worries patient advocates. The Nations Health, The Official Newspaper of the American Public Health Association           National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (2002). Marijuana Abuse: Research Report Series.           National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (2003). Marijuana: Facts parents need to know. 15-16.           Office of National Drug Control Policy, News and Public Affairs. (2004). Results from the 2003 national survey on drug use and health  factsheet.           Office of National Drug Control Police, National Youth Anti- Drug Media Campaign. Substance Use in Popular Movies and Music. Retrieved June 30, 2005, from http://www.mediacampaign.org/publication/movies. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Indiana Prevention Resource Center E-mail: drugprc@indiana.edu Contact us Indiana Prevention Resource Center 2735 East 10th Street, CA110 Bloomington, IN 47408-2602 Phone: 1-800-346-3077 or 812-855-1237 Fax: 812-855-4940 E-mail: drugprc@indiana.edu http://www.drugs.indiana.edu Content in this presentation based, in part, on a Factline produced by Bilesha Perera, Ph.D, MS in 2005 and © The Indiana Prevention Resource Center.   The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.  The IPRC is operated by the Indiana University Department of Applied Health Science and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.  It is affiliated with the Department's Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana University accepts full responsibility for the content of this publication. © Copyright, 2005 by the Trustees of Indiana University. Indiana Prevention Resource Center