Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana is a common name for the hemp plant, cannabis sativa. Also known as pot, grass or weed, marijuana does not contain just one chemical. In fact, marijuana contains 61 known relatives of the primary active ingredient, Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana contains more than 400 known chemical toxins. When marijuana is burned, even more toxic compounds are produced.
Marijuana Potency Increases And Addiction
The marijuana sold today has much higher THC content than marijuana sold in the ‘60s and ‘70s through hybridization of marijuana plants. In fact, marijuana potency is at a 30-year high. Marijuana THC content increased from 1 percent in 1975 to 6 - 14 percent THC in 1985. In 2007, marijuana THC amounts averaged 9.6%. This 9.6% potency of marijuana tested in 2007 is more than double the potency of marijuana in 1983. Today’s marijuana presents the potential for major psychological damage, marijuana addiction and serious health threats.
Marijuana Addiction
THC in marijuana is absorbed quickly into fatty tissue and remains there for a long time. Because of this, a single marijuana dose may take 3 to 4 weeks to clear the system completely. The higher potency of today’s marijuana increases the percentage of people who will suffer from marijuana addiction and need treatment.
Marijuana Effects on the Body
- Marijuana adversely affects normal cell formation.
- Marijuana roduces feelings of isolation and depersonalization.
- Marijuana produces shakes, lack of coordination and headaches.
- Makes any mental or emotional problem worse.
- Increases the heart rate.
- Contains 50 percent more tar per ounce than tobacco.
- Decreases air flow and creates loss of lung capacity in little more than a month of regular smoking.
- Produces chronic irritation of nasal and lung passages.
- Creates pre cancerous changes in the lungs of smokers in their 20s.
- Suppresses sex drive and sexual performance with prolonged use.
- Can lead to impotence.
- Harms a developing fetus.
- Is associated with increased still births, neonatal deaths, decreased birth weight and abnormal reactions in children born to mothers on marijuana.
- Decreases brain response, affects thinking and brain function, creates confusion and problems with short and long term memory, and distorts perception of time.
- Causes blackouts.
- Impairs driving skills. Studies show taking driving risks and brake response time is increased, while concentration is decreased and risk taking is increased.
- Distorts peripheral vision, especially in the first two hours after using.
People who smoke marijuana generally have reduced energy, reduced motivation and decreased drive. Marijuana twists the mind with false moods, chemically induced distortions and unreal perceptions of people and life. Marijuana distorts what is stored in the memory, in effect lying to the user.
Smoking marijuana also decreases the chance for a naturally satisfying life. It is an especially harmful drug for young people. Just when teens and young adults are searching for the best way to achieve their dreams, marijuana robs them of motivation. Young people do less, learn less and become less capable when they smoke marijuana.
Smoking marijuana drains self-confidence and arrests the development of confidence in a person’s own ability to get natural rewards out of life. Marijuana introduces people to altered perceptions and feelings, and an “I don’t care” attitude. It encourages use of other drugs and sinks its users into an ever-deepening dependence on drug lifestyles. Users are also drawn into the illegal drug culture, then available to those who are pushing other drugs.
Why Marijuana is Addictive
Most addictive drugs are able to produce pleasurable effects; marijuana produces an artificial feeling of pleasant relaxation. These effects are created by chemically mimicking certain normal brain messenger chemicals that produce positive feelings. This is like having counterfeit money that fits in a slot machine. When the drug comes in, it stimulates the reward center, short-circuiting the survival mechanism. Your natural reward center can’t tell the difference between the drug and the natural chemical messenger.
