Marijuana Plants Indoors

Marijuana Facts

Right behind caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco, marijuana is the most commonly used psychoactive (mood-altering) drug in the United States. It is estimated that 70 million Americans have tried marijuana at least once and 11.1 million Americans are current users.

The average age people start smoking marijuana is under 14 years. Marijuana’s scientific name is Cannabis Sativa (the hemp plant), and it grows wild in temperate and tropical climates. Most wild marijuana is considered inferior to cultivated marijuana because it contains a low concentration of Delta -9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Cultivated marijuana contains ten times the THC of wild marijuana. THC is the primary mind-altering agent in marijuana and is highly concentrated in the flowering tops and upper leaves of the female plant. Twenty-five percent of the marijuana consumed in the United states is domestically grown. Major producers of marijuana include Alabama, Hawaii, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and California. The growing marijuana plant normally has an odd number of leaves per stem, such as five, seven, or nine, and can grow up to twenty feet high.

When prepared for use as a drug, marijuana consists of dried and crushed leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. In small doses, marijuana acts as a sedative. In larger amounts, it can cause hallucinations. The cannabis plant contains more than 430 chemicals. Many of these chemicals severely affect the user’s health. The potency of marijuana varies, depending on the type and part of the plant used, and whether it has been treated with other chemicals. Dealers may treat marijuana with PCP, fentanyl nitrate, or embalming fluid to increase its potency. Doctored marijuana is extremely dangerous.

What Is Hash-ish?

The dark brown resin from the top of the hemp plant is hashish. Hashish has a higher concentration of THC than the marijuana leaves. Hashish can be compressed into pills or cakes, or extracted into oil. Hashish oil contains approximately 20 percent THC content. Tobaccos treated with hashish oil are equal to one joint of marijuana.

Marijuana Legalized?

Several states have passed laws that allow possession of marijuana for medicinal use. Some supporters of medical marijuana are genuinely exploring the potential use of marijuana for providing relief from suffering for ill persons. Others are using this medical issue to challenge the drug laws in the United States to legalize drugs, mainly marijuana for personal gain. To protect consumers, medical protocol is set by health authorities and not determined by popular vote. The Food and Drug Administration withholds approval of a drug until studies indicate that it is safe and effective for its intended use. Unless such studies determine that marijuana used medically meets that criteria, the American Medical Association refuses to recommend that the drug be prescribed for medical purposes.

What Are The Physiological Effects?

When a person inhales marijuana smoke into the lungs, THC enters the blood stream rapidly through metabolism and through tissue absorption. THC reaches the brain rapidly within as little as 14 seconds after inhalation. THC binds to proteins in the blood and remains stored in the body fat tissues. 5 Days after smoking marijuana, 20 percent of the THC remains stored in fat.

Effects On The Central Nervous System

Marijuana mainly affects the Central Nervous System. Effects can vary according to the mental state of the user, the social setting, and previous usage. Marijuana alters moods, coordination, memory, and self-perception. Marijuana users often claim heightened aware- ness of surroundings, a slowing of time, extreme hunger and a dry mouth. Increased usage of marijuana causes hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and paranoia. The THC in marijuana alters several neurotransmitter systems in the brain. This explains marijuana’s somewhat unpredictable effects. THC alters the lipid membrane in all neurons and interferes with the normal functions of these brain cells.

What Are The Effects Of Marijuana On The Respiratory System?

Scientists have identified more than 150 chemicals in marijuana smoke and tar. Marijuana smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals such as benzopyrene, which occurs 70 percent more in marijuana smoke than in tobacco smoke. Examinations of human lung tissue exposed to continuous marijuana smoke in laboratory testing show precancerous cellular change. In laboratory tests, the tars from marijuana smoke produce tumors when applied to animal skin. These studies suggest that prolonged marijuana use causes cancer. Through studies like these, scientists have learned that exposure to marijuana smoke interferes with the work of white blood cells. White blood cells in lung tissue remove debris from the lungs. When exposed to marijuana smoke, these cells cannot remove bacteria and other debris. Smoking marijuana significantly reduces lung functions. Marijuana users increase their chance of contracting respiratory problems such as laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, asthma-like conditions, cough, hoarseness, and dry throat.

What Are Marijuana’s Effects On The Cardiovascular System?

Marijuana increases the heart rate and decreases blood pressure. Frequently, users report an abnormally low blood pressure while standing. Individuals with angina and other cardiovascular problems increase the danger of heart attacks when they smoke marijuana. Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke binds with hemoglobin decreasing the oxygen flow to the body. This causes a marijuana smoker to become breathless from exertion. This also increases the risk of heart attack.

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Studies have shown that regular use of marijuana can cause addiction. Marijuana withdrawals include restlessness, anxiety, disorientation, irritability and cravings for more marijuana, in many cases worse than someone going through nicotine withdrawal. As marijuana has grown in potency in the last decades with advanced growing techniques, it does not take much marijuana to become addicted.

Is Marijuana Dangerous?

Based on the information above, clearly Marijuana is much more dangerous than most believe or know, it is also considered to be a “gateway drug”, meaning that the marijuana use might lead to another drug, one that is generally considered to be even more dangerous than marijuana. However, based on reports from law enforcement, the dangerousness of marijuana is the fact that marijuana causes apathy, destroys ambition, and life, while addicted to marijuana, revolves around using marijuana instead of working towards and achieving life goals.

The Natural Sauna Detoxification Program used by The Atlanta Recovery Center helps the marijuana addict restore health and a outllook on life.