Effects of marijuana

April 23rd, 2009, Author: admin, Categories: Marijuana smoking

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MARIJUANA users are four times more likely to have depressive symptoms than those who are not users of the drug, and they are also more likely to suffer from suicidal thoughts.
Heavy users of marijuana may develop an addiction to the drug, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they do not use marijuana.
Marijuana has an intoxicating effect on the user, which is the key reason why it is used.

Regular users of marijuana may develop bronchitis and poor lung function. They may also develop problems with short-term thinking and memory, which is one of the reasons why students who start using marijuana usually experience a significant drop in their school performance and their grades. In addition, regular users may develop an increased heart rate and even have a doubling of their normal rate.

They may also experience effects of panic attacks and anxiety attacks.
Because marijuana contains NICOTINE, experts believe that it causes lung cancer. Teenage tobacco smokers are 14 times likelier to try marijuana than those who have never smoked. As a result, isolating the carcinogenic effect of marijuana from the effect of cigarettes has been impossible. However, it is known that marijuana smokers are prone to lung infections, and long-term use increases the risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, and EMPHYSEMA.
Because marijuana lowers inhibitions, users are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior.
Marijuana users are more likely to have multiple sexual partners and to fail to engage in safe sex.
Chronic marijuana users may develop problems with DEPRESSION and ANXIETY DISORDERS.

However, whether the marijuana causes mood disorders or if it is used more frequently by individuals who are already depressed, anxious, and unconsciously seeking to self-medicate their distressing emotions is unclear. As with the use of other hallucinogens, heavy users of marijuana can also develop psychotic disorders.

In individuals who are already severely mentally ill, such as those with schzophreniz, marijuana can exacerbate psychotic symptoms.