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Marijuana is the name for the drug that comes from the Hemp plant. Marijuana has been cultivated for approximately 4000 years.
It was outlawed and became an illegal drug in the United States in 1937. Its use, risks and legality have been a source of debate for years. Some slang names for marijuana include: grass, pot, reefer, swag, bud, weed whackatabacky, catnip.
The main psychoactive drug in marijuana is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. Effects range from mild euphoria, sensory distortion, and increased appetite, elevated heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, decreased skin temperature and relaxed feelings. Pot is a complex drug that triggers some changes in the body and brain. It can cause a range of reactions from pleasure to panic depending on the dose and frequency of use. Signs that someone has been smoking pot include bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, dry mouth, impaired motor skills, sweating, distraction, confusion and talkativeness.
Are there long term effects? Possibly, not all of the effects of pot disappear when the high ends. A recent study of airlines pilots showed that their flying skills were still impaired 24 hours after smoking pot even though they were no longer high. When pot is smoked, the effects are felt within minuets, reach their peak in 10-30 minutes, and may linger for 2-3 hours. Marijuana can be detected in the body for 1 day to 5 weeks.
One hypothesis about marijuana is that it causes " amotivational syndrome". Symptoms of amotivational syndrome include confusion, declining performance and difficulty finishing tasks. The question that still remains, is whether pot causes amotivation or whether unmotivated people smoke pot as a symptom of their lack of motivation. There is really no hard core evidence.
Each year more than 120,000 people enter drug treatment programs to help stop using pot. Probably the best advice, don't smoke pot and if you do cut down.
If you are concerned about your drug or alcohol use or a friends, contact the ADAPT program on campus at 320-308-4580.
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