Marijuana is the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the Cannabis sativa plant. It has many common names in different areas of the world like ganja, cannabis, hash, grass, pot and weed. It is a green, brown, or gray mix of dried, crumbled parts from the marijuana plant.
CHEMICAL AGENTS IN MARIJUANA
More then 400 chemical compounds are present in marijuana plant. Approximately 60 of these are unique to the cannabis plant and these substances are called cannabinoids. The main chemical agent present in marijuana is delta 9 tetrhydrocannabinol (THC). THC is a fat soluble substance. The effects of this substance remain in our body, especially in our lungs and brain, up to three weeks. In marijuana the amount of THC is from 1% to 8%. But it is different in hashish and hash oil etc. The amount of THC produced depends on the strain of cannabis and on environmental factors such as growth, harvest, and storage conditions.
USES OF MARIJUANA
Mostly people use it by refilling marijuana instead of tobacco in cigarettes and in cigars. Sometimes they use it with combination of other drugs. Smoking marijuana can relax a person and elevate their mood. This can be followed by drowsiness and sedation. Some people get addicted to marijuana after using it for a while. It is more likely to happen if they use marijuana every day, or started using it when they were teenagers.
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA
Marijuana can cause problems with memory, learning, and behavior. Smoking it can cause some of the same coughing and breathing problems as smoking cigarettes. It also include effects like dry mouth, dry eyes, increased heart rate and visible signs of intoxication such as bloodshot eyes and puffy eyelids. Other problems include:
- Difficulty in thinking and problem solving
- Anxiety attacks or feelings of paranoia
- Impaired muscle coordination and judgment
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- Dangerous impairment of driving skills
- Cardiac problems for people with heart disease or high blood pressure, because marijuana increases the heart rate
HARMFUL TO ENVIRONMENT
Marijuana can also harm the environment by contaminating waterways, destroying vegetation and wildlife habitat through the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Indoor grows are also harmful because of the increased fire risk posed by rewiring or jury rigging electrical bypasses in grow houses.
MEDICAL IMPORTANCE OF MERIJUANA
There are about twenty three states in world in which use of marijuana is legal. This is legal in that states because of its medical importance as it has the ability to enhance appetite. This led to increase its medical use to reduce the physical wasting caused by AIDS and to reduce nausea for chemotherapy patients. In states in which it's legal, doctors recommend medical marijuana for many conditions and diseases, frequently those that are chronic.
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