“According to the United Nations, 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana—more than 3.8% of the planet’s population”( Drug- Free World, International Statistics, Drugfreeworld.org).The oldest document of cannabis existence was discovered to be in China during 2727 B.C. Cannabis was originally used for medicinal use or for spiritual purposes. As cannabis became known it spread into the Middle East and ultimately into North Africa. During the mid 1500’s the Spaniards discovered cannabis and shipped it into Chile for the use of fiber(Cannabis, Coca and Poppy: Nature’s Addictive Plants, Deamuseum.org). During the Mexican revolution, Mexican escape persecution by migrating to the united States, introducing America to cannabis, which …show more content…
The activation of the receptors by the THC negatively affects the brain where simple functions like thinking, memory and coordination are performed (National Institute On Drug Abuse, How Does Marijuana Produce It’s Effects, Drugabuse.gov). Madeline Meier from Duke University states, “Researchers from Duke University analyzed data gathered over many years from people living in New Zealand. They compared the IQs in childhood through age 38 among marijuana users and nonusers. People who began using marijuana in their teenage years and then continued to use marijuana for many years lost about eight IQ points from childhood to adulthood, whereas those who never used marijuana did not lose any IQ points.Those who smoked the most, at least every day saw the greatest drop in IQ, the full 8 points. The younger they were when they started using cannabis, the greater the IQ decline. Adults who smoked marijuana as teenagers did worse in tests of memory and decision-making than adults who hadn't smoked pot” (Madeline Meier, Marijuana may hurt the developing teen brain, Npr.org).The younger one begins to use Marijuana the greater the damage to the
Furthermore, minors could get their hands on marijuana, leading to it disrupting their brain growth. Finally, marijuana would increase safety issues for the state, because it affects the way people 's CNS(central nervous systems) works. One of the reasons marijuana should not be legalized is because it is a gateway drug. NYLN(2015) says that
In the “Marijuana: A Continuing Concern for Pediatricians” article the author points out the fact that marijuana is in fact “an addictive, mind-altering drug capable of inducing dependency” (Marijuana: A Continuing Concern). After some research this statement has been clearly supported. According to the author of “Marijuana: Breaking Down the Buzz” being under the influence of the drug has led to very poor decisions. Some of the poor decisions teenagers make while being under the influence include; people not completing high school, having failing grades if they are still in school, and doing reckless things while behind the wheel of a vehicle.
The use of Marijuana affects the learning ability of the user even after weeks of consumption. This leaves the user in a distraught\ dream-like state. Elyn Saks, Fellow schizophrenic and Professor of law and psychology at USC said “ The schizophrenic mind is not so much split as shattered. I like to say schizophrenia is like a waking nightmare.” ( “A tale of mental illness -- from the inside”)
Long-term, chronic, use of cannabis can lead to abnormalities in the brain that are also shown along with other drugs that are more infamous than marijuana. In a study that conducted the exposure of THC to baby rats, showed that the rats later in life had more difficulty with memorization than rats that were not exposed to THC.Regular use is associated with an increased risk of developing a psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia. A psychotic illness is one where you experience hallucinations. Your risk of developing a psychotic illness is higher if you start using cannabis in your teens and if you have a family history of mental illness. Cannabis use has also been shown to increase the risk of a relapse in people who have schizophrenia, and could make existing symptoms worse.
Marijuana use is found in young adults (18-24) which most of them are linked to college students. There are many ways Marijuana can affect a human body, ways that many people do not know about Marijuana can affect brain areas that influence pleasure ,memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, and sensory and time perception.(Drugabuse.org). Marijuana can affect all these
One of the most well designed studies on marijuana and intelligence, released in 2012, found that persistent, heavy use of marijuana by adolescents reduces IQ by as much as eight points, when tested well into adulthood. Other studies have found that marijuana use is linked with dropping out of school, and subsequent unemployment, social welfare dependence, and a lower self-reported quality of life than non-marijuana abusing people. According to the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, youth with poor academic results were more than four times as likely to have used marijuana in the past year as youth with an average of higher grades. This is consistent with an exhaustive meta-analysis examining forty-eight different studies by Macleod and colleagues, published by Lancet, who found that marijuana use is consistently associated with reduced grades and a reduced chance of graduating from school. In addition, studies have linked employee marijuana use with “increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers’ compensation claims, and job turnover.”
Cannabis: A Cure for America, A Cure for the World One of the biggest and most talked about problem we have in America is that marijuana is illegal. Marijuana could bring so many good things to America it seems like the list is never ending, It could medicate cancer patients so they don't have to use narcotics to ease their pain. There are even studies that show marijuana kills cancer cells.
The THC reacts with specific brain cell receptors and stimulates the parts of the brain that contains high numbers of these receptors. This reaction causes the “high” associated with marijuana and the effects can include “altered senses, altered sense of time, changes in mood, impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-solving, and impaired memory” (“Marijuana,” 2017). Some of the debated long-term effects include stunted brain development, and a decline in thinking, memory, and learning
The blood carries the THC to the brain and other organs. The user feels the effects in 30 minutes to an hour. THC acts on specific brain cell that ordinarily react to natural THC-like chemicals in the brain. These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and function. Marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contain the highest number of receptors.
Therefore the higher the THC levels, the greater risk for addiction (Marijuana…) Marijuana is popular among younger people. It’s smoked through pipes/joints or can be mixed in with food. Using this illegal substance can have many harmful effects on a person. For example it can affect brain development among teenagers, and cause memory loss or learning functions.
Teenagers who smoke weed are more likely to move on to harder drugs, and it prevents their mind from developing properly. In a study by Lancet Psychiatry, it was reported that teenagers who smoked marijuana daily were 60 percent less likely to graduate from high school than students who did not use. In
Too much of this drug can cause (THC damaging brain cell receptors): change in senses, changes in mood, uneven body movement, problems with thinking and solving problems, and damaged memory. It also has many health effects which include: paranoia and hallucinations, breathing problems, and fetus’s brain might get damaged while in their mother’s womb. The depressant Cannabis intoxicates the person in specific ways. Its intoxication causes a person to relax but sometimes could have serious side effects. Smoking pot has faster signs and symptoms than eating it.
Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is derived from the Cannabis plant and is used commonly for either recreational or medical purposes. Marijuana is composed of chemicals such as tetrahydrocannabinol (HTC, and over eighty cannabinoids. Marijuana is acknowledged for providing smokers with a “high” feeling. Since the twentieth century, this illicit drug has been banned across the world. However, over the past few years studies have been conducted on marijuana and the results show that it can actually be helpful in many different areas of society.
For many years scientists have conducted studies about marijuana and the different effects that it has on the mind and body. “Marijuana smoke can cause many
Students who smoke weed are inapt to getting lower grades and less likely to graduate. Workers who smoke are more likely to experience a variety of absences, problems, tardies, accidents, etc.compared to workers who don 't. Marijuana is an addictive and dangerous drug. Sources Used: Margolis, Robert. " Legalizing Marijuana Would Harm Teens." Legalizing Drugs, edited by Stuart A. Kallen, Greenhaven Press, 2006.