Marijuana: reasons for topic significance

Marijuana

Why the topic is important: Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States, with at least 4% of the total population smoking pot at least once per year ("Marijuana Use and Its Effects").

As with all drugs, marijuana causes a wide range of physical, neurological, and psychological effects; not all these effects are positive.

The potential medical benefits of the drug are leading to an overhaul of the current classification of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Like all drugs, marijuana has the potential to harm or heal and should be used with care.

Physiological effects of marijuana

Short-term physiological effects

Effects on heart rate, blood pressure, breathing

Red eyes, dry mouth, increased appetite

Long-term physiological effects

Chronic smoking

C. Medicinal uses: "Numerous published studies suggest that marijuana has medical value in treating patients with serious illnesses such as AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chronic pain," ("Medical Marijuana").

III. Neurological effects of marijuana

A. Explanation of delta-9 tetrahydrocannibinol (THC), the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana

B. "THC and other cannabinoids found in marijuana have been found to affect the control of pain, movement and memory," (Alexander)

IV. Psychological effects of marijuana, short-term and long-term

A. Short-term psychological effects

1. Paranoia

2. Magical thinking

B. Long-term psychological effects

1. Addiction

2. Anxiety, mood disorders

C. Social psychological effects including legal status

1. Social anxiety, decreased motivation

2. Stigma, legal problems

V. Conclusion

A. Although marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I substance, scientific evidence shows that the effects of marijuana are not universally negative.

B. The drug should be used with care, though, as the psychological and physical effects of marijuana can be quite extreme for some individuals.

Few drugs cause as much controversy as cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana or pot. Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States, with at least 4% of the total population smoking pot at least once per year ("Marijuana Use and Its Effects"). Although marijuana is classified by the United States federal government as a Schedule I controlled substance, medical science recognizes that the effects of the drug on the human body and mind are not entirely negative. In fact, several states have made marijuana available to patients with certain conditions and physicians may prescribe cannabis in those states. However, the effects of marijuana are not universally positive either. Both short-term and long-term effects from smoking pot can be problematic for some people, especially when use becomes chronic or addictive. The effects of using marijuana can be classified as physiological, neurological, and psychological. Like all drugs, marijuana has the potential to harm or heal and should be used with care.

Marijuana has distinct physiological effects on the human body, and those effects vary from person to person and also may change with chronic use. Many of the short-term and long-term effects of marijuana use are helpful in treating certain medical conditions. The most readily observable short-term physiological effects of smoking marijuana include increased heart rate, increased rate of breathing, increased blood pressure, red eyes, dry mouth, and a delayed reaction time ("Marijuana Use and Its Effects"). Because of the cardiovascular strain the drug can cause, people with preexisting cardiovascular issues are at risk for developing severe adverse effects from smoking marijuana (Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein). Moreover, marijuana can "bind hemoglobin," which limits the amount of oxygen that can be carried to heart tissues (Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein). Short-term use impacts the sympathetic nervous system, leading to vasodilation of the genitals and delayed ejaculation in men (Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein).

An increase in appetite, colloquially called "getting the munchies," is one of the short-term physical effects of smoking marijuana. In fact, the appetite increasing potential of the drug is one of the reasons why marijuana is indicated in certain medical conditions. "Within minutes, THC and the other substances in marijuana smoke cause short-term medical effects," ("Marijuana Use and Its Effects."). The impact of marijuana on appetite mean that the drug is indicated in conditions in which patients cannot eat. Patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer treatments benefit especially well from marijuana, as do patients experiencing wasting syndromes associated with HIV / AIDS. "Numerous published studies suggest that marijuana has medical value in treating patients with serious illnesses such as AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chronic pain," ("Medical Marijuana"). Unfortunately, long-term physiological effects from chronic use can include lung disease, respiratory problems, and lung cancer because marijuana is usually smoked.

In addition to its effects on the body, marijuana also has distinct neurological actions. The primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana is delta-9 tetrahydrocannibinol, or THC. THC content in marijuana varies greatly, which is one of the reasons why it is difficult to generalize about marijuana effects. However, THC does have certain specific actions on brain chemicals and structures. According to Alexander, "THC has been proven to affect the transferring of pain in the brain and that it "interacts with the brain's endogenous opioid system, an important system for the medical treatment of pain." For this reason, marijuana is frequently recommended as a pain relief medication ("Medical Marijuana").

Marijuana affects neurons as well as neurological receptors. The specific brain receptors sensitive to THC include CB1, CB2 and anandamide. Anandamide is "a substance naturally produced by the body that acts at the cannabinoid receptor and has effects similar to those of THC," (Alexander). Alexander also notes, "The CB1 receptor is found primarily in the brain and mediates the psychological effects of THC. The CB2 receptor is associated with the immune system; its role remains unclear." Chronic long-term use of marijuana may cause brain impairment (Alexander).

The short-term psychological effects of smoking marijuana can be extremely pleasant, which is why the drug is used recreationally. However, long-term use can lead to deleterious psychological effects and therefore the drug should be taken cautiously. Initial effects include "giddiness and euphoria, followed by sedation and pleasant tranquility," (Alexander). A "distorted sense of time" and "magical or random thinking" are other short-term effects that can potentially be experienced as pleasurable ("Marijuana Use and Its Effects). Short-term psychological effects also include "heightened sensory awareness," (Hanson, Venturelli and Fleckenstein). Because of the wide variation in types of marijuana and the doses used, the specific psychological effects differ radically and from person to person and "can vary according to the expectations of the user, the social setting, the route of administration, and previous experiences," (Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein). Some of the negative short-term effects associated with smoking marijuana include short-term memory loss, paranoia, anxiety, and self-consciousness. High doses of the drug can even lead to hallucinations and delusions (Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein).

Long-term effects from chronic use of marijuana can include anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, "decreased interest in personal appearance," and lack of motivation (Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein). Both the short-term and long-term psychological effects are highly variable, depending on the quality, type, and amount of marijuana that is used. Psychological addiction to marijuana is possible with chronic use but marijuana has not been proven to be physically addictive (Alexander).