Marijuana Vocabulary

1. Marijuana Vocabulary Match the word to the correct definition

2. A drug, which when used, may lead to the use of more addictive substances. • Gateway Drug (B)

3. A semisolid substance that comes from the sap of some plants and trees. It is used in varnishes, paints, adhesives, inks and medicines. • Resin (J)

4. Added a small amount of a substance to food or drink. • Laced (E)

5. An inflammation of the windpipe ‘s two branches that carry air into the lungs • Bronchitis (A)

6. Consists of all the organs and processes in the body that protects a person from illness and infection. • Immune System (D)

7. Existing or happening during pregnancy but before childbirth • Prenatal (I)

8. Having a temporary false feeling of happiness, with reduced physical and mental control, by use of alcohol or a drug. • High (C)

9. In a non-pregnant woman, the discharge of blood and other material from the lining of the uterus about once a month • Menstrual Cycle (F)

10. The natural or developed ability to resist the effects of the continued or increasing use of a drug. • Tolerance (L)

11. The passage formed by the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs through which air passes during breathing • Respiratory Tract (K)

12. The strength of something such as a drug or alcoholic beverage. • Potency (H)

13. The truth about Marijuana www.drugfreeworld.org

14. What is Marijuana • Marijuana is used to describe the dried flowers, seeds and leaves of the Indian Hemp plant. • Hashish is the related form of the drug made from the resins of the Indian Hemp plant • Hashish is 6 times stronger than marijuana

15. Cannabis describes any of the different drugs that come from the Indian Hemp plant • Marijuana and Hashish are considered hallucinogens • “THC” is the chemical the causes the distortion. • The actual amount of THC may vary in any given batch of marijuana but overall the percentage has increased.

16. How is it used? • Marijuana is the most common illegally smoked drug in the world • 14.4 million Americans smoked marijuana at least once during the previous month in the 2007 national drug survey

17. Methods • Cigarette • Joint • Pipe • Blunt • Cigars are opened up and the tobacco is replaced with marijuana • The least common ways is mixed in with food and eaten or brewed as a tea • Can be laced with more powerful drugs

19. The user feels the affects within minutes of smoking a joint • The immediate sensations are • Increased heart rate • Lessened coordination and balance • “Dreamy” unreal state of mind • The immediate sensations peak within 30 minutes and wear off between 2 and 3 hours depending on how much the user takes and the potency of THC and other drugs

20. Impact on the lungs • Typical smoker inhales and holds the smoke longer than a cigarette • Causes discomfort in the chest • One joint gives just as much exposure to the cancer producing chemicals as smoking 5 cigarettes • Mental consequences • Poorer memories and mental aptitude • Structural damage to the brain

21. Marijuana’s Background • The Indian Hemp plant was initially grown to use as a hallucinogen more than 2000 years ago • Cannabis contains over 400 chemicals but THC is the main one. • The factors that determine the amount of THC in the plant are the weather and soil primarily. • In 1974 the THC level was 1%. In 1994 the level was raised to 4%. The highest amount was in 2008 at 9.6% • The THC levels in sinsemilla, another form of cannabis, were from 7.5% to 24%

22. International Statistics • 158.8 million people around the world have used marijuana. • According to the 2007 drug survey there were 2.1 million people who used marijuana for the first time that year • In 2007, 6.7% of 12-17 yr olds were current marijuana users • In 2000 $10.5 Billion was spent on marijuana • 40% of males tested positive for marijuana at the time of their arrest • Next to alcohol, marijuana is the 2ndmost frequently found substance in the bodies of drivers involved in fatal car accidents

23. The harmful effects of Marijuana • Immediate effects • Rapid heart beat • Disorientation • Lack of physical coordination • Depression or sleepiness • THC remains in the body for weeks or longer • Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more cancer-causing substance than tobacco smoke • Long term smokers often suffer from bronchitis • Heavy marijuana use has been connected brain abnormalities • Can see changes in the brain similar to those who abuse other major drugs

25. For males, the structure of the sperm cells can become deformed causing sterility • For females, their menstrual cycle can be affected • Hereditary defects • Abnormal cell division • Children are affected by: • Reduced initiative • Lessened abilities to concentrate • Less likely to pursue life goals • Prenatal use causes • Birth defects • Mental abnormalities • Increased risk of leukemia

27. What are the short term effects? • Sensory distortion • Panic • Anxiety • Poor coordination of movement • Lowered reaction time • After an initial “up”, the user feels sleepy or depressed • Increased heartbeat (risk of heart attack

28. What are the long term effects? • Reduced resistance to common illnesses • Suppression of the immune system • Growth disorders • Increase of abnormally structured cells in the body • Reduction of male sex hormones • Rapid destruction of lung fibers and lesions to the brain could be permanent • Reduced sexual capacity • Study difficulties • Apathy, drowsiness, lack of motivation • Personality and mood changes • inability to understand things clearly

29. On the Road to Drug Abuse • Because a tolerance builds up, marijuana can lead users to consume stronger drugs to achieve the same high • Vast majority of cocaine users (99.9%) began by first using a “gateway drug” like marijuana, cigarettes, or alcohol. • Not every user goes to a harder drug, some never do and some just quit