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Marijuana

Marijuana. Marijuana. The most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S. 95 million Americans, ages 12 or older have at least tried marijuana at some point. ¾ illicit drug users claim to have used marijuana at least once within the past 30 days. Marijuana. Main chemical = THC Effects:

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Marijuana

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  1. Marijuana

  2. Marijuana • The most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S. • 95 million Americans, ages 12 or older have at least tried marijuana at some point. • ¾ illicit drug users claim to have used marijuana at least once within the past 30 days

  3. Marijuana • Main chemical = THC • Effects: • Some painkilling effects • Relaxation • Increased heart rate • Lowered blood pressure • Impairment of short-term and working memory • Coordination • Concentration

  4. Marijuana • A 2008 study by the University of Melbourne of 15 heavy marijuana users (consuming at least 5 marijuana cigarettes daily for on average 20 years) and 16 controls found: • Average size difference for the smokers in the hippocampus (12 percent smaller) and the amygdala (7 percent smaller).

  5. Marijuana and Memory • Hippocampus = Responsible for creating and storing memories (learning) • Amygdala = processing memory and emotional reactions

  6. Marijuana = “Gateway Drug” • A 2008 study at Karolinska Institute suggested that young rats treated with THC received an increased motivation for drug use, heroin in the study, under conditions of stress.

  7. Marijuana = “Gateway Drug” • Definition of a “gateway drug” • a habit-forming drug that in many cases may lead to the use of other addictive drugs

  8. Marijuana • Regular marijuana use has been shown to be associated with other long-term problems, including: • poor academic performance • poor job performance • increased absences from work • cognitive problems • lung damage

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