Marijuana: Myth and Reality

1. Marijuana: Myth and Reality To explore reasons why people choose to participate in the illegal use of marijuana And the short term and long term effects of marijuana.

2. The nature of Marijuana • Cames from a plant call cannabis sativa. It grows wild. Cannibis sativa contains over 400 chemicals. • The seeds of cannabis sativa are used in feed mixtures and the oil as an ingredient in paint.

3. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol

4. THC

5. THC = delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol • The is a psychoactive or mind altering ingrediant which is the intoxicant in marijuana.

6. What percentage of teenagers use marijuana? • What percentage of teenagers smoked marijuana during the past month? • What percentage of teenagers smoke marijuana daily.

7. Prevalence of Marijuana Use Marijuana Use 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Combined 12.5% 28.8% 36.4% 25.9% The five year threndshows an increase in daily, current, and past year marijuana use by 10th and 12th graders. The increases might be attributable, in part, to a decline in the perceived risk associated with marijuana use.

8. Fewer people smoke marijuana than you think. As with cigarettes people who use marijuana represent a small minority with the vast majority of teen and adults. It is not “something that everyone is doing”.

9. Reasons Teenagers Begin Smoking Marijuana • Curiosity: marijuana is something new and different to try. • Peer Group Pressure: Friends smoke it so it cant be bad if “everyone is doing it.” • Desire to appear more grown-up: may be viewed as adult like behavior. • Pleasurable Effects: teenagers may smoke marijuana because they like the way it makes them feel. • Coping Device; some people may begin smoking marijuana because they think it will help them deal with life problems.

10. Immediate Effects An increase in heart and pulse rate. Reddening of the eyes A dryness in the month of throat. A mild decrease in body temperature Restlessness Increase sense of well being Dreamy state of euphoria Long Term Effects THC is absorbed by manytissues and organs in the body Marijuana can increase the heart rate by 50% Marijuana can effect the lungs Heavy marijuana use can effect white blood cell formation necessary for the body’s immune system Marijuana can have an effect on the make and female reproductive systems. Effects of Marijuana

12. Synthetic Marijuana • AKA - Blaze, Blueberry Haze, Dank, Demon Passion Smoke, Genie, Hawaiian Hybrid, K2, Magma, Ninja, Nitro, Ono Budz, Panama Red Ball, Puff, Sativah Herbal Smoke, Skunk, Spice, Ultra Chronic and Voodoo Spice.

13. Synthetic Marijuana • Fake weed products are legal. They are often marketed as “100% organic herbs” insinuating that they are natural or completely safe. • The truth is that not of the products on the market are completely natural.

14. Synthetic Marijuana • the fake marijuana products contained a chemical called HU-210, which has a molecular structure very similar to THC -- the active ingredient in marijuana. Because HU-210 is listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in the United States, the fake weed products were manufactured and sold only in Europe.

15. Synthetic Marijuana • A Schedlued 1 Controlled Substances has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

16. What happens when you smoke synthetic marijuana? • We don’t know!!!! We have no scientific evidence of what happens to humans. • Some research consucted on animals suggest it has the same long term effects as marijuana. • Do not take anything that has not been tested and there’s no reseach on. That just plain dumb!!!

17. Other No No’s • Inhalants • Prescription and over the counter drugs. • teen.drugabuse.gov/peerx/