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Marijuana
Slang: Weed, Pot, Grass, Reffer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach, Nail.
GET THE FACTS...
- Marijuana affects your brain. THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) affects the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed.
- Marijuana affects your self-control. Marijuana can seriously affect your sense of time and your coordination, impacting things like driving. In 2002, nearly 120,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms suffering from marijuana-related problems, an increase of more than 139 percent since 1995.
- Marijuana affects your lungs. There are more than 400 known chemicals in marijuana. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a filtered cigarettes.
- Marijuana affects other aspects of your health. Marijuana can limit your body's ability to fight off infection. Long-term marijuana use can even increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.
- Marijuana is not always what it seems. Marijuana can be laced with other dangerous drugs without your knowledge. "Blunts"--hollowed-cigars filled with marijuana--sometimes have substances such as crack cocaine, PCP, or embalming fluid added.
- Marijuana can be addictive. Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, but some users do develop signs of dependence. In 1999, more than 220,000 people entered drug treatment programs to kick their marijuana habit.
BEFORE YOU RISK IT...
- Know the law. It is illegal to buy or sell marijuana. In most states, holding even small amounts of marijuana can lead to fines or arrest.
- Get the facts. Smoking any substance--tobacco, marijuana, or crack cocaine--increases your risk of developing pneumonia and other illness.
- Stay informed. It has not yet been proven that using marijuana leads to using other drugs. But very few people use other drugs without first using marijuana. Teens smoke marijuana are more likely to try other drugs, in part because they have more contact with people who use and sell them.
- Know the risks. Using marijuana or other drugs increases your risk of injury from car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and other accidents.
- Keep your edge. Marijuana affects your judgement, drains your motivation, and can make you feel anxious.
- Look around you. Most teens aren't smoking marijuana. According to a 2002 study, about four out of five 12- to 17-year-old youths had never even tried marijuana.
KNOW THE SIGNS...
How can you tell if a friend is using marijuana? Sometimes its tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using marijuana.
- Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking
- Havingt red, bloodshot eyes and smelly hair and clothes
- Having a hard time remembering things that just happened.
- Acting silly for no apparent reasons.
GETTING HELP...
Be a real friend. Encourage your friend to seek professional help.
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