Marijuana Notes Marijuana Notes 1 Marijuana is a

Marijuana Notes

Marijuana Notes 1. Marijuana is a greenish-grey mixture of dry shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers from hemp plant. • Marijuana originated in Turkey. 2. Most users smoke marijuana in a hand rolled cigarette called joints. Others use pipes. Marijuana can also be rolled in a cigar known as blunts. 3. People who smoke marijuana experience a calm careless feeling. Marijuana changes brain messages that affect our sensory perception and coordination.

Marijuana Notes 4. THC (Tetra-hydrocannabinol) is the main ingredient in marijuana. There are 400 chemicals found in marijuana. 5. THC interferes with normal functioning of the cerebellum. It is stored in brain, lungs and body fat. 6. Marijuana is usually called many names… • • • Grass Weed Hash oil Panama red Refer Mary-Jane

Marijuana Notes 7. There are 3 dangers to long term marijuana use: • • Bronchitis Increased heart rate and blood pressure Decrease in immune system Can cause heart attack and lung cancer 8. There are 5 ways marijuana is used: • • • Brewed in tea Mixed in food Smoke in blunts Smoked through a water pipe (bong) Rolled as a cigarette

Marijuana Notes 9. Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the U. S. among teens and adults. 10. Short term effects of marijuana include: • • Euphoria (perfect world) Distorted perception Memory impairment Difficulty thinking and solving problems 11. In 2008, 25. 8 million Americans age 12 and older has abused marijuana, making it the most talked about drug today.

Marijuana Notes 12. Memory problems associated with marijuana use is due to the normal functioning of the cerebellum. 13. When marijuana is smoked, THC is quickly absorbed from lungs to the bloodstream and distributed to the brain and other tissues in the body. 14. A marijuana cigarette with 2% THC produces: • Change of mood • Mental abilities • Coordination 15. High doses of marijuana causes anxiety and panic attacks.

Marijuana Notes 16. When smoking marijuana people say they feel “high” because the brain cells release high amounts of dopamine into your bloodstream. 17. Marijuana is formed from a hemp plant called cannabinoid. 18. There are 3 effects that marijuana has on drivers under the influence: • Slow reaction time • Impaired judgment • Problems responding to signals and sounds

Marijuana Notes 19. What is the hippocampus region of the brain in charge of? • Certain types of learning and memory 20. Why does smoking marijuana increase the chance of cancer more than a cigarette? • Marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer, so more smoke enters the lungs. 21. THC in a pill form is used to treat 2 diseases: • Cancer • Aids

Marijuana Notes 22. THC treats nausea in cancer chemo therapy patients and helps stimulate appetite in AIDS patients. 23. Marijuana can affect people in many ways, it depends on many factors: • User’s previous experience • How much THC • What the users expects to happen • Where the drug is used • How it is taken • Is alcohol also involved

Marijuana Notes 24. In 2010, 8. 3% of all 8 th graders said they have used marijuana at least once. 17. 8% of all 10 th graders have said they have used marijuana at least once. 21. 5% of all 12 th graders have said they have used marijuana at least once. 25. There are 4 ways to tell if someone has been using marijuana: • Dizzy and having trouble walking • Seem silly and giggle for no reason • Have very blood shot eyes • Hard time remembering things

Marijuana Terms Blunt- slang term for a cigar filled with marijuana Cannabinoid Receptors- sites on the surface of the brain cells where the active ingredient in marijuana attaches to produce the drug’s effects. Cerebellum- part of the brain involved in body movement Cerebral Cortex- part of the brain involved in higher thinking Dopamine- a brain chemical (or neurotransmitter) that helps nerve cells communicate

Marijuana Terms Hemp- the plant marijuana comes from Hippocampus- part of the brain’s limbic system that helps with learning and memory Joint- slang term for marijuana rolled into a cigarette Neurons- cells in the brain; also found in the spinal cord and other organs THC- tetrahydorcannabinol, the main active ingredient in marijuana