Krypto, Bud, Pot, Mary Jane and Ganja: The Truth about Marijuana Use

Krypto, Bud, Pot, Mary Jane and Ganja: The Truth about Marijuana Use

It is common to hear music lyrics describing smoking marijuana. For example, the Beastie Boys reference marijuana in their song, The Sounds of Science: “I do not sniff the coke, I only smoke the sinsemilla.” What used to be thought of as seemingly harmless activity actually has dangerous implications when chronically used. Over time, marijuana is becoming more potent and people are ingesting copious amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which alters brain chemistry. The potency of marijuana is turning regular users into serious addicts in need of addiction treatment and drug detox in a drug rehab facility.

Marijuana

Marijuana is a mind altering substance produced from the cannabis plant. Cannabis contains many chemical compounds, but the main compound is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

produces different effects based upon interactions with other chemicals found in the plant. Throughout history, THC has been used for pain medicine, spiritual practices and recreational purposes.

Marijuana and hemp are two components of the cannabis plant. Hemp contains minimal amounts of THC and is not used for euphoric effects. Hemp is used to make rope, paper, oil and building material. Distributors have found ways to grow cannabis with less seeds, which increases potency and intensifies the effects of marijuana. While hemp can be extremely useful, only marijuana creates chemical changes in the user’s body and brain. The addict will become dependent on using marijuana despite negative consequences.

Marijuana Intoxication

There are many mixed messages about the use of marijuana in our media. In 1936, the movie Reefer Madness was released to warn teenagers and young adults about the terrible effects of smoking marijuana. Most audiences ended up perceiving the movie as comical. Over time, marijuana use has become more commonly included in movies as comic relief.  One example is in the movie Never Been Kissed, which was released in 1999. The main character ingests marijuana brownies and hilarious events follow her intoxication. In each of these movies, the accuracy of marijuana intoxication’s effects is skewed.

Marijuana is smoked, baked into products to be eaten and boiled with water to make a beverage. Its intoxicating effects impact an individual physically and psychologically.

Physical changes from marijuana use include:

• Slowed reaction time
• Increased heart rate
• Dry mouth
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased appetite, often referred to as “the munchies”

Psychological effects of marijuana use include:

• Short-term memory loss
• Paranoia
• Magical thinking
• Distorted sense of time
• Anxiety and depression
• Low motivation, energy and drive

The negative psychological symptoms of marijuana use will contribute to a decrease in motivation, negatively impacting the addict’s life direction and goals. Oftentimes, addicts will recognize loss of motivation, increase of anxiety or depression; however, they will be reluctant to attribute these changes to THC .

In addition to the above changes, chronic use of marijuana presents its own list of negative consequences, such as:

• Decrease in men’s testosterone level and sperm count. As a result, some male chronic users may develop gynecomastia, also referred to as “man boobs”
• Respiratory problems such as chronic bronchitis or chronic cough
• Impaired cognitive functioning such as learning, memory and attention

It is important to note that marijuana use can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of psychotropic medications. It can disrupt the influence of medication on the brain, increasing symptoms of mood disorders.

Researchers have begun to examine those who suffer from anxiety and/or depression and use marijuana. These people experience a sense of depersonalization and often feel like they are observing their life outside of their bodies.  This can be a permanent consequence of chronic use, but it is manageable with medications for the treatment of marijuana dependence, addiction treatment at a drug rehab facility and stopping use of marijuana.

Reversing the Effects of Marijuana Use

Much like nicotine addiction, there are also habitual behaviors associated with smoking marijuana. In order to stop the negative effects of marijuana, the addict first has to stop using and go through a medically monitored drug detox. An addict that has trouble stopping the use of marijuana should seek substance abuse treatment. Entering an addiction treatment program will give the user time to adjust to functioning daily without the use of marijuana.