Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mix of dried, crumbled parts from the marijuana plant. The plant contains chemicals which act on your brain and can change your mood or consciousness.
What is Medical Marijuana?
The marijuana plant has chemicals that can help with some health problems. More states are making it legal to use the plant as medicine for certain medical conditions. But there isn't enough research to show that the whole plant works to treat or cure these conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the marijuana plant as a medicine. Marijuana is still illegal at the national level. However, there have been scientific studies of cannabinoids, the chemicals in marijuana. The two main cannabinoids that are of medical interest are THC and CBD. The FDA has approved two drugs that contain THC. These drugs treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and increase appetite in patients who have severe weight loss from AIDS. There is also a liquid drug that contains CBD. It treats two forms of severe childhood epilepsy. Scientists are doing more research with marijuana and its ingredients to treat many diseases and conditions.
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How do people use marijuana?
There are many different ways that people use marijuana, including
Rolling it up and smoking it like a cigarette or cigar
Smoking it in a pipe
Mixing it in food and eating it
Brewing it as a tea
Smoking oils from the plant ("dabbing")
Using electronic vaporizers ("vaping")
What are the effects of marijuana?
Marijuana can cause both short-term and long-term effects.
Short term:
While you are high, you may experience
Altered senses, such as seeing brighter colors
Altered sense of time, such as minutes seeming like hours
Changes in mood
Problems with body movement
Trouble with thinking, problem-solving, and memory
Increased appetite
Long term:
In the long term, marijuana can cause health problems, such as
Problems with brain development. People who started using marijuana as teenagers may have trouble with thinking, memory, and learning.
Coughing and breathing problems, if you smoke marijuana frequently
Problems with child development during and after pregnancy, if a woman smokes marijuana while pregnant
It is possible to overdose on marijuana, if you take a very high dose. Symptoms of an overdose include anxiety, panic, and a rapid heartbeat. In rare cases, an overdose can cause paranoia and hallucinations. There are no reports of people dying from using just marijuana.
After using marijuana for a while, it is possible to get addicted to it. You are more likely to become addicted if you use marijuana every day or you started using it when you were a teenager. If you are addicted, you will have a strong need to take the drug. You may also need to smoke more and more of it to get the same high. When you try to quit, you may have mild withdrawal symptoms such as
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Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
The United States' primary source for criminal justice statistics.
The world's largest medical library with information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand.
National Conference of State Legislatures
State Medical Marijuana Laws
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Answers to frequently asked questions about marijuana.
The leading source for pros & cons of controversial issues.
Drug Fact Sheet - Marijuana
A public policy research organization dedicated to the principles of liberty, limited government, free markets and peace.
The Drug Policy Alliance is the leading organization advancing drug policies grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.
MPP (Marijuana Policy Project)
This organization has been instrumental in a number of changes in cannabis policy at the state level and aims to have the same effect on a national scale.
NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)
Working to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable.
This documentary explores the longstanding relationship of human beings and cannabis, from its use in ancient Asia to its ban in 20th century America.
