1. Facts About Marijuana
What Is Marijuana?
How Is Marijuana Used?
Short-Term Effects Of Marijuana
Long-Term Effects Of Marijuana
Symptoms:
Cognitive Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Behavioral Symptoms
2. What Is Marijuana?
Marijuana is a product of the hemp plant (cannabis
sativa) and appears as a green, brown, or gray mixture
of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers.
You may hear marijuana called by street names such as
pot, herb, weed, grass, boom, Mary Jane, gangster, or
chronic.
3. How Is Marijuana Used?
The most common method of using marijuana is to roll it
into cigarettes, called joints, and smoke it. It can also be
smoked in a pipe or a bong (which filters the smoke
through liquid). Marijuana is also smoked in blunts,
cigars that have been hollowed out and the tobacco
replaced with marijuana or a mixture of tobacco and
marijuana.
4. Short-Term Effects
● Sensory distortion
● Panic
● Anxiety
● Poor coordination of movement
● Lowered reaction time
● After an initial “up,” the user feels sleepy or
depressed
● Increased heartbeat (and risk of heart attack)
5. Long-Term Effects Of
Marijuana
● Reduced resistance to common illnesses (colds, bronchitis, etc.)
● Suppression of the immune system
● Growth disorders
● Increase of abnormally structured cells in the body
● Reduction of male sex hormones
● Rapid destruction of lung fibers and lesions (injuries) to the brain
could be permanent
● Reduced sexual capacity
● Study difficulties: reduced ability to learn and retain information
● Apathy, drowsiness, lack of motivation
● Personality and mood changes
● Inability to understand things clearly
6. Symptoms
Cognitive Symptoms
● Memory problems
● Inability to concentrate
● Poor judgment
● Seeing only the negative
● Anxious or racing thoughts
● Constant worrying
7. Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
● Moodiness
● Irritability or short temper
● Agitation, inability to relax
● Feeling overwhelmed
● Sense of loneliness and isolation
● Depression or general unhappiness
8. Symptoms
Physical Symptoms:
● Aches and pains
● Diarrhea or constipation
● Nausea, dizziness
● Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
● Loss of sex drive
● Frequent colds
9. Symptoms
Behavioral Symptoms:
● Eating more or less
● Sleeping too much or too little
● Isolating yourself from others
● Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
● Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
● Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)