Marijuana, also known by names like pot, weed, and grass, is a dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves from the Cannabis sativa plant. It contains the psychoactive compound THC, which when smoked, eaten, or vaporized can cause effects like euphoria, relaxation, and altered perception but also carries health risks. While decriminalized for personal use of 10g or less in Belize, marijuana use can negatively impact teens' health and development, potentially leading to addiction or dependence over time. Both short and long term effects are described.

1. WHATIS
MARIJUANA?
 Marijuana is dried leaves, flowers, stems,
and seeds from the plant CANNABIS
SATIVA.
 Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the
component that is illegal.
 The THC is the active ingredient, produces
high feeling and interacts with the brain.

2. COMMONSTREET
NAMESGIVENTO
MARIJUANA
Pot Bud Grass
Weed Reefer Herb
Mary Jane Ganja Hydro
Blunt Dope Joint
Skunk Bush Cocktail

3. HOWITIS
USED:
 Smoked (cigarettes, joints, bongs)
 Eaten/Ingested (mixed in foods such as cookies,
brownies, candy, drinks)
 Vaporized: concentrates (Vaping, dabs or dabbing,
pipes, hookah)

4. MYTHSAND
FACTSABOUT
MARIJUANA
MYTH FACT
Marijuana is harmless. Withdrawal symptoms:
irritability, sleeplessness,
decreased appetite, anxiety,
drug craving etc.
Marijuana is not addictive. About 9 percent of users
become addicted.
Marijuana is not as harmful to
your health as tobacco.
Marijuana does causes
addiction therefore the effects
are the same or worst.
Marijuana is safe to use
because it is a plant.
Not all plants are safe to
smoke or ingest.
Marijuana doesn’t affect your
driving ability
Use affects alertness,
concentration, perception,
coordination and reaction time.
Marijuana can cure anything Marijuana is not medicine.
Marijuana in BELIZE IS
LEGAL
Marijuana in BELIZE HAVE
BEEN DECRIMINALIZED
NOT LEGALIZED.

5. DECREMINALIZED
MARIJUANA
(Thislawwasplaced
onNovember2017)
 1. A person can only have 10 grams or
less.
 2. It can only be used by a person being
18 years or older.
 3. It can only be consumed on a private
area/property (meaning that not on
streets)
 4. It CANNOT be planted or harvested.
 5. It CANNOT be used for business.
(meaning you can’t be caught selling it.)

6. WHYDOTEENS
USE
MARIJUANA
Pressures from friends
Boredom
To experiment
Influence on media
To “fit in”
To rebel
To deal with feelings
Curiosity
Believe it’s safe

7. SHORTTERM
EFFECTSOF
MARIJUANA
 Feeling a “high” or pleasant sensation
 Loss of coordination
 Memory, judgment, and pereception impairment
 Inadequate memory
 Increases heart rate within a few minutes after intake
of marijuana
 Bronchial passage relaxation and enlargement, blood
vessels in eyes expand, eyes appear red.
 Paranoia
 Hallucinations
 Increased heart rate

8. LONGTERM
EFFECTSOFTHS
 Anxiety & Depression – Increased risk &/or worse
symptoms
 Poor academic performance – Worse grades – Increased
high school dropout
 Problems with memory, recall & learning.
 Marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins,
carcinogens and irritants as cigarette smoke.
 Leaves more tar in lungs than cigarette smoke.
 Causes respiratory problems such as: – Bronchitis
(chronic and acute) – Persistent cough – Wheezing

9. HOWTHC
AFFECTS
BEHAVIOR:

10. FURTHER
CONSEQUENCES
OFMARIJUANA
CONSUMPTION:
 Use can lead to dependence and addiction: Dependence:
when the brain adapts to large amounts of marijuana
by reducing production of and sensitivity to its
own endocannabinoid neurotransmitters.
Addiction: when a person cannot stop using
marijuana even though it interferes with many
aspects of his or her life.
 More likely for youth who use frequently, start using at a
younger age, and use for longer periods of time − Daily
youth users: 50% at risk.
 Frequent users experience withdrawal symptoms –
Physical symptoms.
 School suspensión
 Legal consequences – Driver’s license suspension – Record
 Social consequences

11. MEDICAL
MARIJUANA
 Used in treating pain, nausea, cancers, epilepsy, AIDS,
glaucoma, PTSD, Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, and in other
medical conditions.
 Oils, tinctures, creams, ointment – No psychoactive
effect