Side-Effects of Marijuana

2009.05.11

Marijuana is a preparation made from the dried flower clusters and leaves of the cannabis plant. Marijuana has many street names like pot, hash, chronic and there are many paraphernalia available to smoke it. Marijuana is most often smoked but can be eaten or steeped in tea to drink. Most over-doses happen actually when the drug is eaten because it is easier to devour a large dose all at once. When smoked, marijuana is rolled up into a cigarette called a joint or smoked in a pipe or water pipe called a bong. However, side effects of using marijuana are many influencing both mind and body of the user.

 

The most common physical adverse effects of marijuana are:

 

1. Reduced short-term memory

2. Sleepiness

3. Heart rate increases to threatened level and this can lead to potential cardiac dangers

if there were any preexisting heart disease

4. Dry throat and mouth

5. Nausea, headache, tremor

6. Pulmonary status gets altered

7. Hallucinations

8. Reduced social inhibitions

9. Difficulty listening, speaking, thinking, retaining knowledge, solving the problems,

etc., - difficulty in judgment, perception, and memory

10. Frequent anxiety attacks

11. Increased food consumption

 

When the drug is used habitually, it wreaks havoc on brain disturbing the natural chemical balance of the brain. Marijuana effects from an overdose include toxic psychosis including hallucinations, delusions and a loss of self-identification. Marijuana affects the regulatory and pleasure centers in the brain. This leads to lack of ability to learning and understanding things and delay in replies. Chronic use of marijuana leads to disturbance in respiratory system and leads to lung cancer.

 

Neuropsychiatric side effects of marijuana:

 

1. Addictive behavior

2. Short-term memory gets worse

3. Poor sense of time

4. Confusion, paranoia, aggressiveness

5. Acute anxiety attacks or panic attacks

6. Enhanced cancer risk, diminished libido and possible suicidal ideation

7. Amotivational syndrome

Marijuana affects the parts of the brain that controls the growth hormones and sexual hormones. Marijuana decreases the level of testosterone in the blood in males. It also triggers enlarged breasts in males and this is due to impact on the hormonal system in males.

If used regularly, marijuana leads to decreased in sperm count and also diminishes the libido and it may trigger in producing abnormal immature sperms. It is said that marijuana is the major contributing factor for infertility in males.

 

Similarly marijuana has same adverse effects on women as well. It triggers the hormones, which control the menstrual cycle and leads to irregular menstrual cycles, and depresses the female hormones and enhances testosterone production in high amounts. Pregnant woman or mothers who smoke marijuana regularly have been reported having their babies with weak central nervous system. It is proven that these babies show abnormal reactions to sound and light, acute tremors and startles, cry with high-pitched voice etc. It is an increasing concern in mothers and pregnant woman smoking marijuana for weak babies. Women who smoke marijuana must seek proper attention through

their doctors.