Brief Description: The most commonly used illegal drug in the The main active chemical is THC.
Street Names: Pot, ganja, weed, grass, bud, mary-jane, reefer and many others.
Effects: The following are some of the common side effects of using marijuana:
- Trouble remembering things
- Sleepiness
- Anxiety
- Paranoia (feeling that people are ?out to get you?)
- Altered time perception
- Relaxation
- Reduced coordination
- Reduced blood pressure
Using marijuana for a long time makes some people lose interest in school, work, relationships and other activities. It may also cause legal problems. Using marihuana can be especially dangerous in certain situations, such as when you are driving.
The following are some of the common physical effects of marijuana:
- Tremors (shaking)
- Nausea
- Headache
- Coordination becoming worse
- Breathing problems
- Increased appetite
- Reduced blood flow to the brain
Like tobacco, marijuana contains many chemicals that can hurt the lungs and cause cancer. One marijuana cigarette can cause more damage to the lungs than many tobacco cigarettes because marihuana has more tar in it and is usually smoked without filters.
How long does THC stay in your body and for how long can it be detected after you use marijuana?
The amount of time depends on several factors such as how much a person has smoked, how long a person has smoked for, and the method used to detect THC or its metabolites. Marijuana can be detected in urine, blood and saliva using methods called thin layer chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay. The most psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is broken down into several other compounds that are also psychoactive. The half-life of THC is about 24 hours. However, the metabolites of THC can be detected for 45 to 60 days after the last use.
Statistics and Trends: 44.5% of Canadians and 70% of 18-24 year olds have used marijuana. 47% of 18 and 19 year olds have used in the past year. There are approximately 300 million users worldwide and 28 million users in the United States (Diaz, 1997).
