Posted by admin in Uncategorized on May 21st, 2009 | one response

Despite being chemically potent, marijuana is considered by many people to be harmless. Its composition alone provide untold marijuana side effects. Marijuana comes from the hemp plant cannabis sativa. A dry mixture of its leaves, seeds, flowers and stems has become the most common illegal drug in the United States. It contains a lot of chemicals, the most active of which is the tetrahydrocannabinol or better known as THC. More THC content of the form of marijuana means that it is more potent. When smoked or taken orally, the chemical residue stay in the body system for up to six weeks, prolonging the risk of exposure of the person to marijuana side-effects.

Marijuana goes by a lot of names in the streets like pot, weed, grass, joint and a whole lot of other names. Regardless of how it is being called, marijuana side-effects can not and should not be dismissed. Avoiding it at all costs is the better course of action to take.

The way marijuana is produced and consumed plays a big role on how it affects the person who consumes it. The most common method is rolling marijuana into cigarette sticks and smoking it. Others prefer to inhale from a pipe-like device called “bong”. This method was recently illustrated by the bemedalled Beijing Olympian Michael Phelps who got suspended for being photographed inhaling a bong in a party. No matter how it is taken into the body system, the people who do it will feel the corresponding marijuana side-effects.

Smoking weed causes many marijuana side-effects. It can cause among others drowsiness, hallucinations, slow reactions and lack of energy. The chemicals of marijuana will go into the blood stream and will reach the brain. It would take up to three months to flush out these chemicals out of the body.

Peer pressure among the youth ranks as the top reason why the young try marijuana. The perception that “everybody is doing it” makes doing not okay. Being less dangerous than heroin and cocaine, further justifies trying out this illegal substance. This misled people only to find out later that it is addictive and quitting is very, very difficult.

Over the years, the potency of marijuana has greatly increased. It means that marijuana side-effects are more likely to have strengthened too. Advanced breeding and cultivation methods are part the reason for this worrisome trend. Marijuana is more potent without its seeds. Five joints are the same as smoking a hundred cigarette sticks.

On a positive side of discussion, marijuana side-effects are not entirely negative . Its medicinal value has convinced some states to allow marijuana use as treatment for serious medical conditions. In fact, this reason is the main argument by those lobbying for its legalization.

As long as it is prohibited, parents and concerned groups should exert everything in their power to prevent people especially children using illegal substances like marijuana. Discussing marijuana side effects could also convince them to avoid it. The best deterrent to marijuana use is, perhaps, a well-developed and closely-knitted family relationship.