Marijuana is an easy accessible drug. It’s considered safe by most people, and used freely at parties, gatherings, and among friends. In fact, marijuana is a drug that is growing in popularity and has exceeded use over alcohol in some age groups.
However, there are some surprising facts about marijuana that might make someone turn their head to it. If you don’t know much about this drug, you might be surprised by the long-term effects of marijuana. In fact, it might lead to saying no to the drug permanently.
Regular marijuana use can double their risks of experiencing psychotic symptoms and disorders, especially if they have a personal or family history of psychotic disorders, and also if they start using cannabis in their mid-teens. Some marijuana users are more likely to use other illicit drugs, and those whose use began in adolescence and continued throughout young adulthood can later experience intellectual impairment. Regular cannabis smokers have a higher risk of developing chronic bronchitis. And cannabis smoking by middle aged adults probably increases the risk of myocardial infarction. Regular marijuana is in fact dangerous, disproving the common belief that it’s harmless.
According to the Los Angeles Times, 9% of people who use the drug develop an addiction to it. Research also indicates that the earlier a person begins to use the drug, the more likely he or she will become dependent on it. Also, dependency will develop within two years for 17% of those who began smoking marijuana at ages 14 or 15.
Of course, marijuana can become even more dangerous when combined with other drugs. One study recently found out why combining alcohol and marijuana together could be potentially more dangerous than using either of these drugs alone. The study was published in the journal, Clinical Chemistry, and revealed that the use of alcohol and marijuana combined produced higher concentrations of THC in the blood. Because of this, the chance of being in an accident is much higher with the use of both drugs combined than the use of either of these drugs separately.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), marijuana is a Schedule I drug. Marijuana has been associated with crime, drinking, and addictions to other substances. The DEA also lists marijuana as the fourth most abused drug in the United States behind opiates, nicotine, and alcohol.
Marijuana comes from the hemp plant which grows wild around the world. The main ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is often smoked or ingested by eating foods that have marijuana mixed into it. It distributes itself to all organs of the body and is mostly metabolized by the liver. Marijuana stays in the physical system for up to 56 hours. Continued use of the drug can be harmful, as mentioned above.
If you or someone you know is regularly using marijuana, you might consider the above listed dangers. You might consider seeking support for an addiction to marijuana by calling a mental health professional.
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