• The Health Effects of Marijuana
• Facts About Marijuana
• Marijuana Facts

Marijuana is a dangerous mind-altering drug. The drug comes from the Cannabis Sativa plant which contains over 400 different chemical substances-at least 60 of which are unique to cannabis. The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.

The side effects of any marijuana use may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Rapid Heartbeat
• Anxiety, paranoia and fear
• Decreased immune system
• Panic attacks
• Delusions
• Disorientation
• Poor memory
• Trouble with thinking and problem solving
• Poor coordination
• Slow reaction time
• Loss of control
• Distorted perceptions (sights, sounds, time, touch)
• Hallucinations
• Intoxication
• Damage to hormones and reproductive systems--including lower testosterone levels in males and increased risk of damage to sperm cells
• Sleepiness
• Nausea
• Hunger or "munchies"
• Dry mouth
• Reduced blood flow to the brain
• Headache
• Addiction

The smoking of marijuana is harmful to the lungs and respiratory system. Marijuana smoke contains more cancer-causing agents than tobacco smoke. Marijuana cigarettes release five times as much carbon monoxide into the bloodstream and three times as much tar as tobacco cigarettes. Studies have indicated that the fetus of a pregnant woman who smokes marijuana is at risk for slower development of that infant's brain.

Adolescents, whose brains are not fully matured, have special risks of arrested development syndrome if they use marijuana. Adolescents who use marijuana are at greater risk to move on to use other drugs than adolescents who don't use marijuana.