Marijuana/Cannabis

A Cannabinoid; Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The terms cannabis and marijuana are often used interchangeably. Extracts from the plant can be made into hash oil or wax. Cannabis products contain the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). They can also contain more than 400 other chemicals.

According to the DEA, these are the slang terms most commonly used for marijuana: Aunt Mary, BC Buds, Boom, Chronic, Dope, Gangster, Ganja, Hash, Herb, Hydro, Indo, Joint, Kif, Mary Jane, Mota, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Weed and Yerb.

Research shows that some chemicals in marijuana, THC as well as cannabidiol (CBD), could have medical uses. The FDA has approved some THC-based medications to treat nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy and to help patients with AIDS gain an appetite. However, these medications are not smoked. The FDA has also approved a CBD oil-based medication to treat rare and severe forms of epilepsy. Additional clinical trials are being conducted to develop medications that contain THC and/or CBD for pain relief and seizure disorders.

People who use marijuana may roll loose marijuana leaves into a cigarette (called a joint) or smoke it in a pipe or a water pipe, often referred to as a bong. Some people mix marijuana into foods (called edibles) or use it to brew a tea. Another method is to slice open a cigar and replace some or all of the tobacco with marijuana, creating what is known as a blunt. Some people are vaping—using electronic vaporizers (called e-vaporizers or vapes) that allow people to inhale vapor and not smoke. Another popular method on the rise is vaping THC-rich resins extracted from the marijuana plant, an often dangerous practice called dabbing.

When people smoke marijuana, they feel its effects almost immediately. The psychoactive chemical THC spreads to every organ in the body, including the brain, and attaches to specific receptors on nerve cells. This affects the areas of the brain that control pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, appetite, pain, and sensory and time perception. THC is structurally similar to chemicals produced naturally by the body, called endocannabinoids, which play a role in normal brain development and function. Because of the endocannabinoid system's wide-ranging influence over many critical functions, marijuana can have multiple effects—not just on the brain, but on a person's general health. Some of these effects last only as long as marijuana is in the body while others may build up over time to cause longer-lasting problems, including addiction. Although detectable amounts of THC can remain in the body for days or even weeks after use, the noticeable effects of smoked marijuana usually last from 1 to 3 hours. If consumed in foods, the effects come on slower and can last for many hours.

In enacting the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance. In 2012, voters in Colorado and Washington state also passed initiatives legalizing marijuana for adults 21 and older under state law. As with state medical marijuana laws, it is important to note that Congress has determined that marijuana is a dangerous drug and that the illegal distribution and sale of marijuana is a serious crime. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is committed to enforcing the CSA consistent with these determinations. On August 29, 2013, DOJ issued guidance to Federal prosecutors concerning marijuana enforcement under the CSA. The Department’s guidance is available on the DOJ web site, and provides further detail.

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug. Drugs in this classification are not approved for medical use and have a “high potential for abuse.

The fact that marijuana is legal in some states for medical or nonmedical adult use does not mean that it is safe. Using marijuana at any age can lead to negative health consequences: Using marijuana heavily (daily or near-daily) can damage your memory, attention, and learning ability. This can last a week or more after the last time marijuana was used. Using marijuana during pregnancy or while breastfeeding may harm the baby. Marijuana use has been linked to social anxiety, depression, suicide, and schizophrenia. Scientists don’t yet know whether marijuana use directly causes these health issues, but it may make symptoms more severe. Smoking any product, including marijuana, can damage your lungs and cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels). Eating or drinking foods with marijuana can take longer to have an effect and may increase the chance of consuming too much. Vaping marijuana has led to lung injury and even death. Use of concentrates in vaping or dabbing devices may increase a number of health risks because of the concentration or strength of marijuana being used.

No. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly called THC. THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, starting off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the “high” that users experience when they smoke marijuana. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentrating, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana’s “high” can affect these functions in a variety of ways, causing distorted perceptions, impairing coordination, causing difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and creating problems with learning and memory. Research has demonstrated that among chronic heavy users these effects on memory can last at least seven days after discontinuing use of the drug. These aren’t the only problems connected to marijuana use. Research tells us that chronic marijuana use may increase the risk of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals, and high doses of the drug can produce acute psychotic reactions. Researchers have also found that adolescents’ long-term use of marijuana may be linked with lower IQ (as much as an 8 point drop) later in life. We also know that marijuana affects heart and respiratory functions. In fact, one study found that marijuana users have a nearly five-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug. A study of 452 marijuana smokers (but who did not smoke tobacco) and 450 non-smokers (of either marijuana or tobacco) found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems, including respiratory illnesses, than nonsmokers. All that stated, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that low levels of marijuana use (with no tobacco use) produced no detrimental effect in lung function among study participants. In fact, exposure led to a mild, but not clinically significant, beneficial effect—albeit among those who smoked only one joint per day. While these findings have received wide attention from the media and from advocates of marijuana legalization, it is important to consider them in the context of the extensive body of research indicating that smoking marijuana is harmful to health. Additionally, while the study did not include a sufficient number of heavy users of marijuana to confirm a detrimental effect of such use on pulmonary function, the findings suggest this possibility. The harms of marijuana use can also manifest in users’ quality of life. In one study, heavy marijuana users reported that the drug impaired several important measures of health and quality of life, including physical and mental health, cognitive abilities, social life, and career status. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. In 2011 alone, more than 18 million Americans age 12 and older reported using the drug within the past month. Approximately 4.2 million people met the diagnostic criteria for abuse of or dependence on this drug. This is more than pain relievers, cocaine, tranquilizers, hallucinogens, and heroin combined. There are very real consequences associated with marijuana use. In 2010, marijuana was involved in more than 461,000 emergency department visits nationwide. This is nearly 39 percent of all emergency department visits involving illicit drugs, and highlights the very real dangers than can accompany use of the drug. And in 2011, approximately 872,000 Americans 12 or older reported receiving treatment for marijuana use, more than any other illicit drug. Despite some viewpoints that marijuana is harmless, these figures present a sobering picture of this drug’s very real and serious harms.  Marijuana places a significant strain on our health care system, and poses considerable danger to the health and safety of the users themselves, their families, and our communities. Marijuana presents a major challenge for health care providers, public safety professionals, and leaders in communities and all levels of government seeking to reduce the drug use and its consequences throughout the country.

Memory problems (especially short-term memory needed for learning) • Problems with processing information • Poor sensory and time perception • Poor concentration and coordination.

Difficulties include: • Ability to perform complex tasks (i.e., driving) • Learning new skills • Being alert and attentive • Ability to recall information • Ability to make decisions.

The effects are: • Increased heart rate • Lung damage • Linkage to cancer (head, neck and testicular) • Impaired immune system • Interference or change in effectiveness of prescribed medications.

Like any other drug, marijuana's effects on a person depends on many factors, including the person's previous experience with the drug or other drugs, biology (e.g., genes), how the drug is taken, and the drug's potency (its strength).

Working in basements and greenhouses, clandestine marijuana growers have for decades before legalization been crossbreeding and selecting the highest-potency plants from their “crops” to create higher and higher potency pot. And recreational users who like the intense euphoria of high-potency pot have been eager buyers. But there are other reasons. In the 1970s, a lot of marijuana contained stems, seeds and leaves along with THC-rich flower buds; today, it's mostly flower buds. A lot of 1970s pot was grown in Colombia and shipped to the U.S.; now, it's mostly homegrown and so is fresher and more potent, too.

Products sold at a dispensary do tell you how much THC, and often how much CBD, is inside. Follow the standard advice to “start low, go slow” and begin with 2.5 milligrams of THC or less per dosage, experts recommend. Then do a little math to figure out how much of your chosen product delivers just that amount. It could be a half or a quarter of an edible, a tiny drop of tincture or a few puffs on a vape pen.

These days, not much. Historically in cannabis culture, indica referred to a type or strain of cannabis plant that in the past was known for its calming and relaxing effects. Consumers are often told that indica has shorter, broader leaves than its close relative sativa, and that it's low in THC and high in CBD. Sativa, by contrast, was known for its energizing effect. In the scientific community today, however, that distinction between indica and sativa has largely disappeared: Most cannabis products available for purchase are plant hybrids with a biochemical content that cannot be determined by appearance.

Potency—the amount of THC contained in the marijuana—has been increasing steadily in the past few decades as marijuana farmers respond to market demand. These findings are based on analyses of marijuana samples seized by law enforcement.

The majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other "harder" substances, like cocaine or heroin. However, some research shows that people often try marijuana before trying other substances. We also know from animal studies that rats given repeated doses of THC show heightened behavioral responses and altered brain activation not only when further exposed to THC, but also when exposed to other drugs such as morphine. Researchers are now looking at the possibility that exposure to marijuana as a teen can cause changes in the brain that make a person more likely to get addicted to marijuana or other drugs, such as alcohol, opioids, or cocaine. It is important to point out, however, that research has not fully explained any of these observations, which are complex and likely to involve a combination of biological, social, and psychological factors.

The signs that someone might have marijuana use disorder are: Using more marijuana than intended Trying but failing to quit using marijuana Spending a lot of time using marijuana Craving marijuana Using marijuana even when it causes problems at home, school, or work Continuing to use marijuana despite social or relationship problems Giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using marijuana Using marijuana in high-risk situations, such as driving a car Continuing to use marijuana despite physical or psychological problems Needing to use more marijuana to get the same high Experiencing symptoms when stopping marijuana use People with marijuana use disorder, compared to those who use marijuana but do not have marijuana use disorder, are at a greater risk for negative consequences, such as problems with attention, memory, and learning.

Behavioral therapies are available and are similar to those used for treating other drug or alcohol addictions. These include motivational enhancement therapies to develop people's own motivation to stay in treatment; cognitive behavioral therapies to teach strategies for avoiding drug use and its triggers (and for effectively managing stress); and motivational incentives, which provide vouchers or small cash rewards for showing up for treatment and staying drug free. There are currently no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating marijuana addiction, although promising research is under way to find medications to treat withdrawal symptoms and ease craving and other effects of marijuana.

It is suspected that the early use of marijuana by youth coupled with a higher potency of the drug contributes to greater rates of addiction.

Yes, students who are cited for illegal drug use/possession while receiving student financial aid may be at risk for losing their financial aid and/or federal student loans.

Using alcohol and marijuana at the same time is likely to result in greater impairment than when using either one alone. Greater impairment can result in greater risk of physical harm. Using marijuana and tobacco at the same time may also lead to increased exposure to harmful chemicals that could cause greater risks to the lungs and the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels). Also, marijuana may change how prescription drugs work. Always talk with your doctor about any medications you are taking or thinking about taking and the possible side effects when mixed with other things, such as marijuana.

Studies have not found an increased risk of lung cancer in marijuana smokers compared with nonsmokers. However, marijuana smoke does irritate the lungs and increases the likelihood of other lung and breathing problems.12,13 Moreover, many people who smoke marijuana also smoke cigarettes, which do cause cancer, and research suggests that quitting tobacco can be harder if the person uses marijuana.

Yes. Many people who use the drug long-term and then stop have symptoms that are similar to those of nicotine withdrawal—irritability, sleep problems, anxiety, decreased appetite and various forms of physical discomfort—which may prompt relapse (a return to drug use). Withdrawal symptoms are generally mild and peak a few days after use has stopped. They gradually disappear within about 2 weeks.14,15 While these symptoms do not pose an immediate threat to health, they can make it hard for someone to stop using the drug. Because withdrawal is not as obvious or as painful as withdrawal symptoms from some other drugs such as opioids, many people do not realize that stopping marijuana use can cause withdrawal symptoms.

Outdoor marijuana cultivation creates a host of negative environmental effects. These grow sites affect wildlife, vegetation, water, soil, and other natural resources through the use of chemicals, fertilizers, terracing, and poaching. Marijuana cultivation results in the chemical contamination and alteration of watersheds; diversion of natural water courses; elimination of native vegetation; wildfire hazards; poaching of wildlife; and disposal of garbage, non-biodegradable materials, and human waste. Marijuana growers apply insecticides directly to plants to protect them from insect damage. Chemical repellents and poisons are applied at the base of the marijuana plants and around the perimeter of the grow site to ward off or kill rats, deer, and other animals that could cause crop damage. Toxic chemicals are applied to irrigation hoses to prevent damage by rodents. According to the National Park Service, “degradation to the landscape includes tree and vegetation clearing, use of various chemicals and fertilizers that pollute the land and contribute to food chain contamination, and construction of ditches and crude dams to divert streams and other water sources with irrigation equipment.” Outdoor marijuana grow site workers can also create serious wildfire hazards by clearing land for planting (which results in piles of dried vegetation) and by using campfires for cooking, heat, and sterilizing water. In August 2009, growers destroyed more than 89,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest in Southern California. The massive La Brea wildfire began in the Los Padres National Forest within the San Rafael Wilderness area in Santa Barbara County, California, and subsequently spread to surrounding county and private lands. According to United States Forest Service (USFS) reporting, the source of the fire was an illegal cooking fire at an extensive, recurring Drug Trafficking Organization-operated outdoor grow site where more than 20,000 marijuana plants were under cultivation. According to the USFS, suppression and resource damage costs of the La Brea wildfire totaled nearly $35 million. In addition to the environmental damage, the cost to rehabilitate the land damaged by illicit marijuana grows is prohibitive, creating an additional burden to public and tribal land agency budgets. According to internal Park Service estimates, full cleanup and restoration costs range from $14,900 to $17,700 per acre.* Total costs include removal and disposal of hazardous waste (pesticides, fuels, fertilizers, batteries) and removal of camp facilities, irrigation hoses, and garbage. Full restoration includes re-contouring plant terraces, large tent pads, and cisterns/wells and re-vegetating clear-cut landscapes. The United States has an abundance of public lands set aside by Congress for conservation, recreational use, and enjoyment of the citizens of this country and visitors from around the globe. Unfortunately, criminal organizations are exploiting some of these public and tribal lands as grow sites for marijuana.  During calendar year 2010, nearly 10 million plants were removed from nearly 24,000 illegal outdoor grow sites nationwide. These numbers provide insight into the size and scale of the negative environmental impact that marijuana cultivation can have on our Nation’s public lands. *Source: Marijuana Site Reclamation and Restoration Cost Analysis.” U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service.