Quit Marijuana with Laser Therapy Treatment
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What is marijuana?
Marijuana is also known as: dope, chronic, MJ, Mary Jane, ganja, grass, pot, or weed. Marijuana is a mix of flowers and leaves from the hemp plant that is shredded and dried. Sinsemilla, hashish and hash oil are more powerful forms derived from the plants themselves.
Marijuana can be eaten or smoked through: pipes, bongs, or rolled (joint).
The main ingredient and cause of the high is THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol. Hash (hashish) is made from hemp plant sap that has been concentrated. The THC content in hash is higher than in marijuana. THC levels in marijuana have been increasing since the 70's, due to cross-pollination of the plants.
The smoke from marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals, some of which are the same cancer causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke.
Signs of marijuana use:
- Rapid, loud talking and bursts of laughter
- Dilated pupils
- Sleepiness or "burn outs"
- Lack of concentration and coordination
- Forgetfulness in conversation
- Inflammation in whites of eyes also known as "red eye"
- Odor similar to something sweet, or natural on clothing or breath
- Distorted sense of time passage - tendency to overestimate time intervals
- Increased appetite
- Craving for sweets
- Use or possession of paraphernalia including roach clip, packs of rolling papers, pipes or bongs.
What does marijuana do to the body?
Marijuana alters how the brain functions, the higher the THC content, the more changes in brain function.
Marijuana acts on the central nervous system as a hallucinogen and a depressant. Various organs absorb THC very rapidly causing the "high" which can be described as feelings of calm and happy to silly and giddy or even paranoid and anxious. Taken in high doses (usually through ingestion), marijuana can cause hallucinations.
Marijuana "highs" usually last for one to a few hours. However, the way you see things may be affected for many hours after.
Marijuana is stored in the fat cells of your body, trace amounts have been found up to two years later.
What are the short-term effects of marijuana?
- Spaced out or mellow
- Giggling
- Increased or decreased appetite
- Dry mouth and throat
- Red eyes or dilated pupils
- Drowsiness
- Altered perception
- Impaired judgment
- Slowed motor skills
- Loss of coordination
- Slowed reaction time
- Disorientation
- Fatigue
- Increased heart rate
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Problems with memory, learning, thinking and problem solving
What are the long-term effects of marijuana?
- Lack of motivation
- Problems with memory and concentration
- Weakened immune system
- Damaged lungs and airways
- Increased risk of cancer
- Mental health problems such as depression or anxiety
Addiction to marijuana
Although marijuana is not a physically addictive substance, many people become so psychologically dependent on it that they feel the urge to use it several times a day.
Smoking marijuana creates changes in the brain that are similar to those caused by cocaine, heroin and alcohol. Researchers are still learning ways that the brain is affected by marijuana.
Studies have shown that while smoking marijuana, people have shown the same lack of coordination on standard "drunk driver" tests as do people who have had too much to drink.
What are the symptoms of withdrawal?
- Craving more marijuana
- Lack of appetite
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Anger
- Insomnia
- Depressed mood
- Aggression
- Paranoia
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