One of the most identified psychoactive substance is a plant with. It contains a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. It produces a feeling of “high” when taken. The “bud” of the plant contains the higher levels of THC.
Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette. It could also be smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco leaf used to wrap the cigar. This makes the marijuana more potent because it is being combined. The marijuana plant can also be brewed as a tea. When marijuana is smoked, it goes quickly into the blood through the lungs and then to the brain. The “high” feeling is felt within a few minutes and could last up to five hours. When marijuana is eaten, it is immersed gradually because it has to the pass the stomach and intestine for absorption. The changing feeling could take up an hour but would last longer, for about twelve hours.
In the brain, THC connects to specific sites called cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and thereby influences the activity of those cells. Some brain areas have a lot of cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. Many cannabinoid receptors are located in the parts of the brain that control enjoyment, memory, contemplation, attention, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Cannabinoid receptors are mostly concentrated in the hypothalamus, amygdale, spinal cord, brain stem, central gray, and nucleus of the solitary tract. These brain areas are most likely affected with THC, thus causing a dysfunction in behaviors related to these areas. THC triggers the reward system of the brain which causes the release of dopamine, which in turn is responsible for the “high” feeling.
With repeated use of marijuana, the body becomes tolerant to the substance. Just like any other abused substances, marijuana could be a reason of withdrawal symptoms when usage is stopped. When the body tolerates the substance, higher doses is required, and in turn, causing more damage in the person’s life. In order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, the person would find ways for continuous use of the drug. This behavior, then, translates to marijuana dependence. Marijuana is considered as both mentally and emotionally addictive. Users believe that they need to take marijuana to live normally and to have fun.
Marijuana could change anyone for the duration of the use. It can affect one’s state socially, emotionally, physically, and even psychologically. Users tend to lose motivation in doing activities that used to mean a lot to them. The user would then keep away from their friends who do not use marijuana and settle to those who use the substance. It is rooted in their minds that they could not do things without being stoned of smoking marijuana first. They think that smoking marijuana could solve all their problems. Furthermore, as indicated by how the brain is affected with marijuana, memory and cognition is very much affected. Studies have revealed that intense users have difficulty sustaining attention, changing attention to meet the demands of the changes in the surroundings, and in registering, processing, and using information. It has been recommended that the greater destruction among heavy users is likely due to an alteration of brain activity produced by marijuana. In addition, smoking marijuana could lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue and other respiratory problems.
The plant marijuana has the capability to make you an addict or not. For people with addictive tendency, then yes, marijuana could be addictive. However, there are those who disagree that they can take or leave it and have stop for a long duration. Well, probably, in their case, the answer is no.
Marijuana can be beneficial but once abused can give off more harm than good which translates one to call for help.
