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.
This substance is commonly smoked in a pipe. 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 snorted, it goes quickly into the blood through the lungs and then to the brain. The “high” sense is felt within a few minutes and could last up to five hours. When marijuana is chomped, it is absorbed slowly because it has to the pass the stomach and intestine for digestion. The altering 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 numerous cannabinoid receptors; others have a small number of or none. Many cannabinoid receptors are found in the parts of the brain that control enjoyment, recollection, thought, concentration, 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 areas in the brain 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.
The continued use of marijuana makes the body to become dependent of the substance. Just like any other abused drugs, marijuana could be a reason of withdrawal symptoms when usage is ended. 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, results to marijuana dependence. Marijuana is considered to be both mentally and emotionally addictive. Addicts believe that they need to take marijuana to live normally and to have fun.
Overtime, marijuana could change the person socially, emotionally, physically, and even psychologically. Users tend to lose motivation in doing activities that used to mean a lot to them. The abuser would then avoid their friends who do not use marijuana and gravitate to those who use the substance. It is planted 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. Moreover, as indicated by how the brain is affected with marijuana, memory and cognition is very much affected. Studies have revealed that intense users have trouble sustaining attention, shifting attention to meet the demands of the changes in the surroundings, and in registering, processing, and using information. It has been suggested that the greater destruction among heavy users is likely due to an change of brain activity produced by marijuana. Furthermore, smoking marijuana could lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue and other respiratory problems.
Marijuana can either be addictive or not. For people with addictive tendency, then yes, marijuana could be addictive. However, there are people who disagree that they can take or leave it and have give up for a long period of time. Well, probably, in their case, the answer is thumbs down.
Marijuana can be beneficial but once abused can give off more harm than good which translates one to call for help.
