truth about marijuana booklet

8/9/2019 Truth About Marijuana Booklet

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THE TRUTH ABOUT

MARIJUANA

drugfreeworld.org


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WHY THIS BOOKLETWAS PRODUCED

There is a lot of talk about drugs in theworld—on the streets, at school, on the

Internet and TV. Some of it is true, some not.

Much of what you hear about drugs actuallycomes from those selling them. Reformed drugdealers have confessed they would have saidanything to get others to buy drugs.

Don’t be fooled. You need facts to avoidbecoming hooked on drugs and to help yourfriends stay off them. That is why we haveprepared this booklet—for you.

Your feedback is important to us, so we lookforward to hearing from you. You can visit us

on the web at drugfreeworld.org and e-mailus at [email protected] .


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What is marijuana?

M arijuana is the word used to describe thedried flowers, seeds and leaves of theIndian hemp plant. On the street, it is called bymany other names, such as: astro turf, bhang,dagga, dope, ganja, grass, hemp, home grown, J, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, roach, Texas teaand weed.

Hashish is a related form of the drug, madefrom the resins of the Indian hemp plant. Alsocalled chocolate, hash, or shit, it is on averagesix times stronger than marijuana.

“Cannabis” describes any of the differentdrugs that come from Indian hemp, includingmarijuana and hashish.

Regardless of the name, this drug is ahallucinogen—a substance which distortshow the mind perceives the world you live in.

The chemical in cannabis that createsthis distortion is known as “THC.” The

amount of THC found in any given batchof marijuana may varysubstantially, butoverall, thepercentageof THC hasincreased in

recent years.


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Hashish is tan, brown or black resinthat is dried and pressed into bars,sticks or balls. When smoked, bothmarijuana and hashish give off adistinctive, sweet odor.

Marijuana isa mixture ofdried-out leaves,stems, flowers and seedsof the hemp plant. It is usuallygreen, brown or gray in color.

M arijuana is the most commonly used illegaldrug in the world. A survey conducted in2007 found that 14.4 million individuals in theUS alone had smoked marijuana at least onceduring the previous month.

Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint),but may also be smoked in a pipe. Less often, itis mixed with food and eaten or brewed as tea.

Sometimes users open up cigars and removethe tobacco, replacing it with

pot—called a “blunt.” Jointsand blunts are sometimeslaced with other, morepowerful drugs, such as crackcocaine or PCP (phencyclidine,a powerful hallucinogen).

When a person smokesa joint, he usually feels

How is it used?


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street namesMARIJUANAPot

HerbWeedGrassWhiteWidowGanjaAstro turf BhangDaggaDopeHempHome grown J

Mary JaneReeferRoachTexas tea

HASHISH Chocolate

HashShit

its effect within minutes. The immediatesensations—increased heart rate, lessenedcoordination and balance, and a “dreamy,” unrealstate of mind—peak within the first 30 minutes.

These short-term effects usually wear off intwo to three hours, but they could last longer,depending on how much the user takes, thepotency of THC and the presence of other drugsadded into the mix.

As the typical user inhales more smoke and holdsit longer than he would with a cigarette, a joint

creates a severe impact on one’s lungs. Aside fromthe discomfort that goes with sore throats andchest colds, it has been found that consuming one joint gives as much exposure to cancer-producingchemicals as smoking five cigarettes.

The mental consequences of marijuana use areequally severe. Marijuana smokers have poorermemories and mental aptitude than do non-users.

Animals given marijuana by researchers have evensuffered structural damage to the brain.


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Marijuana its background

T he Indian hemp plant (from whichcannabis drugs like marijuana andhashish are made) was grown for use as anhallucinogen more than 2,000 years ago.

Although cannabis contains over 400 differentchemicals, the main ingredient which affectsthe mind is THC. The amount of THC in thehemp plant determines the strength of thedrug. The weather, soil and other factorsdetermine the percentage of THC found in

the plant. By using modern farming techniques,hemp growers have developed strains ofcannabis which have much higher levels ofTHC than in the past. THC levels averaged

1% in 1974 and 4% in 1994. In 2008, levelsreached 9.6%, highest ever since analysis ofthe drug began in the 1970s.

One form of cannabis, called sinsemilla(Spanish for “without seeds”), may haveTHC levels from 7.5% to as much as 24%.


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ALCOHOL VS.MARIJUANA

Is smoking a joint the same as drinkingalcohol?You decide. Here are the facts:

Alcohol consists of one substance only:ethanol. Marijuana contains more than400 known chemicals, including the samecancer-causing substances found in tobaccosmoke. Unlike cigarette smokers, pot smokerstend to inhale deeply and hold the smoke aslong as possible to increase the effect of thedrug, worsening the damage to the lungs.

Alcohol is eliminated from the body in a fewhours, but THC stays in the body for weeks,possibly months, depending on the length

and intensityof usage.

THC damagesthe immunesystem. Alcohol

does not.There is no intentionhere to minimize thedangers of alcohol abuse, which can beequally harmful. Users, however, need to beaware that the chemicals in marijuana, someof them cancer-causing, remain in the bodylong after the drug is taken.


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A ccording to the UnitedNations, 158.8 millionpeople around the world usemarijuana—more than 3.8%of the planet’s population.

• Over 94 million people in

the US have admittedusing it at least once.

• According to the2007 NationalSurvey on DrugUse and Health,2.1 million peoplein the US abused

marijuana for the first time that year.

• Among 12- to 17-year-olds, 6.7% werecurrent marijuana users in 2007.

• According to US government estimates,domestic marijuana production has increased

tenfold over the last 25 years: from 1,000metric tons (2.2 million pounds) in 1981 to10,000 metric tons (22 million pounds) in2006. Not surprisingly, 58% of those aged12 to 17 state that pot is easy to obtain.US marijuana users spent approximately$10.5 billion on the drug in the year 2000.

• In 2005, 242,200 emergency room visits inthe United States involved marijuana.

InternationalStatistics


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• According to the USDrug EnforcementAdministration, a largepercentage of those

arrested for crimes testpositive for marijuana.Nationwide, 40% of adultmales tested positive at thetime of their arrest.

• Of adults 26 or older who used marijuanabefore age 15, 62% went on to use cocaine at

some point in their lives; 9% went on to useheroin at least once; and 54% made somenon-medical use of mind-altering prescriptiondrugs.

• Next to alcohol, marijuana is the secondmost frequently found substance in thebodies of drivers involved in fatalautomobile accidents.


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THE harmfulEFFECTS OF MARIJUANA

T he immediate effects of taking marijuanainclude rapid heart beat, disorientation,lack of physical coordination, often followedby depression or sleepiness. Some users sufferpanic attacks or anxiety.

But the problem does not end there. Accordingto scientific studies, the active ingredient incannabis, THC, remains in the body for weeksor longer.

Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% morecancer-causing substances than tobaccosmoke. One major research study reported

that a single cannabis joint could cause asmuch damage to the lungs as up to fiveregular cigarettes smoked one after another.

Long-time joint smokers often suffer frombronchitis, an inflammation of the respiratorytract.

The drug can affect more than your physicalhealth. Studies in Australia in 2008 linkedyears of heavy marijuana use to brainabnormalities. This is backed up by earlierresearch on the long-term effects of marijuana,which indicate changes in the brain similarto those caused by long-term abuse of othermajor drugs. And a number of studies haveshown a connectionbetween continuedmarijuana use andpsychosis.


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Marijuana changes the structureof sperm cells, deforming them.Thus even small amounts ofmarijuana can cause temporarysterility in men. Marijuana use can upseta woman’s menstrual cycle.

Studies show that the mental functions ofpeople who have smoked a lot of marijuana

tend to be diminished. The THC in cannabisdisrupts nerve cells in the brain affectingmemory.

Cannabis is one of the few drugs which causesabnormal cell division which leads to severehereditary defects. A pregnant woman whoregularly smokes marijuana or hashish maygive birth prematurely to an undersized,underweight baby. Over the last 10 years,

manychildren ofmarijuanausers havebeen bornwith reducedinitiative andlessened abilitiesto concentrate andpursue life goals.Studies also suggestthat prenatal (beforebirth) use of the drug may result in birth

defects, mental abnormalities and increasedrisk of leukemia * in children.* leukemia: cancer of the bone marrow.


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LONG-TERM EFFECTS• Reduced resistance to common

illnesses (colds, bronchitis, etc.)

• Suppression of the immune system• Growth disorders• Increase of abnormally

structured cells in the body• Reduction of male sex hormones• Rapid destruction of lung fibers

and lesions (injuries) to the braincould be permanent

• Reduced sexual capacity• Study difficulties: reduced ability

to learn and retain information• Apathy, drowsiness, lack of

motivation• Personality and mood changes• Inability to understand

things clearly

SHORT-TERMEFFECTS• Sensory distortion• Panic• Anxiety• Poor coordination of

movement• Lowered reaction time• After an initial “up,”

the user feels sleepyor depressed

• Increased heartbeat(and risk of heartattack)


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Istarted using on a lark, a dare from a bestfriend who said that I was too chicken tosmoke a joint and drink a quart of beer. I wasfourteen at that time. After seven years of

using and drinking I found myself at the end ofthe road with addiction. I was no longer usingto feel euphoria, I was just using to feel somesemblance of normality.

“Then I started having negative feelingsabout myself and my own abilities. I hatedthe paranoia. * I hated looking over myshoulder all the time. I really hated nottrusting my friends. I became so paranoid thatI successfully drove everyone away and foundmyself in the terrible place no one wants tobe in—I was alone. I’d wake up in the morningand start using and keep using throughout theday.” — Paul* paranoia: suspicion, distrust or fear of other people.


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ON THE ROADTO DRUG ABUSE

B ecause a tolerance builds up, marijuanacan lead users to consume strongerdrugs to achieve the same high. When theeffects start to wear off, the person may turnto more potent drugs to rid himself of theunwanted conditions that caused him to take

marijuana in the first place. Marijuana itselfdoes not lead the person to the other drugs;

people take drugs to get rid of unwantedsituations or feelings. The drug (marijuana)masks the problem for a time (while the useris high). When the “high” fades, the problem,unwanted condition or situation returns moreintensely than before. The user may then turn

to stronger drugs since marijuana no longer“works.”


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The vast majority of cocaine users (99.9%)began by first using a “gateway drug” likemarijuana, cigarettes or alcohol. Of course,not everyone who smokes marijuana andhashish goes on to use harder drugs. Somenever do. Others quit using marijuanaaltogether. But some do turn to harder drugs.One study found that youth (12 to 17 yearsold) who use marijuana are 85 times morelikely to use cocaine than kids who do not usepot, and that 60% of the kids who smoke potbefore the age of 15 move on to cocaine.

Marijuana is sometimes combined withharder drugs. Joints are sometimes dipped inPCP, a powerful hallucinogen. PCP is a whitepowder, also available in liquid form, andoften used with cannabis. PCP is known forcausing violent behavior and creating severe

physical reactions including seizures, comaand even death.

I was given my first joint in theplayground of my school. I’m a heroinaddict now, and I’ve just finished myeighth treatment for drug addiction.”

— Christian


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T he use of marijuana is not only harmful tothe pot smoker himself. He can also becomea risk to society.

Research clearly shows that marijuana has thepotential to cause problems in daily life. A studyof 129 college students found that, among thosewho smoked the drug at least 27 of the 30 daysbefore being surveyed, critical skills related toattention, memory, and learning were seriouslydiminished. A study of postal workers foundthat employees who tested positive formarijuana had 55% more accidents,85% more injuries and a 75% increasein being absent from work.

Behindthe smokescreen


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In Australia, a study found that cannabisintoxication was responsible for 4.3% of driver

fatalities.It is almost impossible to grow up in America,or any country, and not be exposed to drugs.Peer pressure to do drugs is high and honestinformation about the dangers of drugs is notalways available.

Many people will tell you marijuana is notdangerous. Consider who is telling you that.Are these the same people who are trying tosell you some pot?

T he teacher in the school I wentto would smoke three or four joints a day. He got lots of studentsto start smoking joints, me included.

His dealer then pushed me to startusing heroin, which I did without resisting.By that time, it was as if my conscience wasalready dead.” — Veronique


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Marijuana can harm a person’smemory—and this impact can last fordays or weeks after the immediate effectsof the drug wear off. In one study, a group

of heavy marijuana users were asked torecall words from a list. Their abilityto correctly remember the words didnot return to normal until as longas four weeks after they stoppedsmoking.

Students who use marijuana havelower grades and are less likely to get intocollege than non-smokers. They simply donot have the same abilities to rememberand organize information compared tothose who do not use these substances.


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When teens were surveyed to find outwhy they started using drugs in thefirst place, 55% replied that it was dueto pressure from their friends. Theywanted to be cool and popular. Dealersknow this.

They will approach you as a friend andoffer to “help you out” with “somethingto bring you up.” The drug will “help youfit in” or “make you cool.”

Drug dealers, motivated by the profitsthey make, will say anything to get you

to buy their drugs. They will tell you that“weed won’t lead you to harder drugs.”

They don’t care if the drugs ruin your lifeas long as they are getting paid. All theycare about is money. Former dealershave admitted they saw their buyers as

“pawns in a chess game.”Get the facts about drugs. Make yourown decisions.

what dealerswill tell you


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The Truth

About DrugsDrugs are essentially poisons. The amounttaken determines the effect.A small amount acts as a stimulant (speedsyou up). A greater amount acts as a sedative(slows you down). An even larger amountpoisons and can kill.This is true of any drug. Only the amountneeded to achieve the effect differs.

But many drugs have another liability: theydirectly affect the mind. They can distort theuser’s perception of what is happening around

him or her. As a result, the person’s actionsmay be odd, irrational, inappropriate and evendestructive.

Drugs block off all sensations, the desirableones with the unwanted. So, while providingshort-term help in the relief of pain, they alsowipe out ability and alertness and muddy one’sthinking.

Medicines are drugs that are intended to speedup or slow down or change something aboutthe way your body is working, to try to makeit work better. Sometimes they are necessary.But they are still drugs: they act as stimulantsor sedatives, and too much can kill you. So ifyou do not use medicines as they are supposed

to be used, they can be as dangerous asillegal drugs.


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The real answer is to getthe facts and not to take

drugs in the first place.


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WHY DO PEOPLE TAKE DRUGS?

People take drugs because they want tochange something in their lives.

Here are some of the reasons youngpeople have given for taking drugs:

• To fit in

• To escape or relax

• To relieve boredom

• To seem grown up

• To rebel

• To experiment

They think drugs are a solution. Buteventually, the drugs become the

problem.Difficult as it may be to face one’sproblems, the consequences of drug useare always worse than the problem oneis trying to solve with them. The realanswer is to get the facts and not to

take drugs in the first place.


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REFERENCESSubstance Abuse andMental Health ServicesAdministration

Medical Research Instituteof New Zealand

“Study strengthensmarijuana brain damagecase,” ABC News, 4 June 2008

“Cannabis harm worsethan tobacco,” BBC News, 31 July 2007

“New Report Finds HighestEver Levels of THC inU.S. Marijuana,” Officeof National Drug ControlPolicy press release,12 Jun 2008

National ToxicologySpecialists Inc.

“Marijuana Productionin the United States,” Jon Gettman

Drug Abuse WarningNetwork, 2005: NationalEstimates of Drug-RelatedEmergency DepartmentVisits

“NIDA Infofacts:Marijuana,” 14 Jan 2008,National Institute on DrugAbuse

United Nations Office onDrugs and Crime 2007World Drug Report

University of South

CarolinaDrug EnforcementAdministration

American Academy ofPediatrics

PHOTO CREDITS:Page 10, 12, 14: Alamy.

Millions of copies of booklets such asthis have been distributed to peoplearound the world in 22 languages. Asnew drugs appear on the streets and

more information about their effectsbecomes known, existing booklets areupdated and new ones created.

The booklets are published by theFoundation for a Drug-Free World, anonprofit public benefit organizationheadquartered in Los Angeles,California.The Foundation provides educationalmaterials, advice and coordinationfor its international drug preventionnetwork. It works with youth, parents,educators, volunteer organizations and

government agencies—anyone with aninterest in helping people lead lives freefrom drug abuse.


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For more information or to obtain more copiesof this or other booklets in this series, contact:

Foundation for a Drug-Free World1626 N. Wilcox Avenue, #1297Los Angeles, CA 90028 USA

drugfreeworld.org • e-mail: [email protected]: 1-888 NO TO DRUGS (1-888-668-6378)

FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW

This booklet is one in a series of publications that cover the facts about marijuana, alcohol,Ecstasy, cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth and methamphetamine, inhalants, heroin,

LSD and prescription drug abuse. Armed with this information, the reader can make thedecision to live a drug-free life.

© 2008 Foundation for a Drug-Free World. All Rights Reserved. The Foundation logo is a trademark owned by theFoundation for a Drug-Free World. Item #C6231 US-ENG

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