Marijuana

 

STREET NAMES/SLANG TERMS

-Aunt Mary -Bobby -Boom -Chronic -Dope Ganja -Gangster -Grass -Hash -Herb -Kif

-Mary Jane -Pot -Reefer -Sinsemilla

-Skunk -Weed

 

WHAT IS IT?

Marijuana is a product of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC(delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Of the roughly 400 chemicals found in the cannabis plant, THC affects the brain the most

 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Green or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves of the hemp plant.

 

HOW IS USED?

Usually smoked as a cigarette or joint, or in a pipe or bong, marijuana has appeared in blunts in recent years. These are cigars taht have been emptied of tobacco and re-filled with marijuana, sometimes in combination with another drug, such as crack(this combination is called lacing).Some users also mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea.

 

EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA ON THE BRAIN

Researches have found that THC changes the way in hich sensory information gets into and is acted on by the hippocampus. This is a component of the brain's limbic system that is crucial for learning, memory, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivations. Investigations have shown that THC suppresses neurons in the information processing system of the hippocampus. In addition, researchers have discovered that learned behaviors, which depend on the hippocampus, also deteriorate.

 

EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA ON THE LUNGS

Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. These individuals may have daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. Continuing to smoke marijuana can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue injured or destroyed by marijuana smoke.

 

Regardless of the THC content, the amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. This may be due to marijuana users inhaling more deeply and holding the smoke in the lungs.

 

OTHER SHORT TERM EFFECTS

Dry mouth and/or throat, problems with memory & learning, distorted perception(sights, sounds, time touch), trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety. These effects are even greater when other drugs are mixed with marijuana

 

LONG TERM EFFECTS

Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing compounds as tobacco, sometimes in higher concentrations. Somone who smokes 1 to 3 joints can produce the same lung damage and potential cancer risk as smoking 5 times as many cigarettes.

 

FEDERAL CLASSIFICATION

Scedule I

 

STATISTICS:

  • Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the US.
  • The percentage of youth aged 12-17 indicating a great risk of smoking "mj" once a month remained unchanged between 1999 and 2000(32.7% in 1999 and 37.7% in 2000)
  • Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals, including most of the harmful substances found in tobacco smoke. Smoking one joint depostis about 4 times more tar into the lungs than a filtered tobacco cigarette.
  • Harvard University researchers report the risk of a heart attack is five times higher than usual in the hour after smoking marijuana.
  • The risk of using cocaine is estimated to be more than 104 times greater for those who have tried "mj" than for those who have never tried it.
  • Smoking "mj" can injure or destory lung tissue. In fact, "mj" smoke contains 50-70% more of some cancer causing chemicals than tobacco smoke.
  • Reaction time for motor skills, such as driving, is reduced by 41% after smoking one joint and is reduced by 60% after 2.
  • There have been over 7,000 published scientific and medical studies documenting the damage that "mj" poses. Not one study has shown it to be safe.
  • Marijuana is the most used illegal drug in the US. Nearly 69 MILLION Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once.
  • Marijuana is California's largest CASH CROP.
  • Today's marijuana is 10 to 15 times stronger than it was in the 60's.
  • Reaction time for motor skills, such as driving is reduced by 41% after smoking 1 JOINT and is reduced 63% after smoking 2 JOINTS.
  • There have been over 7,000 published scientific and medical studies documenting the damage that marijuana poses.
  • Data has shown that people high on marijuana show the same lack of coordination on standard "drunk driver" tests as do people who have had too much to drink.
  • The daily use of 1 to 3 marijuana joints can produce the same lung damage and potiential cancer risk as smoking FIVE TIMES as many cigarettes.
  • Marijuana is the second most common drug after alcohol, present in the blood stream of non-fatally and fatally injured persons.
  • Among teens 12 to 17, the average age of first trying marijuana was 14 yrs. old.
  • A yearly survey of students in grades 8 to 12 show that 23% of 8th graders have marijuana at least once.
  • By 10th grade, 21% are "current" users.
  • Among 12th graders, nearly 50% have tried marijuana at least once.
  • Among those same 12th graders approx. 24% were current users.
  • Marijuana is a complex material containing 421 chemicals, 60 of which are only found in marijuana.
  • 75% drug-related CRIMINAL CHARGES are connected to marijuana.
  • 65% of people arrested for marijuana related crimes ARE FOR SIMPLE POSSESSION.
  • Approx. 50,000 Canadians are arrested each year for marijuana related crimes.
  • 600,000 Canadians have a CRIMINAL RECORD for simple possession of marijuana.
  • Estimates put the value of the marijuana industry to the British Columbia Economy at anywhere betweenn $2 billion and $10 billion, making it one of British Columbia's TOP THREE INDUSTRIES.

MARIJUANA TRENDS ACROSS THE US:

**marijuana trends across the US are indicators of the RATE of marijuana ABUSE, marijuana ADDICTION, domestic violence, and child abuse. The marijuana trends for EACH STATE has a DIRECT correlation to the AMOUNT of marijuana SEIZED by federal authorities. Below are the FEDERAL MARIJUANA SEIZURES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE. These statistics for each state's federal seizurs provides current information on which states have the largest marijuana TRAFFICING problem.

  • Alabama Federal marijuana Seizures: 332.6 kgs
  • Arizone " " ": 218,877 kgs
  • Arkansas " " ": 2,281 kgs
  • California " " ": 217,626 kgs
  • Colorado " " ": 455 kgs
  • Connecticut " " ": 42.6 kgs
  • Delaware " " ": 14.0 kgs
  • Florida " " ": 30,185.4 kgs
  • Georgia " " ": 5,283.9 kgs
  • Idaho " " ": 0 kgs
  • Illinois " " ": 30,185 kgs
  • Indiana " " ": 391.8 kgs
  • Iowa " " ": 199.9 kgs
  • Kansas " " ": 2,539.4 kgs
  • Kentucky " " ": 436.1 kgs
  • Louisiana " " ": 4,110.5 kgs
  • Maine " " ": 21.3 kgs
  • Maryland " " ": 118.0 kgs
  • Massachusetts " " ": 862.0 kgs
  • Michigan " " ": 3.571.1 kgs
  • Minnesota " " ": 798.2 kgs
  • Mississippi " " ": 1,143.3 kgs
  • Missouri " " ": 8,739.9 kgs
  • Montana " " ": 136.4 kgs
  • Nebraska " " ": 437.7 kgs
  • Nevada " " ": 42.8 kgs
  • New Hampshire " " ": 0 kgs
  • New Jersey " " ": 2,196.8 kgs
  • New Mexico " " ": 52,018.0 kgs
  • New York " " ": 2,658.0 kgs
  • North Carloina " " ": 3,826.8 kgs
  • North Dakota " " ": 2.4 kgs
  • Ohio " " ": 2,440.9 kgs
  • Oklahoma " " ": 2,861.4 kgs
  • Oregon " " ": 125.0 kgs
  • Pennsylvania " " ": 377.3 kgs
  • Rhode Island " " ": 8.5 kgs
  • South Carolina " " ": 4,283.8 kgs
  • South Dakota " " ": 2.9 kgs
  • Tennessee " " ": 218.4 kgs
  • Texas " " ": 613,107.3 kgs
  • Utah " " ": 13.1 kgs
  • Vermont " " ": 249.9 kgs
  • Virginia " " ": 110.3 kgs
  • Washington " " ": 4,182.8 kgs
  • West Virginia " " ": 90.5 kgs
  • Wisconsin " " ": 5.2 kgs
  • Wyoming " " ": 0 kgs

 

 

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