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Wednesday,
April 21, 2004 |
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Frequently
asked questions about marijuana
What
are the short-term effects of marijuana use?
• problems with memory and learning
• distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)
• trouble with thinking and problem solving
• loss of motor coordination
• increased heart rate
What are the long-term effects of marijuana use?
Findings so far show that regular use of marijuana or
THC may play a role in some kinds of cancer and in problems
with the respiratory and immune systems.
• Cancer — It is known that marijuana contains
some of the same, and sometimes even more, of the cancer-causing
chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Studies show that someone
who smokes five joints a day may be taking in as many
cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full
pack of cigarettes every day.
• Lungs and airways — People who smoke marijuana
often develop the same kinds of breathing problems as
cigarette smokers: coughing and wheezing. They tend to
have more chest colds than non-users. They are also at
greater risk of getting lung infections like pneumonia.
• Immune system — Animal studies have found
that THC can damage the cells and tissues in the body
that help protect against disease. When the immune cells
are weakened you are more likely to get sick.
What does marijuana do to the brain?
Some studies show that when people have smoked large amounts
of marijuana for years, the drug takes its toll on mental
functions. Heavy or daily use of marijuana affects the
parts of the brain that control memory, attention and
learning. A working short-term memory is needed to learn
and perform tasks that call for more than one or two steps.
Smoking marijuana causes some changes in the brain that
are like those caused by cocaine, heroin and alcohol.
Scientists are still learning about the many ways that
marijuana can affect the brain.
— National Institute on Drug Abuse |
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