marijuna
Marijuana, the crude drug made from the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis sativa plant, contains hundreds of active chemicals. Of the 421 chemicals identified in the plant, 70 are cannabinoids (chemicals found only in the marijuana plant and nowhere else in nature). Cannabinoids are stored in the fat parts of cell membranes for long periods of time and interfere with normal cell functioning. Since the 70 annabinoids are fat-soluble, they build up or accumulate in body tissue. Three to seven days after using marijuana, a 50 percent level of biochemical activity will remain in the cells. It takes the body 20 to 30 days to metabolize or wash out the chemicals from the marijuana. Some clinicians feel that it may take as much as six to 12 weeks of no marijuana use for the long-term heavy user to become free from the drug. In one respect, marijuana is similar to DDT and other pesticides, which are also fat-soluble and build up in human tissue. The marijuana plant is a complex and unpredictable chemical factory. The amount of THC (the major mind-altering chemical in marijuana) produced in the plant leaves and flowering tops will vary from plant to plant, even within the same plant, and from hour to hour. The marijuana us
Few health hazards were noted during that period. Hashish also burns at a much higher temperature than marijuana. In the 1970s, the Mexican marijuana coming into the country averaged one percent to two percent THC. Marijuana usage can thus result in problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, loss of coordination, and trouble with thinking and problem-solving. Recent animal studies have raised serious concerns that chromosomal aberrations and genetic mutations may be transmitted from the father to the next generation of male offspring. Young adolescent users occasionally report withdrawal symptoms, and parents and pediatricians should be aware that a temporary flu-like syndrome may occur when a youngster stops using marijuana. This is of particular significance to developing adolescents who are going through a very vulnerable period of rapid and complex biochemical changes. It is used to help treat nausea and vomiting that occurs with certain cancer treatments, as well as to help AIDS patients eat more and keep up their weight. This leaves both researcher and user in doubt as to what chemicals actually enter the body. The THC level in "hash oil" may reach 30 percent and can produce intense hallucinations. Increasing numbers of teenagers report getting "very" intoxicated or "bombed" when they smoke marijuana, suggesting they may be using a powerful form of the drug. The THC levels in hashish will vary from two percent to 20 percent. Most users will experience feelings of relaxation, a "high", hunger and thirst, while others may have a more negative response through feelings of anxiety or paranoia. This new information, along with research on animals, helps us better understand the harmful effects of marijuana.
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