The use of marijuana may often lead to problems in your life. It could lead to addiction, or maybe even death. There are those who say smoking marijuana isn't that bad for you, but they don't realize how severe it can get. The effects of the drug depend on the user's experience, how strong it was, what the user expects to happen, and how the drug is taken.
             Dope, grass, ganja, pot, reefer, weed – call it what you will, it is being consumed by young people in the millions. In fact, a recent survey revealed that 70-80 percent of teens polled had used marijuana at some time. Approximately half of them said they used it regularly. Studies have found that the first use of marijuana is when you are fourteen years old. By the tenth grade, one out of thirty teens will use marijuana daily. By their senior year in high school over half the class will have tried marijuana. According to one study, marijuana use by teenagers who have prior serious antisocial problems can quickly lead to dependence on the drug. The highest rates of illicit drug use are found among youth ages 16-20 years old. In 1995, 165,000 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, showing they need help to stop using the drug.
             Some heavy users of marijuana develop a tolerance. Marijuana contains over 400 toxins and cancer-causing chemicals, including THC. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) can be used either as a stimulant or a sedative, depending on how the drug is used. It is either smoked or eaten and causes a feeling of being "high," for several hours after use. Physical effects are an increase in heart rate, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, dry throat, and an increase in appetite. THC slows reaction time and interferes with coordination of learning by impairing thinking, reading, comprehension, verbal, and mathematic skills. Regular users of marijuana can have a permanent effect on attention span, memory, judgment, and logical though...