One of the most identified psychoactive substance is a plant with. This psychoactive plant contains the. It produces a feeling of “high” when taken. The flower of the plant contains the higher levels of THC.
This substance is commonly smoked in a pipe. It could also be smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco leaf used to wrap the cigar. With this, marijuana’s active ingredients combine with nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Marijuana can also be mixed in food. When marijuana is smoked, it goes quickly into the blood through the lungs and then to the brain. The “high” mood is felt within a few minutes and could last up to five hours. When marijuana is consumed, it is immersed slowly because it has to the pass the stomach and intestine for digestion. The altering feeling could take up an hour but would last longer, for about twelve hours.
How does THC works in the brain? It actually attaches on a specific site in the brain known as the cannabinoid receptor which influences the activities of the nerve cells. Some brain areas have numerous cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. Many cannabinoid receptors are found in the areas of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, contemplation, attention, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Cannabinoid receptors are mostly concentrated in the hypothalamus, amygdale, spinal cord, brain stem, central gray, and nucleus of the solitary tract. These brain areas are most likely affected with THC, thus causing a dysfunction in behaviors related to these areas. THC stimulates the reward system of the brain which causes the release of dopamine, which in turn is responsible for the “high” feeling.
With repeated use of marijuana, the body becomes tolerant to the substance. Just like any other abused drugs, marijuana could be a reason of withdrawal symptoms when usage is terminated. When the body tolerates the substance, higher doses is required, and in turn, causing more damage in the person’s life. In order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, the person would find ways for continuous use of the drug. This attitude, then, results to marijuana dependence. Marijuana is considered to be both mentally and emotionally addictive. Addicts believe that they need to take marijuana to live normally and to have fun.
Overtime, marijuana could change the person socially, emotionally, physically, and even psychologically. One would lack the interest in doing any mundane activities. The abuser would then stay away from their friends who do not use marijuana and gravitate to those who use the substance. It is planted in their minds that they could not do things without being stoned of smoking marijuana first. They believe that smoking marijuana could solve all their problems. Furthermore, as indicated by how the brain is affected with marijuana, memory and cognition is very much affected. Studies have shown that intense users have trouble sustaining attention, changing attention to meet the demands of the changes in the environment, and in registering, processing, and using information. It has been suggested that the bigger harm among heavy users is likely due to an alteration of brain activity produced by marijuana. In addition, smoking marijuana could lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue and other respiratory problems.
Marijuana can either be addictive or not. For people with addictive tendency, then yes, marijuana could be addictive. However, there are those who argue that they can take or leave it and have stop for a long period of time. Well, probably, in their case, the answer is thumbs down.
Marijuana can be beneficial but once abused can give off more harm than good which translates one to call for help.
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