The truth about MARIJUANA
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Marijuana has many names, but it is the drug THC within it that is the hallucinogen – a substance which distorts how the mind perceives the world you live in.
The percentage of THC in pot today has increased significantly; this is why smoking dope is far riskier now than when we did it back in the seventies and eighties.
STREET NAMES
- MARIJUANA: pot, herb, weed, grass, white, widow, ganja, astro turf, bhang, dope, hemp, home grown, J, Mary Jane, reefer, roach, Texas Tea
- HASHISH: Chocolate, hash, shit, brown
Watch for codes: e.g. Magazine = pot, hash whereas Book = coke, class A’s, ecstasy
Is it the same as alcohol?
Here’s the facts…..
Alcohol has one substance only, ethanol. Marijuana contain more than 400 chemicals, including the same cancer causing substances found in tobacco smoke. Unlike cigarette smokers, pot smoker tend to inhale deeply and hold the smoke as long as possible to increase the effect of the drug, worsening damage to the lungs.
Alcohol is eliminated from the body in a few hours, but THC stay in the body for weeks, possibly months, depending on the length and intensity of usage.
THC damages the immune system. Alcohol doesn’t.
There is no intention here to minimize the dangers of alcohol abuse, which can be equally harmful. Users, however, need to be aware that the chemicals in pot, some of them cancer causing, remain in the body long after the drug is taken.
Next to alcohol, marijuana is the second most frequently found substance in the bodies of drivers involved in fatal car accidents.
The effects of Marijuana
- The immediate effects of taking pot include: rapid heart beat, disorientation, lack of physical coordination, often followed by depression or sleepiness. Some users suffer panic attacks or anxiety.
- In study found that one joint could cause as much damage to the lungs as five cigarettes smoked straight after each other.
- In 2008, an Aussie study linked years of heavy pot smoking to brain abnormalities. A number of other studies have linked marijuana use with psychosis.
- Pot changes the structure of your sperm cells, deforming them. Even small amount of pr can cause temporary sterility in men. Marijuana can upset a women menstrual cycle.
- The THC destroys nerve cells in the brain affecting memory.
- Cannabis is one of the few drugs which cause abnormal cell division which leads to sever hereditary defects.
SHORT TERM EFFECTS
- Sensory distortion
- Panic
- Anxiety
- Poor coordination or movement
- Lowered reaction time
- After an initial “up’ the user feels sleepy or depressed
- Increase heart beat (and risk of heart attack)
LONG TERM AFFECTS
- Reduced resistance to common illnesses (cold etc..)
- Suppression of the immune system
- Growth disorder
- Increase of abnormally structured cells in the body
- Reduction of the make sex hormones
- Rapid destruction of lung fibres and lesions (injuries) to the brain could be permanent
- Reduced sexual capacity
- Study difficulties: reduced ability to learn and retain information
- Apathy, drowsiness, lack of motivation
- Inability to understand things clearly
ON THE ROAD TO ABUSE
- Because a tolerance builds up, marijuana can lead users to consume stronger drugs to achieve the same high
- When the effects start to wear off, the person may turn to more potent drugs to rid him/herself of the unwanted conditions that caused them to take pot in the first place.
- Marijuana itself does not lead the person to the other drugs: people take drugs to get rid of unwanted situations or feelings.
The drug masks the problem for a while. When the “high” fades, the problem, unwanted condition or situation returns more intensely than before. The user may then turn to stronger drugs since pot no longer works.
“I was given my first joint in the playground of my school. I’m a heroin addict now, and I’ve just finished my eighth treatment for drug addiction.”
This post is one in a series Dads’Club covers about marijuana, alcohol, Ecstasy, cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth and methamphetamine, inhalants, heroin, LSD and prescription drug abuse.
If you require more information, email dads@dadsclub.com.au
This series of posts has been provided by The Foundation for a Drug-Free World
www.drugfreeworld.org
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I started using pot as dare from a mate who said I was too gutless to smoke joint and have a beer. I was 14 then. After 7 years of using and drinking I found myself at the end of the road of addiction. I was no longer using to fell euphoria, I was just using to feel some semblance of normality.
Then I started having negative feelings about myself and my own abilities. I hated the paranoia. I hated looking over my shoulder all the time. I really hated not trusting my friends. I became so paranoid that I successfully drive everyone away and found myself in the terrible place no one wants to be in – I was alone. I’d wake up in the morning and start using and keep using throughout the day.
When teens were surveyed to find out why they started using drugs in the first place, 55% replied that it was due to pressure from their friends. They wanted to be cool and popular. Dealers knwo this.
I used drugs, started on pot just to escape family life. Drugs were my escape, it was my way of running. I did it for years, but was able to stop once I left uni. You can stop. It is true that pot will open the door to harder drugs like Acid, E’s & Coke.
You believe that coke will increase your perceptions, that it will allow you to surpass yourself, that you will be able to control things. It;s bloody nonsense. After a while you don’t pay your bills anymore, you don’t wash yourself anymore, you give up on your friends, your family. You will become defenseless and alone
There is alot of misinformation in this article. Firstly , THC is not really a hallucinogen , although it could cause mild hallucinations in very high doses. I agree that there are much more powerful strains of cannabis available today, although its more to do with availability and preference, supply and demand, as it were. Thai sticks you could get in certain places 30 years ago , by no means pale in comparison with some of these hydro varieties available today. It is a complete lie in this article to say alcohol doesnt damage the immune system. You’ve got to be joking?
” Alcohol impairs their normal function of the B-lymphocytes. They produce antibodies in the blood. It takes only two drinks to reduce antibody production by two-thirds.
A group of white blood cells called Natural Killer cells (NK cells) are also weakened by alcoholic drinks. ” from :
http://www.newstarthealthcare.com/article.php?id=73
This article is very unbalanced , it seems like drug agency propaganda. I wonder if many people realize that keeping cannabis illegal actually boosts the overall crime syndicates operations (remember alcohol prohibition and what that caused?)check ‘How The Weed Won The West’ – http://www.howweedwonthewest.com/hwwtw.html#/home
and means that the market is full of really bad genetically altered strains, like the ones that make you tired or ’stoned’ . There is actually medical strains of cannabis that when used actually gives you energy and makes you alert. Please, no more of this , pro-alcohol anti-cannabis propaganda. Thanks
And furthermore, using cannabis has never been proven to cause a person to use hard drugs, that is outright di-information ! Cannabis is a natural substance, a plant , that has amazing medical value. Please, look into the truth of the proven benefits of medical marijuana…. i know people who have cured cancer and all kinds of physical problems with pure cannabis oil…. http://www.phoenixtears.ca/
http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/5169.html
Jah Son,
Keep your comment coming, we’re keen to get all views
Young adults who used pot as teens are more likely than those who didn’t to develop schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms,a seven year Australian study has found….
marijuana is not as harmless as what people think
The History of Cannabis(Pt 1)
- http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/mj019.htm
The Sociology Of Cannabis And World History
- http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/mj018.htm
Marijuana Myths
- http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/mj007.htm
Another issue is the demotivation that pot causes. I smoke a very little every night a nd now don’t record my music, read books etc. I sit in front of the TV, all night, every night. This is not living! I am a recovering alcoholic and believe that a herbal lifestyle is much safer in the long run. I am not out until all hours, hung over the next day, not remembering what I did the night before. I am safe at home in front of the boob tube. not the most inspiring life but I am getting there – 186 days sober today. It is a delicate balance but if it can be controlled then I think it is a viable alternative to other more “socially acceptable” pasttimes. Stay happy and safe Dad’s out there!
Hi Greg. I would have to deduce that your using hydro ‘chronic’ cannabis and your probably not sure where it’s coming from. This is one of the big problems with keeping cannabis prohibited. The fact is that most of the cannabis available on the street has been genetically altered to be as high as possible in THC and this creates an imbalance in the properties of the herb. Good , naturally grown, non-hybrid strains are the way to go. When the herb is grown properly and naturally , the effects when used are much healthier. In fact i know of a man who does not smoke, but his friend was smoking some medical marijuana ( a pure strain) and he was curious to try. He had one puff of a joint , and says he felt energized and mentally clear. As well of all this it’s also up to individuals to control they’re lifestyle habits and maintain health.
Hellooooo Jah Son! And right-on for you words of truth! To beging, I applaud any parent or even single for actually researching topics as such. Like Jah Son mentioned though, this site is FULL of mistruths and out right Lies when it comes to facts. I am honestly disturbed, and frankly dissapointed in sites like these who try to help with mere assumptions. That is riddiculous, and far from intellegent. One should truely research the topic with viable facts so you can execute your mission properly instead of sounding, well, silly (to be nice) Im not trying to disrespect anyone, specifically the creator/editor of this site, but really, if you want to help…..than help, dont be like the rest of the so-called web designers that find themselves wasting their time, after facts themselves reveal the truth contradicting their stated ifo/details. Thank you, and continue learn your self, you can really make a difference in the lives of many!
Now, to those of you who “have started on pot” and then continued on to harder….real drugs – thats a shame, and Im very sorry to hear that, really! Marijuana is NOT for everyone, and to say that it is a “gateway” drug is absurd. Those who have followed that path have natural and maybe hereditary addictive personallites. Yes, its true that as a child one tends to find anything to “escape” reality, especially if ones home atmosphere is unruly, and unkind. You cannot blame Gods creation (Cannabis) on this one, the underlying problem is the relationship between the parents/child. I am very Pro-Cannabis, at the same time because of my own research, I am very opposed to the use amongst adolescents. “Smoking’ Marijuana clouds the frontal lobes in ones brain (primarily in males) BEFORE ones brain is fully developed. (latest: mid 20’s) Inturn causing the possibilites of using poor judgment in the future. Besides that…..theres nothing really wrong aside the smoking factor. Initially, “smoking” anything is not good for you. I can write Forever on this topic but at the moment need to tend to our 5 children….Oh – look at that, Marijuana certainly DID NOT effect the whole “sex and reproducing” factor misrepresented information at the top of the page. If absolutely anyone has any questions of any kind, please write back on this forum, I will be more than happy to give doctrined truth. In the meantime…..I URGE ALL INCLUDING THE CREATORS OF THIS SITE TO VISIT “NORML.COM’ simply Everything you need to know can and will be found in this website. Take care and God bless you all!
I love the biased opinion. I have smoked the weed for 26 years and always will, alcohol is the killer.
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To those guys out there saying cannabis(natural) is ok, you guys need to look at your message. I’m 28, I havn’t researched it, tried some in amsterdam once(bit of peer pressure), but never got into it. So this is really a post from someone who is pretty ignorant to cannabis (like most of the people out there).
I give acknowledgment to what your core message is, that traditional herbal rememidies becoming altered is what is causing the problems. My point is that any teenager (or dad) who reads this is going to take one message away from this (dad advice website). Smoking cannabis is ok…….and thats it. I recognise about the issue of untreated and treated, but in this society cannabis is uncontrolled, normally by useless scum who only care about making money (no, not the government
), so until the government legalises it and puts strict quality control on its production, then the only message is DON’T USE!
What really got me about this article is that it says alcohol leaves the body after a few hours, but THC stays in the body for days. This is incorrect. THC (THC is the chemical in cannabis that gets you high) metabolites stay in the body for days. Your body metabolizes THC, just like it does with alcohol, but instead of the metabolites being exreted rigtht away (As with peeing and alcohol), the metabolites from TCH stay in your body for days, maybe weeks before beeing peed out. The thing is, these metabolites are NOT THC. They have *NO* psychactive properties at all. When you take a drug test, they are NOT testing for THC…’cause THC only lasts in your body for maybe 5 hours. They are testing for non-psychoactive metabolites of THC that can stay (Absolutely harmlessly with no cognitive effect)in the body for weeks. So it’s kind of a scam…Lets say you smoked a joint last Friday at 6 PM. You felt effects ’till about…..9PM. By this time, the THC has been metabolized into non-pyschoactive chemicals and will remain in your body for weeks. Now, lets say one week after this joint, you get pulled over for not paying attention and missing a red light. You are sober. You haven’t smoked any pot since that joint last week. The officer stopping you can give you a drug test…..and it WILL turn out positive, showing you have smoked pot in the last few weeks. WHY? Because they know THC Dosen’t last long in the body, so they test for the harmless, non-psychoactive metabolite!!!!!!! Now you can get a ‘drugged driving’ offense, even though you were perfectly sober! How does this make sense?
Legalize it. It would close the ‘gateway drug’ loophole. People don’t think of a six-pack of beer as a gateway drug, right? Why? ’cause it’s legal and you won’t encounter shady characters. Pot won’t be a gateway drug either, if it’s legalized regulated and probably taxed.
Not only is this article one of the most ignorant rants I have ever read on the subject, but almost every single comment on here at least contains some significantly incorrect information.
Tne strength of Marijuana has only increased moderately- which is a consequene of prohibition, ie the strong the marijuana is, the less it weights = The less risk of prosecution.
Also hydroponic cannabis is not dangerous. I have been smoking hydro cannabis for 10 years, occasionally I smoke “bush cannabis”, to be honest I don’t notice much difference. This is because people automatically “titrate” their dose and stop smoking when they have reached a certain “level”, although it is true that inexperienced users often smoke too much, and sometimes panic attacks occur (the only real risk of marijuana is temporary anxiety reactions).
There are some concerns with “hydro” in regards to pesticides and the use of PGR’s (Plant Growth Regulators), however these same issues apply to outdoor cannabis, because anybody can use these for outdoor cannabis also.
Marijuana does NOT cause people to develop psychosis, it only triggers it in people who WILL become psychotic at some point. It should also be noted, that divorce, stress in general, excessive coffee consumption, alcohol abuse and a WHOLE other lot of behaviours are also associated with triggering psychosis. People with a disposition to psychosis can be tipped over the edge by almost anything.
Oh I also wanted to be say, yes there are safety issues regarding to HYDROPONIC growing of Cannabis, but these also exist for the outdoor growing of cannabis, because it illegal there is no proper regulation. We need regulations to control what chemicals are used to grow cannabis, much like we have regulations to protect the food we eat. Indeed Cannabis should have the same strict standards as food does, because it is being put straight into your body, indeed its not uncommonly eaten like food.
I strongly agree with jah son on his first comment and support him that alcohol does certainly affect the immune system.Been a reformed pot user,i certainly do not condone the use of pot,though i am open to believe the rare use can relieve stress and tention,i could be wrong.I think it comes down to the individual and thier attitude towards themself and the world around them
Well, that article is a right load of biased claptrap, i’ve been using marijuana for the last 25 years for medicinal purposes, with no ill effects, causes depression? it cured mine, it also helps me with the chronic pain i suffer in my spine due to a congenital birth defect, it helps me put up with the symptoms caused by my ulcerative colitis and also my asthma, yes, you’ve guessed it, i’m a physical wreck, but without cannabis my life would be unbearable. And incase people are wondering why i don’t take prescription drugs for my ailments, been there, done that. I was a state sanctioned drug addict for years, addicted to pain killers and anti-depressants, they nearly ruined my life, but hey, it’s okay because the doctor gave me them, right? As for alchohol and tobacco, do some research and find out how many people die worldwide from drinking and smoking related diseases, it’s in the hundreds of thousands, then see if you can find an account of someone dying from cannabis use, i’ll save you the trouble, there’s not one! zilch, zero! So stick that in your hash pipe and smoke it! LEGALIZE IT!
My my, isnt there still alot of statements in relation to Cannabis. For those of you who claim cannabis is addictive, harmful, causes cancer and is a gateway drug. All we will say to you is get educated on the topic before you go into full blown reefer madness. We Norml Australia (National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws) are here to help educate the public about the truth of this plant. If your going to be stating all the media propaganda about Cannabis maybe you should actually do some research because the facts are there for those who want to learn and the media do not use facts now do they.
Cannabis is a natural plant, that has not killed or harmed anyone and not made with any chemicals unlike the pharmaceutical drugs you may use and be addicted to daily, which have all the fantastic side effects you like, alcohol also a man made product has extreme effects on the body and attitude of people who consume it.
Opinions are fine, we all have one. If your going to have one on the topic of Cannabis atleast do yourself a favor and have an educated one.
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