Marijuana (or cannabis) is a plant containing the chemical THC, which binds to receptors in the brain and other organs to produce various effects. Historically, marijuana was often prescribed to treat medical conditions; it also became widely popular as recreational drug use increased.
People use marijuana in various ways, from smoking or vaping it to indulging in edibles and drinking infused beverages. The cannabis plant itself consists of leaves, flowers, seeds, stems and stems. People may grow their own plant or purchase it from stores or online. They can even purchase it in liquid form such as pills, capsules or gummy bears. Smoking marijuana causes lung irritation which may result in chronic coughs with colored mucus/phlegm production as well as bronchitis/other respiratory problems; using products without burning such as vaping or edibles can avoid this risk while not producing toxic combustion byproducts from combustion byproducts such as smoking does.
Some individuals who regularly consume marijuana develop a physical and psychological dependency on it, meaning their bodies depend on it for normal functioning. This can lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms when stopping use, leading to serious cases becoming addicted enough that other substances or alcohol will need to be used to relieve symptoms; also overdosing on marijuana may cause anxiety, paranoia and psychotic reactions that could potentially prove fatal.
Researchers are investigating the long-term impacts of marijuana use. They’re particularly curious to understand its effect on young brain development, so they are studying over 11,000 youth who enrolled in the NIH’s ABCD Study as children aged 9 or 10 (MRI imaging, cognitive marker tests, surveys about family environment and school activities as well as surveys about family environment). By tracking them over time they hope to determine whether marijuana use correlates with poorer performance later on like lower grades or job earnings.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of certain types of cannabis for specific pain syndromes. THC can reduce nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients; FDA-approved THC medications like Dronabinol (Marinol(r)) and Nabilone(Cesamet(r) may provide such relief; it’s best that people suffering chronic conditions seek medical advice prior to self-treating themselves with cannabis; otherwise this could increase opioid need post surgery, substance abuse disorder risk or HIV transmission.
Studies demonstrate the harmful consequences of regular marijuana use during adolescence can have lasting repercussions, according to imaging tests. Teens who smoke marijuana regularly have reduced brain connections related to alertness, learning and memory. They also have lower IQ scores. Marijuana can make concentration difficult as well as interfere with coordination; and cause dangerous impulses like driving while high or engaging in unsafe sex activities.