“Marijuana 101”

Marijuana

• Dried leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa

• Can be smoked or eaten in foods

• Hashish and Hash Oil are stronger forms

• Mind altering, containing THC and 400 other chemicals

• Most commonly used illicit drug in U.S., with 5.5 million weekly users

                    

How taken

• Smoked– pipe, bong, or cigars (blunts)

• Absorbed by fatty tissue, with traces in the urine several days later. In chronic users, may be detected for weeks.

Quiz: true or false?

• Marijuana can cause cancer.

Quiz: true or false?

• Marijuana can cause cancer.

• It can be a major factor in causing some cancers since a marijuana cigarette has more carcinogens than regular cigarettes. Levels of tar and carbon monoxide are 3-4x higher.

Quiz: true or false?

• Marijuana is not as bad as a cigarette

Quiz: true or false?

• Marijuana is not as bad as a cigarette

• Smoking five joints is about the equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Besides, tobacco kills almost half a million people each year! It also has some of the similar risk factors as alcohol. Don’t smoke and drive either.

Quiz: true or false?

• Marijuana is a gateway drug

Quiz: true or false?

• Marijuana is a gateway drug

• You be the judge. There is no scientific evidence that one drug leads to another. However SAMHSA survey found that adolescents between ages 12-17 who use it weekly are nine times more likely to experiment with other drugs.

Quiz: true or false?

• Marijuana effective as a medical treatment

Quiz: true or false?

• Marijuana effective as a medical treatment

• Many oncologists reject the idea, but those who suffer strongly argue its case. Its main ingredient, THC is used by some oncologists as it does not contain the other chemicals in the marijuana cigarette.

Quiz: true or false?

• Most people experiment with marijuana

Quiz: true or false?

• Most people experiment with marijuana

• It is the most widely used illicit drug in U.S., with over 10 million Americans having used it. #s for 1 time users was up in 1998-99, but still not as high as in late 70s. One survey found less than 8% of teens used in the past 30 days.

Quiz: True or False?

• Marijuana is more potent today than in the past

Quiz: True or False?

• Marijuana is more potent today than in the past

• The amount of THC in today’s marijuana cigarette has more than doubled in the past few decades. Additionally, the potency of the THC influences the effect on the user.

Effects

The overall effect of marijuana on an individual depends on

• how strong the marijuana is (how much THC it has);

• what the user expects to happen; • where (the place) the drug is used; • how it is taken; and • whether the user is drinking alcohol or using

other drugs

Short Term Effects

• Problems with memory and learning• disturbed perceptions (sights, sounds, time,

touch)• trouble with problem solving• impairs judgment• loss of coordination• increased heart rate and anxiety• Some people feel relaxed; some become anxious

and paranoid

Long term Effects

• Some cancers– 4x as carcinogenic as cigarettes– 1 joint has 4x as much tar as a cigarette

• Respiratory and immunization systems impaired

• breathing and wheezing

• weakened cell tissues

Signs of Use

• Dizzy, trouble walking

• silly and giggly

• red, bloodshot eyes

• difficulty with memory

Other concerns

• Illegal– legal consequences– not regulated

• serious delinquincy– non drug users=21%– chronic users=75%

• problem behaviors– higher rates among users– driving impaired– increase in emergency room visits

Campus Policy

• Any student admitting to or proven to have violated the University of Houston's Student Disciplinary Policies and Procedures regarding the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and/or alcohol on campus or at university sponsored events (see UH Student Handbook, Student Disciplinary Policies and Procedures Section) will be subject to disciplinary action (up to and including probation, suspension, and expulsion), may be referred for prosecution, and may be requested to satisfactorily participate in a drug and alcohol assistance or rehabilitation program.

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The University of Houston Wellness Center