Eric Weary Jr.
9-25-13
Jeff Ward
How Does Marijuana affect the Body?
There are many reasons to believe that marijuana causes damaging effects on a person. It
is the most frequently used drug in America; the use and abuse of it has risen significantly
(Orrange). Many people believe that it is not an addictive drug however studies have shown that
a person can have withdrawals after discontinued use (Orrange). The use of marijuana can lead
to many health problems and can impede ambitious thoughts which in turn may hinder a person’s
future.
Marijuana has several negative effects on the body and the brain. These effects can be
short term or long term. Aside from the physical effects of the drug, marijuana can also
negatively affect school, work, social life and athletic performance. Other concerns include the
carcinogens that are present in this plant and how they affect health. Many studies have been
done and although many questions remain, there is significant evidence to support that marijuana
is bad for a person’s overall health.
The short term effects are present immediately after the use of the drug. They include
anxiety, increased heart rate, panic, lowered reaction time and poor coordination of movement.
After the euphoria wears off, the user experiences hunger and depression or sleepiness
(FFDFW). Although these symptoms only last a short while, they are still causes for the negative
outcomes that arise from using marijuana.
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The more alarming effects from marijuana are the long-term effects. These include things
such as suppression of the immune system, growth disorders, and reduced abilities to learn and
retain new information, lack of motivation, reduction of male sex hormones, mood changes and
inability to understand things clearly (FFDFW).
The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC. This is what gives the euphoria after
using the drug. The THC passes into the blood stream and the chemical is then carried to the rest
of the body including the brain. In the brain, the THC binds to receptors that are in areas of the
brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination and
sensory and time perception (NIH).
When a person smokes marijuana, the receptors become over stimulated creating the
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