Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC (the active ingredient in marijuana), acts in the brain to produce its many effects.
When someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body.
THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the “high” that users experience when they smoke marijuana. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.
Not surprisingly, marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off. As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.
Research on the long-term effects of marijuana abuse indicates some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs. For example, cannabinoid withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine.Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse.
Addictive Potential
Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit. These withdrawal symptoms begin within about 1 day following abstinence, peak at 2–3 days, and subside within 1 or 2 weeks following drug cessation.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m wondering where you got this marijuana information?
Information was from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a government site.
Bill
What can you say about those people who claim it isn’t addictive?
There was one incident that someone ask me what are the effect of taking marijuana. I know that it is harmful in the thinking of people and got a general information only. Now, thanks for your information that I’ve got the specific answer to this type of issue.
Thank you for your information on marijuana and how it effects the brain. Many people say that pot is not an addictive drug. Unfortunately I beg to differ. Although smoking marijuana is not as harmful as “hard drugs” or alcohol, it is still a mind altering drug and can be very bad for the lungs.
very bad news,. I always have that knowledge in mind though. Im glad that details about this matter is spread so others will know.
Wow I never think that the risk for our brain is like that. So I’m sure marijuana can make our brain broken.
Reading this I notice that withdrawal from Marijuana is comparable to withdrawal from coffee. Also marijuana is behaviorally addictive, as is any habit. There is still debate on the question of marijuana being physiologically addictive. Moreover the analog of coffee is an imperfect one since coffee does have a physiological aspect of its addiction. It would be more fit to compare the irritability, craving, and difficulty to quit to an addiction to Twinkies or watching TV.
http://www.fungerendeliv.no/Artikler/word/addiction_is_choice.doc
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118958049/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Published in Addiction
I knew a little bit about the consequences of smoking Marijuana but I didn’t have all this information. You have really alerted me and in a country like Pakistan, where people are heavily addicted to such things, I think now it’s my moral responsibility to do some effort to let people know about the consequences of using Marijuana. I highly agree with you that smoking Marijuana affects the memory and also thinking pattern of a human as I can observe such mental anomalies in one of my relatives who smokes Marijuana quite excessively.
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Marijuana is not addictive.
thanks for this post. i was a former pothead and have come to know how difficult it is to quit smoking marijuana. i mean, i never even realized i was addicted until my child handed me the very thing i was craving and told me to smoke it so i will be happy again. that was for me the ultimate wake up call. i realized i loved my kids more than i loved the high marijuana gave me.
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Everything you do affects your brain in some way, that is only natural and each has to be assessed and weighed for its merits and potential harm. Addiction to anything and abuse of any kind is generally not going to be good for you, there has to be respect and due care for all things in this world, including plants, chemicals and substances.
Thanks for this great information on Marijuana. Marijuana has negative impacts on health and can cause accidents. It has an adverse effect on the brain and can cause a serious problem to the brain. In many countries marijuana is legally accepted but it’s very harmful for the human being. It’s addiction can cause great loss to human being.
I personally knew someone who has been addicted to marijuana. Even after rehab, I think something, as in mentally has changed. He’s not the same person anymore. I feel scared in his presence.
Marijuana is only mentally addictive. Its benefits are vast. It relieves depression and anxiety, has been shown to reduce cancer risk, and has been surprisingly thought to promote neurogenesis. I was a full blown alcoholic for four years, and now substitute marijuana instead. I finally have my life back. I tried AA several times and always fell back into drinking. Using marijuana is no different than using prozac, besides the fact that marijuana is actually safer. It is to bad the social stigma surrounding this highly beneficial plant is preventing many people from reaping its benefits. It has also been shown to prevent dementia in people over the age of sixty. Dont take my word for it, do the research for yourself. The most current studies, within the past several years, will support all the statements I have just made. Peace and love.
Marijuana is very danger in our life, because it get you high. I think something, as in mentally has changed when you smoke the marijuana. Thank you for the tips that you shown us.
Couldnt be More true =]
Thank you for your information on marijuana and how it effects the brain. Many people say that pot is not an addictive drug. It relieves depression and anxiety, has been shown to reduce cancer risk, and has been surprisingly thought to promote neurogenesis.
Wonderful post, Excellent information. Thanks for share Bill. I really don’t know about this fact.Its really dangerous thing if someone get addicted by Marijuana.Everyone need to aware for that. an I think it need to social awareness as soon as possible.
“Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety…”
That’s like saying “nitroglycerin users trying to quit report severe angina and heart attacks”. Many LEGAL medical marijuana users are using cannabis to help their insomnia, loss of appetite, and anxiety, so it makes perfect sense that stopping their medicine would cause their symptoms to come back.
You can’t get physically addicted to marijuana, period, not in the way that people mean “addicted” when they talk about dangerous drugs like heroin, tobacco, or alcohol.
Mary-jane is by far one of the least harmful substances in the field of phsycoactives. However, over prolonged and increased use with bigger and better strains, and then transfering to synthetic cannaboids which are 16X as strong as the real thing could ever be, i can tell you this. Marijuana is a medicine, and should be used as such. Thats Marijuana use medically. Recreational Marijuana use again, is RECREATIONAL. Marijuana ABUSE is abuse, abusive behavior needs to be moderated.
Recreational Alcohol use = not a problem.
Alcohol ABUSE = Problem.
Marijuana USE = Not a problem
Marijuana ABUSE = Problem. <— Clean up and stop giving heads a bad name. There is a difference between strains, if you cant tell anymore, your too far up the totem pole.