Pot Smoking Isn't Harmful... Right?

Pot Smoking Isn't Harmful... Right?

Smoking marijuana, also referred to as smoking pot or weed, is quite common among the youth population. In Canada,  the rates for the prevalence of pot smoking for youth aged 15-24 were three times higher than their over-25 counterparts: 21.6 % vs. 6.7% in 2011. Many individuals being to start smoking because they believe that everyone else also is. Popular culture heavily promotes it and most importantly, there is a really low perception of harm. Common responses from pot smokers include: 

"Marijuana doesn't have any nicotine in it. I won't get addicted." 

"Weed comes from a plant. It's all natural which means that it won't affect my health."

"Smoking weed is safer than drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco. " 

So What is Marijuana?

Marijuana is a mixture of the dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant that is green, brown, or gray. It contains the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabino (THC), which is the main mind-altering ingredient that causes it to be strong. Altogether, marijuana contains about 400 chemicals that can affect health. 

How Do You Use It?

The most common method of ingesting marijuana is to smoke loose marijuana rolled into a cigarette, that is commonly referred to as a "joint". It can be smoked through a water pipe called a bong or as a "blunt", which is a cigar that has been hollowed out and filled with marijuana. It can also be mixed into food (e.g, weed brownies) or can be brewed as tea. 

Why Do People Smoke It?

Once it is inhaled, the THC triggers brain cells to release the chemical dopamine, which creates good feelings for a short time and a person feels "high". Some people smoke to relieve stress, anxiety, fear, pain, or anger and it is also used medically to alleviate symptoms for some diseases.  

Is It Safe?

The largest misconception of smoking marijuana is that it is harmless to health. Under the influence of it, marijuana affects memory, judgement and perception. It can cause you to do things you might not do when you're thinking straight, such as engaging in risky sexual behaviour. THC interferes with learning and can lead to problems studying, learning new things, and recalling recent effects. Research is still being conducted to determine if these effects persist. A new study has just emerged that demonstrates that teenage pot smoking is tied to IQ loss. Before the age of 18, the brain is still being organized and is vulnerable to damage from drugs. In this study, it was found that persistent marijuana use by age 18 affected everyday cognitive functioning and problems in memory and attention. 

 Marijuana use also increases heart rate. Within a few minutes after inhalation, the heart beats more rapidly, the bronchial passages become enlarged and the blood vessels in the eyes expand, making them appear red. Additionally, marijuana used in combination with other drugs can result in greater adverse health effects. 

Although it may seem harmless, smoking pot has adverse side effects, just as smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol do. These risk factors should be take into consideration when youth are starting to think about smoking pot. 

References:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/08/27/marijuana-teen-brain.html

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php