A study in 1993 indicated that 67 million Americans have smoked marijuana and that almost 9 million people are current users (Marijuana, Personality & Behavior). Marijuana is a mood altering drug that is perceived to be safe by many people. Is this actually the case?

Over 400 different chemical compounds have been identified in marijuana, of which 61 are cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive substance in marijuana. Marijuana smoke produces three times the amount of tar as compared to cigarettes. It also contains five times the amount of carbon monoxide as that found in cigarettes (Addictions Alert, April 1988). Because of these facts, there is genuine concern for long-term marijuana smokers developing respiratory problems.

A study funded by a National Institute of Drug Abuse concluded marijuana use leaves a drug residue in the brain and that its residual effects last for several days. In contrast to a control group who did not smoke marijuana, heavy users of marijuana became agitated and often wanted to stop the experiment when given a battery of neuropsychological tests. Additionally, the marijuana user group demonstrated impaired memory and were more easily distracted then the nonuser group.

Marijuana distorts perception, affects coordination, and can impair judgment and reason. Additionally, marijuana increases a person's heart rate and blood pressure, which may contribute to a particularly disturbing side effect seen in some users of marijuana, the panic attack. A panic attack is a frightening dissociative experience in which you feel your heart pounding in your chest and perceive that your body and mind are disconnected. This sensation can last for several hours and may recur periodically even if marijuana use is not repeated.

THC can build up in a person's body fat with regular use since it takes several days to detoxify the THC out of one's system. If you are a regular user of marijuana and decide to stop a few days before an exam in order to improve your ability to study and concentrate, you may find that your mind does not clear as well as you had hoped. THC can be detected for up to a month after the last use.

If you have any questions about marijuana, you should call Health Services at ext. 3394 for an appointment with Alden Kent P.A.-C./L.C.S.W.

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