One of the most identified psychoactive substance is a plant with. It contains a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. This is the one responsible for the “high” feeling when taking marijuana. The “bud” of the plant contains the higher levels of THC.
Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette. It could also be smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco leaf used to wrap the cigar. This makes the marijuana more potent because it is being combined. The marijuana plant can also be brewed as a tea. When marijuana is snorted, it goes fast into the blood all the way through the lungs and then to the brain. The “high” mood is felt within a few minutes and could last up to five hours. When marijuana is eaten, it is immersed gradually because it has to the pass the stomach and intestine for absorption. The varying feeling could take up an hour but would last longer, for about twelve hours.
How does THC works in the brain? It actually attaches on a specific site in the brain known as the cannabinoid receptor which influences the activities of the nerve cells. Some brain areas have numerous cannabinoid receptors; others have little or none. Many cannabinoid receptors are located in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, recollection, contemplation, attention, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Cannabinoid receptors are mostly concentrated in the hypothalamus, amygdale, spinal cord, brain stem, central gray, and nucleus of the solitary tract. These areas in the brain are most likely affected with THC, thus causing a dysfunction in behaviors related to these areas. THC stimulates the reward system of the brain which causes the release of dopamine, which in turn is responsible for the “high” feeling.
The continued use of marijuana makes the body to become dependent of the substance. Just like any other abused substances, marijuana could cause withdrawal symptoms when usage is stopped. When the body tolerates the substance, higher doses is required, and in turn, causing more damage in the person’s life. In order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, the person would find ways for continuous use of the drug. This attitude, then, results to marijuana addiction. Marijuana is considered to be both mentally and emotionally addictive. Addicts believe that they need to take marijuana to live normally and to have fun.
Marijuana could change anyone for the duration of the use. It can affect one’s state socially, emotionally, physically, and even psychologically. Users tend to lose motivation in doing activities that used to mean a lot to them. The abuser would then avoid their friends who do not use marijuana and gravitate to those who use the substance. It is rooted in their minds that they could not do things without being stoned of smoking marijuana first. They think that smoking marijuana could solve all their problems. Furthermore, as indicated by how the brain is affected with marijuana, memory and cognition is very much affected. Studies have shown that heavy users have difficulty sustaining attention, shifting attention to meet the demands of the changes in the environment, and in registering, processing, and using information. It has been suggested that the greater impairment among heavy users is likely due to an change of brain activity produced by marijuana. Furthermore, smoking marijuana could lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue and other respiratory problems.
The plant marijuana has the capability to make you an addict or not. For people with addictive tendency, then yes, marijuana could be addictive. However, there are people who squabble that they can take or leave it and have stop for a long period of time. Well, probably, in their case, the answer is no.
Marijuana can be beneficial but once abused can give off more harm than good which translates one to call for help.
