Carbonell Institute
Cannabis
Marijuana is a greenish-brown mixture of dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. Its most concentrated, resinous form is called hashish, and when it is in the form of a sticky, black liquid, it is known as hash oil. The main psychoactive (mind-altering) substance in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Marijuana abuse can result in problems with memory, learning, and social behavior. In the long term, it can lead to problems such as lung cancer and an increased risk of infections. It can interfere with family, school, work, and other activities. Scientific studies are underway to test the safety and usefulness of cannabis components in the treatment of certain medical conditions. Currently, smoking marijuana is not recommended for the treatment of any disease or condition.
How does marijuana affect the brain?
When marijuana is smoked, THC passes quickly from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries it to the brain and other organs in the body. It is absorbed more slowly when ingested in food or drinks. Regardless of how it is ingested, THC acts on specific molecular sites on brain cells called cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are normally activated by chemicals similar to THC called endocannabinoids, such as anandamide. These substances are naturally produced in the body and are part of a neural communication network (the endocannabinoid system) that plays an important role in normal brain development and function. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perceptions, and coordinated movement. Marijuana overactivates the endocannabinoid system, causing the "high" or euphoria and other effects experienced by users. These effects include distortions in perception, impaired coordination, difficulty thinking and solving problems, and disturbances in learning and memory. Research shows that the adverse impact of chronic marijuana use on memory and learning can continue even after the acute effects of the drug wear off, and the effects can even persist for many years if marijuana use begins in adolescence. Research in different fields is concurring that regular marijuana use by young people can have a long-lasting negative impact on brain structure and function. A recent study of marijuana users who began using it in adolescence revealed a significant deficit in the connections between brain areas responsible for learning and memory. A large prospective study (following the same people over time) showed that people who began smoking large amounts of marijuana in adolescence lost up to 8 IQ points between the ages of 13 and 38. Importantly, even after quitting marijuana as adults, they did not regain these lost cognitive abilities. What other adverse health effects does marijuana have? Marijuana use can have a variety of short- and long-term adverse effects, especially on cardiopulmonary and mental health. Shortly after smoking marijuana, the heart rate increases by 20 to 100 percent. This effect can last up to 3 hours. In one study, the risk of having a heart attack was estimated to be 4.8 times higher during the first hour after smoking the drug. This may be due to the increased heart rate as well as the effect marijuana has on heart rhythm, causing palpitations and arrhythmias. This risk may be higher in older people or those with pre-existing heart conditions.
Is marijuana addictive?
Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is addictive. According to relevant research, it is estimated that around 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana; this number increases among those who start at a young age (to approximately 17 percent, or 1 in 6) and among daily users (to 25 to 50 percent). Therefore, many of the nearly 7 percent of high school seniors who report smoking marijuana daily or almost daily (according to annual survey data) are likely to become addicted, if they are not already (in addition to functioning at a suboptimal level all the time). Chronic marijuana users who attempt to quit report experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite, anxiety, and intense cravings for the drug, all of which can make abstinence difficult. Behavioral interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy and incentives to boost motivation (e.g., providing vouchers for goods or services to patients who remain abstinent), have proven effective in treating marijuana addiction. Although no medications are currently available, recent discoveries about how the endocannabinoid system works hold promise for the development of drugs to facilitate abstinence, block the intoxicating effects of marijuana, and prevent relapse.
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