Marijuana's Health Effects

February 08,2013

Now that Marijuana has been legalized in Washington State and Colorado, many are debating whether or not this means the drug is actually œgood for people to use.

Many myths surround marijuana. One of the most popular being that it is non-addictive; and another myth is that marijuana has no negative side-effects. These myths have been found to be partially and totally untrue. The drug does help people relax and interact with others, and it also enhances sensory experiences. In addition, using marijuana for medical reasons can reduce symptoms of diseases and even reduce the need for other treatments. This however, does not give marijuana a ˜free pass' into being a good drug. At least not for some.

Research has indicated that chronic use, described as once daily or more than once daily, can lead to dependency. While this dependency is not considered a physical dependence, meaning it does not produce bodily withdrawals, it can be mentally addictive. It has been found that dependence of marijuana can cause impairment, distress, and other effects that can cause strain in life. The wide range of negative effects includes impaired short term memory, slowed reaction time, impaired motor coordination, altered judgment and decision making, increased heart rate, and altered mood.

Dependency of marijuana and its side effects do have a greater effect on certain people. The main groups of people, who will exhibit long-lasting side effects and also increase their chances of becoming addicted, are those who start smoking the drug at a young age. Studies have shown that the brain continues to mature in young adults until the age of 18 to 19. As some children have experimented or begun regularly smoking marijuana at ages as young as 12, it has been found that this group of smokers will absolutely experience permanent damage to the brain as marijuana inhibits healthy and natural development.

Another variable group of users that have the potential to be negatively affected by marijuana are those who have a genetic history of dependence and drug abuse. People whose parents, grandparents or other relatives have struggled with drug addiction are at a higher risk for developing dependence to marijuana. Also, certain medical conditions for example, those including heart complications; make some group of people at a higher risk for heart attack when regularly smoking marijuana.

The laws of Colorado and Washington have decriminalized the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by adults ages 21 and older. The age of 21 is also famous for being the threshold of when adults are legally able to consume alcohol. In both instances, this is largely due to the fact that by this point the brain has safely and fully matured and adults are better able to rationalize and control consumption. The legalization of marijuana is still very new and the law did not take effect until January the 5th of 2013. While many still hold grudges against it being a drug, and while it does pose serious consequences for under-aged users, marijuana can be safely used as a recreational drug.

In certain cases of addiction, it may be necessary for a person to enlist the help of a rehabilitation facility in order to effectively stop using the drug. Withdrawal from marijuana is not known to be particularly violent or painful however, the desire to continue using can be hard to squash.

__________________________________________________________

Unintentional drug overdoses is a serious matter that has led to many family tragedies and loss of loved ones. The notion of losing someone, whether it's a friend, a parent, a sibling, or a son or daughter, is a devastating one. A Center For Addiction Recovery has been dedicated for ever ten years in providing addiction treatment services and programs for thousands of families nation-wide, and has saved numerous lives as a result. Our mission is not only to treat individuals who suffer from various drug addictions, but also those who suffer from mental disorders such as ADD or ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, and Post traumatic Stress Disorder.

Center for Addiction Recovery “ Addiction Treatment Center: 1-800-570-4562

Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Recovery

473

views

PDF Print Email Report

Contact

A Center for Addiction Recovery

800-570-4562

MARK KILLAR

Featured Sections