Marijuana

What is marijuana?
Cannabis drugs like marijuana are made from a variety of hemp plant (cannabis sativia). Other cannabis drugs include sinsemilla, hashish and hash oil. Marijuana is a gray, green or brown mix of dried leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the plant. All forms of cannabis contain the mind-altering chemical THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the U.S., with almost 97 million people - about 40% of the population - saying they've used it at least once. Almost 50% of teens try it before graduating from high school.

People usually smoke marijuana to feel its effects, either rolling it into a cigarette called a "joint" or putting it in a pipe. A "blunt" is made by removing the tobacco from a cigar and replacing it with marijuana. Sometimes the drug is added to food or brewed as a tea.

Street names for marijuana include weed, aunt mary, skunk, boom, gangster, kif and ganja. Older but still-used names are pot, herb, grass, mary jane and reefer.

Signs & symptoms
Marijuana impairs short-term memory. Users may have trouble with complex tasks. Smoking potent strains of marijuana can make users unable to do even simple tasks. The drug also slows perception, so that users often engage in risky behaviors. Reaction time is also affected, which contributes to car accidents. Signs that a person is high on marijuana include:

• Dizziness, trouble walking
• Silly acting or giggly for no apparent reason
• Red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes
• Difficulty remembering things that just happened

After a few hours, the effects of the drug wear off and the user might be sleepy. Some behavioral signs that may signal marijuana use:

• Changes in behavior
• Hostility, strained relationships with family members
• Depression
• Becoming careless about appearance
• Falling grades, frequent absences and skipping school
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Loss of interest in favorite activities

Parents should also be on the lookout for:

• Drug paraphernalia such as pipes and rolling papers

• Odor of marijuana smoke on clothes
• Use of incense or room fresheners
• Use of eye drops
• Clothes, posters and jewelry that promote drug use

Who's at risk?
People of all educational backgrounds, income levels and cultural heritages abuse drugs. Teens are especially vulnerable, and so are people with mental illness. Marijuana use usually peaks in the late teens and early twenties, then decreases in later years. Risk factors for marijuana and other drug use also include:

• Family history of alcohol or drug use
• Social environment that's favorable to drug use (peer use)
• Depression, anxiety or other mental condition
• Delinquent behavior or problems in school
• History of physical or sexual abuse

Professional help
Counseling and support groups are the main treatment for marijuana dependency. There are no medications for treating it. If your child shows signs of marijuana use, get in touch with your doctor or mental health professional. Priority Health members can check here for information on getting help with drug abuse and addiction problems.

What you can do
Parents can have a big influence on whether or not their children use or abuse illegal drugs.

• Talk with your kids about the dangers of marijuana and other drugs.
• Be involved in their school work and activities.
• Know where they are, who they're with and when they're coming home.
• Find out about drug prevention programs you and your kids can participate in together.