Marijuana - Grass, Pot, Weed - THC level determines the effect
Marijuana is by far the most frequently abused substance among adolescents. It is absorbed by inhaling the smoke from cigarettes ("joints"), cigars ("blunts"), or pipes ("bowls"). Occasionally it is consumed by eating foods laced with the substance in the forms of powder or flakes.
It is known to be associated with mood changes, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, binge eating (the "munchies"), difficulty managing time resulting in chronic tardiness, loss of motivation particularly with regard to school success, and a tendency to associate with less desirable friends. Defects in motor functioning are also common.
Marijuana is frequently used to calm anxiety and a related effect is often marked silliness. With moderate to heavy usage some youngsters become suspicious and depressed. There may also be general behavior changes as the drug impacts the central nervous system.
Easily observable signs of usage include a redness of the whites of the eyes and dilation of the pupils. Also, a distinct odor of burned leaves or rope is detectable on clothing and in living spaces as well as the automobiles used by abusing youngsters.
Marijuana is clinically detectable in urine and blood tests.
Certain over the counter supplements (EG: Golden Seal) will mask marijuana concentrations in the urine. Some teenagers will resort to other tactics to "beat" the urinalysis. They may substitute urine obtained from a friend or even provide a sample of their own urine collected during a period of non use. Skilled substance abuse screeners will insist on witnessing the provision of the sample. They will also require that the urine be analyzed for the presence of masking substances such as Golden Seal. While marijuana concentrations in the urine dissipate within thirty days the substance is detectable in blood samples for several months.
There is general agreement that with intermittent use marijuana is not addictive. On the other hand addiction becomes a distinct possibility in individual teens who are "addictive" in general or whose families contain a number of addictive members.
There is good reason to believe that marijuana acts as a "gateway" drug for many adolescents in that it is often associated with experimentation with and use of other illegal and dangerous substances.
Another complication associated with marijuana abuse is that it may interfere with the effectiveness of legitimate psychiatric medications used to treat depression.
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