by Rosemary Redfern

Created on: April 28, 2009

Marijuana is a subtle drug. While it gives the impression of calming during a high, it is creating long term craving and damage to the brain and body tissues. It is perceived as a harmless drug because of the apparent calming effects. However, the drug stays in the system causing a number of detrimental and dangerous changes. The actions of the drug mask it's danger.

Long term users react more strongly to stress because of changes in the brain where there are specific receptors which are sensitive to the drug. So rather than creating calm, marijuana is causing distress. One site is to do with pleasure. The user experiences distorted sensory and time perception. This might be pleasant at the time of using, but can have disastrous effects for everyday living because it impairs the users ability to judge between reality and dreams.

Concentration, coordinated movements, memory, and thought are all distorted by use of marijuana. Someone who has problems concentrating and coordinating movements while driving is a threat to everyone. Road accident statistics demonstrate this.

When memory and thought are out of balance the individual cannot problem solve easily and will have difficulty learning because memory is impaired. The effects for anyone on a training course or in school mean they are not able to achieve their full potential. While there are many experiences individuals would like to forget, the drug is not selective in erasing these only but also damages useful and needed memory. The user becomes increasingly zombie like and less able to lead a life which is satisfying, although this is not perceived by the user. Motivation to do anything slips away.

From the general health point of view, the user is statistically four times more likely to experience a heart attack than a non user. Marijuana contains more carcinogens than tobacco as well as irritants which affect the lungs. This knowledge makes no difference to the understanding of the user because the effective, executive parts of the brain which could take action have been reduced to ineffectiveness.

Anyone trying to get off using marijuana will have at least one to two weeks of considerable discomfort. Irritability, sleeplessness, a poor appetite and increased anxiety all affect general health. The drug also creates a craving, making it hard to abandon. There is the consideration about the long term damage which has been caused if the user does manage to kick marijuana.

The problem is that marijuana, as a result of these effects on the brain and body, has some beneficial effects for the relief of pain for long term sufferers. Some patients with forms of degenerative diabetes, or motor neurone disease feel they are give relief by marijuana. As a result some sufferers obtain marijuana illegally for it's effects. Doctors should, if they feel it is right, be able to proscribe it for these patients.

Far from being a benign drug, marijuana should be treated with respect. It is not a safe drug to be available legally.

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